One Day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is one of the world’s most vibrant international destinations – and a popular place to visit on Southeast Asia Vacations. The multicultural city and shopping haven boasts striking sights, incredible natural attractions and delicious fare. With only One Day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, visitors can just skim the surface and catch the highlights. 

 

Why Visit Kuala Lumpur in One Day

KL is a destination that deserves more than just a single day. We actually recommend spending at least 3 Days in Kuala Lumpur – but if your travel schedule allows for just one day, then it’s best to make the most of it!

If you only have one day in Kuala Lumpur, it’s likely because you are in transit to – or from – Asia, Australia or to another destination within Malaysia. That’s exactly what spurred our KL one-day trip on our first visit to the city.

Instead of creating an ambitious Kuala Lumpur Itinerary for 1 Day, we focused solely on the top attractions. We devised a tour the featured only the essential places to visit and squeezed them into an Itinerary for Kuala Lumpur in One Day.

 

How To Spend One Day in Kuala Lumpur

There are so many places to visit in Kuala Lumpur – from intriguing temples to viewing platforms to markets and malls to spacious nature parks. However, those sightseeing Kuala Lumpur in a day will need to limit the number of attractions for their itinerary. There simply isn’t enough time to see it all.

With our short 1-Day Visit to KL, we chose only the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur and had to leave further exploration for a future trip.

Our picks for the top Kuala Lumpur things to do are visiting a temple in a cave, embarking on a fascinating shopping experience, soaring to the top of one of the world’s tallest buildings and eating scrumptious street food.

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Kuala Lumpur 1 Day Itinerary

We are highlighting how to plan your own 1-Day Kuala Lumpur sightseeing adventure, featuring detailed information and travel tips. Travelers who would rather leave the specifics to someone else can join a Kuala Lumpur One Day Tour; we highlight a few of the best options later in the article. 

 

Start the Day at Batu Caves

There are plenty of temples, museums, historic buildings and places of interest in Kuala Lumpur City Center, but we suggest skipping them in favor of a short half day trip from KL to Batu Caves. Even with only 1 day in Kuala Lumpur, visiting Batu Caves is a must!

Comprised of a series of natural rock chambers, Batu Caves are known the world over for housing multiple Hindu shrines. The largest – called Temple Cave – contains a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is one of the most visited Hindu shrines in Malaysia. A sacred statue has stood inside Batu Caves since the year 1890.

 

What To See at Batu Caves

Wandering through the cave complex to see the shrines is a top activity at Batu Caves. To reach them, visitors must climb up 272 stairs.

Inside, the expansive cave itself is quite impressive. Several shrines line the walls, but the focal point is the main temple. During our visit, we were lucky to witness a special service and blessings at the temple at Batu Caves, which was incredible.

As a religious site, various events take place throughout the year – and the Thaipusam Festival, an 8-hour pilgrimage from Sri Mahamariamman Temple to Batu Caves, is the largest event.

The area at the base of Batu Caves is rife with market stalls – some selling offerings for devotees, while others sell tourist trinkets.

Not to be missed (and it would be impossible to do so) is the astounding 140-foot-tall glimmering gold statue of Lord Murugan. The sculpture, which stands next to the elaborate entryway to the staircase, ranks as the tallest statue of Murugan in the world.

Top Travel Tip: The  long staircase to the caves has become a popular playground for the local long-tailed macaque monkeys. The cheeky monkeys are fun to watch and photograph, but please don’t feed them!

 

Tips for Getting to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves can be reached by train, taxi or tour. The train ride from KL Sentral only takes 30 minutes and costs about $1. A taxi to Batu Caves will cost quite a bit more; we recommend using the Grab App (similar to Uber) if you’d prefer not to ride the train. There are several tours from KL to Batu Caves – read reviews and book it in advance with Viator! 

 

Experience Kuala Lumpur Shopping

After returning from Batu Caves, experience one of KL’s famous shopping outlets. Any visitor to Kuala Lumpur will quickly realize that it is a metropolis built for shopping. The airport and several train stations are themselves malls or connected to one, making it nearly impossible to avoid them. Even those who aren’t into shopping should breeze through one of these retail temples, even if only for the chance to cool off in the air conditioning!

 

Kuala Lumpur Malls

Serious shoppers looking for bargains should head to the Golden Triangle in Bukit Bingtang. The district is known for its many multi-storied complexes that are packed to the gills with shops, deals and – often times – not-so-authentic merchandise.

The top malls in Kuala Lumpur for shopaholics are Pavilion, Berjaya Times Square (both in Bukit Bintang) and Suria KLCC (at the base of Petronas Towers). Techies and gadget geeks should go straight to Low Yat Plaza, which is completely dedicated to every consumer electronic product under the sun.

 

KL Markets

We prefer local markets to a commercial shopping extravaganzas. The best-known market in Kuala Lumpur is Central Market, which stands on the site of the former wet market. Today, stalls sell handmade crafts alongside touristic souvenirs. Although it lacks the gritty ambiance of a typical Asian market, the historic building and traditional crafts are a top reason to visit.

Those who want to see a real KL market should go to Chow Kit Market (Bazaar Baru Chow Kit), which is located north of the city adjacent to the bawdy Red Light District. The Chow Kit Market is both a wet and dry market and within the maze of stalls, visitors will find cheap merchandise, haggling vendors and pungent scents. 

Petaling Street Market in Chinatown is another exuberant market that provides a fascinating shopping experience in Kuala Lumpur.

Top Tip: If you are looking for a little guidance, book a Half-Day Shopping and KL Market Tour. If you are really not into shopping at all, skip the malls and market and go straight from Batu Caves to Petronas Tower.

 

Go To the Top of the Petronas Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers are a must-see and should be on every Kuala Lumpur One-Day Itinerary! Ranking as one of the best attractions in Kuala Lumpur and a symbol of the city, the iconic Petronas Towers are mesmerizing. From 1998 until 2004, Petronas held the honor of being the tallest building in the world. 

Today, it’s not even the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur, but the 1,483-foot-tall structure still holds the award of Tallest Twin Towers. The two 88-story skyscrapers are adjoined with a bridge (at levels 41 and 42) and they seem to soar endlessly into the sky when standing below them.

 

Tickets for Petronas Tower Skybridge Observation Deck

Visitors can tour the towers’ Concourse Level, but only a limited number of tickets are sold each day. Since you only have one day in the city, consider the Skip-The-Line Tickets for the Petronas Towers experience. 

Rather than going inside, you can also simply admire the building from the base. The two best vantage points are from the fountains on the northwest side and the KLCC Park on the southeast side of the towers.

The KLCC Park, a lush green retreat in the center of the city, features walking paths, a playground, picnicking areas and a lake. There are multiple water ornaments in the park, and the fountains at Lake Symphony move with music and lights after dark.

 

Feast on Delicious Kuala Lumpur Street Food

End your 1 Day in KL on the city’s most famous street food lane, Jalan Alor. Lined with street food vendors selling an array of delectable local fare, where you can create a feast at a reasonable price.

Tempting scents waft through the air as hawker stalls dole out plates piled high with Malay specialties and Chinese cuisine. It’s difficult to go wrong on Jalan Alor, but you might want to avoid the infamous durian fruit!

 

What To Eat on Jalan Alor

We recommend sampling a few offerings from different vendors in order to get a taste of the various dishes. Classics – like dim sum and grilled skewers are top picks – as is a plate of char kway teow.

Just be sure to save room for the exceptional BBQ chicken wings and satay sticks at Wong Ah Way at the bottom end of the street. There will likely be a queue for a table, but it’s worth the wait! 

Top Travel Tip: After you get your fill of street food, check out the fun bars on Changkat Bukit Bintang, which is just around the corner. 

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One Day Tour Kuala Lumpur

There are many fun things to do in KL and we feature the best in our DIY Kuala Lumpur 1-Day Tour. While we were successful navigating the city, fellow travelers might find it stressful. 

Those who want to tick off a list of the top things to see in Kuala Lumpur in one day – and don’t want the hassle – should consider joining a KL Sightseeing Tour. Rather than figuring out where to go and how to get there, let a guide lead you to the top places to visit in Kuala Lumpur in 1 Day!

 

KL Walking Tour

Joining a Kuala Lumpur Walking Tour is a great way to get to know the city. Most tours include sights that we skipped – like Merdeka Square and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. In addition to walking tours in KL, visitors can join city bike tours and food tours.

 

Kuala Lumpur Bus Tour or Private Car

For a really relaxing one-day tour of Kuala Lumpur, hop in an air-conditioned coach or private vehicle. It is a great way to check off your list of top things to do in Kuala Lumpur in one day…all with minimal effort and maximum comfort! Book it now.

 

Kuala Lumpur Airport Tour

If you have a short layover, but are still trying to find things to do from Kuala Lumpur Airport, a private tour is a possible way to see KL in a day.

Hire a private guide, who will have insider tips of what to see in Kuala Lumpur in one day. Your professional guide will be able to take you directly from the Kuala Lumpur Airport to Batu Caves (or from the KL Airport to Petronas Towers) or whatever you want to see in one day!

Top Tip: If your layover isn’t long enough for city exploration, indulge a little and tuck into a premium lounge at the KL Airport. 

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Planning a KL Trip

Our advice above covers what to see in KL in one day, but we have a few more tips for pulling it off enjoyably!

 

What You Will Need for Your 1 Day in KL

For your one-day trip in KL, you will want to wear a pair of good travel shoes for comfortable walking. We also advise wearing sun protection – like sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen. Bring a travel day bag to keep all your everyday items close by throughout the day.

Of course, don’t forget your camera! We shoot with a Canon Rebel, which is a great travel camera at an excellent price. Finally, it’s a good idea to grab a Kuala Lumpur tourist map, which is available in the airport (or buy one before your trip!). 

 

Getting To Kuala Lumpur: KLIA Airport

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a massive complex south of the city center. KLIA for short (but the code is KUL), the airport in KL is the hub for Malaysia Airlines, as well as the top budget airline of SE Asia, Air Asia (which operates out of a separate terminal, KLIA2).

We use Skyscanner to find great flight deals, but first read all our tips for Finding the Best Flights for Cheap. 

 

Where To Stay For One Night in Kuala Lumpur

The best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for one night depends on your flight arrival and departure times. On our first visit to KL, we had a late arrival from Thailand and early departing flight to Perth. So, we opted to stay at an airport hotel and chose Tune Hotel KLIA2 for the convenience and affordability.

If our flights had been timed a bit better, we would have certainly stayed in the city center. Top-rated hotels in Kuala Lumpur are the often-raved-about Traders Hotel, Grand Hyatt, and 1000 Miles. 

That said, there are more than 450 hotels in Kuala Lumpur. We recommend starting your search on Booking.com – but first, read our tips for Booking the Best Hotels at a Low Price.

 

Start planning your trip to Malaysia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing!  Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

 

More Southeast Asia Travel Destinations

Kuala Lumpur is well-connected to other top travel destinations in Southeast Asia. If you are traveling on to another SE Asia location, use our travel guides to plan your trip! 

• A Perfect Thailand Itinerary
• How To Plan a Vietnam Vacation
• What To Do in Cambodia in One Week
• Best 2-Week Bali Itinerary
• Tips for Visiting Luang Prabang, Laos

 

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