Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide and Tips

Malaysia

The Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is a heady blend of the old and new and makes for a tremendous holiday destination. Sitting in a valley surrounded by rugged hills, the city has been blessed with postcard perfect scenery. Being a cultural melting pot, Kuala Lumpur radiates a charming multi ethnic aura and is one of those few destinations where one can witness generous slices of places as diverse as China, India, and Singapore. Colonial era homes and traditional Chinese structures make for a stunning contrast with gleaming modern skyscrapers. Kuala Lumpur is also the industrial hub of Malaysia and one of the fastest growing nations of South-East Asia. This sprawling city is full of tourist trappings ranging from exhilarating sightseeing attractions to great food and some excellent shopping. Every year, vacation deals to Kuala Lumpur sell like hot cakes.

Best Time to Visit Kuala Lumpur

Sitting on the equator, Kuala Lumpur experiences a pretty consistent tropical climate throughout the year. Many travellers are unified in the opinion that the best time for visiting the city is the festive season lasting from the months of October to January. Booking a flight to Kuala Lumpur during festival times definitely makes for a memorable travel experience. Just a couple of examples are the months of July and December. While July is the time to witness the splendid KL Festival of Malaysian art, dance, theatre and music, the KL International Buskers Festival during December is the time when the streets rock with acrobatic and musical performances. Travellers must book in advance to net tickets with some cheap airline as these times draw tourists to Malaysia in droves.

Top Tourist Spots in Kuala Lumpur

Tourist attractions are spread across the length and breadth of this city, which covers about 250 sq. kms. However, some of the most popular ones are concentrated in the City Centre. Although, some visitors somehow end up suggesting that Kula Lumpur is a little short in terms of sightseeing attractions, it definitely compensates for that supposed shortcoming with a raw appeal in whatever it does have. Here is a list of some of the most endearing crowd pullers of the destination.

Shopping Attractions in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is amongst the top shopping destinations of South East Asia. In fact, the destination is Malaysia’s shopping hub. Be it the latest designer labels and electronic appliances, or flashy souvenirs and traditional handicrafts – visitors have a plethora of delightful take homes to choose from. There are numerous malls, traditional bazaars, and market complexes to indulge in. The Night markets are absolutely not to be missed. The Bukit Bintang area of the Golden Triangle is amongst the hottest shopping precincts of the city. Here is a sampling of the major shopping haunts in Malaysia.

Eating Out in Kuala Lumpur

Eating out in Kuala Lumpur makes for a tremendously delightful indulgence. Apart from the fiery Malay cuisines, there is a galaxy of Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Nyonya, South Indian, and North Indian delicacies to choose from. Dining out means facing the dilemma of narrowing down upon one of the hundreds of posh restaurants or easily affordable food bazaars and hawker stalls. Amongst endless options, here are just a few of the most popular ones.

Hotels in Kuala Lumpur

Airports in Kuala Lumpur

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is located some 55 kms south of Kuala Lumpur. It has two terminals and most of the modern amenities of any modern airport. The airport serves over 40 airlines in the domains of domestic, international, and cargo services. It serves as the gateway to Kuala Lumpur and is amongst the largest airports of Southeast Asia. The airport is also used as a hub by different low cost flights including AirAsia, AirAsia X, and Malaysia Airlines.

Popular Airlines to Kuala Lumpur

Royal Brunie, Oman Air, Emirates, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, Gulf Air, Sri Lankan, Etihad, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia

Getting Around in Kuala Lumpur

There are plenty of ways to commute within Kuala Lumpur. The city has an extensive and cheap railway network. Another way of cheap travel is to hop on to a bus. However, one of the most practical ways to move around is by hiring a shared taxi. For further comfort, one can also hire a full taxi or a private car, but this proves to be more expensive.

Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips

Many airlines operate cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur and visitors should get in touch with travel agents specialising in Malaysia holiday deals.

It is better to use bottled water rather than drinking straight from the tap.

Sometimes, dengue fever becomes a cause of concern and it is advisable to take all possible precautions against mosquitoes.

The period from May to October often witnesses a thick haze resulting from the forest fires in Borneo and Sumatra. This can be uncomfortable, especially for travellers suffering from respiratory disorders.

Violent crime is rare, but visitors should be on their guard against pickpockets and snatchers. There are also incidents of apparently over friendly locals inviting someone to a seemingly harmless card game and then turning it into an exorbitantly expensive gambling match. Similarly, one should also be on the lookout for counterfeit currency.

Those looking for cheap hotels or accommodation facilities can take their pick from a wide range of hostels, lodges, guest houses, and homestays.

Although, Kuala Lumpur is a very tolerant city, visitors should desist from displaying physical intimacy in public.

Eating and receiving or giving something should be done by the right hand, while shoes need to be removed before entering a place of worship.

(Note: This destination guide is based on information gathered from reliable resources available on the internet and provides only general information about the destination. Southall Travel holds no responsibility for any misrepresentation of facts and shall not be in any way liable for any kind of eventuality such as damages, loss, additional costs etc arising from the use of information given in this guide)