Kuala Lumpur in Two Days - A Local's Guide to KL

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Malaysia is in the heart of Southeast Asia, and Kuala Lumpur will likely be a stop on any Southeast Asia tour. Kuala Lumpur has so much to offer, but still, many people only stay for a couple of days. So we will focus on the best things KL has to offer in this Kuala Lumpur in Two Days guide.

After living in Kuala Lumpur for over two years, I call Kuala Lumpur home and consider myself a local. I have visited all of the tourist sites and found the ones worth your time and the ones to skip. I have also discovered some hidden gems that Kuala Lumpur has to offer.

Kuala Lumpur prides itself on being the melting pot of Southeast Asia. Malaysia is home to many different cultures and traditions, and you will love the colors of Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian hospitality. Heading on a short weekend getaway from KL is one of the best ways to dive deeper into Malaysian culture.

Kuala Lumpur has the same weather (hot and humid) all year round so that you can visit any time of year. The only difference is during the rainy season, but that just adds to the humidity.

Are you on your way to Kuala Lumpur last-minute?

Book your Kuala Lumpur accommodations and experiences early! We've pulled together top suggestions below.

🏨 Top accommodations in Kuala Lumpur

• Ceylonz Suites KL City by One39KL (under $50 USD a night)
• Eaton Residences KLCC by Perkasa (under $100 USD a night)
• Opus Residences Kuala Lumpur 118 Tower (rated highly)

☂️ Top tours and experiences in Kuala Lumpur

• Private Tour Kuala Lumpur With Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck & Batu Cave (likely to sell out)
• Batu Caves Half-Day Tour (likely to sell out)
• Cameron Highlands - Shared Full-Day Tour From Kuala Lumpur (likely to sell out)
• Private Half-Day Batu Caves & Cutural Tour in Kuala Lumpur
• Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour With 15 Tastings

Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur in 2 Days

Top Sites in a Day

Jet Lagged Mama

We are going to start the first day off with a bang. Wake up early and head to the Batu Caves. You will beat the heat and most of the crowds by arriving earlier in the day.

The Batu Caves is one of the most famous sites in Kuala Lumpur. Once you are done touring around the caves, ride the train back to the city to see the popular twin towers and the beautiful KLCC Park! Finish off your day with dinner at the revolving restaurant - Atmosphere 360 - at the top of the KL Tower.

Jet Lagged Mama

Batu Caves

As mentioned above, you will want to arrive at the Batu Caves in the morning. The sun is scorching in the afternoon, and it is usually a lot more crowded after lunch. Dress cool and wear comfortable shoes because you will be climbing a lot of stairs.

The first train leaves KLCC (the center of Kuala Lumpur) at 6:45 am. I would suggest taking the train no later than 9:00 am. It costs 2.6 MYR ($0.50 USD) each way, and the ride will take about 25 minutes. The Batu Caves are made up of many caves that have been carved into limestone cliffs. It is the most popular Hindu shrine outside of India.

In front of the caves stands Lord Murugan. I would suggest climbing the colorful main staircase and going into the main cave at a minimum. The main cave is free to enter. The other caves charge small fees between 5 to 15 MYR ($1.50 - 3.00 USD). You will need about 2 hours to visit the Batu Caves.

When visiting the caves and temples, make sure you wear something that covers your shoulders and knees. You can bring along a large scarf to cover up while you are in the temples. Find out everything you need to know about the Batu Caves here.

🏨 Stay nearby the Batu Caves

• The Concept Hotel KL - Batu Caves (budget option)
• A&R Urban Hotel (scored highly by guests)

☂️ Visit the Batu Caves with an experience

• Private Half-Day Batu Caves & Cutural Tour in Kuala Lumpur (likely to sell out)
• Batu Caves Half-Day Tour

Jet Lagged Mama

Petronas Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers are giant skyscrapers that make up the skyline of Kuala Lumpur and are not to be missed. These towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004.

Under these giant towers is a mall that will take your breath away. The first time I went to this mall, I had to pick my jaw up off the ground when I stood in the center court and looked up. It is the biggest mall I have ever been to.

I would suggest grabbing lunch at one of the restaurants that overlook KLCC park and fountains before heading up the towers.

Local tip - All of the shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur have a center court, which is the center of the mall. In these large courts, there is always a stunning seasonal display. Make sure to check out the center court display in all the Malaysian malls you visit.

You can take an elevator up the Petronas Towers, but it does not take you to the top. You can only go to the 41st floor where you will find the sky bridge. From this high up, you will still get amazing views of the city, though!

If you'd like to go up, you have to buy your tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets here.

🏨 Places to stay near the Petronas Towers

• Summer Suite KLCC by Citybox (budget option)
• DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur (well-priced for the area)

☂️ See the Petronas Towers on a tour

• Petronas Twin Towers Entry E-Ticket (a hit among most)
• Kuala Lumpur City Tour Full Day Eight Hours

Jet Lagged Mama

KLCC Park

As you come down from the towers, head back to the park surrounding the mall. This area is known as KLCC park. The park offers fantastic opportunities for photos of the towers. Walk across to the other side of Symphony Lake to the bridge for the best photo spot.

KLCC park has a jogging path that goes around the outside of the park. Walk around the jogging trail and take in the views of the city. You will also find several playgrounds for kids and a large children's swimming pool at the park.

The KLCC water show is held every night at Symphony Lake at 8:00 and 9:00 pm. See the water dance to music and lights. This is similar to the water show at the famous Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

🏨 Stay near the KLCC

• Eaton Residences KLCC mh (highly rated)
• Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences (5-star rating)

Dinner at Atmosphere 360 - Top of KL Tower

After you are done taking in the views at KLCC Park, take the train or a Grab Car over to the KL Tower and have dinner at the revolving restaurant called Atmosphere 360.

This excellent restaurant sits at the top of the KL Tower. It slowly turns as you enjoy your dinner, so you don't miss any of the stunning views. You can make reservations for dinner here.

🏨 Accommodations nearby Atmosphere 360

• Perdana Kuala Lumpur City Centre (scored highly by guests)
• Mercure Kuala Lumpur Shaw Parade (relax by the pool)

Locals' Favorites

Now that you've taken in some of the major sites, your second day in Kuala Lumpur will be spent more like a local.

We will enjoy some local flair at the Central Market with Batik Painting followed by a tour of Chinatown and a taste of authentic Malaysian food. Afterwards, enjoy luxury on a dime and finish with dinner with another gorgeous view up high.

Central Market Kuala Lumpur

Head to the Central Market in the morning. The stores open at 10:00 am, but I recommend arriving before 11:00 am to avoid the crowds.

The Central Market is the oldest one in Malaysia and has been operating in the same location since 1888. The building that is standing there now was built in 1928.

This market is the perfect place to pick up some local souvenirs. Prices are slightly negotiable here, but it is not required to barter since the prices are already reasonable.

Locals love to do Batik Painting at the Central Market. Traditional Batik Painting has been practiced in Southeast Asia for over 2000 years and is a traditional Malaysian art done with wax poured over stamps and onto fabric.

To find Batik Painting in the Central Market, you should walk through the main entrance and then go straight to the back of the building. Then, step outside through the back door.

There are a few vendors that offer Batik Painting. They are next to all the art galleries and paintings. For about 20-50 MYR ($5.00 USD), you can make your own Batik Painting and take it home.

🏨 Places to stay near the Central Market

• Ceylonz Suites by MyKey Global (low nightly prices)
• Ceylonz Suites KL City by One39KL (good value)

☂️ Explore the Central Market with a tour

• Private Tour Kuala Lumpur With Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck & Batu Cave (usually sells out)
• Private KL City Tour With Petronas Twin Towers & Batu Caves (top-rated tour)

Chinatown & Petaling Street

Once you are finished with your painting and shopping, you can head across the road to Chinatown and the famous Petaling Street.

Here, you will find all sorts of knock-off brand-name items from clothing and shoes to purses and electronics. Chinatown has everything you could want and is a must for any 3-day Kuala Lumpur itinerary!

Be careful in Chinatown; vendors often give foreigners higher prices than locals.

🏨 Places to stay close to Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

• Chinatown Hostel by Mingle (well-regarded)
• AnCasa Hotel Kuala Lumpur by Ancasa Hotels & Resorts (lounge by the pool)

Try Authentic Malaysian Food at Madam Kwan's

While you are in Malaysia, you need to try authentic Malaysian food. My favorite restaurant for Malaysian food is Madam Kwan's.

There are multiple locations all over KL, find the one closest to you and grab some lunch. There are 2 locations downtown, one at the Twin Towers (Suria KLCC) and one in the Pavillion Mall.

The one included in the map above is the one inside the Pavillion Mall.

🏨 Stay nearby Madam Kwans Pavilion

• Alia Premier KLCC (low-priced rooms)
• Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur (good value rooms)

Luxury on a Dime

One of the things I have enjoyed the most while living in Kuala Lumpur is being able to enjoy a luxurious day at the spa for a fraction of the cost you would expect from some other places around the world. So spend the afternoon relaxing at a spa!

You will love the Ozmosis Spa at the Ascot in KLCC. Pamper yourself with a few treatments starting at 150 MYR ($45.00 USD).

🏨 Stay in close proximity to Ascott Kuala Lumpur

• Suites at Times Square KL (very highly rated)
• Verdant Hill Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Jet Lagged Mama

Dinner in the Sky

A favorite spot of most locals to have dinner and drinks at with a view is Fuego at Troika Sky Bar. This restaurant has some of the best views and food in all of Kuala Lumpur. Spend the evening enjoying the view and meeting other travelers and some of the locals.

Fuego is only open for dinner, and you will need a reservation to have dinner here, which can be done on their website. If you just want to go to the Sky Bar for drinks, you do not need reservations.

🏨 Accommodations in close proximity to Fuego at Troika Sky Dining

• Oasia Suites Kuala Lumpur by Far East Hospitality
• MOV Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Wrap up on Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur has so much to offer. Malaysia is also one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia.

You've seen a few of the top sites and tasted some local flare. This city can't wait for you to come back. I hope you enjoyed your time in this amazing city!

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