Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know

The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur

You can visit Kuala Lumpur any time of year. The rainy and dry seasons don’t make as much of a difference here as they do in other parts of Southeast Asia. Temperatures are warm year-round.

The rainiest months are October through December, as well as March and April. The least rainfall occurs in June and July. That said, the rainy months aren’t characterized by monsoon-like downpours — it typically rains for an hour or two per day.

We were in Kuala Lumpur in October, one of the rainiest months, and it rained for about one to two hours in the afternoon on two out of four days. So don’t let the rain stats put you off.

Getting There and Entry Requirements

You can reach Kuala Lumpur by plane or by bus if you’re already in Malaysia. Here’s everything you need to know when planning your trip.

Getting There by Plane

Most travelers fly into Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is a major hub for AirAsia, which offers affordable flights throughout Asia.

We flew with AirAsia ourselves — from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur and then onward to Colombo — and can wholeheartedly recommend the airline.

There are also numerous direct flights from Europe to Kuala Lumpur. To find the cheapest fare, we use Skyscanner, which searches across dozens of booking platforms and, in our experience, consistently finds the best price.

Getting from Kuala Lumpur Airport into the City

The airport is located 60 km from the city center — that sounds like a lot, but you can still get into the city pretty quickly. There are a few ways to do it.

By Train: KLIA Express

In our opinion, the KLIA Express is the best way to reach the city center. The train departs directly from both terminals and runs non-stop to KL Sentral station.

The journey takes 28 minutes from Terminal 1 and 33 minutes from Terminal 2, where AirAsia lands. The first train departs at 4:55 AM and the last at 12:55 AM. During peak hours, trains run every 15 minutes; otherwise every 20 minutes.

A ticket costs 55 RM, which is roughly 12 euros. You can buy tickets at the counters or vending machines on the platform. For the price, it’s a seriously comfortable and fast option.

By Bus

The cheapest way to get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur is by bus. Buses depart from both terminals at regular intervals and take between 60 and 90 minutes to reach KL Sentral, depending on traffic. Tickets are available directly on the bus.

The longer travel time is offset by the lower price — a bus ticket costs around 10 RM, which is about 2 euros.

By Taxi

Taxi is the most expensive — but not necessarily the fastest — option from KLIA. Depending on traffic, the ride takes about an hour and costs between 70 and 100 RM depending on your destination in the city center.

There’s a taxi counter in the terminal where you can pre-pay for your ride. If you jump into a waiting taxi directly outside the terminal, you risk being overcharged — so stick to the counter.

Getting There by Bus

If you’re already in Malaysia or making a stopover in Singapore, you can take the bus to Kuala Lumpur. The central Pudu Raya bus station is very centrally located, right near Chinatown.

There are countless bus companies in Malaysia and the buses range from comfortable to downright luxurious. You can buy tickets directly at the bus stations at very reasonable prices.

You can also book your bus ride online through 12Go.Asia — we’ve used the site several times ourselves. From Singapore, the bus costs around 15 to 20 euros and takes about five hours.

Book a bus ticket from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

Getting There by Train

From KL Sentral station, trains run to the most important destinations in the country and to Singapore. Tickets are affordable and can be purchased directly at the station.

Entry Requirements

To enter Malaysia, you need a passport that’s valid for at least six more months. No visa is required. Upon entry, you’ll receive a stamp allowing you to stay in the country for 90 days.

Time Zone

Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the Malaysian Peninsula are always one hour ahead of Thailand.

Compared to Central European time, Kuala Lumpur is six hours ahead during daylight saving time and seven hours ahead during standard time.

What to Pack for Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is warm year-round — but you’re honestly more likely to catch a cold here than a sunburn.

Most cafés, restaurants, subway lines, stores, and shopping malls are heavily air-conditioned. If you’re sensitive to AC, definitely pack something with long sleeves.

Many accommodations offer a laundry service. Prices vary quite a bit, ranging from 5 to 15 RM per kilogram (1 to 3 euros). If it’s too pricey at your hotel, just check at the one next door.

If you’re traveling with a camera, we’d recommend packing a waterproof bag. It didn’t rain all that often in Kuala Lumpur, but when it did, it came down hard and fast. Better safe than sorry.

Kuala Lumpur has several types of electrical outlets, so a universal power adapter will keep you covered.

Other than that, you don’t need anything special for Kuala Lumpur. For a full overview, check out our packing list for six months in Southeast Asia.

And if you’ve forgotten something? No stress at all. Kuala Lumpur is a shopping paradise — there are hundreds of malls where you can find absolutely everything you need.

Getting Around Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur has an excellent public transportation network, making it super easy to get from A to B.

Metro, Monorail, and Other Trains

Kuala Lumpur has several rail operators — the Monorail, Light Rail Transit, and Commuter Rail. In practice, though, you don’t need to worry about which one you’re riding.

The network covers eight lines that serve all the major points of interest in the city. Tickets are valid across all operators, so there’s no need to stress about that.

Every station has ticket counters and machines that accept coins and small bills (5 RM, 10 RM). The machines have a touchscreen showing the route map — just select your destination and the price appears.

Depending on the number of stops, you’ll typically pay between 1.50 RM and 4 RM per ride within the city center. You get a chip to tap at the turnstile on entry and insert when you exit.

If you’re riding frequently and don’t want to buy a new ticket every time, grab a Touch ‘n Go Card. It costs 10 RM and can be loaded with any amount. Just tap it at the turnstile and the fare is automatically deducted.

Taxis in Kuala Lumpur

We’ve heard from various people that you should be careful with taxis in Kuala Lumpur and always insist the meter is turned on — that’s pretty standard advice for many Asian cities, though.

We only took a taxi once and the driver switched on the meter right away. Prices are quite reasonable, and for short distances with two people, it’s often worth it.

Exploring Kuala Lumpur on Foot

We walked around Kuala Lumpur quite a bit, and honestly it’s one of the best ways to experience the city. Hopping on the train from point to point means you miss a lot.

The distances between different neighborhoods and attractions are usually manageable on foot. That said, pedestrians are something of a rarity in Kuala Lumpur and weren’t really taken into account in the city’s traffic planning.

In some areas the sidewalks are very narrow or nonexistent, so be careful when crossing the street. There are pedestrian traffic lights, but many of them seem to stay red indefinitely. Just watch the traffic and cross quickly when there’s a gap.

Money and Travel Costs

Malaysia’s currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). 1 euro is roughly equivalent to 5 RM.

How much you’ll spend in Kuala Lumpur depends on your travel style, of course. You can definitely splash out here if you want to — but if you stay in budget accommodations and eat at street stalls, it can be really affordable.

Here are a few reference prices:
A metro ride: 2 to 4 RM
Eating at a street stall: 5 to 10 RM
Eating at a restaurant: from 20 RM per dish
A large beer (approx. 0.6 l): 15 to 20 RM
A simple but clean hotel room: 100 RM

You’ll find ATMs everywhere in Kuala Lumpur where you can withdraw Ringgit.

Hotels in Kuala Lumpur

In Kuala Lumpur you’ll find places to stay in every price range — from cheap and basic to expensive and luxurious. We love booking through booking.com and generally find the best prices there. Here’s a list of all hotels in Kuala Lumpur on booking.com.

Chinatown is especially popular with backpackers. It has the cheapest accommodation — but also the most basic options.

That said, more and more new hotels with significantly higher standards are opening there. We stayed at the 1000 Miles Hotel, which had a great location. The metro was five minutes away, and we never needed more than three stops in any direction.

Chinatown was only a 10-minute walk away. The hotel was simple but very clean and had everything we needed. We’d stay there again without hesitation. Rooms cost between 15 and 25 euros per night — seriously good value.

Our tip: Another great neighborhood to stay in is Bukit Bintang. This is where most of the shopping malls and many restaurants are located. Here’s a list of all hotels in Bukit Bintang on booking.com.

Food and Drink

Kuala Lumpur is a total paradise for food lovers. If you love eating as much as we do, you’ll feel right at home here. The cuisine draws influences from Malaysia, China, and India — plus you can find all kinds of Western dishes too.

We loved eating at small street stalls and food courts. The food is incredibly affordable and authentic. Head to Little India for the best Indian food and Chinatown for Chinese — you won’t be disappointed.

The shopping malls are also great for eating. Most of them have a huge food court on the very top or bottom floor, with amazing dishes from dozens of stalls. We once had sushi at one of the malls and absolutely stuffed ourselves.

If you’d like to explore the best street food spots with a local guide, we can recommend this tour: Kuala Lumpur Street Food Tour by Night.

One thing to note: beer and other alcoholic drinks are relatively expensive compared to food. If you’re eating at a street stall for 5 to 10 RM, a beer usually costs about twice as much (15 to 20 RM).

Attractions in Kuala Lumpur

Compared to other major cities, Kuala Lumpur isn’t packed with extraordinary tourist attractions. But what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in character. In our article on Kuala Lumpur insider tips, we show you four great spots that most tourists walk right past.

Petronas Towers

The most famous sight is of course the Petronas Towers. The twin towers look their absolute best in the evening when they’re lit up. You can also go up the towers — onto the sky bridge connecting the two towers and the observation deck at the very top.

Tickets cost 80 RM (17.50 euros) and go on sale every morning from 8:30 AM, except Mondays, in the basement of the Petronas Towers or online.

You receive a ticket for a specific time slot that day and then head up at your assigned time.

If you’d prefer a more convenient experience and want to make the most of your time in Kuala Lumpur, you can book your ticket in advance. There’s a small surcharge, but hotel pickup is included.

Menara Kuala Lumpur

Just a short distance from the Petronas Towers is Menara KL, Kuala Lumpur’s TV tower. From the top, you get a great panorama of the Petronas Towers and can even take photos without obstructing glass panels. However, admission to the Open Deck is a hefty 105 RM.

The view is great — but it gets even better. We found an even more impressive vantage point, which we share in our article on Kuala Lumpur insider tips.

More Things to See in Kuala Lumpur

Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur’s independence square, is well worth a visit. There’s also a surprising amount of greenery in the city — nature lovers will find a bird park and a butterfly park right within the city limits.

A bit outside the city are the Batu Caves, a large cave complex and one of Malaysia’s most important Hindu pilgrimage sites.

Beyond the classic highlights, what we enjoyed most was simply wandering through the different neighborhoods and soaking up the local life. Each area has its own distinct character — Chinatown, Little India, the modern Bukit Bintang. Just explore on foot and see where you end up.

If you’re short on time and want to tick off the main sights quickly and comfortably, we recommend this four-hour private city tour: Kuala Lumpur City Tour including Batu Caves.

Day Trips from Kuala Lumpur

If you only have a few days in Kuala Lumpur and don’t have time to travel around Malaysia, a day trip is a great option. One of the best choices is a trip to Malacca, located about 150 kilometers to the south.

The city has a fascinating colonial past under Portuguese and Dutch rule. Malacca’s picturesque old town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can recommend this private tour: Private Day Trip to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur.

SIM Card in Kuala Lumpur

Internet

Almost every hotel in Kuala Lumpur offers free WiFi. The connection at our hotel was really fast, so we could easily work from there too. Many cafés and restaurants also have WiFi.

Mobile Data

If you want to stay connected on the go, you can pick up a SIM card for your phone. You can get one directly at the airport, at any shopping center, at small shops, from street vendors, or as an eSIM before your trip.

If you buy the SIM card at a larger store or at the airport, you’ll generally need to show your passport. We bought ours at a small street stand and weren’t asked for it.

We had a SIM card from Hotlink. For 10 RM we got 300 MB of data, with an additional 150 MB available at any time for 6 RM. The connection wasn’t blazing fast, but it was more than enough for our needs.