Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Explore the Batu Caves!

Grab an UBER and take the $3-$5 dollar ride about 25 minutes north of the city to the town of Batu Caves. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, these nearly 400 million year old limestone caves are an absolute must visit if you’re plannning to visit Kuala Lumpur. Towering 140 feet into the sky and painted in gold, The Lord himself will greet you upon arrival. Take 272 steps up to the entrance, accompanied by numerous long tail macaques; but be sure to keep an eye on your stuff, as these guys can be little thieves. Inside the cave you’ll find many colorful Hindu shrines and stunning works of Mother Nature in the form of stalactites and stalagmites.

Stroll through Chinatown!

Whether you’re looking for a good deal on a knockoff purse, watch, or shoes, this is the place to go for a bargain. Head to Petaling Street in central KL and take in the chaos of locals and tourists looking for a deal at one of many vendor stalls. Just around the corner, find the beautiful and colorful Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Enjoy the Views!

No visit to KL is complete without seeing the iconic Petronas Towers. You literally can’t miss them; these world’s tallest twin towers reach 1,483 feet into the sky. For the best view of the towers head over to the Kuala Lumpur Tower about a mile away. This highest viewpoint in KL offers 360 degree views of the city, and the view of the stunning Petronas Towers at night is incredible.

Book a Tour!

TRAIN

You can find domestic trains to KL throughout the Malaysian countryside, and internationally from Thailand, however the 27 hour trip from Bangkok is definitely not the most time effective.

FLY

As the hub for AirAsia, flights to and from Kuala Lumpur International Airport are extremely cheap. Find flights from Indonesia for $16, Thailand for $21, Vietnam for $28, or Singapore for $30 with our favorite flight search site Skyscanner.

Kuala Lumpur Flight Deals

BUS

Buses are not our favorite mode of travel.. The seats are generally cramped, the ride is bumpy, and departure/arrival times can be unpredictable. That said, the departure from Singapore is only $15 for the 5.5-hour drive.

Taxi/Uber

For door-to-door convenience, take an UBER from the airport for $11-$19. A taxi will cost a bit more at $27-$33. Depending on traffic you’re looking at roughly a 45-minute ride to the KL city center.

Train

The fastest way to get into the city is on the KLIA Ekspres train. Arrive at KL Sentral in 28 minutes for about $13.

Bus

For less than $3.00, take either the Skybus, Aerobus, or Star Shuttle bus from the airport to KL Sentral. Note that while this is certainly the cheapest option, expect the longest journey, about an hour depending on traffic.

Walk

Walkscore.com gives Kuala Lumpur a score of 95, calling it a “Walker’s Paradise.” We also found this to be true. Walking around Kuala Lumpur is highly recommended.

Uber

Uber is readily available all over Kuala Lumpur, including to and from the airport.

Metro

Public transport in Kuala Lumpur is very user friendly, with twelve color-coded Metro lines throughout the city. If you plan on using primarily public transit during your KL visit, look into the prepaid MyRapid card or the Touch ‘n Go card.

HOTELS

Kuala Lumpur offers a wide range of hotels including high-end hotels like The Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Hotel for about $200 a night. Typically-priced hotels like Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur City Center and Pacific Regency Hotel Suites go for about $60 a night. We recommend shopping Agoda.com when searching for hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur Hotel Deals

HOSTELS

With just over 80 hostels in Kuala Lumpur, you will likely find one that suits your needs, but it’s always best to plan in advance. Prices generally range from $5-$12 a night for a dorm room, while private rooms cost a bit more at about $13-$30 per night. Hostelworld is our recommended resource when searching for hostels in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur Hostel Deals

AIRBNB

We love Airbnb! From private rooms to entire homes, there are plenty of choices when visiting Kuala Lumpur. If you’re a first-timer with Airbnb, use this coupon and enjoy $35 off of your stay.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Choosing a neighborhood is an important part of trip planning that should not be overlooked! Kuala Lumpur is a large city with 11 districts, each subdivided into their own unique neighborhoods. While our general recommendation is to stay closer to the city center, here are some of the best areas worth considering when deciding where to stay in Kuala Lumpur.

Chinatown

This historic neighborhood is home to the majority of hostels in the city. With endless food stalls, the famous Central Market, and many temples, this neighborhood is at least worth a visit.

Bukit Bintang

Shop until you drop in this centrally located neighborhood. Packed with nightclubs, restaurants, and shopping malls, Bukit Bintang is the shopping neighborhood of KL.

Bangsar Baru

Located just far enough from the city center to the southwest, this residential neighborhood is well-connected and offers up some great views of the city.

KLCC- Kuala Lumpur City Center

With high-end dining, roof top bars, and the magical Petronas Twin Towers, this affluent neighborhood is where the wealthy live and play.

Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips: Tipping

Tipping in Malaysia is not common nor expected. Most restaurants will include a 10% service charge to the bill, which typically goes to the server. If you wish to take care of them specifically, hand it to them in cash.

Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips: Money

Malaysia’s national currency is the Ringgit, and is currently exchanging at 4.44MYR to $1USD. Credit cards in KL are widely accepted and ATM machines are readily available.

Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips: Insurance

Traveling through Kuala Lumpur is exciting and safe, but you never know when some good travel insurance could come in handy. World Nomads offers the best coverage in the business, is affordable, and is quick to act should something go wrong. For more info, check out our recent World Nomads blog post.

If planning to visit Kuala Lumpur, you might want to check out our Kuala Lumpur resource page.

Wanderlust Duo inspiration and advice for over 50 destinations!

Follow Wanderlust Duo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!