Kuala Lumpur is the vibrant and culturally diverse capital city of Malaysia, a must visit for backpackers in South East Asia
For those of you searching for an exciting city break, full of budget friendly activities and impressive sightseeing, Kuala Lumpur will definitely impress you!
Within this guide, I will help you plan your unforgettable trip to Kuala Lumpur. From discussing the best time to visit, the best places to eat on a budget and the best places to stay to providing you with the perfect to do list for your time in Malaysia’s alluring capital city, this blog post has everything you need!
Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide
Here, you will find everything you need to know about planning your trip to Kuala Lumpur.
If you are searching for a specific topic or you would prefer to only read about the top things to do in Kuala Lumpur then use the contents table above to quickly find what you need.
Best Time to Visit Kuala Lumpur
Due to its tropical climate, Kuala Lumpur is a great all year round destination. You can expect a hot and humid climate so be sure to pack accordingly!
It is recommended to visit between May and September as this is the typical ‘dry season’ with low chances of rainfall and a whole lot of sunshine.
Dry Season: May – September (Expect lower chances of rain during these months with on average 8 hours of sunshine per day)
Wet Season: October – April (There are two monsoon seasons in Kuala Lumpur, the first in March – April and the second in October – January. Thunderstorms are frequent in these months)
Don’t worry if you are visiting during the wet season as there is a lot of cover throughout the city and the rain is unlikely to cause any major disruption to your day.
How to Get to Kuala Lumpur
Unless you are departing from Singapore, it is most likely that you will be arriving into Kuala Lumpur International Airport by plane.
I recommend checking out Air Asia if you are already in South East Asia as they have cheaper flights than other airlines.
If arriving from Singapore (or travelling to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur) you can book a bus ticket for approximately £10.00 which is great value for money. I actually really recommend pairing a visit to Singapore with your trip to Kuala Lumpur due to this low cost travel route!
Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
I would recommend staying in one of the following three areas whilst in Kuala Lumpur:
China Town (my personal preference) – I would recommend staying in China Town if you like being in walking distance from street food, budget friendly restaurants, markets and shopping centres. For backpackers, I would really recommend basing yourself here.
A great mid-range hotel to stay at is Cojoy Hotel for an average of £40.00 per night for a double/twin room.
Bukit Bintang – Another great area to stay in Kuala Lumpur, especially if you prefer a modern and bustling city vibe. You will be staying within walking distance of the Petronas Towers, popular street food and plenty of restaurants.
KLCC – The city centre is another great place to stay putting you in a prime location for main attractions.
The easiest way of getting around Kuala Lumpur is by Grab. It is a quick and cost effective way of travelling around the city. The majority of journeys within the city centre should only cost around £3.00
I also walked to many attractions from my hotel in China Town to save money. Unlike other large cities in South East Asia, Kuala Lumpur has great walkways and pavements, making it very easy to navigate the city by foot.
How Long to Stay in Kuala Lumpur
I would recommend spending 3 nights in Kuala Lumpur to really experience life in the capital city of Malaysia. Although you can cram in the main attractions in 2 days, there is a lot to see in Kuala Lumpur and it is a great place to spend a few extra nights as a backpacker due to being so budget friendly.
The Best Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur
Batu Caves
If you have seen photos of one place in Malaysia, it is likely that it would be of Batu Caves. Batu Caves are dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. You will encounter a gigantic statue of Lord Murugan at the entrance of the caves after walking up beautifully coloured steps. This is the second largest statue in the world of a Hindu god.
Entry is completely free to the Batu Caves, however, I recommend bringing a small amount of cash for offerings and souvenirs,
Besides being a significantly important cultural sight, Batu Caves attracts huge numbers of tourists due to its extremely colourful decoration which makes it aesthetically one of the most unique temples in the country.
Once you climb the 272 steps, you will arrive at a huge cave with a 100 metre high ceiling with slight openings which let in the perfect amount of natural light. The formations within the cave are approximately 400 million years old!
Tips for visiting Batu Caves:
- Dress appropriately, women should cover their shoulders and knees, men should cover their shoulders.
- Opening Hours: 07:00 am – 21:00 pm – I recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid crowds and the midday heat.
- Be mindful of your belongings especially food and drink as there are many monkeys in the area.
- Bring mosquito repellent, especially if visiting in the morning or evening.
- The easiest way to get to Batu Caves is by Grab or Taxi as it is located just outside the city. Depending on the traffic, the journey will take approximately 45 minutes.
Petronas Twin Towers
These magnificent twin towers are Kuala Lumpur’s iconic landmark and hold the world record of the tallest twin towers.
I recommend visiting at night as the towers are illuminated and look even more impressive. You are sure to catch many glimpses of these spectacular towers as you wander through the city of Kuala Lumpur.
You can purchase tickets online here if you would like to visit the sky bridge and observation deck. An adult ticket is 98 RM (approximately £17.50).
Backpacker Recommendation: Visit KLCC Park for the Lake Symphony light and sound show at 8 pm, 9 pm and 10 pm daily. This is a free fountain show in front of the towers, a great way to end your day of sightseeing.
Little India Brickfields
This is the largest ‘Little India’ in Malaysia, filled with an abundance of Indian culture, businesses and restaurants. You can easily walk here from KL Sentral.
You can explore Thean Hou Temple which is one of the largest Chinese temples in South East Asia.
If you love Indian food then you will be in for a treat here, be sure to try the authentic banana leaf rice dish.
Restaurant Recommendation (Delicous and Budget Friendly!)
Maya Mess is a vegetarian restaurant in Little India serving traditional Indian food. I recommend trying the banana leaf dish here for an authentic experience.
Explore Kwai Chai Hong Street Murals
Kwai Chai Hong translates to ‘Little Demon Alley’ which is believed to have gotten its name from the naughty children who used to live on this street. The alleyway is full of beautiful street murals, many of which are interactive such as a real skipping rope in front of murals of children playing on the street.
You will also find the oldest street lamp in Kuala Lumpur here, from around 1903.
If you need another reason to visit, admission is completely free!
Visit Bukit Bintang
If you are a shopaholic then Bukit Bintang will be your best friend. Here you will find the most lively shopping and entertainment district in Kuala Lumpur.
Berjaya Times Square is in fact one of the largest buildings in the world, and Kuala Lumpur’s largest shopping centre. You will come across many international designer brands here.
Backpacker Recommendation: Obviously on a budget you will most likely be skipping the shopping part of this recommendation. I still would recommend that you visit Jalan Bukit Bintang at night as it has such a vibrant atmosphere with its gigantic billboards and colourful lighting.
Jalan Alor Night Market
Jalan Alor’s food night market is the place to be if you are looking to try a variety of Malaysian dishes and snacks. To be honest, you can find food for cheaper prices throughout the city at local restaurants, the prices are inflated here as it is a tourist hot spot.
The majority of stalls will start to set up between 4.30 and 5.30 so it is best to visit after 6 pm for the best experience. Be prepared for large crowds as this is a popular place to visit.
Here you can try durian (a very popular delicacy in Malaysia and most of Asia), fresh fruit smoothies, dumplings, roti and much more.
Central Market
Central Market is a cultural hub full of Malaysian arts and crafts, food and souvenirs. Here, you will find many affordable locally owned shops selling beautiful and unique products ranging from clothing to household items and keepsakes.
This building has a lot of cultural value as it has existed since 1888 when it was once a ‘wet market’ selling a range of fresh food.
Backpackers, be sure to visit to find yourself a souvenir from your trip to Kuala Lumpur.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
Situated at the border of China Town, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is the oldest in Kuala Lumpur, founded in 1873. It is decorated in a colourful South Indian design and has a tower that rises almost 23 metres above the temple showcasing Hindu gods.
Free Entry – just pay 20 cents to leave your shoes outside before entering.
KL Tower
KL Tower is one of Kuala Lumpur’s main attractions and is a great place to get a 360 view of the capital city of Malaysia.
There are other activities here including the sky box, sky deck, observation deck and tower walk. You can book here
An observation deck ticket costs under £10 so is suitable for backpackers on a budget!
Guan Di Temple
Guan Di Temple is an impressive Chinese taoist temple located in China Town. All religions are welcome without restriction and entrance is free, making it a perfect stop on your Kuala Lumpur itinerary.
UR-MU Gallery
UR-MU is a modern art exhibition ranging from photographs and paintings to sculptures and video displays.
Ticket Cost: 20 RM (£3.50)
Backpacker Restaurant Recommendations in KL
One thing you can be sure of when visiting Kuala Lumpur is that the food is delicious and great value for backpackers on a budget!
With a strong Indian influence, you can expect to find great Indian dishes including roti which is great any time of the day.
I will share a few of my favourite recommendations with you below:
Pappadom Restaurant – The best Indian restaurant I tried in Kuala Lumpur with the best prices, you can get a meal for as cheap as 9 RM (£1.50). You will find vegetarian and meat options here.
Restoran Ali-Sons – You will find the BEST roti canai here for just 3 RM (£0.50) – I ended up eating it for breakfast everyday whilst in KL!
NO.81 Mochi 81 – Great authentic mochi for just 5 RM (£0.88). A must try and very popular spot, best to visit in the early afternoon as they were closed in the evening.
Indian Empire – A slightly more expensive Indian restaurant but still budget friendly. The curry here is amazing and the staff were great.
My Boleh Boleh – TO TRY DURIAN! A must do in Asia is try the famous local delicacy – durian – a type of fruit. I have to say that me and Cameron absolutely hated it and ended up giving it away but we had to give it a go! The staff here are lovely too.
Conclusion
Overall, I would highly recommend that you visit Kuala Lumpur when visiting South East Asia. It is a very well organised city, especially when compared to other capitals close by, and is personally one of my favourite capital cities in Asia.
If you are backpacking Asia I would definitely say to spend at least a few days here as it is a great value for money destination, the food is delicious and you will be spoilt for choice with things to do and see.
I hope that this was a useful guide for you and would appreciate any comments below, questions about backpacking Malaysia or any recommendations that you have for visiting Kuala Lumpur!
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