As someone who’s been conducting tours in Kuala Lumpur for six years, I know every inch of it by now—from the shining fireflies in Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park to the touristy Jalan Alor and its street food. Not only does this city offer many attractions to see, but transport is also easy. The best way to move around in town is usually walking, but we also offer three-day passes which can be used for some trains and buses. Kuala Lumpur Sentral is our transportation hub and has both inter-state and inter-city trains.
If you’re planning a three-day trip in Kuala Lumpur, check out this itinerary where I’ve talked about a variety of interesting attractions, such as unique temples, the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, and old fishing villages.
Day 1
When you get to Kuala Lumpur, you’ll first go to your hotel and get some rest. If you need recommendations for hotels, I’ve shared the ones I would vouch for at the end of this article!
For the first day, we’ll explore attractions in Kuala Selangor, ending with a tour of Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park. And for this, it’s important to leave the city by 3pm or 3:30pm at the latest to avoid being stuck in traffic. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Kuala Selangor.
Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam Bukit Rotan
One of the nicest attractions is Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam Bukit Rotan on a small, easily drivable hill in Bukit Rotan, known for its unique all-brown color. The interiors are marble, so they stay cool! Another unique feature here is that whenever there is a ‘puja’ (worshipping ceremony) in the evening, they have a cow brought in to go around the temple. The cow knows it has to go around once, and once it’s done, it comes back and eats the fruits laid out for the ceremony!
Reka's tip
No photography or videography is allowed here.
Bukit Malawati
From the temple, head on to Bukit Malawati, a hill where you can see silver leaf monkeys. As I’m fond of animals and my sister is against animal cruelty, we usually just watch them from a distance. However, the special thing about these monkeys is that they’re very gentle. So you can feed them French green beans and they’ll gently take them from you. They’ll also climb on you, but they’re wild animals, so it might not be good to have that sort of interaction. You can’t drive to the top of the hill, so you’ll have to buy a ticket to the tram. You can also walk if you prefer. The top offers a view of the sea and surrounding mangroves! There’s also a lighthouse and museum here, but the former is closed off to the public.
There are also food stalls and restaurants around the hill serving delicious Malay food, so you can stop for a quick lunch before heading on.
Reka's tip
Remember to buy a ticket to the tram that operates here, as private vehicles are not allowed up from 8am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Pasir Penambang & Dinner
The next stop is Pasir Penambang, an old Chinese fishing village, where you’ll see wooden floats and houses built on part of the river. Watch how the fishermen live here, operating boats and fishing nets. Once you’re done with that, you’ll see a beautiful sunset. Try out fresh seafood for dinner at Kinnaree Thai Restaurant, as you’ll need to wait till it’s dark before you go to see the fireflies.
Reka's tip
Pasir Penambang is only six minutes away from Bukit Malawati by car, so you can easily drive here.
Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park
Finally, the park is around 10 to 15 minutes away by car from here. You’ll have to buy boat tickets, with four people on each boat. You’ll be taken on the river for around 10 to 15 minutes to see the fireflies looking like Christmas lights on the trees. They’re visible in every season, but in the rainy season, there’s more of them. Safety is taken care of, as you’ll be given safety jackets.
Day 2
Batu Caves & Early Lunch
The next day’s tour can start at around 10am after breakfast. Head to Batu Caves, which is where Murugan Temple is located. The caves themselves are around 400 million years old and made of limestone. There are also other temples to see, and restaurants to eat in. One such option is Pan Heong, which serves flat white noodles with thick egg gravy and huge prawns. There’s always a long queue here, especially on the weekends.
Reka's tip
Batu Caves KTM Komuter Station is right by the caves, in case you need a cheap and easy way to get here.
PETRONAS Twin Towers
Once you’re done with the caves, go to PETRONAS Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. Here, if you want to head up to the bridge between the towers, you’ll have to book your tickets in advance. This stop usually takes around three hours, as a tour of the bridge takes an hour on its own. Apart from that, I would also recommend going to KLCC Park if you’re here with children, as it has a nice shaded walk path, a playground for children, and also a wading pool.
Reka's tip
Some roads from Batu Caves to PETRONAS Twin Towers have tolls. If you don’t want to pay them, you can use the electric train service and head to the towers via KTM Batu Caves–Pulau Sebang Line. This will take around 40 minutes. Or you can take Lebuhraya Abdul Halim and Sultan Ismail, which don’t have tolls.
Thean Hou Temple
Next up is Thean Hou Temple, an amazing structure built in the ‘80s. This is a huge Chinese temple, and if you come during Chinese New Year, they’ll have amazing lantern decorations to see.
Reka's tip
The easiest way to get from the towers to the temple is by car, which will only take you around 15 minutes.
Brickfields & Dinner
After the temple, you can visit Brickfields, also known as Little India, and spend about an hour there. You’ll find shops selling Indian items, including everything from clothing to jewelry. You can also shop at NU Sentral Shopping Mall. Brickfields also has Indian restaurants such as Sri Paandi, Kaara Saaram Claypot, and Seni Satisorru, if you’re stopping here for an early dinner.
Reka's tip
Brickfields is on the other side of Gombak-Klang River and might be a 20-minute walk, but coming from Thean Hou will be a bit tough because it’s uphill. A car ride would be better, especially with the crazy hot weather we have.
Chinatown
The last stop for the day will be Chinatown, which has a central market selling souvenirs, street art, as well as houses another Hindu temple, Sri Mahamariamman Temple. During Thaipusam, Lord Murugan’s chariot is pulled from this temple to Batu Caves, which is around 12 km (7.46 mi) away. Guan Di Temple is also in Chinatown. From here, walk to River of Life, Independence Square, and Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. National Mosque of Malaysia is also around 500 m (1,640.42 ft) from Independence Square.
Reka's tip
Chinatown is very well connected via various public transport options, including Pasar Seni MRT Station.
Day 3
Theme parks
For day 3, visit a theme park. Your options are Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park and Skyline Luge, the latest addition to Malaysian attractions. The former is a cool, mountainous area with just a theme park. And you can visit Gamuda Luge Gardens in the latter. Spend the whole day here and then come back to rest.
If you get hungry while you’re at Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, there are several dining options in the park itself, such as FUHU Pop-Up Dining, which has a lovely setting in a Sakura garden. On the other hand, Skyline Luge offers only cold drinks at its retail store. However, it’s set in Gamuda Luge Gardens, where you’ll find plenty of options.
Reka's tip
You can book your tickets to Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park and Skyline Luge online on their respective websites.
Night tour
Later, you can do a night tour that includes the street art of Chinatown, Independence Square, River of Life, and PETRONAS Twin Towers, all lit up in the dark.
Dinner at Willy's Satay
If you have some time after the night tour, you can have dinner at Willy’s Satay, just 45 minutes away from the city. The satay here is not be missed, and you can go between 11am and 10pm.
Reka's tip
Various public transport options are located around 10 minutes away from this restaurant, including Stadium Kajang MRT Station.
If you’d like other options, you can also find yummy putu piring in Jalan Alor and filling Chinese cuisine such as wontons and noodles while you’re out exploring.
My recommendations for hotels
I would recommend The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur and Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur if you’re looking for high-end options. Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel are also good options if you’d like to stay in Bukit Bintang. However, do note that this area might be noisy as Changkat Raja Chulan is nearby.
The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel (from USD 69)
The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel
Address: No. 30, Jalan Beremi, Off Jalan Sultan Ismail
Verdant Hill Hotel Kuala Lumpur (from USD 59)
Great value for money with good breakfast included. Free parking available.
Spacious rooms, clean facilities, and a nice pool area. Close to shopping and nightlife.
Convenient location near attractions, bars, restaurants, and public transport. Easy access to city favorites.
Varied and delicious breakfast options, suitable for families. Some guests suggested adding more variety to the menu.
Verdant Hill Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Address: No. 6, Changkat Raja Chulan
Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (from USD 126)
Reasonable pricing for spacious rooms with stunning views of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Convenient buggy service, spacious rooms, and a well-equipped gym.
Superb location in KLCC, with easy access to major attractions and shopping centers.
Good breakfast buffet with a variety of options, but some room for improvement in the restaurant.
Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur (from USD 160)
Reasonable pricing with occasional freebies like free breakfast and late checkout for inconveniences.
Spacious rooms, sauna, gym, and easy access to shopping areas and public transport.
Centrally located near high-end shopping malls and food streets, albeit with occasional traffic and access challenges.
Fantastic spread of Malaysian cuisine for breakfast, diverse and delicious buffet options, with some occasional room for improvement in the restaurant.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
Address: 168 Jalan Imbi
Enjoy an exciting getaway in Kuala Lumpur
No matter your budget, all three days in Kuala Lumpur will be packed with adventure. For the best experience, visit the attractions I’ve highlighted above.
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