When I first flew into Kuala Lumpur, I was non plussed. It was late at night, and the entire airport was closed. Even so, the trains were running, and within an hour I was in the City Centre hailing a cab. The city was quiet, and not much was moving at around midnight, something that seemed rather strange for such a large city. What I didn’t realize, was that what I was seeing was a decent snapshot of life in Kuala Lumpur.
This was not a revelation that came to me that night. In fact, it didn’t even come to me the next morning, as I sat on my window sill at the Pullman, sipping my coffee and watching an Eagle circling lazily below me. No, it wasn’t until I set foot onto the streets outside, about an hour later, that it began to dawn on me. Kuala Lumpur is different.
How?
That’s a good question, and one that I will endeavor to answer in this city review on Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.
Let’s start with the very first thing that I noticed when I left the Pullman that morning.
Table of Contents
- Kuala Lumpur is a clean city
- Getting Around is simple
- Plenty of Things to Do
- Kuala Lumpur Shopping is amazing
- Kuala Lumpur is Foodie Heaven
- Things to do in Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur Daytrips
- Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
- Why you should visit Kuala Lumpur
- Summary
Kuala Lumpur is a clean city
Very clean!
Now, I had just come from Indonesia, and there are some very grubby cities there. There are also places like Jakarta that are so full of smog, that it seems to just infuse its way into the very core of the city, making even the greenest places seem dirty.
That is not the way in Kuala Lumpur. This city does everything that it can to look, and feel, clean. From the clean curbs, to the wide and well maintained footpaths. The neatly maintained roadside hedges, to the beautiful big trees that line the roads, even in the middle of the city. This is a city that seems to care.
Now, keep in mind that this was my first impression as I stepped out of my hotel. It helped that there was a nice fountain in the place next door, and as I walked around it, circling by the beautiful hedges, a Lamborghini caught my eye as it glinted in the morning sun. But none of this distracted me from just how CLEAN everything was.
Even my home towns back in Australia could learn from Kuala Lumpur. The traffic was not congested, even at 9am in the middle of the city. Things just flowed. EASILY. As a result there was no smog. No fumes hanging over everything, struggling to escape as they are doubled and tripled in the morning traffic. Nothing like that seemed to be an issue in Kuala Lumpur.
My first impression was justified over and over as the morning wore on. Parks, spotless and green, were everywhere. Fountains. Open spaces. Overhead infrastructure that served to alleviate traffic, and make everything more aesthetically pleasing.
I had been in Kuala Lumpur for less than 10 hours, and already I liked it.
Getting Around is simple
Did I mention that I was walking?
Kuala Lumpur is a city that avails itself to foot traffic. The sidewalks are well maintained, wide, and you don’t have to jump out of the way of traffic all of the time. This is an issue around most of South East Asia, with shopfronts built so close to the road that pedestrians are constantly at risk of being killed. Particularly in Indonesia. Not here in Kuala Lumpur!
That first morning, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get to where I wanted to go. On this occasion it was KLCC Park, a great space of greenery that I had spotted from my hotel room earlier. I had calculated that it would take about 20 minutes to get there. In the end, it took half that, thanks to the easy and direct route I was able to take. What I didn’t know, was that it COULD have been even easier.
This is because Kuala Lumpur has overhead pedestrian walkways in some areas. In this case, there is one running between the Pavilion Shopping Centre, opposite my hotel, and the Park that I was going to. It also takes you to the Convention Centre, Aquarium, Suria KLCC shopping centre, and the Petronas Twin Towers. And this walkway is not just an overhead open air bridge. It’s a fully enclosed, air conditioned bridge that is 10 meters wide! Talk about walking in style!
Walking is not the only way to get around Kuala Lumpur though. There is the Monorail, that also moves overhead, above the traffic as it whisked it passengers from the outer suburbs to the city center in the blink of an eye. (well…a couple of blinks..). There are the trains, which I had already tried the night before, and been very impressed with. Then, there are the buses.
I’m not just talking about normal buses. There ARE normal buses of course, but the other thing that Kuala Lumpur has is FREE buses. Now, I know that many cities have a free bus. This is usually a tourist bus that might do a good circuit of the city center. Melbourne has a free tram. Many cities have a “hop on, hop off” system, although usually that is paid for.
Kuala Lumpur has that too, but what they also have is a free bus system. Not just for tourists, but for everyone. This started out as one single route, and has since grown to 5 routes! You can get virtually anywhere in the city without paying a cent!
Plenty of Things to Do
One of the reasons that I didn’t find a trip to Kuala Lumpur entirely appealing, was that I simply didn’t know what I would do there. I was totally in the dark about the city, other than the Petronas Twin Towers, which I had seen in photos. Even then, I couldn’t have even told you their name.
What I found out when I arrived, was that there is a lot more to do in the city than just climb those towers. Then, as I made my way around the city, I kept finding more and more things to do and see. Kuala Lumpur is nothing if not understated.
Two things really struck me about Kuala Lumpur, and the things you can do there.
Firstly, everything is so close. By that, I mean that you don’t have to go very far between attractions. Did I mention the free buses? Well, it took me 4 days of constant activities in Kuala Lumpur before I actually caught one. Why? Because I didn’t need it until then. Petronas Twin Towers is right on top of the best Shopping Centre in the city. Right underneath that, is the Aquarium. Outside the front door? KLCC Park and fountains. Then, it’s an easy walk to Pavilion Shopping Centre via the air conditioned magic carpet tunnel I mentioned earlier, or just a stroll down the road to the OTHER great precinct around KL Tower.
Basically, Kuala Lumpur have done a great job of making it very, very easy for visitors. Go to one place, and you have enough activities and attractions to keep you busy for an entire day. Perhaps two. What more do you need?
The second thing that struck me about Kuala Lumpur activities, is that somehow, they make the mundane seem so much more interesting. For example, I am not the sort of person that enjoys just wandering around a shopping centre whilst on holidays. I can do that at home. In KL, though, I actually enjoyed it! The shopping centre’s were interesting, and kept my attention long enough that I didn’t get bored. Plus, there IS one with a rollercoaster and full amusement park inside…
Kuala Lumpur Shopping is amazing
This is another reason that people already came to Kuala Lumpur, and now, I can see why.
There are several main shopping centers in KL, but the main two are probably Suria KLCC, right underneath the Petronas Twin Towers, and Pavilion Shopping Centre. They are the two that you will see the most of, especially if you stay in the middle of the city.
Kuala Lumpur is Foodie Heaven
This is one that surprised me. I am not a big Foodie, but I sort of became one in Kuala Lumpur. There is one thing that I will point out here though.
Stay away from the hyped places that you will read about in blogs and tourism brochures. (I just remembered that I am a blog too. So NEARLY every blog).
You will read about Jalan Alor and hear about how great the food is. Forget it.
Jalan Alor is overpriced and over hyped. I’m sure there are some good places to eat there, but I certainly didn’t find them. It is worth checking out at least once, because there is more to see and do there than just food. If you DO go there, then check out the most popular places and maybe you will discover a hidden diamond in the rough. Basically, the street is aimed at tourists.
Instead, head around the corner. A couple of blocks away you will find street food that will cost a lot less of your hard earned, and taste a lot nicer! Around Bukit Bintang and the Golden Triangle there are a few Shawarma places that were to die for. That’s my quiet tip. Shhh!
Also, just keep an eye open for street food pop ups in side streets around the city centre during the day, especially lunch time. A few times I cut down back streets as I headed back to my hotel, and stumbled across some little gems that were set up for office workers. Winning!
The other tip I will give is to go somewhere that I wouldn’t even venture back home. That is the shopping centre food court. In this case, the Pavilion Shopping Centre. Their bottom floor is home to some international culinary delights that can keep you happy for weeks. It certainly kept me coming back every day for 5 days at least.
Things to do in Kuala Lumpur
So, now that I have told you over and over about how many things there are to do in Kuala Lumpur, maybe I better give you some more details. As I already mentioned, most things are centred around two main areas, KLCC and KL Tower. There are other things to do a little away from these points, but still within walking distance, if you don’t mind hitting the pavement for 20 minutes or so. Otherwise, the free bus or other public transport will sort you out.
So let’s take a look at a few of the things to do in Kuala Lumpur:
- Climb Petronas Twin Towers and take a walk on the famous Skybridge.
- Take a stroll or jog in beautiful KLCC Park.
- Shop till you drop in Suria KLCC, (read more about this later in the article!)
- Go searching for Nemo in Aquaria.
- Check out the views from KL Tower and brave one of its glass Sky Boxes.
- Make new friends at the Mini Zoo.
- Walk across the treetops at KL Eco Forest Park’s Treetop Walk.
- Amaze your friends with photos in the Upside Down House.
- Check out the shopping and food in Chinatown.
- Browse for souvenirs and artworks at Central Markets.
- Brave the indoor rollercoaster at Berjaya Times Square.
This is only the start of the many things that you will find to do around the city of KL. Take a stroll out from your hotel, and I guarantee you will find something to see or do.
Kuala Lumpur Daytrips
Aside from the things listed above, there are plenty of daytrips that you can do from Kuala Lumpur. These can be for activities quite close to the city, or several hours away. Here is a list of the most popular and recommended along with links to the tours themselves.
- Head to one of the most popular places around Kuala Lumpur – Batu Caves.
- Check out the famous fireflies in Kuala Selangor at THIS link. Or combine your experience with a trip to Batu Caves at THIS link.
- Head out to the incredible Genting Highlands for a day. Once again, the most popular tours are combined with Batu Caves. Check them out HERE.
- Head down to Malacca for the day. This beautiful Heritage town south of KL is home to the biggest market in the world on weekends, and one very, very famous church. Check a tour out HERE. Alternatively, you can book yourself onto a bus and DIY the trip. Check out the best prices for bus from KL to Malacca HERE.
- Take a drive up into the Cameron Highlands, into the world famous tea plantations and forests on the way to Malaysia’s largest highlands resort.
There are numerous other daytrips that could be listed here, but I have kept my selection at the most popular. Especially for first time visitors. Personally, I can’t recommend Batu caves or Malacca highly enough. Malacca is amazing, and Batu Caves is very close to Kuala Lumpur and a great way to fill in half a day!
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
There are plenty of places to stay in Kuala Lumpur. As you might expect. I really recommend staying around the area of KLCC and the Pavilion shopping precinct though. It is where I stay when I am in KL, and I find that it is not only close to everything, but so easy to get to anywhere you want from there.
Here are the places that I would recommend, starting with the very first place I stayed in KL.
The Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre
The Pullman is in a great spot, close to everything and right across the road from the Pavilion Shopping Centre. It is a 10 minute stroll from the KLCC precinct, so you can’t get much more handy.
Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre
The Novotel is a very popular choice, and if anything is probably in an even better spot than the Pullman, just a few doors down the road!
Trader’s Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
You don’t have to look hard to work out why Trader’s Hotel is one of the most popular places to stay in KL. Recommended by the city as the best place to stay for a visit to Petronas Twin Towers, this hotel holds some of the best views of the towers that you can get, plus has the best access.
W Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
The W, Kuala Lumpur has one of the best locations in the city. Depending upon which side of the building your room is located, you are almost guaranteed a view of either the Petronas Twin Towers, or KL Tower. The best rooms are likely to have both!
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
Why you should visit Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a city that will put a smile on your face. That’s as good a reason as I would need. But I will go further.
This city is one that pops up on every travelers radar, simply because so many flights connect through there. Some people have long layovers, and waste the time ensconced in a non descript hotel room, or huddled for 16 hours in the airport terminal.
Why not get into the city and enjoy it? There is so much to do, and it is a real pleasure doing it. I honestly can’t remember the last time that I visited a city for the first time and said that I really enjoyed it. Ok, maybe Tokyo. But that was a LONG time ago.
If you enjoy having plenty to do, and not having to spend hours on sweaty public transport getting between places, (I’m looking at you Bangkok), and is a pleasure to get around on foot seeing attractions, then this is your place. If you are looking to get away for a great, cheap deal on your new electronic items, then this is your place. Are you a foodie? Then guess what? That’s right, this is your place!
Give it a go. You won’t regret it.
Summary
If you are looking for a place to visit, that is away from the ordinary “Go to” destinations, then give Kuala Lumpur a try. I was certainly surprised, and the fact that flights to this international hub are cheap from just about anywhere, I will definitely be returning again soon!
Leave a reply