Kuala Lumpur and even Malaysia are sometimes forgotten by backpackers, however, a visit to Kuala Lumpur is, in our opinion, a ‘must-do’ for anyone traveling in South East Asia. Apart from Singapore, it’s easily the most modern city in the most developed country in the region, though it still has some of the other loved characteristics of the region. Thus, we gathered 15 fun things to do in Kuala Lumpur in 3 days, including the new, the modern, the cultural, the traditional, and much more!
While Malaysia is an old nation that significantly influenced world history, Kuala Lumpur is a recent city. Malacca and Georgetown were the center of the lucrative spice trade for centuries and attracted the attention of the colonial powers (Portugal, Netherlands, and England). However, Kuala Lumpur was founded only in 1857 as a mining town but quickly rose in importance, becoming a major urban center and named the capital in 1896.
In this article, we will first describe the 15 fun things to do in KL in 3 days, and then we will put together an itinerary that will allow you to visit them. Please note that 3 days in Kuala Lumpur is the perfect amount of time for you to the most important attractions, but you could easily spend a week or more there without feeling bored!
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15 Fun Things To Do In KL In 3 Days
1. Climb the Petronas Twin Towers
Since its construction in 1998, the Petronas twin towers are the crown jewel and the most striking feature of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. Soaring to a height of 452 meters (and 88-story), they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world.
The distinctive postmodern style and the double-decker Skybridge connecting the towers (the highest 2 story bridge in the world) make the Petronas strikingly unique.
Building the Petronas towers was a colossal engineering and architectural success for Malaysia, embracing its heritage and culture, evoking Islamic arabesques, and employing repetitive geometries characteristic of Muslim architecture while proclaiming its modernization. As per Cesar Pelli, the Petronas Twin towers’ architect, “it’s a monument that is not specifically Malaysian, but will forever be identified with Kuala Lumpur“!
The Petronas towers are the first place to go, either if you have three days in KL or only a few hours.
The tour to the towers includes a visit to the Skybridge (the 58-meter-long connecting structure between the towers) and then to level 86, where you can take on the breathtaking views of Kuala Lumpur. It can be difficult to get tickets to the tours, thus buy them in advance!
- Visiting Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday)
- Ticket price: RM 80.00
2. Stroll around the KLCC Park
KLCC Park has been designed to provide greenery to Petronas Twin Towers and surrounding areas. The park attracts not only tourists but also city joggers and corporate people as it is directly situated in front of the Petronas Twin Towers! It has water fountains that can shoot water up to a height of 42 m every hour and a water show with music and lights called the Lake Symphony.
The park is excellent for families, with a huge children’s playground and a public children’s swimming pool. It also includes waterfalls, fountains, and a jogging/walking path! However, like every other park in Malaysia, the fauna and flora make it really amazing, particularly the fascinating trees and flowers. Moreover, the view of the Petronas towers makes a quite spectacular sight.
3. Visit Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown
Kuala Lumpur Chinatown is very much in the city center, it’s the area of KL that never sleeps. It’s full of colors, stores, restaurants, and shops, and definitely, one of the most fun things to do in Kuala Lumpur is wandering through it!
The center of Chinatown is Petaling Street, which becomes a bustling market at night. Here you can buy everything and anything at dirt-cheap prices, and one can even lower them by haggling a little. Remember, haggling is expected, it’s almost a way of life:). Electronics (and its accessories), clothes, and snickers were particularly cheap and abundant thus, it’s an excellent place for some shopping fun!
4. Visit the Sri Mahamariamman Temple
This iconic Indian temple is situated right in the middle of… Chinatown (obviously 🙂 ), only 50 meters from our hostel, so we went to take a look. The temple’s main feature is the impressive 5-tiered gopuram (tower). This 23 meters high gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods and a very impressive view from the outside.
Though it’s not the most obvious place to visit in KL, we really had a good time. Luckily we were there when a ceremony took place, and I have to say it was something quite… let’s say, unique! Imagine live Indian music, prayers, food offerings, and bathing the gods with water and milk… We knew very little about Indian culture and religion thus, everything was new to us, and we understood nothing of what was happening around us. Yet we loved it!
5. Enter the Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. They are also a Hindu temple and a shrine that attracts thousands of worshipers.
At the entrance is a 43 meters statue of Murugan (the world’s tallest statue of Murugan) and then a 272 steps staircase to the actual caves. We get an incredible view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline from the top of the staircase. Usually, you can find monkeys on the stairs and tourists feeding them, be aware that these are wild animals.
Very close to the Batu Caves, we enjoyed the paintings and scenes of Hindu Gods that can be seen in the Ramayana Cave. We know very little about Hindu mythology which made it even more interesting. Though the caves are actually roughly 20 km from the city center, it’s very easy to reach because there’s a metro station (KTM Komuter) very close to it.
Or you can book a tour that includes the Batus caves – Check this one!
6. Go to the Merdeka Square
Merdeka (Independence) Square is significant to Malaysian people because it was there that Malaysia proclaimed its independence (thus the name) in 1957. It’s one of the most famous landmarks and one of the most exciting places in KL, though it isn’t particularly astonishing. It’s a big, green pitch with a giant flag pole and a few historical buildings surrounding it: St. Mary’s Church, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and the Royal Selangor Club.
It’s really missing shades, and under the hot sun of KL, it quickly became unbearable to stay there for long! In our opinion, it’s more of a historically important place than attractive by itself.
7. Climb the KL Tower
The Kuala Lumpur Tower (or Menara Kuala Lumpur) is a communications tower of 421 meters, making it the 7th tallest free-standing tower in the world. KL Tower has become a significant landmark, a symbol, and an obvious Kuala Lumpur point of interest.
Visitors to the KL tower enjoy breathtaking views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline at 276 meters above ground in the Observation Deck. If you are more adventurous, buy the Skydeck ticket that allows you to go up to the observation deck and then up to the Skybox. We ended up going only to the observation deck because it was significantly cheaper, and we were also going to the Petronas, which was our priority!
Some people say that going up to the KL tower is better than to the Petronas Towers, though we disagree! The view from KL tower is amazing but the Petronas is the Landmark of Kuala Lumpur and one of the most famous buildings in the world. If you can visit both if you have to choose the Petronas is the obvious choice.
There’s an annual race where participants race up the stairs to the top thus, if you are crazy (fit), maybe you can try it 🙂
- Observation deck price: RM34
- Skydeck price: RM54
Book your KL tower tickets here
8. Walk in the KL Tower Forest Eco Park
Very close to the KL Tower, there’s a beautiful forest Eco Park with awesome canopy bridges and hiking trails. Why? How? The KL Tower is located within Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, one of the oldest forest reserves in the country. In fact, apparently, KL Tower is the only tower in the world located in a forest.
So, for those of you inclined to be in the area, take a walk through a tropical rainforest and experience a variety of flora and fauna only found in Malaysia. To be honest, this was a big surprise for us, we weren’t expecting it to be so beautiful, but Malaysian parks are really something. Plus, it’s free, making it one of the best places to visit in KL and an almost mandatory one if you spend 3 days in Kuala Lumpur.
9. Enjoy the Perdana Botanical Gardens
Perdana Botanical Gardens are the oldest and most popular park in Kuala Lumpur! This 92 hectares park is located in the city’s heart and was established in 1888! This is one of the favorite places for locals to go walk and run, but there are plenty of touristy sites to enjoy, like the National Monument, deer park, Hibiscus Garden, Orchid Garden, Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, and Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park.
Book a Lake Gardens segway tour here
The day we visited, it was incredibly hot, so we really appreciated the shades and a slightly cooler breeze! In our opinion is a must-visit attraction, and again the Malays show that they really know how to build a beautiful and pleasant park/garden.
10. Visit the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
KL Bird Park, located in the serene and bucolic lake gardens (now known as Perdana botanical gardens), is usually dubbed as the “world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary.” However, this title is the least important thing while there.
In this bird park, you can chase peacocks and hornbills, feed parakeets, watch ostriches, and be awed by soaring storks and flamingos in surroundings that hardly feel caged-in…
We really enjoyed our time in the bird park and mainly posing and feeding owls and parrots on our shoulders. This is one of the KL attractions that is amazing to visit as a family. If you are traveling to Kuala Lumpur with teens or children, don’t miss the Bird Park.
- Price: RM75
- Visiting hours: 9:00 to 17:30
11. Go to the Little India
Little India in Brickfields, close to Kuala Lumpur Central Station, is a concentrated wedge of Indian culture! The shops sell everything Indian, from traditional goods such as sarees, flower garlands, spices, and Bollywood music. It’s also possible to eat local delicacies such as vadai, thosai (Indian pancakes made from fermented rice flour), and much more.
The colors of the street are simply amazing. You can find sarees and glass bangles of any color and design. There are even shops that sell traditional Indian candies, savories, and so on. We stuffed our bags with souvenirs and spices to bring back home and suggest you do the same.
Of course, don’t miss out on authentic Indian food. The traditional food stalls are also a must-try, at least for anyone who loves Indian food, and we surely do!
12. Visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
The Islamic Arts Museum is located on the fringe of the Perdana botanical gardens and is only 5 minutes away from the National Mosque. The building would be worth a visit by itself with features such as a huge blue turquoise dome on top of the building, glass walls that allow natural light to flow in, and domed ceilings adorned with intricate Islamic patterns.
It’s the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia and holds an impressive collection of Islamic arts, including the Quran, Manuscripts, Architecture, Ceramics, Jewelry, Metalwork, coins, and textiles. We particularly enjoyed the architecture gallery with models of impressive mosques from all around the world on display and with high attention to the detail of each building.
In our opinion, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is a pleasant way to spend a morning/afternoon, offering a unique and mesmerizing insight into the Islam world, which was new for us and will be for many of you. We strongly advise you to visit it together with the National Mosque, as it’s one important cultural aspect of Malaysia and one of the best things to do in KL in 3 days.
- Ticket price: RM14.00
- Visiting Hours: 9:30 to 18:00
14. Go to the National Mosque (Masjid Negara)
Less than 5 minutes walking from the Islamic Arts Museum and only 1 km from the Lake Gardens is the contemporary-styled National Mosque. It has a capacity of 15 000 people and is situated within beautiful outdoor gardens with white marble reflecting pools and fountains. The 73 meters high minaret (mosque tower) with its umbrella-style rooftop is one of the building’s main features. However, the Grand Hall is undoubtedly the most intricate part of the mosque, with verses from the Koran decorating the walls.
You can only enter the mosque when prayers are over, and visitors must be appropriately dressed (no sleeveless shirts, shorts, or other skimpy clothing). However, this isn’t a major problem because if you (like us) come unprepared, robes and headscarves can be borrowed from the mosque’s entrance gate desk. They even helped and taught us how to dress it the right way, which was cool 🙂
You can also do a guided tour of the Mosque, check this.
15. Shopping in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a well-known shopping haven both for tourists and locals, with several things such as high-quality shopping, affordable prices, huge variety, and big sales factoring in. In KL, you can find a little (I mean A LOT) of everything, from high-end shops with luxury goods to the fake branded products of Chinatown. It’s a shopaholic’s dream!
Central Market Kuala Lumpur
Our favorite shopping is the Central Market, with its shops and kiosks selling handicrafts, batik, souvenirs, antiques, and collectibles! The Central Market also features a few restaurants and eateries where we can savor very flavorful cuisine. Moreover, the adjoining Kasturi Walk features an array of food stalls!
Plus, the art deco building is a good attraction by itself! Central Market is an easy 5-minute walk from Chinatown.
Shopping Malls
If you are interested in big shopping malls, be it high-end stores or mid-range KL has more than its share of it! Suria KLCC is probably your best option and is very conveniently located as it occupies the bottom six podium floors of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur’s most famous shopping street with Pavillion Kuala Lumpur (more high-end/luxury products) and Mid Valley Megamall (one of the biggest shopping areas in the world) are other options you should keep in mind!
Looking for another itinerary? Check this ultimate guide to Kuala Lumpur.
Where To Stay In KL?
Backpackers and budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur
If you are a backpacker or a budget traveler, there are a lot of hostels and guesthouses to choose from in Kuala Lumpur! Though most of them are located in Chinatown, choosing which one to stay in can be quite challenging! So, we will help!
Should you stay in Chinatown? YES! It’s centrally located, full of stores and restaurants, and easy to access with Metro.
Booking.comWe stayed at the Longhouse hostel and truly recommend it to you! It’s perfectly located, 50 meters from Sri Mahamariamman Temple, 100 meters from Pasar Seni Metro Station, 2 minutes from Petaling street, and within walking distance of Central Market. It was clean and silent at night, with a good wi-fi connection! It also includes breakfast which was a great bonus. We liked it so much we stayed there 2 times when we went to KL and only paid 12 USD per night! Unfortunately, this hostel is now closed!
However, this area is full of cheap guesthouses with great value for money. We suggest you have a look at the hotel 1000 miles. Or use the search board below.
Booking.comLuxury Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
If you are looking for a high-end hotel in Kuala Lumpur, we have you covered: Mandarin Oriental is located between the famous Petronas Twin Towers and the lush gardens of Kuala Lumpur City Park. This hotel features stylish rooms with iPod docks and DVD players. The hotel offers an infinity pool and 10 dining options. It has an indoor golf area, tennis courts, a fitness center, and a spa.
Check actualized prices for your traveling dates
How Is The Kuala Lumpur Weather?
Kuala Lumpur only has two seasons, a wet and a dry season. The wet season is from October to March and the dry season is from May to September. The temperatures are fairly constant, 28-32°C all year round. Kuala Lumpur is a year-round destination, though most people prefer to visit it during the drier months.
If you visit in the wet season, probably, you can still visit most of the Kuala Lumpur points of interest. We visited KL during the monsoon season, and despite raining almost every day, it was only for one hour or so. It doesn’t prevent you from doing anything; in fact, it may help because the temperatures tend to be lower after the rainfall.
Have a look at this post if you want to know when is the best time to go to Malaysia, or any of its regions.
As we said in the beginning, we believe that three days in KL is the minimum time necessary to visit the best places. Less time means you’ll probably have to skip some of the above-mentioned fun things to do in KL in 3 days.