Kuala Lumpur for children and kids activities
Indoor rollercoaster on top of Times Square Mall
It is easy for young people and kids in Kuala Lumpur to have a great time as there are many great spectacles to enjoy and treats to explore. And with such a number of dedicated activities for children in KL to choose from, you must be careful not to let them take over the whole of your holiday!
Of course it is extremely hot and humid in the city so it is especially important to ensure children in Kuala Lumpur stay hydrated, wear hats and sunscreen plus avoid the blistering midday heat wherever possible. Many of the high-end hotels have nurseries if you don’t want to subject the kids to hours of being dragged around KL shopping malls searching for cut-price fashion.
While most of Kuala Lumpur city is very child-friendly, certain religious sites may not be appropriate for very young children, who could be prone to crying or yelling out, thus disturbing worshippers. It may also be a wise move to leave baby buggies and strollers at the hotel as pavements often become blocked with all sorts of obstacles, such as cars and trees.
For getting about, the heat, traffic and pollution make it hard-going for those with kids, so it may be wise to use taxis or take advantage of the cheap and efficient metro system – a seemingly space-age wonder in itself for kids in Kuala Lumpur.
Activities and attractions for children in Kuala Lumpur
A great starting point are the Petronas Twin Towers and surrounding KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) Park. The towers stand at 88 stories high and they are currently the third tallest skyscrapers in the world at a staggering 1,483ft. Although not for the faint hearted, kids on holiday in Kuala Lumpur love going up to the Skybridge level and walking between the two buildings. For more on the Petronas Twin Towers.
A quick tour of the KLCC Mall (directly below the towers) is a fun way to kill half-an-hour for children in Kuala Lumpur, and especially useful for a resolve-restoring cup of decent coffee for shell-shocked parents. There are hundreds of fashion boutique, jewellery shops and restaurants here so make sure to stock up on souvenirs while you have the chance.
Great fun at Desa Water Park!
And found within the mall is the fascinating and educational KLCC Aquarium. Featuring 60,000 square-feet containing more than 250 different species of aquatic life, it is a real eye-opener for any nature-loving youngsters in Kuala Lumpur. There is even the opportunity to dive with real life sharks for those brave enough! (Open daily 8:00 – 20:00, admission: RM28/18 adult/child)
Out in the fresh air KLCC Park borders the twin towers and mall and is crammed with things for children in Kuala Lumpur to enjoy. There are wading pools with waterfalls, a two-acre modern playground, musical fountain, sculptures, artificial lake plus plenty of grass and shady trees for adults to relax by. (Open daily 24 hours, admission: free)
And just around the corner is Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, a real rainforest in the centre of the city. There are trails throughout the misty jungle as well as more parks and playgrounds to enjoy. Rangers can teach kids in KL about the variety of tropical species that live in the canopy including long-tailed macaques, squirrels and silver leaf monkeys. (Jalan Punack, open 07:00 – 18:00 with tours at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, tel +60 (0)3 2020 5448, admission: free)
A short taxi ride from the city centre brings visitors to Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, one of the most unique attractions for young people in Kuala Lumpur. This is the world’s largest walk-in aviary containing 50,000 birds from around 50 different species. Kids in KL will be wide-eyed in wonder when confronted with flamingos, hornbills, pelicans, and parrots. (Open 9.00 – 18.00, 920 Jalan Cenderawasih, tel +60 (0)3 2272 1010, info@klbirdpark.com, admission RM42/32 adult/child)
And within walking distance are also Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park (Open daily 09:00 – 18:00, Jalan Cenderawasih, tel +60 (0)32693 4799, admission: RM5/1 adult/child) – featuring thousands of native butterflies and a great museum – and the Deer Park. Here children in KL can feed many different species of the mammal, including the world’s smallest variety of mouse deer which is actually the same size as a rodent. (Open daily 09:00 – 18:00, admission: free)
Visiting the Craft Museum is a popular activity for kids in Kuala Lmpur. There are lots of dioramas with detailed scenes depicting the age-old processes of intricate wood carving, pottery making, smelting silver, weaving traditional pandan leaves or songket cloth, boat making and stamping fabric with batik patterns. (Open daily 08.45 – 18.00, +60 (0)3-2162 7459, Jalan Conlay, admission: free)
Central Market (Pasar Seni) has a nice selection of handicrafts and toys for children in KL such as brightly coloured kites. Flying kites is a national hobby of Malaysia with many different styles popular. Why not take moon kites (wan bulan), bird kites or cat kites to the park to try them out? More on Central Market.
And if the stifling heat of the city gets too much then why not venture out to one of the city’s water parks. Children in Kuala Lumpur on holiday love nothing more than the slides, waves and bubbles of Sunway Lagoon (Petaling Jaya) or Desa Water Park (Taman Danau Desa). More on Kuala Lumpur amusement parks.
Another educational spot worth taking youngsters in KL is the National Planetarium. This is among the most popular attractions for children in Kuala Lumpur due to the 14in working telescope in the observatory room which allows young stargazers the chance to stare into distant galaxies. (Open 10:00 – 17:00 (closed Monday), Jalan Perdana, tel +60 (0) 3-2273-4303, admission: RM3/2 adult/under-12s)
