Malaysia is a country where you can find an abundance of places such as remote beaches, penthouses with infinity pools, markets, skyscrapers, temples, and more amazing architecture. I loved the diversity that the city of Kuala Lumpur had to offer. Though the center of the city is quite fancy, the country itself is actually very affordable to travel in, making it a popular destination for backpackers. I traveled here via bus for three days after exploring Singapore, and was extremely happy with all the sights I was able to see.
I recommend staying at least three days in KL to make sure you have time to see everything. Much of the city is reachable on foot or via train, but since it was cheap I used the Grab app to call taxis around the city. With the tropical weather, delicious food, and affordable accommodations, you really can’t go wrong traveling here! Here are the places that I definitely recommend seeing:
Petaling Street & Chinatown
The Chinatown district of KL is always very lively and has a ton of cultural aspects to enjoy. When exploring a new country, my strategy is always to usually start with the local market to see what the downtown area was like. That is why I chose to come here early in the day, though most places are usually open until around 11pm or later. The market on Petaling Street had an array of knockoff handbags and interesting items. I managed to score a seemingly authentic-looking Ted Baker bag for less than $50. Prices here are open to negotiation, and I recommend that you look around!
If you’re not into shopping. there is still a lot to see around this area because it’s very close to KL’s central transit station. I explored the local Sri Mahamariamman Temple, which is the oldest Hindu temple in the city. I also got some local street food that tasted amazing! I recommend that you try the local fried rice dishes and curry here.
I also tried “ABC Ice”, which is a very unique Malaysian spin on shaved ice:
The top of it tasted like traditional shaved ice you find in Japan–it was topped with condensed milk which made it extremely sweet and delicious. However, at the bottom it was filled with jelly cubes, sweet beans, and this mysterious green noodle sweet I had never tasted before! It was refreshing, but the texture of the toppings they placed at the bottom as a bit too much for me… However, I was happy that I tried it!
The Batu Caves
The Batu Caves is a beautiful area with rainbow stairs leading to a limestone cave with temples inside. There are actually a total of five caves, but the central ones with the golden statue of Lord Murugan are the most frequented. Though the hill looks steep, it actually only takes approximately 8 minutes to climb. The caves are extremely gorgeous, and this trip is a relaxing escape from the city that only takes approximately 30 minutes to reach. I enjoyed sipping on some fresh coconut juice while going on this short hike. To reach the Dark Cave, it is required you book a tour, but you can see the majority of the area without one.
Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers are an iconic landmark of KL and are currently the tallest twin towers in the world. At night they light up and you can find groups of people gathered around them because they are in the heart of the city. When you first enter them, you will find an upscale shopping district called Suria KLCC. However, on the 41st and 42nd floor, you will find the skybridge that connects the two towers. You can go up to the top and take some stunning photos. This is an ingenious design because it saves a ton of time walking through here rather than from one building to the other. This very well could be the future of architecture!
Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is the main bar street of KL, and there’s a lot of adventures to be had here! Though I only had two nights to explore it, I came across this upscale Asian bistro called Opium that I really enjoyed. They had a ton of Asian cuisine (Thai, Maylasian, Japanese, Vietnamese), as well as some fascinating cocktails. I tried the spiced rum and coffee cocktails. Though they were a bit pricey, just two of them got me pretty tipsy.
I then briefly popped into the club called Zion (Sieg Zion)! The pro was that it was free, the con was that it played mainly American hiphop music with no variety, but I was bought a handful of drinks by locals so it was a night well spent. The club was big enough to dance, and I’m curious to know what the music selection is like on other nights.
Final Thoughts
Though this might not be the first trip on your itinerary, as someone who’s lived in Asia for a while, I can definitely say traveling here is like a breath of fresh air. The country is extremely safe, and I enjoyed experiencing the culture of the people that live here. It feels familiar because everyone speaks English, but also extremely foreign at the same time. The biggest culture shock for me was that people eat rice with their bare hands! However, people were extremely polite and kind to me, and it reminded me of Thailand at times. Please consider taking a trip here.