Compare Kuala Lumpur holidays

When to go to Kuala Lumpur

If you're in need of some tropical heat on your next holiday, look no further than Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian capital is hot and humid pretty much all year round, with temperatures ranging between the late-20s and mid-30s.

The best time to visit is between May and August, when it's least likely to rain. The rainiest days fall (and boy, do they fall) between November and February. Showers tend to be intense but brief.

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.

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur

For families

Packed with theme parks, shopping malls and nature parks, Kuala Lumpur is a great choice for a family holiday, catering to both younger children and teenagers. Many families tend to stay in Petaling Jaya, some 15km (9 miles) southwest of Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), where you'll find many of the big resort hotels. It's also close to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park and KidZania Kuala Lumpur, a city-themed amusement park.

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.