Kuala Lumpur is maybe not as visited as alot of Asia by the West, but certainly has lots to offer. In this post I will break down how to spend 3 days in KL to hopefully give you some direction as well as ideas.
I have actually been to KL a few times as I have a friend who lives there, he was able to show me the places to go and give me a true experience of the capital of Malaysia.
How to get to the City from the Airport and generally getting around Kuala Lumpur
From the Airport I would say take the train to central which is called the Klia Ekspres – it’s basically direct and takes around 30-40 mins depending which terminal you come into. Tickets are 55 RM (Malaysian Ringgit) around $12 one way, hassle free and gets you to the centre.
You can also get a Grab, it’s basically the Uber of Asia. I would say not to do this unless you are not heading to or around the centre. The traffic in KL can be horrendous especially at peak times. But if you want to go central then get a Grab to your hotel / accommodation then it’s really easy. Normally a 20 min drive from the train station/ Plaza is 25-25 RM which is about $6-8.
There are other options, such as a shared airport bus which is the cheapest option being around 15 RM ($3). But there will be a bit of waiting around and you’ll have the same issue with traffic so it could mean a few hours before you actually make it into KL centre.
Renting a car might be an idea or consideration depending how long you are staying. I think if you are staying central(ish) for 3 days then just use Grab taxi’s to get to the place and then walk around. Also a lot less stressful as in Malaysia you have lots of people on bikes, issues parking and it’s quite cut throat the driving out there, people do bully to try to get a little ahead of traffic jams and hold ups.
What are the main attractions in KL (Kuala Lumpur)
Here is a list of the main attractions that you might want to consider seeing while in KL. I will touch on a few as part of the 3 day plan but would not include them all. You can also check out my post on Petronas Twin Towers v KL Tower if you only want to go to one or find out more about them both.
Petronas Twin Towers
Batu Caves
KL Tower
Central Market
Chinatown (Petaling Street)
KL Bird Park
Lake Gardens
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
National Mosque of Malaysia
Merdeka Square
So let’s get down to business and start sharing how to spend 3 days in Kuala Lumpur.
Day 1 in KL
So let’s assume this is your first time to KL and wanting to start off easy. Well, that’s not going to happen. What I am going to suggest for breakfast is a curry and ideally with some Roti. There are just too many to recommend but this is what you should be aiming for, to start your day off like a local. If you really want help on places to enjoy this type of breakfast, then check out this post.
So now you should be stuffed and ready to do some walking. I would take a stroll in the Taman KLCC which is an Urban Park and from there you can see probably the most iconic landmark of KL, the Petronas Twin Towers.
You can get a real sense of the city round here, as people flock to this area to enjoy the outdoors.You’ll also probably walk through the Suria shopping mall, here you’ll find designer brands and lot’s of places to eat and drink. This is well worth a walk round too.
By this time it should be 2pm(ish), I would say to head over to the Batu Caves, it’s probably easiest to take a Grab here. You’ll certainly be amazed by the huge statue and colourful stairs that welcome you. Also watch out for the monkeys! The caves are a complex of limestone hills with a series of caves and cave temples. The main cave, known as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, is one of the largest and most popular. This can be accessed by climbing the steep steps, with there being 272 steps.
Once done at Batu Caves, you’ll be best to head back in the city for some food and drinks. If you want to check out the local nightlife then an area called ‘Changkat’ is where to go, you’ll find locals/ expats enjoying the many bars along this strip.
Day 2 in KL
After yesterday’s breakfast, I will leave it up to you for what you’d like to eat, maybe eggs and avocado today, something nice and Western. Also depending on how late you stayed out in Changkat.
I reckon you should head to the Islamic Arts Museum, you can spend a few hours exploring its impressive collection. The museum boasts one of the most extensive collections of Islamic art in Southeast Asia, with a collection spanning over 1,400 years of Islamic civilization.
Its collection includes artefacts, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, manuscripts, and architectural replicas from various regions of the Islamic world, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and North Africa.of Islamic artefacts, calligraphy, textiles, and ceramics.
Well worth a visit for some real culture and education.
Let’s now head on over to China Town area, which I think is one of the best spots. Here you’ll find what you’d expect from a China Town, grab some lunch and then explore the many streets, literally something going on down each of them.
As evening starts to draw in, maybe you could look to go to a rooftop bar in KL and grab a drink and some food. Just call it a night after going to a restaurant or food hall. But if you still feel the night is still young and want more nightlife, then I would recommend the TREC area. It’s like a little complex / village of call places where you can drink and listen to music and mergers many different Asian bars in one place.
Day 3 in KL
The last day I am going to leave really simple with a few choices and ideas:
It’s time to go to either the Petronas Twin Towers or KL Tower to get glorious views of the City.
Like nature and Botanical gardens then a trip to the KL Bird Park is a good shout. You can get photos with the many species of birds and even hang around for feeding time.
Shopping is huge in Asia and no more so than in KL, if you love to look round Malls then there are plenty to do this in. You should have already been to Suria Mall, you also have these Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, MyTOWN Shopping Centre, Sunway Putra Mall and many more.
For food head to Jalan Alor in the evening. It’s a famous food street known for its diverse range of Malaysian cuisine. The price is really cheap so you can grab things as you go and walk through the street or sit down if you prefer and have a feast.
Summary
I hope this blog post has given you a few ideas of how to spend 3 days in KL. I think I mentioned it probably is less travelled than say your Thailand’s, Japan’s etc but it is certainly worth checking out, consider doing an open jaw, flying in to say Bangkok and out of KL, then get a cheap Airasia flight between the two if you are going for a few weeks and want to mix things up a bit.