Overview
There aren’t many places in the world like KL; and many descriptions just don’t do it justice. It is truly a hard place to sum up. It’s a city of blaring contrasts, a modern multi-cultural hub that reminds you of every big city you have ever been to, yet leaving you surprised by what you found. You come expecting exactly the Asia you’ve seen and read about and leave questioning everything you thought.
Malaysia itself has an incredibly diverse background, having been a colony of the British, Portuguese, Dutch and Japanese as well as a meeting place for Indians, Sri Lankans, Chinese and Indonesians over the past 500 years. This has left modern Malay culture as a bit of a mixed bag. The streets are lined with Chinese banners, Indian tandoors and right side driving cars. The familiar and unfamiliar tucked in tight behind a fast-paced industrial curtain.
While many think of KL as an old city, it’s only been around about 150 years, leaving behind it a legacy of ever changing faces. You can see this in the layout of the city, having no distinct city center, but pockets of old neighborhoods spanned by modern shopping centers and financial institutions. You’ll get sucked in by its old world charm and wowed by its impressive array of skyscrapers all in one gaze.
We loved KL and everything that the city had going for it and it would be a shame to miss this gem on your tour to southeast Asia.
Is It Cheap?
Yes! Just like the rest of southeast Asia, KL too is quite cheap and a backpacker friendly city. Food costs are low when eating on the streets and the average plate will set you back around $3-4 Hostels all sit between $10-$20 and the transportation in this busy metropolis is both navigable and cost effective.
Petronas Towers from the Helipad Bar
Jalan Alor Food Street
Central Market
Entrance to Batu Caves
What To Do
While KL is a big city and certainly a unique one, a few days in the city limits is truly all you will need to see the main attractions and to get a vibe of how modern Malaysia works.
Get an incredible view of the city at the Petronas Towers
If you have ever seen a picture of KL, chances are you have seen the Petronas Towers. Notably some of the world’s tallest and most beautiful skyscrapers, the 90’s era towers stand tall above the city, only being matched by the KL Tower on the other side of the city. The towers are connected on the 41st floor by a narrow hall that gives a 360 view of the city, easily one of the best ways to see what KL has to offer. You can check out the view for around $10.
Have a Sky High Drink at the Helipad Bar
Yes, it is touristy, but this spot is not to be missed. The helipad bar sits atop one of KL’s taller skyscrapers and offers a 360 view of the city on its open air deck, a converted helicopter landing pad. The drinks are pricy for Asian standards but the view is absolutely incredible and it is the perfect place to watch the sunset and start your night.
Get Cultural at Batu Caves
Batu caves might be the most notable thing to see during your trip to KL and it is certainly worth the trek out there. You can either take the train for 30 cents or an Uber for $3 to the site which is about 10 km north of KL proper. The caves are truly spectacular, with high vaulted ceilings and extremely unique and diverse wildlife.
At the base of the cave you will find a few delightful southern Indian food restaurants dishing out the good stuff. Stop in for a quick bite before ascending the 270 plus stairs to the top.
Inside the cave you will find an ancient Hindu temple and an interior bustling with tourists, worshipers and plenty of monkeys.
PRO TIP: Boys, make sure to wear long pants and ladies, make sure to cover your shoulders before heading out to visit the caves. Also, make sure to hide you food while ascending the stairs, the monkeys tend to get a bit grabby.
Eat Your Weight in Asian food at Jalan Alor
Jalan Alor is a large food street located in the Bukit Bintang area of the city. Tens of restaurants line the packed street offering the best of Malay, Chinese and Thai food to the thousands that take to the street at night.
Wander the stalls of the Central Market
The Central Market area of KL is one of the city’s oldest and the indoor-outdoor market offers good prices on local goods. If you are in the market for authentic outfits, artwork and goods, you can’t leave KL before checking it out.
What To Eat and Drink
Malay food is extremely multicultural. The cuisine itself is shaped by its immigrants and their varying backgrounds, leaving the food itself as a perfect mixture of Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and European cuisines.
Nasi and Mee: In Malay, Nasi means rice and Mee means noodles respectively. You will see many dishes featuring these words followed typically by goreng (fried). These fried rice and noodle dishes are often spiced with curry and fish sauce and are served along Ketchap Manis, a spicy and sweet Indonesian sauce.
Laksa: This spicy curry noodle soup is the de-facto king of the Malay kitchen. On average, it costs around $2 and can be found at any street stall in the city.
Indian Food: The Indian food in KL is absolutely incredible and you’ll be able to find authentic and delicious cuisine all over the town. Make sure to head to Brickfields, KL’s little India where you can try Chettinad food, a specialty of India’s southern region. Unlike the heavily tandoor influenced and cream based dishes of the north, southern food tends to be lighter and served along side hand tossed roti and white rice. We also suggest you try Murtabak, a stuffed Indian flatbread that features chicken or cheese.
Teh Tarik: Extremely classic Malay drink, tea tarik comes from the Islamic pulled tea tradition. It is typically made of a powdered tea mix and combined with water, served hot or over ice. It’s similar to the Hong Kong Milk Tea and is the perfect treat to get you through the sweltering hot days!
Transportation
KL has an awesome transportation system that is easy to navigate and incredibly cheap to use. The city itself isn’t super walkable because of the heat and its rainy afternoons, so we recommend either taking their Monorel system or their underground. A ticket is around 75 cents US and goes to all the important stops in town. If you are willing to spend a bit more money, Uber and Grab Taxi are incredibly cheap alternatives and require very little effort.
Internet and Phone - ConnectedYou, the Best Way To Stay Connected in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur offers a range of phone and internet connection options tailored for tourists. Visitors can choose from various local SIM cards and mobile plans available at numerous kiosks, stores, and the airport, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout their stay. Public Wi-Fi is widely accessible in cafes, hotels, and popular tourist spots, making it easy to stay connected.
Being a person who is constantly on the go, I stay connected effortlessly on my travels with ConnectedYou. Get your eSIM instantly and enjoy high-speed internet without the hassle of finding a local SIM card. Whether you're in Kuala Lumpur for a short trip or an extended stay, ConnectedYou provides flexible data plans that keep you connected to family, friends or work, from where ever you are. The best part is that if your trip is canceled or you change your mind, great customer service is waiting, as well as a fair refund policy. You can check out ConnectedYou by clicking here.
Clubbing and Nightlife
The following is a recommendation from our KL insider.
Check out trec KL, a complex of bars and clubs and Changkat Bukit Bintang, a street filled to the brim with bars. Most tourists end up at Changkat Bukit Bintang because of its prime location and friendly backpacker vibe.
If you are looking for something a bit more high-class, the local Malay’s spend their nights out at rooftop bars and speakeasies. We recommend Bangsar, about 15 minutes from the city center. There you can find the Telawi area, a district featuring a couple of speakeasies and a ton of good restaurants. If you want to catch a view of the city from there, Mantra is the spot to be.
My Travel Essentials For An Asian Backpacking Trip
Below you'll find a list of my must bring backpacking items. I have gotten this list down to my essentials through trial and error over 4 years of living in a backpack. I hope you'll find these items helpful on your journey!
►Main Backpacking Backpack: https://amzn.to/3vUHdik [Amazon]
►Great Front Facing Duffle-bag : https://amzn.to/3SjK6Ra [Amazon]
►Quick Dry Towel : https://amzn.to/3uarxH8 [Amazon]
►Multi Country Charger Adapter : https://amzn.to/3Ul37p0 [Amazon]
►Refillable Water Bottle : https://amzn.to/48SnG0n [Amazon]
►Padlock : https://amzn.to/3SdyYp7 [Amazon]
►Earplugs : https://amzn.to/498xTpl [Amazon]
►Power Bank : https://amzn.to/3SyXP8e [Amazon]
Travel Photography & Video Favorites
If you're interested in creating your own video content on your trip, these are some of my favorite items I've had. They work, they're effective and besides the Sony Aa7C, they aren't going to break the bank either!
►On the Go Video | Go Pro Hero 12 : https://amzn.to/3u38oHh [Amazon]
►Photography | Sony A7C : https://amzn.to/3u1Y6ap [Amazon]
►Portable Tripod | https://amzn.to/42ojHqc [Amazon]
►Lavalier Microphone | https://amzn.to/3SbL41U [Amazon]
►Drone | https://amzn.to/47TCwSY [Amazon]
►Portable Monitor | https://amzn.to/3Hzv2dg [Amazon]
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