A reliable and fast-growing new city since the 90s, Kuala Lumpur is now one of the most modern capitals in Southeast Asia, offering a perfect blend of old and new to make it a great destination for tourists to explore. The people here are also famous for their friendliness and most of them speak English.
When should I go?
The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur is between November and May when the weather is pleasant. Summer attracts many Middle Eastern tourists, while the end of the year is made even more attractive by the great deals – in particular the Malaysian Mega Sale where everything from the country is on sale.
Festival highlights?
One of the most prominent festivals on earth is Thaipusam, which is held annually in January at the Batu Caves. Every year, it attracts over a million visitors. The festival is where incredible vows and feats are performed by devotees as they trek to the cave temple. Thaipusam is one of the festivals that cannot be missed if you are a tourist in Kuala Lumpur who wants to witness the culture and identity of this city.
What to eat?
While guidebooks often recommend the two famous streets of Petaling Street and Jalan Alor, for a truly local culinary experience, visit Pudu Wai Sek Kai Food Street, just a 20-minute walk from Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang area. Here, authentic Malaysian street food is still being prepared the traditional way by the locals. The street is open daily from 4pm until around midnight.
What souvenirs to buy?
Any product made with durian is a great and interesting souvenir to bring back to your friends and family back home. It is well known that durian is native to Malaysia and is one of the most unique fruits in the world. Taking advantage of this, local industries have come up with many creative ideas to incorporate durian in the production of souvenir products with the local spirit. Chocolates, cookies, cakes, snacks, coffee or even makeup... combined with durian are things you should keep in mind when visiting souvenir shops in Malaysia.
Sustainable travel tips
The new generation of travelers is always conscious of protecting the environment in every step. Moving around the capital Kuala Lumpur, it is best to just walk or use the modern subway system. A special "KL Tourist Card" is always sold at KL Sentral - Kuala Lumpur's main transportation hub and this card allows you to easily travel around the city using many types of public transportation.
Iconic destinations
In addition to the famous Petronas Twin Towers, which are always photographed by tourists day or night as a "symbol" to mark their arrival in Malaysia, Batu Caves - with a giant 140-foot-tall statue of Lord Murugan in front of the entrance leading to the caves - is also an iconic destination of Kuala Lumpur that tourists pay attention to "check-in".
Statue of Hindu god Murugan at the entrance of Batu Caves.
