MALAYSIA

While many people associate Malaysia with the outdoor adventures of Borneo and head straight there, the capital city of Kuala Lumpur is not to be missed. This vibrant and modern city is full of energy, beautiful architecture, delicious food, and enough sites to easily keep you busy for 2-3 days. 

Day 1: Your first full day should be used to explore the sites within the city center. These would include the Petronas Twin Towers, the KL Tower, KLCC Park, Sultan Abdul Samad Building & Jamek Mosque. When planning out your day, it is best to look at the map and see where each site is and then decide on a route. We would recommend starting with the Sultan Abdul Samad Building & Jamek Mosque, then heading to KL Tower, and finishing with the Petronas Towers & KLCC Park. (This is quite a busy day and is suggested if you only have 2 full days in the city, if you have more time, feel free to spread these sites out between a few days so it will be more of a relaxed pace.) 

If you wish to go into the Petronas Twin Towers and head to the top of the world's tallest twin towers, then you will need to purchase tickets. We recommend you do so in advance here, so that you can select your entrance time online and help plan your day out more easily. Same goes for the KL Tower, if you wish to head to the top, you can book your timeslot here. Just make sure that you go back and check out the Petronas Twin Towers at night. The view from the top is impressive, but in our opinion, the best part about the towers is seeing them all lit up at night!    

KLCC Park is a great location to spend a few hours if you have the time. Take a stroll along the different paths, check out the wading pool and playground for the kids, and enjoy the Esplanade Lake Symphony light and sound show in the fountain area at night. Showtimes are at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm daily.

The Jamek Mosque and Sultan Abdul Samad Building are both in the same area of the city and can be reached from the Masjid Jamek metro stop. You are unable to enter the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, but the beautiful architecture is worth a look. Then you can head over to the mosque between 10am-12:30pm or 2:30pm-4:30pm for a look inside. Appropriate attire is required, but robes are available for those without the long pants and head coverings.

To end your day of exploring, head over the Jalan Alor Food Street for dinner. This bustling street is the perfect place to sample dishes from all over South East Asia and enjoy food with tourists and locals alike. We recommend going your first night because you will most likely want to return the remaining nights of your visit to try new dishes!

Day 2: Your second day should be spent heading outside the city a bit to check out Batu caves. As we mentioned above in Tips & Tricks, Batu Caves are not on one of the lines that is included in your TravelPass card so do not attempt to use it! You will instead purchase an individual pass for the KTM train, most easily caught at KL Sentral Station, and get on the line heading towards Batu Caves, which will take just over 30 minutes. Once you reach the caves, start exploring! The colorful stairs and main temple open at 6am and are free to enter. The remaining temples open between 8:30 and 10:30am and cost between RM5-RM35. 

On your way to or from the Batu Caves, you can hop off at Kuala Lumpur station (1 stop from KL Sentral) and check out the National Mosque and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway station. The mosque is free to enter, but appropriate attire must be worn. If women do not have long skirts or pants and a head covering, then one will be provided upon entry. Shoes must be removed and non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the main prayer hall during prayer time. 

Day 3: If you are lucky enough to have a third day in KL, then use that time to explore any of the city sites that you have not yet seen. If you were able to tackle everything already, then check out some of the smaller attractions such as Chinatown or the Kuala Lumpur Forest Eco park where you may be lucky enough to spot some wild monkeys!