Heading to Malaysia? Here’s a 4-Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary
A trip to Malaysia from Singapore is a popular way to spend a long weekend, given the proximity. If you’re planning to head up to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, this KL guide covers things to do, where to stay, what to eat, and day trips from KL to maximise your time here!
Day 1: City Centre
To shake off your travel exhaustion, fill your lungs with fresh air at the city’s green lungs, KL Forest Eco Park. It’s a gazetted forest reserve situated near the Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur). There are nature trails and also forest canopy walkways to explore. Head there in the morning and enjoy nature’s wonders in cooler weather!
- Opening hours: 7am-6pm daily including public holidays.
- Via Grab, drop off at KL Forest Eco Park.
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) or MRT (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and get off at Pasar Seni Station. Afterward, hop on the Purple GoKL bus and stop at Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas station.
Since you’re in the area, walk 250 metres to the KL Tower. Go up and have a bird’s eye view of the city at the Observation Sky Deck. There’s a glass platform where visitors can take panoramic photos of the city’s skyline. We recommend coming here at night to see the glittering lights of the city!
- Opening hours: 9am-10pm daily including public holidays.
Go for a spot of shopping at Bukit Bintang where you’ll find Pavilion Kuala Lumpur which houses a lot of luxury brands and restaurants.
- Opening hours: 10am-10pm, daily including public holidays.
- Via Grab, navigate to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
- Via public transport, take the MRT (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) to the Bukit Bintang Stop and Pavilion is a 200 metre walk away.
For gadgets, head to nearby Lowyat Plaza to grab any of your IT needs like cables, camera batteries or just to browse the gadgets on offer.
- Opening hours: 10:30am-9.30pm
- Via Grab, drop off at Lowyat Plaza
- Via public transport, take the MRT (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) to the Bukit Bintang Stop and go to Exit A, and Lowyat Plaza is a 240 metre walk away.
Charge up your cameras and smartphones to explore street art at Jalan Alor. This colourful street is covered in murals by local artists.
- Via Grab, drop off at Jalan Alor KL Street Art 1 Lane.
- Via public transport, take the (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) to the Bukit Bintang stop and walk 240 metres.
Day 2: Soak up the culture
Masjid Jamek (official name: Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in KL, built in 1909. It sits at where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet and is a great visit for architecture buffs.
- Opening hours: 5:30am-9.30pm.
- Via Grab, drop off at Masjid Jamek.
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) to Masjid Jamek Station.
Central Market (Pasar Seni) is where you’ll be able to find local handicrafts and souvenirs along with antiques and other types of collectibles. From batik to freshwater pearls, handmade jewellery and rattan or bamboo furniture, Central Market is also fully air-conditioned for a comfortable shop!
- Opening hours: 10am-6pm, daily .
- Via Grab, drop off at Central Market (Pasar Seni).
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) or MRT (Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) and get off at Pasar Seni Station.
Nearby Central Market is Petaling Street, colloquially known as Chinatown. Here, there are countless stalls selling trinkets, clothes, bags, watches and also apothecaries in shop lots selling herbs and tea.
- Opening hours: 8am-8pm, daily
Make sure to stop at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in KL to see its impressive architecture and appreciate the serenity inside.
- Opening hours: 6am-8.30pm, daily
A few doors down is the Guan Di Temple, a Taoist temple which isn’t hard to miss with its red façade and statue of Guan Di, the Taoist God of War at its doors.
- Opening hours: 7.30am-4pm, daily
If you’re keen on making your own souvenirs, head to The Batik Boutique Studio and make your own batik or shibori (a form of tie-dye) to take home! Simply book your workshop via their website and select a time that best fits your schedule. Each workshop lasts about 3-4 hours so it’ll fill up half a day quite quickly!
- Opening hours: 9am-6pm, Monday-Friday
- Via Grab, drop off at The Batik Boutique – The Row KL.
- Via public transport, take LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) to Dang Wangi Station (exit at Jalan Raja Abdullah) and walk 270 metres to The Row.
Day 3: Batu Caves & Relaxation
Spend the first half of the day to check out Batu Caves Temple and make sure to arrive early as it can get quite hot and crowded after 9am! This place is a series of caves and cave temples dedicated to Lord Murugan. You won’t mistake it as there’s a 42.7 metre gold statue of the deity at the foot of the colourful 272 steps!
Please note that you’ll need to wear proper attire that covers your shoulders and knees but there’s also the option of renting sarongs at the entrance. There are also monkeys that hang around the staircases so please do not feed them and be careful of your belongings.
- Opening hours: 6am-9pm
- Via Grab, drop off at Batu Caves Temple.
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) to KL Sentral and switch to the KTM to Batu Caves. Exit at Service Road and walk 330 metres to Batu Cave Temple.
Take a break and visit a spa in the afternoon to relax. If you’re heading to a shopping mall, most major shopping malls in KL (Fahrenheit 88, Berjaya Times Square, Mid Valley Megamall) will have branches of Thai Odyssey where you can enjoy a traditional Thai massage, aromatherapy or just a relaxing foot massage! Find out more about their prices here.
Head to KLCC where Uroot Marc KLCC has ala carte massages from 20 minutes to 75 minutes of pure bliss. Find out more about their massages at their website.
- Opening hours: 11am-8pm, Tuesday-Sunday (closed on Mondays)
While you’re at KLCC, check out Aquaria KLCC, an oceanarium with all sorts of marine life in an underground aquarium exhibit. There’s also the Petronas Art Gallery or stay till night time and see Lake Symphony come to life!
- Opening hours: 10am-10pm, daily
- Via Grab, drop off at KLCC.
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) to the KLCC stop.
Day 4: Adventuresome Last Day
On your last day, widen your scope and let’s go adventuring! If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, head to FRIM (Forest Institute Research Malaysia) ) for a walk in the Kepong Botanic Gardens or visit the Forest Skywalk to enjoy the vista of the forest and KL city on a 50m tower (compulsory to pre-book here). You can also visit the forest trails with a nature guide to enjoy the lush greenery of this man-made forest and its renown ‘crown shyness’, a jigsaw puzzle-like phenomenon formed by canopies of kapur trees. Check FRIM website for availability as certain activities will be closed due to weather.
- Opening hours: 7.30am-7pm
- Via Grab, drop off at FRIM Entrance Gate
There’s also the option of Perdana Botanical Gardens which has a Hibiscus Garden, Sunken Garden and Herbarium, showcasing all manners of flowers, parterre garden, and flowering and fruiting plants respectively. There’s also a Deer Park where you might be able to meet its shy residents.
- Opening hours: 7am-8pm
- Via Grab, drop off at Perdana Botanical Garden (Taman Perdana).
- Via public transport, take the LRT (Kelana Jaya Line) to KL Sentral. Hop on the GOKL Red (Hab Titiwangsa ↺ KL Sentral) and travel to Masjid Negara. It’s a 1 kilometre walk to Perdana Botanical Garden.
Nearby is the KL Bird Park, the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary which has over 3,000 birds! There are peacocks, hornbills, parrots and more roaming about freely and some may even come up to you.
- Opening hours: 9am-6pm, daily
Next to the bird park is the Butterfly Park! Always wanted to see butterflies up close yet flying free? Step into what looks like a fantasy land with lush gardens and rock pools where butterflies just go about their day. Be ready to feel butterfly kisses and some may even land on you so get your cameras ready!
- Opening hours: Friday-Monday and public holidays, 9am-4.30pm
Headed to the airport? Grab rides cost at least RM65 (around $21) one way and there are other options to get to KLIA and KLIA 2 as well.
Head to KL Sentral and take the ERL (KLIA Express) to either KLIA or KLIA 2. It takes around 40 minutes and costs RM55 (less than $20) one way. Find out more here.
There’s also the option of taking the Aerobus from KL Sentral to KLIA or KLIA 2. The trip takes approximately an hour and costs RM15 (less than $5). More information can be found here.
Want more? Day trips from KL
Head to Kuala Selangor to see a bird sanctuary near Bukit Melawati with silver leaf monkeys. You can also visit the historic Kota Melawati Fort and see thousands of fireflies at as the local oarsmen row you upstream.
- Via bus, take the Selangor Omnibus number 100 from Hab Lebuh Pudu heading towards Kuala Selangor. The trip takes about 2.5 hours and you get off at the Bandar Baru Kuala Selangor stop. Change to the 740 Kuala Selangor bus and travel to Bukit Melawati and walk 90 metres.
Cameron Highlands to visit a tea plantation, enjoy strawberry picking or grab some hot scones with tea in the cool highland weather, or buying the freshest fruits and vegetables to take back with you!
- Via bus, head to Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS) and get a ticket to Tanah Rata Bus Terminal (Cameron Highlands). To get around Cameron Highlands, there are shuttle buses which cost about RM2 per trip but the schedule is irregular and face delays. The fastest way to get around Cameron Highlands is via taxi especially in the evenings as it can get quite dark.
Pulau Ketam isn’t a typical island day trip. There aren’t any pretty swimming beaches but there’s plenty of fresh seafood to enjoy and colourful murals and houses to photograph. Feel the local ambiance as you stroll through the traditional fishing village!
- Via train, from KL Sentral, take the KTM to Pelabuhan Klang. Exit at Persiaran Raja Muda Musa and walk 90 metres to Jeti Pulau Ketam. Afterwards, you’ll just need to hop on the ferry to Pulau Ketam.
It’s highly recommended to rent a car if you’re going on day trips. This’ll save on time and you’re able to see the changing scenery as it transitions from the cityscape to countryside. For travellers who can’t drive, it’s also possible to book tour packages via your hotel concierge or platforms like Klook which offer full day tours plus hotel transfers.
Where to stay
- If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, consider checking in at W Hotel. It’s a 5-star hotel located opposite KLCC with world class accommodations and a pool view to die for!
- Citizen M is a mid-range hotel ($100 onwards) located in Bukit Bintang and 500 metres away (7 minute walk) from a monorail station (Imbi station).
- KL Journal is located super close to Pavilion KL and 2 minutes walk away from an MRT station. It has cool and colourful rooms at affordable prices (from $60 onwards).
What to eat in KL
- Hutong Food Court is a must visit as it’s where all the famous local hawker stalls are concentrated and you’ll find the best chilli pan mee, bak kut teh, Hokkien mee and more!
- Opening hours: 10am-8pm
- Jalan Alor is also a street food heaven so make sure to stop by and grab something yummy like salted egg squid from Wong Ah Wah or chicken rice from Pin Chen Hainanese Chicken Rice, curry mee, fish head noodles and more! Yum!
- Wong Ah Wah Opening hours: 5.30pm-12am
- Pin Chen Hainanese Chicken Rice Opening hours: 8am-3pm
- If you’re a serious foodie on the hunt, for Bak Kut Teh, we highly recommend Sum Hou Bak Kut Teh and make sure to order their dry bak kut teh!
- Opening hours: 11.30am-9.30pm, daily
- For the vegetarians, Betel Leaf is definitely our top pick. Their banana leaf rice and ala carte dishes (order the Gobi Manchurian- deep fried cauliflower in Indian-Chinese gravy!) are delightful and super flavourful. Plus, they’re located near the LRT Masjid Jamek!
- Opening hours: 11am-10pm, daily
- Madras Lane, located right behind Petaling Street is where you’ll find amazing hawker food! The legendary Madras Lane curry laksa is a must try with its thick, spicy broth, served with either yellow noodles or vermicelli, long beans, slices of brinjal, cockles, beancurd puffs and pork rinds.
- Opening hours: 8am-2pm, daily
- Head to SS2 and check out DKing and have everything durian to calm those cravings!
- Opening hours: 12pm-12am daily
- Via Grab, drop off at DKing SS2
- Not a fan of durian? Come around dinnertime and sate your hunger at the SS2 Wai Sek Kai (SS2 Selera Malam), a hawker centre that has everything you’d want from Ipoh hor fun (flat rice noodles in chicken broth), chee cheong fun (rice noodle roll served with toppings of your choice) and super refreshing leng chee kang (sweet lotus seed soup with snow fungus, longan and others)!
- Opening hours: 5pm-12am
Tip:
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