Cheap airline tickets and over 50000 rooms in KL alone make it a very popular tourist destination. Kl provides easy and efficient roads as well as air access to destinations like Singapore and Southern Thailand.
Whether you want to travel by train, road, or sea, Malaysia is a very affordable country to travel to. I have traveled to KL over 50 times in the last 15 years and explored most of the areas of this interesting city in detail. I have seen Kuala Lumpur evolve over the last decade and enjoy the great cultural mix, culinary experience, and interesting historical places to visit. Here is some useful information I have compiled over the years.
Kuala Lumpur is a great destination for a family holiday or honeymoon. Explore amazing offers on Accommodation, Tours & Transport.
These are some of the great reasons to explore this amazing city:
Get Cheap Flights to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the hub of AirAsia one of the largest budget airlines in the work. With thousands of connecting flights routed through KL, it has become a major destination as well as a stopover for many travelers flying to other amazing destinations in ASEAN countries. Planning to travel to KL, find a Cheap Flight online with JedRadar. Flying from Australia, AirAsia, and Scoot Airlines are offering amazing deals throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur offers Cheap Accommodation
Kuala Lumpur has hundreds of cheap budget hotels and hostels in all major tourist areas of the city. There are more than 50,000 hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur alone. Check for amazing rates online .
Great Road Infrastructure in Kuala Lumpur & Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is connected to all major cities in Malaysia through a major road network. You can drive to Melaka and Ipoh in one hour from KL City. Most popular destinations like Pangkor, Penang, and Taman Negara are easily accessible by road networks. Rent a car and explore off-the-beaten paths along the major city centers in Malaysia.
Amazing Cultural Diversity
Malaysia has a good mix of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian populations that add color to the diverse cultural heritage of Malaysia. With Muslim and non-Muslim populations living in perfect harmony, Malaysia is equally attracted to the Muslim population from around the globe as well as foreigners seeking rich cultural and travel experiences. Halal food is easily available in most restaurants across Malaysia. Straits of Malacca has been an important sea trade route for over 1000 years and cities like Melaka and Penang have rich cultural history dating back to Portuguese and Dutch occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Affordability
Malaysia is a relatively affordable destination as compared to its neighboring countries. Budget-conscious backpackers and young travelers find Malaysia an ideal destination where they can travel for under $30 a day. This is possible due to affordable transport, food, and accommodation available across the country.
KL Travel Guide Links
Kuala Lumpur has since become a hub of ex-pats seeking work and business ventures and travelers who want to explore the mixed culture of South East Asia while enjoying the modern-day facilities, eat-outs, accommodation, and travel destinations.
The most popular neighborhoods with tourists in Kuala Lumpur are KLCC (KL City Center), Bukit Bintang, Masjid India, Chinatown, and Bangsar. The city itself is quite spread out and you will need a good couple to explore KL in detail. Whether your interest is shopping, exploring restaurants, or cultural exploration, all suburbs in Kuala Lumpur have something unique to offer. With an effective transport network, you can travel to most sections of the city hassle-free, as the transport within the city is quite cheap.
KL Travel Guide: Interesting Areas of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur offers a variety of neighborhoods ranging from historical areas giving insights into the interesting history of Kuala Lumpur as well as uptown modern localities representing the modern face of Kuala Lumpur. The modern part of the city is KLCC (included in the Golden Triangle) offering the most modern amenities to the tourists.
The adjoining suburbs of Mount Kiera and Damansara are popular with the ex-pat population and therefore, Bangsar caters to the affluent segment of the population in Kuala Lumpur.
Golden Triangle Kuala Lumpur
For first-timers to Kuala Lumpur, Golden Triangle is a wider area including KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center) and Bukit Bintang Area in general.
The Golden Triangle is the heart of tourist activities in the city with the highest concentration of top-notch hotels, international restaurants, shopping malls, and places of interest.
This area is generally very popular with business travellers, honeymooners, and people seeking accommodation in finer establishments in the city.
However, you can find hotels and hostels in all price ranges in this area as well. The hotel room rates are relatively higher, costing over $120 for a five-star hotel.
The light rail transport network connects most of the neighborhoods with the overhead train which is easily accessible from places like Bukit Bintang, Berjaya Times Square, and KLCC.
Where to stay in Golden Triangle?
During my various stay in the Golden Triangle, I have stayed at Traders Hotel by Shangrila (located next to KL Suria), Concorde Hotel, Istana Hotel, and Park Royal Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur.
Some cheaper options include Furama Hotel ( 4 Star Hotel) and Mesui Hotel (in Bukit Bintang)
Why Golden Triangle in Kuala Lumpur is a great place to stay?
Golden Triangle in Kuala Lumpur has the highest concentration of luxury accommodation, unique restaurants and world-class shopping Malls. Excellent transport facilities connect major tourist hubs in the city center. All modes of transport are quite cheap as the driving distance between most places is around 10-15 minutes at the most.
.Interesting places to visit in KLCC
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Why Bukit Bintang?
Heart of the tourist experience, Bukit Bintang is a must-visit to experience a hustle and bustle of Jalan Alor, Changkat, and Jalan Ramlee.
Bukit Bintang is a mecca for tourists offering a number of world-class shopping Malls including:
What makes Bukit Bintang such a special place to stay in Kuala Lumpur?
Jalan Alor, the food street of Bukit Bintang, hosts the famous food street at night offering an outdoor and indoor dining experience. Restaurants serve a wide range of local dishes ranging from Malaysian, Thai, and Chinese dishes.
A number of seafood dishes, grilled meats, and noodle dishes cater to western as well as international tastes.
Tip: Don't miss the grilled chicken wings and satay served at 1-9 Jalan Alor at Wong Ah Wah Restaurant.
Changkat is the heart of nightlife with places like Pisco Bar, Opium, Havana Bar & Grill, and Rockstar amongst others entertaining party-goers till the early hours of the morning.
Slip into one of the massage places or foot reflexology centers to enjoy a relaxing foot massage for under RM 50.
During my various stays in Bukit Bintang, I stayed at Hotel Istana, ParkRoyal Serviced Apartments, and Hotel Mesui.
These hotels are highly recommended due to their quality service & proximity to most places of interest in Bukit Bintang.
Bukit Bintang is definitely a place if you love commotion and activity and want to enjoy the active nightlife in Kualqa Lumpur City.
Bangsar and South Bangsar Area
Exploring Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur
During my previous stay in KL, I booked Ve Hotel and Residences in South Bangsar. The establishment offers serviced apartment-styled accommodation which is ideal for a family or solo holiday.
[Read more about my stay in Bangsar in 2022]
The Sphere Shopping Mall is located next to the Ve Hotel and houses a number of quality cafes and restaurants.
Bangsar South is definitely the emerging face of Kuala Lumpur and offers modern amenities and a lifestyle.
Some popular places to stay in Bangsar South include:
Most popular activities and things to do in Kuala Lumpur Popular Day tours from Kuala Lumpur
Popular: Zoo Negara Ticket in Kuala Lumpur
How to travel from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the City Center
Private Airport Transfers from KLIA/KLIA2
Travel from Kuala Lumpur Airport to Kuala Lumpur City By Bus
Transport Services in Kuala Lumpur
Klook.comEssential Tour & Activities in Kuala Lumpur
Note
Here is a list of KL's essential activities. Book online and Save $$$$.
- Kuala Lumpur Half-Day Tour
- Petronas Twin Towers and Aquarium
- Full-Day Hop-on and Hop-off Bu
- 15% Discount on Zoo Negara Ticket
- Kuala Lumpur Private Car Charter
KLExpress is the quickest way to reach KLIA, KLIA2, and Putrajaya from KL Sentral. The ticket, however, is around RM 58. It takes only 28 minutes to reach KLIA from KL Sentral using KLExpress. Onboard Wi-fi is available free of cost making this trip quite enjoyable. If you are running short on time or catching a flight in peak hours, KLExpress is the best way to reach KLIA.
- Book a Shared Van from KLIA to the City
- KLIAExpress Train Ticket to KL Central
- Private Airport Transfers from KLIA
3. Renting a Car at Kuala Lumpur Airport
Cheap Hotels in Kuala Lumpur City
Recommended Hotels in Kuala Lumpur
Hotels in Bukit Bintang Recommended by OzAsiaTraveller
Parkroyal Serviced Apartments Kuala Lumpur ( 5-Star Serviced Apartments)Mesui Hotel ( 3-Star Boutique Hotel)
Hotel Furama
Hotel Beltif
Hotels in KLCC
Fraser Residence (5-Star Serviced Apartments)Concorde Hotel (4-Star)
Traders Hotel by Shangrila (5-Star)
Oasis Suites by Far East Hospitality
Ampang
Ambassador Row Hotel Suites by Lanson Place
Somerset Ampang Serviced Apartments
- Best Serviced Apartments in Kuala Lumpur
- Budget Hotels in Kuala Lumpur
- Where to eat in Kuala Lumpur
- Places to visit in Kuala Lumpur
- One-day trips from KL with families
Conclusion
Kuala Lumpur is one of the most travelled destinations in South-East Asia. With over 29 million visitors in 2018 alone, the city caters to a wide range of international visitors from digital nomads to honeymooners and families. Planning your trip can save you a substantial amount of time and money.
Booking your hotels and tours in advance can help you save 20-30% over the markup price. Last-minute walk-in rates at the hotel are always higher than the ones advertised online. Kuala Lumpur is one of my all-time favourite cities to visit in Malaysia and I suggest you plan your next stopover in KL if you are planning to explore the ASEAN region.
This Kuala Lumpur travel guide will help you plan your transport, tours, and accommodation when visiting Kuala Lumpur.
