The Best Things to do in Kuala Lumpur: 2 day itinerary
Updated: 3 days ago
Kuala Lumpur is a big crossroads in Southeast Asia, and it’s a city with a lot to offer. Two days is a perfect amount of time to spend here, allowing you to get the most out of your trip. This post is a 2 day itinerary that will tell you the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur, as well as some top tips and advice for your visit.
If you’re planning trips from Kuala Lumpur, I’d highly recommend Borneo or Brunei! There are very cheap flights to both places all the time.
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How to Get Around Kuala Lumpur
If you fly in and out of KLIA Airport, I’d highly recommend taking the train. It’s very efficient and takes you from the centre right into the terminal. Otherwise, Grab taxis are a great option to get around, and a lot of the centre is walkable as well.
The Best Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur
Batu Caves
Visiting Batu Caves is one of the most popular things to do in Kuala Lumpur. While they’re not in the city, you can easily get there in a taxi or by public bus as it’s not a long drive from the centre. The main cave with the iconic rainbow steps is free to visit, and there are some additional caves you can see if you’re interested. These ones aren’t free to enter but cost between 5 and 10 MYR (approx. 88p - £1.75), and are fully painted and filled with statues and small temples. The big cave on top of the rainbow steps is not massive or as impressive as other cave systems in Southeast Asia, but I’d say the steps here are the main attraction. I'd recommend getting there early to avoid the heat and the crowds of tour buses. You can visit the entire site in around 2 hours. Be careful of the monkeys!
Petronas Towers and KLCC Park
The Petronas Towers are Kuala Lumpur’s main landmark. They are great to visit, and you get a good view of them from KLCC park at their entrance. The KLCC shopping mall that they are a part of is also impressive (and has good air conditioning!).
Central Market
Central Market has good shopping opportunities for souvenirs and art from the multiple shops, stalls, and galleries. There is also a food court.
Perdana Botanic Garden
Perdana Botanic Garden and the KL butterfly park are great areas outside of the city to walk around and relax. The botanic garden is free to enter, but the butterfly park costs 34 MYR (approx. £5.95) for a ticket. The area also has a bird park, but I did some research and did not trust the ethics of it, so didn’t go in. There is also an observatory, but unfortunately it was closed when I visited.
National Mosque of Malaysia
The National Mosque of Malaysia is a very impressive building from the outside. Unfortunately I could not visit the inside as it was prayer time, but it would definitely be worth it if you can.
Chinatown/ Petaling Street
Petaling street is one of the busiest streets in KL, and is good to walk through for shopping and to find food.
Jalan Alor
If you’re looking for some Malaysian or other Southeast Asian cuisine, Jalan Alor is the perfect place to visit at night for street food. There are so many options and it has a great atmosphere too.
How Much to Budget for Kuala Lumpur
My daily average in Malaysia was around £25/day, which included food, transport, activities, accommodation, and my SIM card. Kuala Lumpur was more expensive than Borneo, but otherwise it was very affordable. Hostels range between £5 and £15 per night depending on location, and you can get food for between £1 and £5 per meal.
I hope this provides a good guide for the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur. It's got a lot to offer and is a fun place to explore. As always, look after the places you visit, and only leave your footprints behind :)
Don't forget to check out my other posts on south east Asia:
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