By rail
KL Sentral, the city's rail hub
Southeast Asia · Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Twin towers, street food and hill temples
Getting there
By air
Kuala Lumpur International (KUL), ~55 km; the KLIA Ekspres takes ~30 min
Best time to visit
May to July — the least rainy months
Don't miss
The Petronas Twin Towers
Batu Caves
Merdeka Square
Central Market
Things to do
The Petronas Towers skybridge
The Batu Caves
Jalan Alor at night
The KL Forest Eco Park canopy walk
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Brownc · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Light clothes, a cover-up for mosques and temples, an umbrella
A quieter corner
Thean Hou Temple on Robson Hill, with views over the city
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur?
May to July, the least rainy months. Pack light clothes, an umbrella and a cover-up for mosques and temples.
How do I get from the airport into Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur International (KUL) is about 55 km out, and the KLIA Ekspres takes around 30 minutes. KL Sentral is the city's rail hub.
What shouldn't I miss in Kuala Lumpur?
The Petronas Towers skybridge, the Batu Caves and Merdeka Square, plus the KL Forest Eco Park canopy walk. For views over the city, head to Thean Hou Temple on Robson Hill.
What should I eat in Kuala Lumpur, and where?
Nasi lemak, and roti canai at the mamak stalls. After dark, wander Jalan Alor's night food street.
About Kuala Lumpur
- Riverside
Where it is
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia, in the Klang Valley on the west side of the Malay Peninsula, where the Klang and Gombak rivers meet, with the forested Titiwangsa Mountains to the east.
History
Kuala Lumpur began around 1857 as a tin-mining settlement at the river confluence, and under the Chinese leader Yap Ah Loy it grew into a boom town. The British made it the capital of Selangor in 1880 and of the Federated Malay States in 1896; independence was proclaimed here in 1957, and it has been Malaysia's capital since the federation was formed in 1963.
People
Kuala Lumpur's people are Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians, with many smaller communities, and Malay, English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil are all heard on its streets. Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali are celebrated with open houses, and the food mixes all these traditions, from nasi lemak to roti canai.
Known for
- The Petronas Twin Towers
- Batu Caves and its giant golden statue
- Merdeka Square's Moorish-style buildings
- Street food on Jalan Alor
- The KL Forest Eco Park canopy walk
Did you know?
Kuala Lumpur means muddy confluence in Malay, after the meeting of the Klang and Gombak rivers where the town began, a spot marked today by the Masjid Jamek mosque.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.