Things to do in Kuala Lumpur: sights and a 3 to 5-day plan

Petronas Towers, a Hindu temple in a cave, mosques, giant malls and street food: Kuala Lumpur takes three to five days to discover, as a couple or with the family. Here are the sights not to miss, a day-by-day plan and the best areas to stay.

At a glance

• How long: three days for the highlights, five to add Putrajaya, Malacca or the Genting highlands.
• Who for: couples, families, shoppers.
• Food: halal food is everywhere; look for the JAKIM certification logo.
• Weather: hot and humid, with frequent late-day showers: keep indoor sights for the afternoon.

The Petronas Towers and KLCC Park

The city's symbol, the Petronas Twin Towers rise 452 m over 88 floors. The visit takes you across the skybridge linking the towers on floors 41 and 42, about 170 m above the ground, then up to the observation deck on floor 86. Part of the tickets are sold online in advance: book your slot before you travel, especially in the holidays.

At the foot of the towers, KLCC Park and its water play area are popular with children, and the Aquaria KLCC aquarium is perfect on a rainy afternoon. The Suria KLCC mall is in the same complex.

Batu Caves

North of the city, Batu Caves house a Hindu temple inside a limestone hill. You climb a colourful staircase of 272 steps, watched over by a golden statue of Lord Murugan about 43 m tall. The KTM Komuter train leaves from KL Sentral, and Batu Caves station is the end of the line. Go early in the morning, before the heat and the crowds.

National Mosque and Islamic Arts Museum

Near the Perdana Botanical Garden, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia has twelve permanent galleries: manuscripts, ceramics, textiles and models of mosques from around the world. It stands right next to the National Mosque (Masjid Negara). Half a day covers both, and the garden offers shade for a walk.

Bukit Bintang, Arab Street and Chinatown

Bukit Bintang is the shopping district: Pavilion, Berjaya Times Square and Lot 10 malls, and Jalan Alor food street in the evening. Close by, on Jalan Berangan, Ain Arabia, nicknamed Kuala Lumpur's Arab Street, gathers restaurants and cafés serving Arabic food. Further south, Chinatown centres on Petaling Street and Central Market, for crafts and low prices.

Putrajaya, Malacca and the highlands

Putrajaya, the administrative capital, takes half a day: its pink mosque on the lake is the best-known view. Malacca, a historic World Heritage city, is a day trip. For cooler air, Genting and the Cameron Highlands are reachable from the capital: see Genting and Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur.

Sample plan

• Day 1: Petronas Towers and KLCC Park, the aquarium, evening in Bukit Bintang.
• Day 2: Batu Caves in the morning, Chinatown and Central Market in the afternoon.
• Day 3: National Mosque, Islamic Arts Museum and Perdana Garden, dinner around Jalan Alor or Ain Arabia.
• Days 4 and 5: Putrajaya, then Malacca or the Genting highlands.

For a beach after the city, read Langkawi or Penang. Travelling in December? See Malaysia in December.

Where to stay

Bukit Bintang suits shopping and evenings out, KLCC suits views of the towers and the park (great for families), Chinatown suits tighter budgets. From the international airport, the KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in about thirty minutes. Our guide Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur compares the areas.

On our Hotels in Malaysia page, enter your dates to see live rates in Kuala Lumpur. From Algeria, you pay in dinars (BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly agency), without a bank card. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

Entry rules depend on your nationality. For Algerian citizens, in principle no visa is needed for a short tourist stay; the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) must be completed online before the trip. Check the current conditions with the embassy or the official website before you travel.