Kuala Lumpur holidays

If you like stepping back in time, don’t restrict yourself to being indoors in Kuala Lumpur – there’s plenty of reminders of the city’s storied past outside, too. Highlights include the famous Batu Caves, a revered 20th-century Hindu temple famed for its colourful staircase, and the iconic Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque.

Then, there’s Kuala Lumpur’s eclectic culinary and nightlife scene. If authentic is what you’re after, pay a visit to Bukit Bintang, which is widely regarded as the city's main entertainment district, or Changkat Bukit Bintang, where you can take your pick from an array of pubs and clubs. And don’t miss Jalan Alor for world-class street food.

Kuala Lumpur is busiest during Chinese New Year (January or February), which means hotel rates can really rocket. Additionally, celebrations such as the Hungry Ghost Festival (August or September), Deepavali (November) and Thaipusam (January) are also popular times to visit, meaning good-value rooms can be hard to find.

Alternatively, Ramadan, which falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is when the city quietens down. Visitors can generally bag themselves a cheap holiday during this period.

Piercing the ozone-blue sky like a pair of steel rockets, the 88-storey Petronas Towers – once the tallest towers in the world – are still a dominating sight in KL. When you book a tour in advance, you’ll be able to cross the Skybridge on the 41st floor, a glass-walled corridor which connects the two towers. The tickets also let you whiz up to the observation deck on the 86th floor for 360-degree views.

Chinatown

Immersed in Chinese culture, history and heritage, Chinatown is a good starting point for any Kuala Lumpur holiday. Visit the colourful Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia, or pick up a bargain or two on Petaling Street, which has both a day and night market. Chinese herbs are popular here.

After a long day of sightseeing, nip in to one of the foot massage parlours for a spot of pampering or feast your way through the hawker stalls selling a mix of street food.

Lake Gardens

As Kuala Lumpur's largest park, Lake Gardens is where the locals often go to find a little green space among the steely skyscrapers. Dominated by Perdana Lake, it's also home to the Perdana Botanical Gardens. Check out the Orchid Garden, which has around 800 different varieties of the colourful tropical plant.

Families flock to the KL Bird Park, a vast nature reserve within the gardens. It’s home to 200 species of birds, including native hornbills, parakeets and pink flamingos.

Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque

Designed by British architect AB Hubback, this grand mosque, which can host around 1,000 worshippers at a time, is as striking as it is peaceful. It features a stunning collection of Islamic, Moorish and Mogul architectural styles – and plenty of palm trees threaded in between the minarets too.

Visitors can explore the mosque and gardens outside of prayer times. Just remember to cover shoulders and knees or borrow a robe at the entrance.

Batu Caves

Located about 13km (8 miles) north of downtown Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves is a significant Hindu landmark set in a series of limestone caverns, some of which date back 400 million years.

Feeling energetic? March past the 42m-high gold statue of Lord Murugan to climb the 272 rainbow-hued steps up to Temple Cave (also called Cathedral Cave), famed for its 100m-high ceiling.

Alternatively, explore the colourful Ramayana Cave, which houses several Hindu shrines.

If the heat is too much, consider staying near Berjaya Times Square in Bukit Bintang, a vast shopping mall and resort with the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia.

For travellers on a budget

Visitors can find bargains galore in Chinatown, especially cheap hotels and budget hostels. It's also great for low-cost food and bargain souvenirs.

Another top choice among budget travellers is Brickfields, also known as Little India. Located in the south of the city, it offers cheap holidays in backpacker hostels, budget hotels and mid-range properties. Plus, it's easily connected to the rest of the city by monorail.

With its bustling local market scene, Chow Kit is another area growing in popularity. An authentic KL district – also on the monorail line – it has decent hostels and budget hotels, plus numerous cheap eats.

For food and drink

Bukit Bintang is Kuala Lumpur's entertainment district and is awash with bars, restaurants and shopping malls. You’ll find a real mix of upmarket and mid-range hotels, including all the major chains.

Stay here and you'll be in walking distance to Jalan Alor, also known as Food Street, where you can find top-notch laksa (a creamy, spicy noodle dish) and hae mee (spicy shrimp soup). Immediately recognisable by the shower of red Chinese lanterns swinging from the shopfronts, the area is one of the best places in the city for street food and seafood restaurants.

For nightlife

When the sun sets, Kuala Lumpur's numerous nightspots start to wake up and you'll find everything from late-night music clubs and rooftop bars in Bangsar to the sprawling international clubs in Heritage Row. If cocktail bars are more your thing, head to KLCC, where you'll also find four- and five-star hotels.

Bukit Bintang is another popular area for night owls. At its heart is Changkat Bukit Bintang, a neon-lit avenue teeming with bars, clubs and late-night diners. It’s often called Kuala Lumpur’s Times Square.

For culture

If it's culture you're after, you can't get more atmospheric than Merdeka Square, the old city centre. Many of the area's five-star hotels are housed in former colonial buildings, while the charming district also offers a variety of restaurants and upmarket cocktail bars.

Alternatively, KL Sentral offers plenty of mid-range and high-end accommodation, all within a ten-minute walk of Buddhist temples and Little India’s street markets. It's also close to Malaysia's biggest train station, which has connections to the rest of the country.