A Quick Stop in Kuala Lumpur: Highlights & Travel Tips
- adriana hamelin
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Malaysia was a quick three-night stop for us, so we naturally stayed in Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). Big cities aren’t really our thing, and this trip reaffirmed that. Additionally, there was a noticeable shift from being in a bathing suit to standing out more and opting for long pants to dress more conservatively.
Arrival and Transportation
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is massive, with two terminals connected by a free shuttle bus or the express train ($). Walking through the airport feels like a journey in itself, with multiple bathroom stops and trolleys available along the way. Immigration was straightforward since we had completed the required form three days prior to arrival. The process was simple—scan your passport, take a photo, and proceed to baggage claim. From the airport, KLCC is about 40 minutes to an hour away by car.
Batu Caves
Our main outing was a visit to Batu Caves, a famous Hindu temple set in a limestone cave. It’s a colorful and highly photogenic spot, making it popular among tourists. However, climbing the 270 steep steps felt like more effort than reward, leaving me sweaty. The area is also home to plenty of pigeons and mischievous monkeys—some snatch snacks from unsuspecting visitors. I saw a monkey grab a child’s popsicle, leading to tears (poor kid!).
Since visitors must remove their shoes before entering the temple, I recommend wearing socks and washing them afterward. Also, avoid visiting on rainy days—the open caves provide no shelter, and the steps could be dangerously slippery. The main cave is free to enter, while other attractions, such as additional caves and an animal exhibit, have an entrance fee. Getting there and back was effortless with Grab, Malaysia’s equivalent of Uber.
Food Experience
We dined at our hotel's famous Ramadan buffet, sampling a variety of local dishes and desserts. Many of the desserts were made with glutinous rice, and my favorite was ondek ondek. Unfortunately, my stomach wasn’t too happy afterward—possibly due to an unknown ingredient containing dairy or gluten.
One dish we missed out on was nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national dish, consisting of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It’s a must-try for anyone visiting.
Grooming and Haircuts
We appreciated the abundance of barbers and hairdressers in the mall where our hotel was located. Unlike in Thailand and Vietnam, we thought maybe barbers in Malaysia would be more accustomed to cutting beards. One thing that surprised me was that some barbershops only cut men's hair—I couldn't even get my hair shaved there.
Petronas Towers & KLCC Park
We timed our visit to the Petronas Towers perfectly, arriving around 7:15 PM (sunset was around 7:30) to capture photos while the sky was still bright. Many "photographers" are around offering paid services using different camera flashes to enhance your pictures if you are interested.
KLCC Park provides different angles of the towers and features a fountain show. Some areas of the park are not well-lit, but this is intentional to maintain the nighttime ambiance.
For a more upscale experience, we visited SkyBar at Traders Hotel. It was a great decision—the atmosphere was cool, especially when there's a DJ playing. However, the space can feel quite warm, and I did wonder how people manage not to fall into the pool!
Exploring Kuala Lumpur at Night
Wanting to see as much as possible before leaving, we used Grab to hop between attractions.
River of Life We arrived at 9:15 PM expecting to see mist and a fountain show, but nothing was happening. We wandered along the river until, finally, at 9:45 PM, the show began. I sprinted back to the bridge to capture pictures and videos. It was an interesting experience but not a must-see.
Merdeka 118 We also checked out Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world, which wasn’t open yet. Some locals humorously compare its design to an old mobile phone. The mall inside is still under construction, and with Malaysia having over 200 malls, they certainly know how to build them! One of our Grab drivers joked that Malaysia has two seasons: "summer outside and winter inside due to the freezing air conditioning."
KL Tower Next, we visited KL Tower, which sits atop a hill and offers stunning views of Merdeka 118 and a glimpse of the Petronas Towers. It reminded me of the CN Tower in Toronto. The observation deck would have been great to visit, so plan ahead if you want to experience it.
The evening was a highlight of our trip—fewer crowds made it easier to take photos, and seeing the towers illuminated at night was spectacular. We noticed that by 9 PM, the Petronas Towers area was busier, and our Grab driver mentioned that in June and July, it’s packed with tourists.
Departure from Kuala Lumpur
At Terminal 2, we encountered a small issue with our bag tag not printing at the kiosk, requiring us to visit the counter. Passport control was efficient, with the same scanning and photo process as arrival. After security, our gate was a 10-minute walk away, as expected—it’s always the furthest one!
One notable difference in Malaysia was the design of the women’s bathrooms, which were quite different from what I’m used to.
Final Thoughts
Tolls: There are a lot of tolls in Malaysia.
Planning: If you want to visit the Petronas Towers or the KL Tower’s observation deck, book ahead.
Overall, Kuala Lumpur was an interesting stop, but city life isn’t really our preference. The Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, and SkyBar were enjoyable experiences, and transportation was seamless thanks to Grab. While we wouldn’t rush back, it was a worthwhile visit. Kuala Lumpur feels quite different from the rest of Malaysia, which has many regions with more traditional and natural settings. While I wouldn’t visit KL again, I’d be interested in exploring the northwest islands and beaches, as they seem worth visiting.
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