What to do in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is quite unlike any other city on earth. Little more than a tin-mining village on the banks of a muddy river just 150 years ago - its name rather underwhelmingly translates literally as "muddy river confluence" - it’s now home to over 6.5 million people. With a skyline decorated by countless minarets and colonial-style districts and buildings, it’s more recently become known for its awe-inspiring skyscrapers, including the iconic Petronas Towers, which when opened were the world’s tallest buildings. Cosmopolitan culture, delightful cuisine, world-class shopping, buzzing nightlife - Kuala Lumpur is a wonderful city to get lost in.

Areas & Neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur

Old City Centre/Old Town — The traditional heart of Kuala Lumpur, head here if you want to get a feel for how Kuala Lumpur used to be before the towers started springing up. What was once the colonial administrative centre, the Old City Centre is home to Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Selangor Club. It’s also here that you’ll find Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown quarter.

Golden Triangle — The commercial heartland of this booming city, the Golden Triangle is where you’ll find the plethora of glittering shopping malls, some of the world’s most affordable and spectacular 5 star hotels, and of course the breathtaking Petronas Twin Towers.

Tuanku Abdul Rahman/Chow Kit — This somewhat more ramshackle and, many would argue, characterful, alternative to the Golden Triangle, Chow Kit also offers plenty of shopping and eating opportunities, but more in the market stall and street food tradition so beloved of Asia. With the enormous Putra World Trade Centre and the Kampung Baru food mecca as focal points, the area truly comes to life when the festivals of Hari Raya Puasa (Eid ul-Fitr) and Deepavali kick into gear.

Brickfields — Home to Kuala Lumpur’s main railway station, this area is where you’ll head further afield from, and is populated by the welcoming saree shops and banana leaf rice restaurants of the city’s Little India.

Things to See in Kuala Lumpur

No visit to Kuala Lumpur is complete without visiting the Petronas Towers. The 45-minute tour of these buildings, which resemble something from a sci-fi movie, include a trip across the vertiginous Skybridge on the 41st floor as well as a visit to the observation deck on the 86th floor. The National Visual Arts Gallery meanwhile offers a deep insight to both modern and contemporary Malaysian art. For something more stately and historically significant, Merdeka Square, where Malaysia declared its independence in 1957, is a vast open space, circled by wondrous architecture including the magnificent Sultan Abdul Samad Building and St Mary's Anglican Cathedral.

Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur

As well as the eating and shopping mentioned above, Kuala Lumpur also offers plenty of opportunities to exercise. Golfing, cycling, running and horse riding are all possible endeavours to explore in the city, whilst a little further out to the north of the main metropolitan area it’s possible to go rock climbing in the Batu Caves. From a cultural perspective, there are several theatres, including the National Theatre, and performance halls such as the KL Philharmonic, where you can take in a variety of performances.

You can also book top New Orleans hotels and great New Orleans right here on Expedia.co.uk.