Kuala Lumpur, commonly referred to as KL, is an impressive city with so many things to do, great foods to eat and nightlife to experience. The city is so large that every suburb or area feels like its own city. Chinatown, Brickfields and Bukit Bintang- all have their specific personalities and vibes, so much so that they feel like cities in their own right. You could spend a lifetime backpacking KL and never run out of things to do.
How many days to spend in Kuala Lumpur?
Some people may tell you that you only need 1-2 days in Kuala Lumpur to tick off the major bucket list sites. While that may be true, you probably won’t fully enjoy backpacking KL in that short of a timeframe, and you will miss so much of the city. Depending on your pace of travel, 3-5 full days would be a sufficient amount of time to see the major sites or KL and actually enjoy your time backpacking in the city.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur
Being the capital of Malaysia and due to its central location, it is fairly easy to get to KL from virtually anywhere in Malaysia but also from overseas. The bus network in Malaysia is extensive. They also have fairly affordable internal flights within Malaysia with Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines. For all bus bookings (except Taman Negara), you can book online at: BusTicketOnline.com or RedBus.My.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Melaka?
It’s easy to get from Melaka to KL via bus as it’s only a 2-hour journey, and many bus options exist. The first bus departs at 5 am, and the last bus departs at 11:45 pm. There are buses going every half an hour throughout the day. Getting the bus from multiple stops in Melaka to multiple bus depots in KL is possible. However, the most popular route is from Melaka Sentral Bus Station to KL TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan). Depending on the bus company, expect to pay between 9-20 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($2-$4.50 USD).
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore?
Singapore to KL is another extremely popular backpacking route, with buses running virtually 24 hours between the two major capital cities. It takes around 5.5 hours but can be longer due to traffic conditions or time taken at either the Singapore or KL border controls. As you cross a border between two countries, you must depart the bus twice to go through border control. The first stop is when you depart Singapore, and you can leave your bag on the bus. However, ensure you have your passport and other supporting travel documents with you. The second stop is to enter Malaysia, so you must bring all your belongings off the bus to have them scanned through customs and border control. You will also need your passport, any visa documents, or other supporting travel documents with you.
Expect to pay between 78-170 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($17-$37 USD) depending on the bus company and time of day. You may also be able to get a cheap flight between these cities with Jetstar, Scoot or Firefly.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Cameron Highlands?
There are a few bus options between Cameron Highlands and Kuala Lumpur. The bus departs the highlands at 8:30 am, 10:45 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, 3 pm, 4:45 pm and 5:30 pm, respectively. The journey takes around 5 hours generally but can be longer depending on traffic conditions. Expect to pay between 22-35 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($5-$8 USD) depending on the bus company.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Taman Negara?
There’s a direct transfer daily from Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan) to KL with the travel agency Han Travel. You can book online or at the office in Taman Negara. There are two ticket types: bus-only or combination tickets, where you get a scenic boat ride down the river and then transfer to a bus. The bus-only ticket is 95 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($20.50 USD). This takes 5.5 hours, including transferring from a car/van to another van at Kuala Tembeling jetty. The bus departs at 10 am from the centre of Kuala Tahan and arrives at Han Travel Agency in KL at 3:30 pm.
If you opt for the bus and boat ticket, the journey takes 7.5 hours but is much more scenic. It departs from Kuala Tahan Jetty at 9 am and arrives at Han Travel Agency in KL at 4:30 pm. This will cost 140 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($30 USD) and involves a transfer from a boat to a van at Kuala Tembeling Jetty. To read about the benefits of the bus and boat ticket and my experience, check out my Taman Negara blog here.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Penang?
Many buses run daily between Penang and KL, with the journey taking at least 5 hours, sometimes longer depending on traffic and rest stops. The buses run virtually 24 hours at 30-minute intervals. Expect to pay between 30-48 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($6.50-$10.50 USD) depending on the bus company and time of day. Please note there are multiple pick-up points in Penang for the bus. If you stay in Georgetown, Komtar Tower is the easiest and closest pickup point. You can also get flights for as cheap as 43 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($9.30 USD) with MY Airline or Air Asia. The direct flight is only 1 hour, but the price only includes carry-on.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Langkawi?
There is no easy way or bus to get from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur, so most people fly. There are affordable flights with budget airlines such as Batik Air or Air Asia for as low as 43 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($9.30 USD). The flight time is 1 hour and 5 minutes. However, the price does not include checked baggage.
The alternative is taking the ferry with Cuti Cuti Langkawi to Kuala Perlis Port and then getting on a bus. This will be a self-transfer, so allow extra time if the ferry is delayed. The ferry departs Langkawi at 7:30 am, 10:30 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm and needs to be booked in advance as it fills up! Buses depart the Kuala Perdis bus terminal for KL every half an hour from 7:15 am until 10 pm.
The ferry journey takes an hour and 15 minutes, and the bus journey takes around 7 hours, so it will be a long travel day. I would be allowing at least 1 hour between the time the ferry is due to arrive at Kuala Perlis Port and the time the bus departs Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal as you have to make your way from the port to the terminal, and the ferry can sometimes be delayed. Expect to pay between 72-87 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($15-$19 USD) for the ferry and bus tickets.
How to get around Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a massive city, but it has great public transport and is very easy to get around. The train system is easy to navigate and fast, particularly when there is a lot of traffic on the roads. There is also Grab, Gojek and Taxis, which can get you around the city. Some sights and activities are walkable also.
Getting around Kuala Lumpur by train
KL (like Singapore) has one of the best train systems in South East Asia, consisting of both Light Rail Trains and a Monorail. The centre of the train system is KL Sentral (the massive bus station, where buses from all over Malaysia and Singapore arrive and depart. There are 11 different lines, each attributed with a different colour on rail maps. Train tickets can be purchased at the station and vary in price from 2-55 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($0.45-$12 USD) depending on how far you are going. For most destinations within the city, you will pay less than a cup of instant coffee.
Head to the ticket machine (or physical ticket booth manned by an attendant) at your departure station to purchase a ticket. Switch the language over to English (or whichever language applies to you). Select the station you will be departing at and pay for the fare. The machine will spit out a little circle coin (they look like a checker’s piece from the game). This is your ticket; make sure you do not lose it! Scan your small checker piece ticket at the turnstile, and it will open for you. After boarding the train and arriving at your destination, you must deposit the checker piece ticket to exit the turnstile. There will be a little hole next to the exit turnstile to do this, and after you have dropped the ticket in, it will open for you and allow you to exit.
Getting around Kuala Lumpur by Grab/ Taxi
Getting rideshares or taxis around KL is also a popular way for those backpacking to get around, particularly between destinations without train stops. You can also easily get rideshare late at night to get home bars went the trains are not running. If you are getting in a Taxi, always check the rate on Grab or Gojek and haggle the price down to a more reasonable fare. Otherwise, you will get charged 3 times the regular price.
Getting around Kuala Lumpur on foot
Given how big of a city KL is, getting everywhere on foot would be impossible. However, many popular sites are in the same suburbs, making it easy to walk between the sights. For example, the National Museum, the Botanical Gardens and the National Mosque are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Similarly, Chinatown, the Central Market, Jamek Mosque and Sri Maha Mariammam Temple are all 10 minutes walk from each other. In KL, sidewalks are almost everywhere, and lots of pedestrian crossings and overpasses make crossing major roads safe and easy. Given the city’s large population, you will always be surrounded by other people on foot. Even at night, walking around feels very safe as a solo female.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
There is no one popular area of the suburb to stay in KL for those backpacking, as the best hostels are all in different suburbs. Given how easy and accessible the train system is as well, as long as you are near a train station, you can get virtually anywhere quite fast. That being said, Chinatown and Bukit Bintang are the best spots for backpacker nightlife, so you may want to stay in these areas to avoid calling taxis to get home from a night out. You can book all accommodation here.
Sunshine Bedz– best social hostel!
This is one of my favourite social hostels in the whole of South East Asia, and I would recommend it to any solo traveller wanting to make friends! Pre-warning, it is not a flashpacker hostel, so don’t expect pod beds with curtains, modern bathrooms and all the creature comforts of an up-market hostel. It has a real family vibe amongst the staff and travellers. They take all solo travellers under their wing, advising you on the best places to eat and introducing you to other travellers.
Every morning they make a free breakfast, where everyone sits around a massive table and makes plans to sightsee together. In the evening, everyone goes out to the bar street (Changkat Bukit Bintang) for casual drinks and dancing. Sunshine Bedz is located in the heart of Bukit Bintang, just opposite a rail station and Hutong 10 food court. It is also within walking distance of Jalan Aloor Food Street and the street where all the bars are.
Space Hotel– best flashpacker hostel!
One of the best night sleeps I’ve had in a hostel ever. Space Hotel is a themed capsule bed hostel located in the heart of Chinatown. The whole hostel is Space-themed, with the beds being astronaut pods, the wall art looking like outer space, and even a slide between levels and astronaut suits you can try on for photos. The bathrooms are super clean and modern, and it is a really comfortable hostel to stay and chill out at. The location is within walking distance of multiple sights such as Jamek Mosque, Central Market and many bars and eateries around Chinatown. The only downside is this hostel is not very social. People mainly stay here for the privacy of the pods and not to socialise. The common areas are not very big and often were empty, as this hostel was used as a comfy private bed to sleep in.
Penthouse on 34 Hostel– best amenities!
This hostel always makes lists as one of the coolest hostels in the world, and for good reason! Penthouse on 34 is the highest hostel in Asia, located on the 34th floor of an apartment complex. It is basically a few apartments fitted out with bunk beds. They have stunning views over the city from their large balcony area. You can also use a public rooftop pool within the complex. Due to the great amenities of this hostel (the views and the pool), it is very popular with backpackers, so it is usually fully booked.
The staff don’t do anything to foster a social environment, but meeting people on the balcony at sunset or nighttime is easy, as this is where everyone congregates. The main downside to this hostel is it is in a strange location, not close to any tourist sites, bars or restaurants. The closest train station is called PWTC, and it is around a 10-minute walk away. To get there, you must walk on the side of a major highway without a footpath and then cut through the Sunway Putra Mall.
What to do in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a big city with plenty to see and do inside and outside the city centre. While it may seem like there are only a few things to do on paper, everything is pretty spread out, so you would need at least a few days to tick all the below activities off the bucket list.
Batu Caves
Everyone backpacking who visits KL has to make the day trip to Batu Caves (I don’t make the rules). Batu Caves is a beautiful Hindu Temple set in a cave and is one of the highlights of Malaysia. It is completely free to enter, but you need to cover your shoulders, knees, chest and midriff as it is a temple. Beware, many monkeys are on the steps up to the temple, so don’t bring any snacks. Also, ensure you don’t get too close or encourage the monkeys- they can be very aggressive.
Batu Caves is located in the north of KL, about a 20-minute drive out of the city. You can get a Grab there, which can be quite affordable if you share the cost with others. Alternatively, you can also get the train there from KL Sentral to the last stop on Blue Line 1 called “Batu Caves”. The train will take around 30 minutes. After Batu Caves, you may want to consider heading further north to the Genting Highlands to spend the remainder of your day.
Genting Highlands Half Day
The Genting Highlands is a hill station spot famous for its cable car, rolling green hills, luxurious theme park, resort, and mall. Highly recommend combining this half-day with the Batu Caves to save time going back and forth from KL. From Batu Caves, you can get a taxi to the Awana Skyway, which is the start of the Genting Highlands cable car. It’s only about a thirty-minute drive, and you can get a taxi for 60 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($13 USD). If you’re coming from KL, it will take about 90 minutes to get to the Genting Highlands. This involves a train to Gombak and then a bus heading to Genting.
Once you arrive at the Awana Skyway, you need to purchase a cable car ticket to get up the hill. You can either purchase a glass-bottom car ticket or a regular one. Personally, I went for the regular ticket, and you still got amazing views. Expect to pay 35 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($7.50 USD) for a return ticket. Once you experience the cable car and amazing views, you will arrive at the top. There is a theme park, a massive super mall and a luxury resort here. This is one of the craziest malls I’ve ever experienced, with holographic light shows, carnival rides and general opulence. You do have to pay extra for tickets to any of the rides and other attractions at the theme park. However, you can just walk around and admire the wildness of it all for free.
National Museum
You could spend a whole day in this museum! It’s divided into four different massive sections covering Malaysian history, culture and early archeological finds in Malaysia. The entry was 20 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($4.30 USD). You should allow at least 4-5 hours here if you enjoy museums.
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens in KL are absolutely massive to explore while backpacking! You could spend a full day just exploring them. Inside the Botanical Gardens, they have a Bird Park, Butterfly Park, Orchid Garden, Spice Garden, and a massive lake with an island in the middle where geese live. You can explore all the various gardens with the Botanical Gardens for free. However, there is an entrance charge for Bird Park and Butterfly Park.
Central Market
The Central Market (also called Pasar Seni) is tucked away in the centre of Chinatown. It is a beautifully preserved local market and cultural heritage site. They sell everything from clothes, souvenirs, paintings, artisanal crafts, and jewellery and have a food court inside. There is no charge to enter, and you can walk around the market in less than 30 minutes. You may want to allow more time if you want to do some souvenir shopping or have lunch.
Sri Maha Mariammam Temple
Also in Chinatown is Sri Maha Mariammam Temple, a 17th-century and perfectly preserved Hindu Temple. As this is a Temple, ensure your shoulders, knees, chest and midriff are covered. You must also remove your shoes to enter. They are open daily from 6 am-8:30 pm. Usually, people spend less than 30 minutes walking around and admiring the architecture.
Petronas Towers & KLCC
You can’t visit KL and not see the Petronas Towers at least once. The Petronas Towers are the world’s tallest twin towers and an icon of Malaysia. There are a few ways you can experience the towers. You can visit them during the day and get a pretty clear view of them from KLCC Park.
Another really popular way to experience them is to visit at night. You can also watch the water fountain light show, which plays nightly at 15-minute intervals. This is a free show, but it’s incredibly busy, and it can be hard to get clear photos without anyone photobombing. An alternative way is to see the towers from Sky Bar, a rooftop bar that has uninterrupted views of the towers. This is probably one of the best views of the towers but also the most expensive as you have to buy drinks and book in advance.
I would strongly recommend visiting Petronas Towers during the day and walking around KLCC Park. Then also coming back at night to watch the light show and see the towers lit up.
Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square, which translates to Independence Square, is a historically significant point in KL. This square marks the point where the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time after centuries of colonisation. Many impressive government buildings surround the square, and the iconic I Heart KL sign, where everyone gets their typical backpacking KL photo.
Jamek Mosque
Jamek Mosque, also called Masjid Jamek, is an architecturally beautiful 20th-century Mosque located in the centre of KL on the river’s edge. It is free to enter. However, you must cover up and wear a hijab to enter (they provide this for free at the entrance). They run free tours on-demand basis to explain the history and importance of the Mosque.
Where to eat in Kuala Lumpur
Given how huge KL is, there are so many good places to eat in every different area and suburb. From cafes offering full Western breakfast to traditional Malay foods at the market to Indian-Malay cuisines in Brickfields- KL has a little bit of everything.
Cafe ETC
This is my favourite brunch spot in KL due to the location, delicious food and cute vibe. However, it can get really busy, so try to avoid popular times or be prepared to wait for a seat to become available. It’s located in the centre of Chinatown, just opposite Sri Maha Mariammam Temple.
Lokl Cafe
Another great breakfast and brunch option, just to the north of Chinatown (but still walkable!). It doesn’t look like much from the outside and is easy to walk past without noticing. But the food and coffee are great.
Hutong 10 Food Court
This is a must-visit in KL and should be on your backpacking food bucket list! It may sound strange to recommend a food court inside a mall, but this food court is not your average food court. It is an award-winning Hawker Centre specialising in traditional Malay cuisines. Only the best street stalls are invited to be inside the Food Court. Literally, anything you try in this food court will be delicious; I went back about 4 times to try different dishes. It is located on the basement floor of Lot 10 shopping mall in Bukit Bintang.
In traditional Singapore/ Malay style, collecting your food from the stall will be on a red tray. Make sure you keep all your rubbish and plates on the tray and then return the tray and the implement to one of the designated stations (it is considered rude to leave it on the table for others to pick up).
Jalan Alor Food street
Another must-do! Jalan Alor Food Street is open from 10 am – 9 pm daily and has a variety of food stalls to choose from. During the day, it is fairly quiet, but from 5 pm, the street is lit up with lantern lights and buzzing. There are plenty of eateries to choose from serving traditional Malay dishes, desserts and drinks such as sugar cane or beer. It can get really crowded, so be wary of your belongings.
The Hungry Tapir
The best vegetarian food you will eat in the whole of Malaysian (big call, I know!). The Hungry Tapir is pricier than the street food options mentioned above, but treating yourself to a nice dinner is worth it. Hungry Tapir has a cool vibe in Chinatown and is surrounded by cute laneway bars and restaurants. It is easy to miss as the restaurant is upstairs, and the entryway is very subtly signed. Everything is delicious here, but the vege skewers in satay sauce were some of the best I have ever eaten!
Gandhi’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Some of the best Indian food you will eat outside of India! Gandhi’s Vegetarian Restaurant is in Brickfields, a suburb known for Indian cuisine. Gandhi’s is self-service vegetarian Indian food (95% of the food is also vegan, just ask the staff) and is a well-known local restaurant. The restaurant itself is pretty basic, with indoor and outdoor seating on food court-esque chairs. You go there not for the facilities or the ambience but for the delicious food at affordable prices.
Nightlife
KL is one of the best spots in Malaysia for nightlife, given it has many rooftop bars, bar streets and little hidden dive bars in Chinatown.
Sky Bar
Sky Bar is one of the most famous (and also expensive) spots in KL for nightlife. It is popular due to the uninterrupted views of the Petronas Towers. It’s also a super popular sunset spot. Make sure you book in advance and adhere to the strict dress code, or you will be denied entry. Drinks and food are expensive, but you are paying for the view!
Temptations Bar
Temptations Bar is a super unassuming little bar on the bar street known as Changkat Bukit Bintang. They have corny classic music everyone knows, have reasonably priced drinks and cocktails and often have a dancefloor going. It’s a popular bar with backpackers and locals. If it’s not really your vibe, there are plenty of other bars along this street to choose from.
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