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Cycling in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

My 10 Favorite Things to do in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia

I started my life-long world travels in SE Asia back in 1998 by cycling from Bangkok, Thailand down to Singapore. I promptly proceeded to ‘get stuck’ in the region for most of 17 years, until 2015, in fact, when I finally left indefinitely to see other parts of the world.

During that time I explored all the countries of SE Asia at least once. But I returned time and time again to southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali, Indonesia. In those places I traveled, lived and sometimes worked for months at a time.

For several years Bangkok was my base of operations. I stored some excess gear at one particular hotel in between flying to other countries and exploring other regions of Thailand.

With the advent of Malaysia’s low-cost carrier, Air Asia, in 2004 I switched my base to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KL), and made all my flights to/from KL. To my great advantage, a couple years later I made friends with a wonderful French/German couple living in KL, who subsequently always invited me to stay with them anytime I was in town.

Kuala Lumpur panorama

As a result, I often stayed in KL from one week to one month at a time. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve explored that intriguing city, nor how many diverse adventures I’ve experienced there.

Over the years I got to know many neighborhoods of KL like the back of my hand, helped in great part by the fact that I often got around by bicycle. That entailsed getting to know the roads and neighborhoods really well.

However, during one visit, at the urging of a friend, I decided to take a private guided tour of KL to find out what that was like. I was very pleasantly surprised! I ended up learning heaps of new information, history and intrigues about the city that I didn’t know at all. Up til then, I thought I knew ‘everything’ about KL. Far from it!

British colonial Moorish style Building at Merdeka Sqare

That one private turn turned me on to the great joy and benefit of guided tours. First of all, it’s fun meeting and interacting with local guides, who invariably know more than I do, no matter how well I think I know a place. But most importantly for me is the interesting learning experience. I just love learning.

I now join private, personalized tours as well as the occasional small guided tours whenever I have the opportunity. I always learn more about the destinations that I possibly could on my own. Most recently, I joined a great privately guided tour in Havana, Cuba and a free city walking tour in Mexico City, Mexico.

Private tours are best, in my opinion, since I can ask the guide more specific questions, based on my interests, and I can request alterations in the general tour plan if I’m not so interested in one area or I’m especially intrigued by another specific location.

I still also greatly enjoy exploring cities on my own as well. Whenever I’m in KL, for instance, I always visit certain places and do particular activities over again. I’m sure that next time I visit KL I’ll do all of my favorites yet again.

Following are my absolute 10 favorite things to do in KL. I hope this will help other travelers make the most of their visit to Malaysia’s very interesting capital city. And maybe you should sneak in a private guided tour as well to get an insider’s knowledge of the city and culture of Malaysia.

KLCC shopping mall at the base of Petronas Twin Towers is Kuala Lumpur’s most exlusive mall – Malaysia

A. A Splash of Modern City Life

I spend most of my travel time out in the great outdoors. In the tropics, I’m usually at beaches, islands, tropical forests and national parks. I visit many rather remote and undeveloped places, often staying in quaint guest houses, thatched bungalows and small hotels.

So whenever I visit a big modern city like Bangkok, KL or Singapore, I really enjoy indulging in some rare luxurious urban life and activities.

1. Hang out at KLCC Shopping Mall

Growing up in the USA, I quickly learned to hate shopping malls. In the States, they’re usually just big ugly rectangular structures filled with mid-range chain stores and restaurants that are filled with the kinds of mindless, mainstream people I’d never hang out with.

So I was amazed to discover SE Asia’s amazing urban malls. They have stunning architecture and interiors, much more upscale stores, great coffee shops, wonderful sitting spaces, great atmosphere and sometimes even museums and/or art galleries.

KLCC, a huge urban mall set at the base of Petronas Twin Towers is one of my favorites. Every time I’m in KL I go hang out in KLCC at least once a week, if not more. I love sitting the the huge open coffee shops, sipping a delicious espresso and soaking up the bright atmosphere and luxurious surroundings.

The soaring center of the mall is an exhibition space, where there’s often a special performance, annual festival or art exhibition in progress. Petronas Gallery is a great art gallery with constantly changing exhibitions. There are two wonderful food courts, a huge cinema with the latest movies, the Petronas Towers Gallery (about construction and history of the towers) and a huge Japanese department store with delicious foods, bakery and desserts.

Lash - Petronas Twin Towers from Sky Bar

view of Petronas Twin Towers from Sky Bar

2. Drink Cocktails at Luxurious Rooftop Cocktail Bars

The area around Petronas Twin Towers is one of KL’s major chic upscale areas of the city. Various hotels, restaurants and bars are situated in tall skyscrapers nearby. Several of them boast at rooftop cocktail bar, all with astounding views of the Twin Towers and the park at the base of the buildings.

Since I’m a huge cocktails fan, and also love heights & architecture, I always treat myself to one or two expensive cocktails at KL’s fabulous rooftop cocktail bars. I often went with my good friend, Stephanie, as well.

3. Watch a movie at the cinema

I love movies, but I dont’ often get to go to a cinema during my world travels. So whenever I visit a big city, it’s a great treat for me to head to a cinema.

KLCC has a very large multi-plex cinema showing the latest Hollywood films as well as Malaysian, Chinese and Indian movies. If there’s a movie worth watching when I”m in town, I always make time to head to the cinema.

I wrote more about KL’s rooftop bars in this article.

B. Nature and Exercise

I’ve been a fitness buff my whole life. While I’m traveling the world full time, I make sure I exercise regularly, both to stay fit and because I greatly enjoy it. My exercise of choice varies from place to place, depending on what’s most readily available.

Lake Garden Park, KL

4. Cycle in Lake Garden Park

KL has the huge wonderful Perdana Botanical Gardens – aka Lake Garden Park, situated not far from downtown. Whenever I’m in KL I cycle over there and pedal around the massive, hilly tropical park for an hour or so.

Afterward, I usually hang out in the park for a while. I enjoy stretching beside the lake, visiting the orchid gardens, admiring the stunning lush tropical vegetation and relaxing under big shady trees.

Lash taking a photo with birds at KL Bird Park

5. Visit KL Bird Park Aviary

Another fantastic part of Lake Garden Park is the huge open-air aviary called KL Bird Park. It’s a maasive walk-in aviary covered by high nettingso the birds can fly around but not fly away.

Not surprisingly, it’s a huge tourist attraction. But the number and diversity of birds makes it worth visiting anyhow. I try to go each time in KL because I really love birds and this is one of the best aviaries I know of in the world. Ive only seen a comparable one in Hong Kong.

Chinese food at a local food court

C. Eating Diverse Cuisines

Malaysia is a multi-racial country with large populations of Malays, Indian Malaysians and Chinese Malaysians. The later two residents are mostly descendants of immigrants in the 1800s, during the big Asian Trading Route days under British colonialism.

KL and Penang, in particular, have large populations of Indian and Chinese Malaysians.

A fantastic benefit of this multi-racial culture is the vast array of diverse, delicious cuisines. Whenver I’m in KL I make sure to eat all my favorite meals from Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisines available all over the city.

Following are three places I always visit when in town. I wrote a more extensive post about my favorite, litttle-known Secret Eating Places in KL here.

vegetarian buffet at a Chinese temple

6. Eat at Chinese Temple Vegetarian Buffet

Beautiful little Kun Yung Thong Temple is located just one block from Petronas Twin Towers on Jalan Ampang. Every day, Mon-Friday they serve up a massive vegetarian buffet. Anyone is welcome to dine there and the prices are very low.

My good friend, Stephanie, who was living / working in KL for many years, turned me on to this fabulous dining option. After that, I ate there several times a week any time I was in KL.

7. Have Malaysian breakfast – roti chennai and te tarik

Roti chennai and te tarik are one of the most common light meals to eat in Malaysia. In KL, you can find both just about anywhere.

Roti is a Malaysian flat bread made by grilling rolled-up dough on a hot plate. It’s light and flakey, but a bit oily since it’s cooked on the grill in oil. Roti is served with many different meals, but most commonly with 1-3 tiny bowls of various ‘gravies’. This is called roti chennai. The most common graveies are a somewhat spicy yellow curry, a brown fish-flavored gravy and occassionally a coconut curry (which is actually an Indian curry).

Te tarik is an Indian style tea make with spices and milk with a thick cap of froth on top. Froth is made by pouring the tea back and forth at a height between two glasses, always done just before serving. It’s fun watching the cooks prepare this.

I particularly love eating roti chennai in downtown KL – aka Chinatown – at one of several huge Indian / Malay restaurants.

Indian buffet-style restaurant

8. Dine on Indian food

KL has two distinct India towns. One is on the edge of Chinatown, downtown. The other is called Brickfields, situated near KL Central Train Station, a short distance from downtown.

Indian Food in Malaysia is completely authentic, with restaurants owned and staffed by Indians. Many have recently migrated from India; others are long-term descendants. Primarily, they are southern Indians from Tamil Nadu state, so they speak Tamil and serve southern Indian cuisine.

Luckily, that consists of many different curries, breads, desserts and tandoori chicken. I always eat a lot of delicous Indian food when I’m in KL. My favorite restaurants are downtown, primarily because it’s easier for me to get there than Brickfields. But most Indian restaurants in KL are great.

D. Cultural Pursuits

9. Enjoy art at Petronas Gallery

As I mentioned earlier, inside KLCC shopping mall at the base of Petronas Towers is the wonderful Petronas Gallery. Nearly every time I’m in KL the gallery has a new exhibition. Over the years I’ve seen dozens of great art exhibits, primarily featuring paintings or photography, mostly by Malaysian artists.

Entrance is free. They also have a small shop full of upscale museum-type art-inspired gifts and books.

important but little-known Guan Di Chinese Temple in ‘downtown’ Kuala Lumpur

10. Visit Chinese and Indian temples downtown

KL’s small but hectic Chinatown is a famous feature of the city. For me the main alleyways get too jammed up with street stalls, hawkers and crowds for my tastes. But I still enjoy going there to eat delicious Chinese food at ‘economic meal’ restaurants, check out the cute specialty shops and visit the beautiful little temples.

Two favorite temples I always try to visit are both located on Jalan HS Lee, which parallels the main market street. Petaling Jaya. Guan Di Temple is a very cute little red Chinese temple that’s always filled with thick clouds of fragrant incense smoke. Inside visitors can watch devotees lighting incense, making offerings and praying in front of the main alter.

Practically across the street is tall, intricately carved tower of Sri Mahamariamman Indian Hindu temple. Visitors must remove their shoes to enter. Once inside they can walk a circuit around the central alter area.

You might also enjoy the following articles about KL-

10 Free Things to do in KL

Best Rooftop Cocktail Bars in KL

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