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Mark Ford, founder for Plus1 Travel.com
It’s wonderful having you here searching for Kuala Lumpur Travel tips. This majestic city has so much to offer, allow me to walk you through the in’s and out’s of this city. Let’s do it!
The capital city Kuala Lumpur is a sparkling jewel in Malaysia’s crown – a mix of cultures and nationalities from Malaysia’s rich past blending into a futuristic metropolis. Kuala Lumpur is a dynamic city that has the fastest-growing economy in Malaysia, and with an ultra-modern skyline and frantic pace of life, Kuala Lumpur offers the visitor the chance to experience everything that 21st-century Malaysia has to offer.
More than just a modern city, Kuala Lumpur has a rich and colorful history, which can be seen in the many colonial-era buildings nestled amongst the towering skyscrapers, as well as beautiful hillside temples offering a tranquil escape from the chaos of modern city life. The shopping heart of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, offers the visitor an exciting and colorful adventure around every corner, with streets bursting with every imaginable shopping opportunity. From the most extravagant indulgence to affordable roadside bargains, there is more than enough to satisfy every taste.
Searching for Kuala Lumpur Travel tips there are three ways for you to travel to reach the city centre of Kuala Lumpur from Kuala Lumpur Airport. Let’s walk through which one of them might suit you best depending on price, convenience and the time it will take to get you from the airport into this beautiful city.
Metro
The metro in Kuala Lumpur offers two trains that will take you into the city centre: the KLIA Express and the KLIA Transit. The trains will go to both terminals on the route. The express train is the best method, as it will take you directly into the city centre, whereas the KLIA Transit will make stops at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, Bandar Tasik and Selatan. The KLIA Express or Transit metro trains run from the airport, both taking you to the KL Sentral station in the city. The Express, being
the better option, will take around 28 minutes with a cost of 7.40€ (RM35) per person/one way.
Bus
The airport provides an Airport Coach Service. Unfortunately the bus will only go to KL Sentral, so additional transit is required via metro or bus. The airport bus provides a comfortable and cheap transit to the city; however, it is affected by traffic, therefore, the journey can be long, often taking over an hour to reach the city. You will need to take an additional train to get to the city centre (area of Petronas Towers) as the bus only goes to KL Sentral. To get to the city centre, take the LRT Kelana Jaya Line (number 5) from KL Sentral to stop KLCC which will take around 15 minutes more. The ride takes around 70 min and costs only €2.60.
Taxis
The most efficient method is traveling by taxi. Kuala Lumpur airport taxis operate on a fixed fare system, so will cost 15.60€ (RM74.30) and will take around 50 minutes to reach the centre in normal traffic. Kuala Lumpur airport taxis should also be metered and licenced so make sure that you do not enter any taxi that refuses to turn on its meter. Taxis can either be metered or you can purchase a coupon from a counter with a set cost; note that this can be higher than a metered fare dependent on weather, time of day or distance.
When it comes to getting around the city and Kuala Lumpur travel tips, there are several options of getting around. Whether it’s by train or taxi, transportation around the city is relatively hassle-free. Here are some transport suggestions for getting around KL.
Train
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a newly completed train system that allows you to reach more parts of KL, now connected by rail. Apart from the MRT, other rail services include the Light Rail Transit (LRT), monorail and KTM Komuter in the city. The trains in the city pass through iconic attractions such as KLCC, Central Market and Muzium Negara. If you’re on a long visit, consider purchasing the Touch ‘N’ Go card or weekly passes for cheaper fares. The card can be used on all trains, as well as RapidKL buses.
Kuala Lumpur Public Transport
Bus
Travelling by bus in Kuala Lumpur is generally a comfortable experience these days. Most of the buses are fully air conditioned and will get you to popular tourist attractions as well as quaint neighbourhoods. Look out for the free purple Go KL buses within the central business district that run along popular sites and famous shopping districts. You can also travel further on the RapidKL buses.
Taxi
Getting around town by taxi is convenient and reasonably priced. Make sure to always insist on using the metre – do not be duped into haggling for a price. According to the Land Public Transport Commission, regular budget taxis (painted in red and white, or red and blue) charge RM3 for the first three minutes. Subsequent distance or time are charged at RM0.25 every 200m or 36 seconds. Blue cabs (Teksi Eksekutif) and gold cabs (Teks1M) are better for large groups, but they do charge a higher fee.
Kuala Lumpur is a massive city with a number of uniquely-named locales, getting into Kuala Lumpur travel tips the city is teeming with accommodation options that range from simple hotels for backpackers to sprawling five-star hotels with breathtaking city views that are perfect for sophisticated travellers. Here’s a run down on the most popular places to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is the trendy shopping and entertainment district with shopping malls with indoor theme parks to nightclubs. There are everything from backpacker hotels all the way up to luxurious hotels around here. Its central location and good public transport connection makes it easy to get to where you want to go around the city. A perfect choice if you’re looking to stay central with a great variety of nightclubs, shopping and restaurants.
Kuala Lumpur City
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur is where you’ll find the most iconic landmarks, like the Petronas Towers and Menara KL Tower. Around here you’ll get great dining, arts, culture, recreation, nightlife, shopping and entertainment. Pretty much anything you would want from a visit to the city is around this area. Perfect if you want to stay central in a great hotel with walking distance to attractions, restaurants, rooftop views and nightlife.
Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
Chinatown is the place for the backpackers, who want a cheap stay, cheap food and live in a historical area. Deeply immersed in Oriental culture, heritage and history, Chinatown also houses beautifully-preserved Buddhist temples and traditional coffee houses frequented by the local Chinese community. Backpackers’ inns and budget hotels can be found almost everywhere here as well.
Looking for Kuala Lumpur travel tips, the heart of Malaysia is a constantly growing city full of history and culture. There is so much to eat in this capital city, so we have compiled a list of some of the best foods for a truly memorable visit.
Nasi lemak
It’s hard to pick the best spot for the mighty national dish, so here’s what’s considered top three: go to Nasi Lemak Famous for nasi lemak with crispy ayam goreng rempah, Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa for a variety of sides (such as sambal sotong and paru goreng), and Village Park if you like yours with a whole fried chicken leg and a side of cool.
Nasi lemak
Ikan bakar
Freshness of fish, the spicy marinade, grilled to create a charred, crispy exterior while the flesh remains moist and flaky. This is the ikan bakar worthy of going the extra mile for (in this case, going up Bukit Petaling at lunch time). To up the experience, have your ikan with the stall’s equally famous air asam.
Roti canai
Roti kosong (plain roti canai) is light and crispy with a slight sweetness; it’s tasty enough to eat on its own, but you’ll want to dip it in the dal, sambal and mutton curry for the full experience. For a wider (if more peculiar) range of roti, head to Restoran Murni SS2 for its Roti Hawaii (roti stuffed with minced meat, eggs, cheese, sausages and pineapples) and Roti Fujima (roti with bananas and two scoops of corn ice cream).
Ramly burger
This roadside burger is a Malaysian icon, and while you can find at least one stall operating in every neighbourhood, some of the finest Ramly burgers can be found at Brother John Burger Stall in Damansara Uptown. Try their famous Master Burger: two Ramly beef/chicken patties with egg and cheese and black pepper sauce.
Banana leaf rice
A quarter of a banana leaf is laid before you, sides are arranged on it, next comes the rice, and lastly, a generous ladle of aromatic curry. Pair it with rasam and papadum, and eat with your fingers. Somewhere along the line, locals have made this South Indian dish a Malaysian one with the addition of items such as fried chicken and fried fish.
The Petronas Towers are the iconic and instantly identifiable skyline with the KL Tower, these twins are on the list of the world’s top 20
Petronas Towers
tallest skyscrapers and the tallest twin buildings in the world. Visit the Sky Bridge, a tendon between the two towers to see the full extent of the park, a green lung project dedicated to freshening up Kuala Lumpur’s urban atmosphere. A great way to experience Kuala Lumpur from the sky.
This building encompasses the Sultan Abdul Samad Buildingand the large field in front of it, and is the place Malaya declared itself independent from colonial forces in 1957, becoming Malaysia. Although the building is formally used for government offices, its neo-Mughal and Moorish Revival exterior makes a beautiful backdrop for pictures at any hour of the day.
Here you can find dioramas and free maps, as well as guided bicycle and walking tours if you would like some company around town. Also take note of the repurposed heritage site in which the gallery is housed; the structure itself dates back to the 19th century, when neo-Renaissance architecture was favored by the British administration.
Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou Temple is one of the oldest and largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and dates back to 1894, when the Chinese Hainanese community made KL their home. The large temple sits on top of a hill and offers a majestic view of the city in addition to its already breathtaking architecture centering on prosperity and luck. A shrine to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, this temple is still a key place of worship.
Pasar Seni, or the Art Market area, is a center for both traditional and modern arts in a beautiful blue Art Deco building. With over 300 shops the Central Market sells everything Malaysian, from the old style batik prints and weaves to more modern contemporary art. The area also has small theater outlets and weekly cultural events celebrating the diverse population of Malaysia.
Berjaya Times Square is unique in that it actually combines a theme park and a shopping mall. How crazy is that?! It is the largest indoor
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
theme park in Malaysia, with tons of family friendly rides and activities. The mall itself is quite popular for food and cheap shopping too. Enjoy the ride!
The National Zoo is always a fun place to visit, it houses the most exciting collection of animals in the country. There’s an array of Asian rainforest wildlife, unique to this part of the world. The zoo also acts as a hub for foreign relations, the most recent example of which is the housing of two giant pandas from China, marking 40 years of goodwill. Animal lovers have to go here!
Accreditation: Rachel and Nick
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Mark Ford – Founder of Plus1Travel.com – For More Travel Tips > Go Here
