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Things to do in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the most popular countries in Asia for travellers and KL a great city for food, fashion, sights and cultural experiences – here's just a few.
KL's best sights
Petronas Twin Towers
The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, is the world's tallest twin structure (famously used in the film Entrapment). It is right in the heart of KL and includes office buildings, conference halls, a sprawling park and an upmarket shopping complex (KLCC). The building design, by Argentinian-American architect Cesar Pelli, was inspired by the geometric shapes found in Islamic architecture.
Visiting the sky bridge between the towers is a great experience and is open to visitors 8.30am - 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
KL Tower
The KL Tower, all 421m of it, is a main feature of the KL's skyline and the world's fourth-tallest communications tower. A high-speed lift takes you to the observation deck at 335-metres, where the city's eccentric architecture and lush greenery laid out before you. The obligatory revolving restaurant, called Seri Angkasa, offers an international buffet.
Batu Caves
Batu Caves is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Selangor and just 15km north of KL. The site consists of three big limestone caves, including the main-temple cave which features ornate Hindu shrines. The caves draw pilgrims and tourists from all over the world during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.
Scaling the 272 steps leading up to the main-temple cave is one of the highlights (depending on your stamina) of a visit to the caves (but there's also a funicular car option!). The Ramayana Cave is nearby, where the walls are painted with scenes of Indian myths. This massive limestone hill is also a popular spot for rock climbing.
KL's best shopping
The Bintang Walk
For shopaholic, coffee-sipping, clubbing night owls, Bukit Bintang is one of the top streets in the city, full of restaurants and cafes and fun. The many shopping centres along Bukit Bintang ensure that you will never run out of options and most shops are open from 11 am - 10 pm.
Central Market
This fine example of Kuala Lumpur's architectural heritage also doubles as an air-conditioned arts and crafts market, a treasure trove of traditional arts and crafts. The annex building also contains eateries and two nightclubs. Outside the central market there's often live performances, cultural demonstrations and activities like Chinese fortune-telling, Malay shadow puppet plays and Indian dances.
Petaling Street
Petaling Street is at the centre of KL's original Chinatown . It maintains much of its traditional atmosphere, particularly at night when vendors fan out their merchandise along the street. While shops for anything from gems and incense to toys and t-shirts, the true allure of this night market is in wandering about and enjoying its sights, sounds and energy. Food is plentiful here with many scrumptious varieties to choose from; some of the restaurants here have been in business for generations.
Beyond KL
Beyond Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers sandy beaches, tropical forests and highlands, and many other destinations for day, weekend or longer trips.
Langkawi Island, Kedah State
Langkawi is a duty-free island off the coast of Kedah, one of a cluster of 99 islands. Langkawi is famous for its beautiful beaches, world-class infrastructure, rich flora and fauna, fascinating local legends and did we mention ultra-cheap duty-free shopping!
Tree Top Walk, Sedim River, Kedah State
The 950m-long Tree Top Walk in the Sedim River Recreation Park is the longest canopy walk in the world. The view you get when you stroll through the jungle canopy is spectacular.
Siti Khadijah Market, Kelantan State
One of Malaysia's most vibrant markets, the Siti Khadijah Market is named after Prophet Muhammad's entrepreneurial wife. Today, the market is mostly run by women and sells everything from fresh produce to traditional crafts and cakes, with all the local colour, scents and sounds thrown in for free.
St. Paul's Hill (A'Famosa), Melaka State
A relic of the battles between super powers of the time, the A'Famosa fort in Melkaka was critical for Portugal to maintain its colonial foothold in the Far East (1511 to 1641). The Dutch attacked the fortress, leaving only the entrance façade and the structure of a church at the top of the St. Pauls's Hill today.
Tioman Island, Pahang State
Another idyllic island with emerald waters and sandy beaches, verdant jungle and a splendid variety of flora and fauna that have been featured in National Geographic, including butterflies, monitor lizards, deer and monkeys. Tioman has several villages dotted around its coastline, each with a different and unique atmosphere, including Salang, Tekek, Genting, Paya and Juara.
Genting Highlands, Pahang State
At 2,000m altitude, the big attraction of Genting for Malaysians is the cool 'European' weather. Genting is called the ‘City of Entertainment ', with the Genting International Showroom or Pavilion, indoor and outdoor theme parks and a wide range of restaurants and activities.
Taman Negara, Pahang State
One of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated at 130 million years old, Taman Negara is one of the world's most complex and rich ecosystems.
The most popular activities are river cruises and jungle trekking, and there's a canopy walk that's a must-see. Observation hides are another great way to observe wildlife. Simple huts built high above the ground allow guests to stay overnight to observe animals in their natural habitat. Cave exploration is also available, either by boat or by foot.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang State
The famous indigo-blue Chinese Courtyard House in Georgetown was built in the 1880s as the the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze, a prominent Chinese figure in the newly established Penang Straits Settlement. Master craftsmen were brought in especially from China to build the mansion, that has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows.
Cameron Highlands, Perak State
The Cameron Highlands are Malaysia's largest highland resort, the one-time summer getaway for the English colonial ruling classes. You can walk through the villages, visit butterfly, strawberry, or honey bee farms and sprawling tea plantations. Enjoy a meal at Tudor-styled country inn or even have tea and scones. Bird-watching and trekking are also popular activities here.
Kinabalu Park, Sabah State
Mount Kinabalu , Mount Tambayukon and their foothills make up the Kinabalu Park, which covers an area of 754 sq km. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface.
Matang Wildlife Centre, Sarawak State
The Matang Wildlife Centre is a home to endangered wildlife in an enclosed area of rainforest in Kubah National Park, about 35km from Kuching. The Centre runs a training program to teach orphaned or rescued Orang Utans how to survive in the wild. Visitors get see Orang Utans, Sun Bears, Sambar Deer, Civet cats as well as three large aviaries that house Sea Eagles, Hornbills and other birds in Sarawak.
Sarawak Cultural Village, Sarawak State
This 'Living Museum' is located at Pantai Damai, Santubong, 32km from Kuching. It provides a glimpse of the local culture and lifestyle, including the nightly ceremonies involving a potent rice wine called tuak. Cultural performances are held twice daily, at 11.30am and 4.30pm.
Perhentian Island, Terrenganu State
Pulau Perhentian, meaning 'stopover island', is one of 'the' islands to visit and a popular 'stopover' for backpackers. It's covered by virgin jungle, palm-fringed white beaches and surrounded by sapphire blue waters. A great place to relax, you'll find the islands of Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian KeciSituated 21km off the coast of Terengganu.
See more of SE-Asia
Flight times from KL
- KL – Singapore (1hr)
- KL – Bangkok (1 hr)
- KL – Hong Kong (4hrs)
- KL – Hanoi (2.5 hrs)
- KL – Phnom Penh (3hrs)
- KL – Manila (3.5hrs)
- KL – Jakarta (1hr)
Related links
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| Petronas Twin Towers |
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| KL Tower |
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