Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a big city with many skyscrapers and several British colonial-era landmarks. The city is the cultural, financial, and economic center of Malaysia as well as being home to the Parliament and the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. You can also find three of the world’s 10 largest shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur and in 2020 it was named the World Book Capital by UNESCO. There are plenty of gastronomic delights, with thousands of hawker stalls (food stalls), cafes, and restaurants serving every imaginable type of delicacy. Want to know what to visit in this beautiful city? Here is a list of 10 places that are interesting to visit whilst in Kuala Lumpur.
1. Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers are a pair of 452m iconic buildings and the symbol of the city. The towers feature a double-decker sky bridge connecting the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floor, which makes it the highest two story bridge in the world. The towers were designed by Argentinian architect César Pelli, and you can walk around the buildings themselves, where there is a playground for children, a fountain with an incorporated light show and wading pools.
2. Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak, Selangor. Before going up to the caves at the entrance you can see the Lord Murugan giant statue. The caves are one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India and are dedicated to Lord Murugan. They 272 steps painted in an extraordinary color scheme with each set of steps painted in a different rainbow of colors. It is not surprising that this place is also the most popular tourist destination in Malaysia.
3. Menara Kuala Lumpur
Menara Kuala Lumpur or the Kuala Lumpur Tower is another landmark of the city. A communications tower, it features an antenna that increases its height to 421 meters and is the 7th tallest freestanding tower in the world. The rest of the tower below has a stairwell and an elevator to reach the upper area, which also has a revolving restaurant where you can enjoy dinner with a panoramic view of the city. Maybe not for those who are prone to vertigo!
4. Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square or Dataran Merdeka is a famous square located in the center of Kuala Lumpur and is the venue for the annual Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade). This place is also known for the beautiful view of the city and is surrounded by beautiful buildings like the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
5. Chinatown
Malaysia has many different cultural mixes including Malay, Indian, and also Chinese, so visiting the China town in Kuala Lumpur is a fascinating thing to do. Like China towns in others places the area is surrounded by beautiful colors of red and yellow. You can also visit the Taoist Guan Di Temple and the 19th-century Sri Mahamariamman Temple, with a facade of carved Hindu deities. Located in Petaling Street, known for its fashion shops and a large covered market with produce, clothes, and accessories, you can also find some local artists who sell their work. Don’t forget to eat here as there are many tasty foods to try.
6. Taman Burung Kuala Lumpur
Besides its skyscrapers and impressive and historic architecture, Kuala Lumpur is also a place where you can see and observe many different kinds of local birds as well as those that come from other countries. Taman Burung Kuala Park is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm including Public Holidays & School Holidays and is located adjacent to the Lake Gardens in Bukit Aman. The Bird Park houses more than 3000 birds representing more than 200 species in an enclosed aviary.
7. National Mosque of Kuala Lumpur
The National Mosque or Masjid Negara has a capacity of more than 15000 people and is situated in a beautiful garden. The architecture has a beautiful and original design both inside and outside the buildings, and it has become one of the famous places to visit in Kuala Lumpur.
8. Sunway Lagoon
Located 12 km from the center of Kuala Lumpur this theme park is a place to visit with family or friends. With more than 80 attractions, you will have a great time here. Visitors can enjoy five different zones – the water park, Scream Park, Amusement Park, Extreme Park, and Wildlife Park.
9. KLCC Park
KLCC Park is an urban park in Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Visitors come to enjoy the many features of this park; from the children’s playground, wading pool, and jogging track to the shelters and benches, winding footpaths and sculptures. The park has been designed to provide greenery to Petronas Twin Towers and the areas surrounding it.
10. Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Sultan Abdul Samad Building is one of the most important buildings in Malaysia. It is a late-nineteenth-century building located along with Jalan Raja in front of the Dataran Merdeka. The building originally housed the offices of the British colonial administration and was known simply as Government Offices in its early years. In 1974 it was renamed “Sultan Abdul Samad” after the reigning sultan of Selangor at the time when construction began.
