According to a recent study of popular travel hashtags on Instagram, Malaysia’s capital city was a top 10 holiday destination with multiple food and scenery pictures shared.

Thanks to the completion of KL’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Monorail lines, it has become much easier to get around KL by train.

The good thing about travelling by train is that you can avoid KL’s notorious peak-hour traffic jams. You can also use the train network to access many of KL’s iconic attractions and shopping malls, like the Central Market, Chinatown, KLCC, Paradigm Mall, and even the Batu Caves.

To navigate KL’s rail network, simply visit the myrapid website to plan your journey. You can also use the Klang Valley/Greater Kuala Lumpur Integrated Transit Map to help you get around.

Those in KL for short stays can purchase the KL TravelPass, which includes an airport transfer (via train, with options for single and return trips), as well as two days of unlimited rides on Rapid KL rail services (the LRT, MRT, and Monorail lines).

If you’re on a longer visit, consider getting yourself a Touch ‘N’ Go pre-paid electronic card for cheaper fares. The card can be used on all trains, as well as on Rapid KL buses.

Guests at PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur: you’re located just six minutes away from the Bukit Bintang MRT station, and right smack in the middle of KL’s liveliest shopping and entertainment district. Read on to find out what fun things you can do in KL, and how to use the train network like a local.

Pavilion KL
Address: 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   
Telephone number: +60 3 2118 8833
Opening hours: 10.00am to 10.00pm daily

Pisco Bar
Address: 29, Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 3 2142 2900
Opening hours: Hours vary; check website

No Black Tie
Address: 17 Jalan Mesui (off Jalan Nagasari), Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 3 2142 3737
Opening hours: 6.00pm to 1.00am (Tuesday to Sunday)

Jalan Alor Food Street
Address: Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Wish to get to the entertainment heart of KL, which has been favourably compared to Champs-Elysées, Times Square, and Piccadilly Circus? Hop on the train to Bukit Bintang MRT station, which is on the SBK Line.

By day, you can shop till you drop at any of the upscale malls in the area—begin at the Pavilion KL, the Lonely Planet’s top pick.

Stick around till the night, and you can watch the action heat up at Bukit Bintang, aka KL’s “Star Hill.” Populated by pubs and boutique restaurants in converted shophouses, Changkat Bukit Bintang is KL’s party central, attracting a diverse crowd of locals, expatriates, and travellers.

Feeling sociable? Head to the Pisco Bar, favoured by the expatriate community for mingling and networking. If it’s music that stirs your soul, the nearby jazz bar No Black Tie (a few streets away from Changkat Bukit Bintang) is another oft-recommended spot.

Prefer to indulge in food? Head to Jalan Alor, one of KL’s best food streets. With a limited number of food stalls open during the day, the street only comes to life at night. Evening visitors can expect buzzing crowds, street entertainment, and delectable local treats at every turn.

As for what to eat—just take a chance, it’s likely to be good! But if you like having a list, a prominent Asian food blog recommends the following must-eats: barbecued chicken wings, satay (skewered meats), oyster omelette, char kway teow (stir-fried rice cake strips), and coconut ice cream.

Get directions to Pavilion KL
Get directions to Pisco Bar
Get directions to No Black Tie
Get directions to Jalan Alor Food Street

Central Market Kuala Lumpur
Address: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 1 300 22 8688
Opening hours: 10.00am to 9.30pm daily

Chan See Shu Yuen Ancestral Hall
Address: 172 Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 3 2078 1461
Opening hours: 8.00am to 6.00pm daily

Lost In Chinatown
Address: 22 Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 1 2208 1182
Opening hours: 10.00am to 10.00pm daily

From Bukit Bintang station, take the train to Pasar Seni station (two stops, along the SBK Line), which is located right across the Central Market Kuala Lumpur. This is where you can browse over 350 shops and kiosks, selling handicrafts, batik, souvenirs, antiques, and other collectibles—Time Magazine highly recommends this Kuala Lumpur shopping experience.

Apart from shopping, you can enjoy other experiences at the Central Market, such as joining a batik workshop, learning more about Chinese calligraphy, or having your palm read. It’s especially lively during festive occasions, with cultural performances, “live” demonstrations, and themed workshops; check the Central Market website before you visit to find out what’s on.

From the Central Market, it’s a six-minute walk to KL’s Chinatown (Petaling Street), a bustling area for walking, shopping, and eating.

Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

A historic site that you can visit here is the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall, which was built between 1899 and 1906. The architectural design is modelled after an ancestral hall in Guangzhou, China. (Look out for the roofline, which features mythological Chinese characters.) In 2006, the ancestral hall was accorded national heritage status; outside of China, it is rare to find a well-preserved building featuring these design elements.

For something more modern and light-hearted, head to the newish (and free) attraction Lost In Chinatown, where you can learn about KL’s Chinese community while hamming it up for selfies.

Get directions to Central Market Kuala Lumpur
Get directions to Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall
Get directions to Lost In Chinatown

Annalakshmi
Address: 116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 3 2274 0799
Opening hours: 11.30am to 3.00pm, 6.30pm to 9.00pm (Tuesday to Sunday)

You can also enjoy a cultural experience near the Tun Sambanthan station (four stops from Bukit Bintang station, along the KL Monorail Line).

From the station, take a 10-minute walk to the vibrant Brickfields, otherwise known as KL’s Little India. The name Brickfields is a reference to rebuilding efforts in the area in 1881—using bricks and tiles—after its wooden and thatched buildings were destroyed by a fire and flood. Brickfields later became the locomotive depot for the Malayan Railway, a move that attracted many South Asian migrants to work in the precinct.

Today, it is an area teeming with activity. Visitors can spend time in the traditional shops, restaurants, and places of worship—one of the area’s nicknames is “the Divine Location.” To experience the sights and sounds of Brickfields along with some historical insights, bookmark this traveller’s self-guided walking tour for reference.

As for what you should eat while in KL’s Little India, the Annalakshmi restaurant, established in 1984, still draws regular rave reviews. The restaurant serves both North and South Indian delicacies, with a buffet spread as well as a la carte options. As the restaurant is located within the Temple of Fine Arts, you can also call ahead to enquire about catching a performance or joining a workshop.

Get directions to Annalakshmi

Batu Caves
Address: Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Telephone number: +60 3 6189 6284

Feeling adventurous and looking for alternative things to do in Kuala Lumpur? Make a trip to the Batu Caves, which has been hailed as a Malaysian national treasure.

A limestone hill “riddled with caves,” Batu Caves is home to a fascinating array of Hindu temples and shrines. The area is a congregation point for worship during the Thaipusam festival—a day of prayers and penance where devotees pierce their bodies with skewers and hooks, or carry heavy burdens in honour of the Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.

You can reach the Batu Caves via the Batu Caves station on the Port Klang line—get on this line at the KL Sentral interchange station.

Note that you will need to climb 272 steps to reach the Temple Cave, which is the largest and best-known cave in the area, guarded by a 42.7m gold statue of Lord Murugan. Crafted by 15 Indian sculptors, the imposing statue was constructed with 1,550 cubic metres of concrete, 250 tonnes of steel bars, and 300 litres of gold paint brought in from Thailand.

Get directions to the Batu Caves

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur! No matter how long you wish to stay, you are always welcome at our urban sanctuary at PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur. Let us lead you to the best experiences with our Destination Insights, and find out how you can enjoy savings on our best available rates, as well as a complimentary tour of the city (for a limited period only). Or get in touch with us today to let us know how we can help.