Malaysia’s capital and largest city has much to offer visitors, regardless of their interests. A cosmopolitan metropolis with a significant religious influence, Kuala Lumpur is filled with high end shopping opportunities and plenty of exciting things to do and places to explore. For many people, it’s a starting point for exploring Malaysia. The famous Petronas Twin Towers are not the only marvel here, though they are certainly the city’s most visited attraction.
Kuala Lumpur’s cultural diversity means there are also plenty of festivals to enjoy here, including the Thaipusam celebration, which includes a procession that walks all the way to the Batu Caves, another well known tourist destination. Let find out Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur below.
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Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur
Shopping Mall Pavilon
Situated in Bukit Bintang, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is the haute couture shoppers’ paradise. Standing out from the mall scape of the Malaysian capital, the extravagant shopping center is characterized by a white marble complex that offers a combination of both outdoor and indoor shopping venues designed to keep the city’s fashionistas looking their very best.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Completed in 1897 and designed for governmental administrative offices, the Sultan Abdul Samad building was Malaysia’s first public structure to feature a Mughal architectural style combining influences of Indian Muslim, Moorish and Gothic architecture. The building, located at the Merdeka square is impressive particularly at night when its clock tower and domes are lit up.
Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur’s most recognizable landmark is its twin towers, built of reinforced concrete, steel, and glass. Once the tallest towers in the world, the twin skyscrapers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world. At 88 floors tall, the towers are not only Kuala Lumpur’s most visible structure, but also a beautiful mix of postmodern style and Islamic art details. The towers are connected by a sky bridge on the 41st and 42nd floors. While the sky bridge is a major tourist attraction. The main reason for its existence isn’t the spectacular views you can get from it instead.
The bridge provides structural support to the towers as they sway during high wind days, as well as a fire escape route if one of the towers ever has an emergency and needs to be evacuated. Although most of the floors on the towers are privately rented, the lower floors house the Suria KLCC, an upscale shopping center with over 300 shops, as well as an art gallery, a science center, the Philharmonic Hall, and other attractions. The towers are particularly striking at night, when they are shining bright against the ever changing urban landscape.
Petaling Street
Kuala Lumpur’s one street Chinatown starts behind a large arch announcing its name and extends all the way to the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple, one of Malaysia’s oldest Buddhist temples. The entire street is covered by a green roof, affectionately known by the locals as Green Dragon a perfect shield from the heavy summer rains and the hot sun during the mid afternoon hours.
Petaling Street is also a popular destination for street food, and both locals and tourists come here to grab spices, ingredients, and specialties such as salted roast duck or Hokkien mee, a Southeast Asian dish made up of noodles, fried eggs, and a mix of meats. For those with a less adventurous stomach, there’s also plenty to buy here from street stalls selling toys and imitation brands to a Chinese bookstore, souvenirs, and much more.
Central Market
While Kuala Lumpur has its share of upscale shopping centers, this traditional market is where you’ll find some of the best items in the city. Located inside an Art Deco Heritage Site building dating back to the 19th century, the market is arranged in a stall format, with small open shops offering a mismatched mix of everything from traditional Malaysian handicrafts and batik textiles to pewter and silver items.
Malaysia is also well known for ornamental wood carvings and pottery, both of which are well represented at the market. Right to the side of the building, there’s the colorful Kasturi Walk, an open air flea market that complements Central Market with sales of local snacks, clothing and shoes, souvenirs, and more. Live performances and music can often be found here as well. Come prepared to haggle over prices, as this is expected and very much part of the fun here.
