Kuala Lumpur Travelers Recommend

At first glance Kuala Lumpur is a multicultural and modern metropolis of skyscrapers, shopping malls, and ethnic enclaves. But this city of 1.8 million people also has a wild side. Here are some of the best places in the area to escape the city and commune with Mother Nature.

Perdana Botanical Garden

Founded in the 1880s, Kuala Lumpur’s oldest public park showcases a variety of flora from all corners of Malaysia, including some 800 species of orchid and hibiscus flower. While popular with locals who come to practice a variety of outdoor activities, the 227-acre (92-hectare) park offers plenty of space to relax amid the greenery.

Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park

Kuala Lumpur is home to one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens, an 80,000-square-foot (7,432-square-meter) space where more than 5,000 live butterflies flit about amid exotic plants and ferns. Learn about the 1,100 butterfly species found in Malaysia or visit the on-site insect museum to get acquainted with bugs and butterflies from around the globe.

KL Bird Park

This spacious aviary outside the city center within Lake Gardens provides a habitat for 3,000 birds representing around 200 species, many of them found only in Asia. Highlights of the park include Hornbill Park, with its big-beaked rhinoceros hornbills, and the colorful World of Parrots. Nature-centric tours of the Malaysian capital often include visits to both KL Bird Park and Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park.

Kuala Selangor Fireflies

One of the world’s most spectacular natural displays takes place in the village of Kuala Selangor after dark each evening. These mangrove forests, situated a couple hours outside the Malaysian capital, are hope to one of the world’s biggest colonies of fireflies, who light up the sky above the darkened river. Visitors can experience this natural wonder on a full-day tour from Kuala Lumpur.

Cameron Highlands

Situated north of Kuala Lumpur, the rolling hills and tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands have provided a cooling escape from the capital for centuries. This popular hill station–the largest in Malaysia–offers many trekking trails, ideal for breathing in the fresh air and exploring the local flora and fauna. Guided day tours to the Cameron Highlands often include a stop at the popular Batu Caves as well.

With three days in Kuala Lumpur, you can do more than just discover the city—you can also experience the attractions that make Malaysia so special: rainforest, elephant sanctuaries, colonial cities, and cruises through the mangroves with fireflies. You won’t be able to do it all but, as you can see below, you will be spoiled for choice.

Day 1: Essential Kuala Lumpur

There’s no better way to get a handle on a new city, particularly one as geographically confusing as Kuala Lumpur, than with a guided city tour. Spend the morning hitting the signature sights within the city limits, from colonial-era architecture such as Masjid Jamek and the King’s Palace to contemporary structures like the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower. In the afternoon, head out to KL’s top attraction, the Hindu Batu Caves temple complex—and watch out for cheeky monkeys. As night falls, join a food tour to discover the city’s rich, multicultural cuisine and explore vibrant areas such as Little India and Chinatown. Finish by soaking up the views from a sky-high observation deck, perhaps in the Petronas Twin Towers.

Day 2: Orchids, Birds, and Fireflies

Kuala Lumpur’s green spaces aren’t immediately obvious at first blush, but they’re most definitely there. Get to know Malaysia’s rich plant and animal life in the Perdana Botanical Garden (Lake Gardens). The Lake Gardens aren’t home to just a world-class selection of orchids, but also to the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park; some tours give you access to all three as well as transportation. After a leisurely lunch, head out to Kuala Selangor, best known for the fireflies that glitter among its mangroves. Enjoy a mangrove cruise, a seafood feast, and exploring the old military fort and royal cemetery that give the town its sense of history.

Day 3: More Malaysia

While you can’t see all of peninsular Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, you can still use your last day in town to see more of the countryside. That could mean a trip to an elephant sanctuary, such as the conservation center at Kuala Gandah: tours often include a stop at an indigenous settlement and a visit to a deer park. It could mean soaking up the history in Melaka (Malacca), a historic trading settlement that’s on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its glorious colonial architecture, or immersing in modern architecture in Malaysia’s seat of government, Putrajaya. Or it could mean taking the opportunity to discover some of the pristine rainforest that still persists only an hour or two from the city itself. Whatever you choose, wrap up the night with a memorable meal, be that a banquet with tribal dancers, a buffet in a revolving restaurant, or fine fusion fare in a skyscraper.

Two days in Kuala Lumpur allow you to look beyond the top sights to areas such as Brickfields, Little India, and Chinatown, and to feast on the city’s unforgettable food. You’ll also have time to take in some of the spectacular natural attractions that await outside the urban borders. Here’s how to relish 48 hours in KL.

Day 1: Essential Kuala Lumpur

**Morning:**Start your Kuala Lumpur sojourn by getting oriented with a guided city tour. Capture photos of signature sights like the Lake Gardens, National Monument, Masjid Jamek, and Petronas Twin Towers. Some tours include stops at a batik factory, the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre pewter workshop, or a chocolate boutique.

**Afternoon:**Kuala Lumpur’s number-one must-see sight lies 9 miles (14 kilometers) or so outside the city borders. Join a tour to the Batu Caves, a series of ancient limestone caverns that have been transformed into stunning Hindu temples, guarded by a giant statue of Lord Murugan—and some cheeky monkeys.

**Night:**After dark is the time to appreciate Kuala Lumpur’s contemporary, high-rise architecture, whether with a sunset cocktail at a rooftop bar, fine dining in a skyscraper, or a buffet at KL Tower’s revolving restaurant. You can also admire the views from the observation deck of the famous Petronas Twin Towers.

Day 2: Fireflies and Feasting

**Morning:**Breakfast and lunch can be some of the best meals in Kuala Lumpur, particularly if your tastes run to Indian breads. Join a morning food tour to discover this multicultural city’s signature cuisines: Indian, Chinese, Malay, and mixed. Walking food tours are often the most atmospheric.

**Afternoon:**Most food tours land you in the heart of town, leaving time for shopping and wandering as you soak up the sights and stalls of Chinatown, Brickfields, and Little India. If crafts are your thing, consider a visit to Central Market, a heritage site transformed into shopping heaven.

**Night:**What better way to cap off a short break in Kuala Lumpur than with a cruise through the mangroves accompanied by thousands of fireflies? Join an evening tour of Kuala Selangor to catch the fireflies at their finest: many tours include a decadent seafood dinner as well as exploration of local historic sights.

To escape the thumping heartbeat of urban life and to tuck into sensational scenery and traditionally brewed tea, visitors and locals head outside Kuala Lumpur to cool-climate hill stations. Here are a few of the best tea plantation tours from Kuala Lumpur.

Full-Day Tours

Cameron Highlands, the most accessible hill station to Kuala Lumpur, is a popular day trip destination for those looking to escape the bustle of the city for a day exploring the countryside. Besides a visit to a tea plantation and tea factory, a full-day Cameron Highlands tour might also include stops at the famous Batu Caves, an aboriginal village, Lata Iskandar waterfall, butterfly garden, strawberry farm, and cactus garden, depending on the option chosen.

Multi-Day Tours

Those with extra time to spare can opt for a multi-day tour through the rolling hills of the Malaysian countryside. The rewards include the opportunity to dive deeper into Malaysian tea culture, all while traveling further afield to places such as Taman Negara National Park, the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Kota Bharu’s wet market, Wan Man island, and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centers of Penang.

Things to Know

• Visit a tea farm to learn about Malaysia’s most popular drink.

• Choose between the value of a small-group tour or the flexibility of private tour with your very own tour guide.

• Day tours from Kuala Lumpur can last upwards of 12 hours.

• Multi-day tour options range from three to seven days.

• See more of the countryside on a multi-day tour that might include a stop at a traditional village, butterfly farm, and a waterfall.

From spectacular street food to city views, historic temples to tropical gardens, and bustling night markets to iconic skyscrapers, it’s hard to get bored of vibrant, multicultural Kuala Lumpur. While natural attractions outside the city merit further attention, it’s easy to check off KL’s signature sights in a single day. Here’s how.

Morning: City Sightseeing

Begin your one day in Kuala Lumpur discovering the city’s signature sights on a guided sightseeing tour. Sneak a first peek at the famous Petronas Twin Towers, establish how districts such as Little India and Chinatown slot together, and get a handle on the city’s confusing geography. Absorb colonial architecture, such as Masjid Jamek mosque and the King’s Palace, alongside more modern attractions like the National Monument and KL Tower. Some tours include stops at craft stores or outlets such as the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre pewter workshops.

Afternoon: Temple Touring

Get a handle on Malaysia’s multicultural diversity by touring some of Kuala Lumpur’s myriad religious monuments. Besides the wealth of Chinese temples in Chinatown and the Indian temples that adorn Little India and beyond, don’t miss the Batu Caves. These ancient limestone caverns have been transformed into a sanctuary to the Indian Hindu deity Lord Murugan, who stands guard over them in gold. The cave system is about a half hour from central Kuala Lumpur. Some tours include stops at craft centers, other religious monuments, and city highlights.

Night: Food Frenzy

As evening arrives, Kuala Lumpur really comes into its own—and that’s not only because of the glittering lights that bedeck skyscrapers and colonial buildings alike. Whether your tastes run to Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, or fusion foods, KL street food provides a feast for all the senses, and joining a food tour is a spectacular way to get a taste of the city. If formal dining is more your speed, Atmosphere 360—the revolving restaurant set 925 feet (282 meters) above the city in the Kuala Lumpur Tower—delivers epic city views, as does the observation deck in the Petronas Twin Towers. 

The multi-ethnic population of Malaysia is reflected in the culinary scene of Kuala Lumpur, where Malay, Chinese, and Indian techniques and ingredients combine to form delicious dishes worthy of any foodie's bucket list.Here are a few dishes and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Like neighboring Singapore, Kuala Lumpur loves its street food and food courts, where you'll find some of the city's tastiest dishes. Nasi lemak, Malaysia's national dish, is a heaping plate of coconut-infused steamed rice topped with fried chicken, fried anchovies, peanuts, fresh cucumber, and fiery sambal. Aromatic spices like star anise, cardamom and clove complement coconut milk, ginger, and fresh herbs in many typical Malay dishes.

Lovers of spice should definitely try curry laksa, a noodle soup made with a coconut curry broth and chicken. Roadside stalls throughout the city sell roti canai, an Indian-style bread often dipped in dal, sambal, or mutton curry. There's also Peranakan food, a fusion of Malay and Chinese flavors birthed by centuries of Chinese immigrants in Malaysia. One of the most recognizable Peranakan dishes is chili crab, popular in both Malaysia and Singapore.

Must-Do Experiences

• SampleKuala Lumpur's breadth of flavors on a walking tour through its ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown or the Chow Kit district and its wet market
• Tour the city's massive, open-air hawker centers to eat Malay and Peranakan dishes like a local
• Learn all the tricks of the trade in a private Malaysian cooking class