Hi, my name is Marta, I am Portuguese and I have been living in Kuala Lumpur for some time now. When I have some free time I love to explore all the activities and attractions this city (and surroundings) has to offer! I will like to share my Top 10 things to do on holiday in Kuala Lumpur. Please note that it does not follow a specific order.
1. SkyTrex Adventure
This is one must: don’t leave Kuala Lumpur without having an extreme experience. Are you afraid of heights? Get over it here!
Start by paying close attention to the security briefing and believe me, if you follow the rules everything will go well. After that comes the ladder climbing, the sliding and the going from tree to tree walking on a single suspended rope, the monkey bar and a lot of other obstacles. The activity takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete and it is totally worth it!
Positive evaluation on the staff that is always extremely helpful. One tip: get some gloves (3 RM) upon arrival!
2. Little India
Little India is a residential region located in Brickfields just outside the center of Kuala Lumpur. This name comes from the high concentration of Indian residents in the area and is always crowded and busy especially during the Hindu holidays! The combination of colors, smells and frenetic energy make it worth to visit. And of course: the cheese naan is to die for!
3. Sunset at the Helipad
It’s true that in Kuala Lumpur you can find a number of amazing rooftop bars like Sky Bar, Marini’s on the 57th, Luna Bar, the Roof… and the list goes on and on. My personal choice is the Helipad, a recent rooftop bar that open around Bukit Bintang area. It is a completely open space with a 360 view to the city. This is “the place” to go after a long day of work to have a beer or a cocktail with friends and if you are lucky enough to get there between 6pm to 7pm and you will have the opportunity to watch the sunset over the city skyline (well, fingers crossed to get a clear sky). The experience is simply amazing!
4. Sunway Lagoon
With weather like this: hot during the day; hot during the night, I bet you would like to spend the day surrounded by water… Well, you can! Sunway Lagoon is a water park located less than a 45 minutes drive from KLCC. Although it has the usual attractions (except for a suspended bridge over the pool all the rest is pretty common), Sunway Lagoon always gives you a day well spend! Go there early and be prepared that by the end of the day, all you want is a nice meal and a good night sleep!
5. Shopping , Shopping, Shopping
Kuala Lumpur is “the place” to shop! You can find anything, from any brand (or non-branded) at a wide range of prices. Do you fancy famous and luxurious brands like Louis Vuitton? Go to Suria KLCC right next to the Petronas Towers (and obviously get the opportunity to take a picture grabbing the towers). Or would you prefer to buy cheap but perfect imitations? Try Chinatown, you can ALWAYS bargain on the price. Local Brands? Times Square is the place and it goes on and on. Honestly, I have never saw a city with so many malls and places to shop!!! So while in KL don’t miss all this shopping!
6. Genting Highlands
In Genting Highlands you can find anything: hotels, huge malls, a theme park, a casino… There is so much to do that if you have time spend two days there: do some shopping, eat in the huge variety of restaurants, win (hopefully some money) in the casino and end your night at the “Patio”. Sleep on the fourth biggest hotel in the World, the First World Hotel and hit the rollercoasters the next day! You won’t regret it. Just one advice: bring some coats, it will be cold!
7. Try delicious food!
It is not easy to define Malaysia gastronomy, it’s a mix! You will find mainly Chinese and Indian cuisines but also other types of food, inspired in other countries around Southeast Asia like Indonesia, Vietnam or Thailand. The majority involves noodles or rice mixed with the most various things: try everything, from pataya rice (thai) to naan or roti with tandoori chicken (indian). One must is the Nasi Lemak (something we can say it’s typical in Malaysia and has for basis rice boiled in coconut milk, dried fish, peanuts, boiled egg and an amazing, slightly spicy sauce). You will find it everywhere wrapped in banana leaf, it is a real treat (and if you want the real experience let go of the fork and the spoon and eat it with your hands!!).
8. Bukit Tabur
Hiking is another activity you should not miss. Go to Bukit Tabur, a hill located in Taman Melawati, and enjoy an amazing panoramic view to Kuala Lumpur and surroundings. To go up there are two different paths: the west route and the east route. Both routes will take around two hours to go up (and down). It is safer to go with someone who knows the route and remember to take standard safety precautions such as checking the weather forecast and wear appropriate hiking clothing. The best view of Kuala Lumpur is waiting for you on the mountain top!
9. Chow Kit Wet Market
In Malaysia, a wet market is one that sells fresh food, from vegetables to fish. Kuala Lumpur has a number of them but Chow Kit is where you will find the biggest one. The market operates daily and is best visited in early morning. Be prepared though, it is messy, smelly and the alleys are really small. Once you get in it is not easy to get out without going to the far end other end. Despite all of that it’s a must to check out this market and witness how the locals shop for their groceries!
10. Batu Caves
This attraction never misses a list of “What to do in Kuala Lumpur”. You can get to the train from Kuala Lumpur Sentral via a 25 minutes train ride or by bus. The main draw from this famous Hindu tourist attraction is the giant golden statue of Lord Murugan and the 272 steps to reach the main caves (don’t worry, the steps are not as bad as they look). Other than the caves, the monkeys around the area has become mini attractions on their own. Be careful with your belongings, they are pretty curious creatures!
And if after this you still have time, you can find other attractions in platforms like VibeHero
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