Kuala Lumpur's playgrounds, attractions and shopping malls make
it a wonderfully child-friendly destination. Parents may want to
begin their sightseeing at the Petronas Towers, which offer
breath-taking views of the city. The Perdana Botanical Gardens are
worth visiting too, as kids will find plenty of wide open spaces to
play in. The sight also has some lovely picnic spots, and is home
to the Bird Park and Butterfly House.
Other child-friendly activities include looking at toys in
Chinatown, or walking through the vast Taman Negara national park.
If the temperature climbs too high, children will enjoy any one of
Kuala Lumpur's many water parks. When the sun goes down, parents
can treat kids to the unique and unforgettable Fireflies Tour,
which takes visitors down the Selangor River by boat to watch
fireflies lighting up the mangrove trees.
Kuala Lumpur's climate is typically tropical, meaning it's hot
and humid all year round, with no distinct seasons and very little
variation in temperature. The mercury hovers in the region of 86°F
(30°C) all year, but can reach around 95°F (35°C).
Rainfall in the city is heavy and storms occur year-round,
usually in the late afternoon. The showers often come as a relief
to visitors who are unaccustomed to the heat, and don't generally
disrupt itineraries very much - provided that visitors carry a
lightweight rain jacket at all times.
Another balm for the heat is the amount of air-conditioned
buildings visitors are likely to spend time in; Kuala Lumpur is a
modern city and well-equipped to handle its tropical climate. June,
July and August receive slightly less rainfall on average and, for
this reason, many recommend them as the best months to visit the
city.
Kuala Lumpur is an exotic garden of flavours, where travellers
can indulge in a wide variety of the region's most delectable
cuisines. Visitors will find thousands of roadside stalls and food
bazaars that cater to all kinds of tastes and budgets. Popular
bites include satay (marinated and barbecued meat, normally
chicken, beef or mutton), nasi lemak (savoury rice steamed in
coconut milk) and chicken rice and fried noodles.
Indigenous Malaysian cuisine is influenced by Thai, Indian and
Chinese cooking, and offers exciting flavours. Indian Muslim
(Mamak) cuisine is especially fragrant, with spices, curry leaves,
and coconut milk characterising its dishes. Malaysian Chinese food
is also widely loved, and remains distinctly Chinese.
Pubs, bustling bars, pumping clubs and karaoke lounges offer
lots of after-dark entertainment in a city that never sleeps.
Indeed, visitors will find one of Asia's best nightlife scenes when
they explore Malaysia's capital. And though Kuala Lumpur is
predominantly Muslim, its cosmopolitan nature allows for alcohol to
be widely available.
The city centre has some of KL's trendiest clubs and most
eccentric bars. Bukit Bintang is another of the city's most popular
areas for night-time entertainment, where visitors can dine at
great restaurants or enjoy vibrant bars.
Tourists looking for a quieter night out should stop at a
karaoke bar - a staple in Malaysian society. Singing is entirely
optional and it's great fun to simply watch. Local theatres and
cabarets are also an option, and cinemas show contemporary English,
Malay, Chinese, Hindi and Indonesian movies.
The easiest way to get around Kuala Lumpur is on the five
different commuter train routes, each operated by a different
company. The KL Monorail serves the main shopping and hotel
districts, while the LRT serves Chinatown. Fares are reasonable and
the trains are frequent on all routes, operating from about 5.30am
to midnight.
City buses are hot, crowded and totally unreliable. Taxis can be
hailed at the roadside or found at obvious locations outside
hotels, shopping centres and the like. Metered fares rise steeply
between midnight and 6am, and drivers sometimes raise the price
during peak hours or in bad weather. Hiring a car and self-driving
is not recommended in Kuala Lumpur as the traffic is stressful and
confusing and public transport is more than sufficient.
Kuala Lumpur is a year-round destination, where the skyline is a
contrast of towering contemporary structures and charming heritage
buildings. Visitors can enjoy a melting pot of Southeast Asia's
traditional cultures and religions, as well as the affluent city's
modern attractions.
The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are the world's tallest twin
buildings, and Kuala Lumpur's most striking landmark. They're a
good place for visitors to begin their sightseeing. The
breath-taking National Mosque (Masjid Negara), Friday Mosque
(Masjid Jamek) and the intricately ornate, Moorish-style Kuala
Lumpur Railway Station carry an old-world charm. Visitors will find
more interesting old buildings around Merdeka Square, where
Malaysia first declared its independence in 1957. History buffs
will love learning about the country's culture and heritage at the
National Museum.
Outdoor enthusiasts must venture to the vast Taman Negara
national park, which contains some of the world's oldest
rainforest. Visitors can spend their time trekking, fishing, river
rafting, bird watching or even climbing the peninsula's highest
mountain, Gunung Tahan.