Sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
The KL cityscape is stunning
Kuala Lumpur is a feast for the senses and sightseeing around KL is a wonderful way to spend a few days. There is a wealth of history contained in this modern metropolis which belies it’s young age, but the flashy shopping malls of Bukit Bintang and KLCC are also worth exploring as representative of a new age of Malaysian prosperity.
Many people take an organised tour to make sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur that little bit easier. And while this is a good choice for large families, public transport in the city is quick and cheap and less restrictive if you want to spend a little extra time somewhere of particular interest. Alternatively, the continuously circling ‘hop-on/hop-off’ tourist buses are a happy medium and take in the majority of major sights.
Below is a brief guide to sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur, but for detailed listings information visit our page on attractions.
Recommended Kuala Lumpur sightseeing
Think Kuala Lumpur and the majestic Petronas Twin Towers immediately spring to mind. Although they are no longer the world’s tallest buildings, the elegant Arabian-influenced design and innovative hanging walkway are iconic images of the rampant tiger economy.
After a trip to the top why not hang around KLCC shopping mall below to pick up some choice purchases, if you collect your wares at the airport there’s no tax to pay. KLCC Aquarium is also within the same building with sharks, coral and thousands of psychedelic tropical fish. More on the Petronas Towers.
Wandering across KLCC Park’s manicured lawns is a welcome break from fumes and air conditioning. There are many different areas to explore including a paddling area for kids, singing fountain and artificial waterfall. Menara KL Tower also faces the park and although slightly shorter than its more auspicious cousin, actually has a higher viewing deck. Getting here or Skybar at the Trader’s Hotel nearby for sunset is a great idea as you can see the gradual illumination of the cityscape slowly develop.
Chinatown is a fascinating neighbourhood for sightseers in KL boasting gaudy temples, hectic markets and heady restaurants. Buy knock-off DVDs or slogan t-shirts while fake watch salesmen heckle passers-by unmercifully. Then take refuge in a streetside eatery and gorge on noodles, roast duck, fresh seafood and steaming dim sum for just a few dollars.
KL Railway Station boasts unique Anglo-Asian design
Just next to Chinatown is chic Art Deco Central Market. There are more than 100 stalls here flogging antiques, jewellery, textiles and all manner of souvenirs. Prices are a little higher than the less fashionable areas, but for concentration of choice and ease of browsing this really cannot be beaten. Plus there is a fabulous food court on the second floor serving cheap and delicious Malay specialities. More on Central Market.
From outside Central Market you can see Masjid Negara (National Mosque). This Islamic place of worship was designed to resemble Mecca’s Grand Mosque and has 48 small domes around a large central main dome. If you want to see inside this hugely impressive building you must dress conservatively and remove shoes before entering.
Just a short walk away is Dataran Merdeka or Independence Square. This large open space is where the independent nation of Malaya was first founded following the colony’s secession from British rule. Commemorative cricket matches are still occasionally played on the lawn, which is surrounded by colonial era buildings including the National Museum of History and Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
The Moorish-style Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is no longer the city’s main transport hub but remains popular for KL sightseeing tours. There is a mini-museum dedicated to the development of the Malaysian railway system. Considered as culturally significant to architecture as any building of the same period in Southeast Asia, its domes, minarets, arches and spires remain distinctly British but with local flare.
Nearby is the National Museum, newly refurbished and providing a cultural edge to sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian history is described from prehistoric times through to independence, with displays showing traditional village life and priceless finds from archeological digs in the region.
To the west of the city are the impressive Lake Gardens, a vast expanse of parkland and recreation space. The National Monument is housed here and worth strolling towards, while the city’s Bird and Deer Parks and numerous Flower Gardens are also found here for nature-loving sightseeing around Kuala Lumpur.
