Kuala Lumpur travel guide

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.

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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.

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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.

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's retail, fashion and electronics centre. The Golden Triangle is the city's premier shopping area, where visitors can pick up high-end items produced by the most sought-after brands. Bukit Bintang Street is the best place to start spending. The Suria KLCC is another of the country's most famous shopping spots, given its location beneath the iconic Petronas Towers.

The Central Market on Jalan Hang Kasturi is a great place to buy anything from antiques and paintings to handicrafts, clothing and quirky souvenirs. Best buys include pottery, wood carvings, and brass, pewter and silver jewellery. Visitors can also walk across to nearby Chinatown, where they can purchase dried food, jewellery and herbal medicines - among other things. They'll need to embrace haggling, though, as it's very much part of the culture.

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.