16 Of The Very Best Places To See In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia is one beautiful country to explore, with some world-class beaches, beautiful scenery and vibrant cities… and guess what, Kuala Lumper is no exception. Now, if you’re looking for some of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur, then hopefully I can help ya out with some gorgeous spots you shouldn’t miss on your visit.

To be honest, one of the best things about the Malaysian Capital is that it’s anything but homogenous; in terms of culture, architecture, religion, food, and history – it’s one of those cities that just seems to mix so well.

This all makes it the perfect place to explore when in Malaysia – just make sure you arrive hungrily, you’ll be gorging on ALL of the scrummy food!

Take a look at some of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur when you visit, below. 

1.) Explore Batu Caves

The Batu Caves are possibly one of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur – well, for caves at least! Perched just on the outskirts of the city, it’s one place you have to visit when in the city.

Just be ready with some comfy shoes, there are literally hundreds of steps to climb (but it’s totally worth it).

The caves tend o have lots of renovation works on them, so be prepared for a little working and goings on whilst you’re there.

2.) See the Sri Mahamariamman Temple

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Basically, the oldest and one of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur is this Hindu temple. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple is a huge, colourful structure and a great place to learn about the melting pot of culture and religion that makes Kuala Lumpur so special.

3.) Gorge at Jalan Alor

If you head just north of Jln Bukit Bintang after 5 pm every afternoon you’ll find the entire street has become one giant open-air restaurant! It’s a perfect place to go after exploring the city.

Now, there are literally LOADS of places for food in the Jalan Alor but prices can be a little higher than some less popular spots with visitors.  It’s not the place you go for fancy dining but you will find a huge selection of Thai and Malay dishes to try.

For pudding, try some Sago Gula Melaka. It’s a tasty sweet treat of sago, creamy milk and sugar.

4.) Hike Bukit Broga Hill

Bukit Broga Hill isn’t in Kuala Lumpur itself but about 50 km from the city, making it the perfect place for a day trip. It’s quite easy to get here by car, with ample (paid) parking at the bottom. Now, obviously you can’t take your car to the top, so slip on those walking boots and head up the trail. The views from the top are incredible.

For a longer hike, keep on the Gunung Tok Wan trail that’s well marked.

5.) Watch the sunset at the Heli Lounge Bar

Seeing the sunset from the Heli Lounge Bar is gorgeous and a great place to go for evening drinks before supper (as long as it isn’t raining,).

This place is the absolute best to get a 360º helipad sunset view of the city as you sip a martini.

6.) See the Thean Hou Temple

The Buddhist temple of Thean Hou is one gorgeous spot to see when in Kuala Lumpur. Head inside, wander the immaculate temple grounds and even get a flat stick to see your luck for the coming year.

There are some lovely views from the temple, too.

7.) Enjoy the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival (or Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival) is a great thing to enjoy if you’re in the city in… you guessed it… mid-Autumn. The areas around Central Market have lots of performances, plenty of lanterns and an amazing atmosphere to enjoy.

You’re going to love Kuala Lumpur.

8.) See the views from the Kuala Lumpur Tower

If you’re wanting to avoid some of the queues at the Petronas Towers (but still want an amazing view) then get yourself over to the KL Tower. Much less time wasted on queueing and you’d still see an amazing view of the city.

9.) Visit the Petronas Towers

Perched right within the city, the Petronas Towers are possibly one of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic new(er) buildings. Best of all, you can head up to the Skybridge and the Observation Deck too. You’ll need to purchase a ticket (which can be nabbed). The towers can get pretty popular so it’s always best to grab the tickets online if you can.

10.) Stroll around Kampung Baru

The Malay traditional area had been sectioned off by the colonizing British in the 1890’s, and still has many traditional wood Malay houses that you can see.

When you’re in the area, make sure to grab something to eat in one of the hawker stalls or hundreds of little restaurants that line the streets. My favourite has to be the Nasi kerabu and a mango susu (trust me, you’ll love it).

11.) Sin Sze Si Ya Temple visit

There are quite a few gorgeous temples in the city, so be prepared to see as many as you can. It’s the oldest Chinese temple in the city, and in fact, you can receive a fortune telling stick and find out a little of your future.

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Shíshī lions too.

12.) Stroll the Bangsar Sunday Market

This is traditionally a food market, most often for fresh produce, but it’s worth a look. Many vendors come from all over to sell traditional food from prawn paste to tamarind gravy, and you can get a great feel for the food culture as well as a delicious walking lunch.

13.) See the Sultan Abdul Samad Building

With its Moorish architecture and stunning staircases, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is one lovely building you should see in the city.

Now, you won’t spend too long here but it’s well worth a little gander as you traipse around Kuala Lumper.

14.) Tour Jamek Mosque

A copy of old Moorish architecture from Spain, this beautiful century old building is set right where two rivers meet, and once you’re inside you can get some absolutely stunning views across the waterways, as well as a fantastic history lesson of one of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur.

15.) Stroll through China Town

Yes, it might be pretty commercialised and things might be a little more expensive than they ought to be but it’s still a good place to wander around and explore.

The food is definitely worth a try, here and I guarantee you’ll leave with a full tummy as the steamed buns are sooooo nice.

16.) See the Putra Mosque

One of the largest mosques in all of Malaysia, the Putra Mosque is technically out of Kuala Lumpur ( it’s only a 30-45 minute drive) but well worth a visit.

Now, non-Muslims can’t enter the religious site at prayer times (understandably so) but it’s definitely one of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur.