Hostelworld Guide for Kuala Lumpur

The Essentials

Kuala Lumpur has all the trademarks of a South-East Asian capital. The shopping is cheap, the weather is
hot, the traffic is chaotic and the food and drink is plentiful. Commonly abbreviated to KL, it is also the
cultural, political and commercial centre of Malaysia. During a visit one can witness the hectic lives the
locals lead in its distinctive neighbourhoods, see the buildings where the country is run, and marvel at
some of the most famous skyscrapers on the planet.

Getting There
By plane: Flights from international destinations
touch down in Kuala Lumpur International Airport
which is 55km from the city. It is connected to the
city centre via the KLIA Ekspres train.
Flights on budget airlines arrive in the nearby LCCT
(Low Cost Carrier Terminal) which is connected to
the main terminal via shuttle bus.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop

By train: KL's modern Kuala Lumpur Sentral is the

main train station and opened in 2001. It is located
just 1.5km from the city centre.
By bus: Located right beside Chinatown, Puduraya
Station is the city's main bus hub.

Getting Around
On foot: While Kuala Lumpur is a big city, you can
walk to and from different parts of the city such as
Chinatown and the Golden Triangle.
By LRT (Light Rail Transit): The city's LRT
network operates three lines. They are an efficient
and cheap way of getting around the city.
By monorail: Kuala Lumpur's monorail is like no
other type of public transport in South-East Asia.
There's only one line in operation but it's quick and
also cheap. It is particularly convenient for those
staying in the Golden Triangle.

Kuala Lumpur facts

Name: Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital city of
Malaysia, is also known simply as KL.

Climate
According to inhabitants of the Malaysian capital,
Kuala Lumpur has three climates - hot, hotter and
hottest. This city has a year-round tropical climate
and it can get extremely humid at times. It also rains
regularly all year round, and the wettest periods are
from March to April and then again from October to
December. During this time it experiences
particularly heavy downpours.

Good to know...
Language: Malay, English widely spoken
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
Electricity: 240V 50Hz. 2/3-pin plug.
Telephone Codes: +60 (Malaysia), 03 (Kuala
Lumpur)
Emergency Codes: Police 999 / Ambulance
999 / Fire 994
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time, GMT +8
Central Post Office: Dayabumi Complex, Jalan
Hishamuddin
Main Tourist Office: Kuala Lumpur Tourist
Information Centre, Jalan Parlimen

Embassies
USA: +60 (0)3 2168 5000
UK: +60 (0)3 2170 2200*
Canada: +60 (0)3 2718 3333*
Australia: +60 (0)3 2146 5555*
South Africa: +60 (0)3 2170 2412*
Ireland: +60 (0)3 2161 2963
Germany: +60 (0)3 2170 9666
Spain: +60 (0)3 2148 4868
Italy: +60 (0)3 4256 5122
New Zealand: +60 (0)3 2078 2533*
France: +60 (0)3 2053 5500
* High Commissions

Population: Almost 2 million people live in

Kuala Lumpur.
Location: This, the largest city in Malaysia, is
situated in the west of Peninsular Malaysia.
Area: The city covers an area of around 245
square kilometres.
Hostelworld Guide for Kuala Lumpur

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Cheap Eats
Meng Kee Grill, 39 Jalan Alor, Golden Triangle
It's hard to walk down Jalan Alor without being
approached by at least one hawker. If those
working here coax you inside you won't be
disappointed. The speciality here is grilled fish, and
you can choose from swordfish, stingray and
others. There are meat and veggie options too.
Open Wed-Mon 6pm-3am.

Street eats
Street stalls You'll never starve in South-East
Asian cities due to the amount of food stalls on
the streets. These are usually loaded with
chicken skewers, noodles, pancakes and other
snacks. In KL, the best places to feast on
streets are Jalan Alor in the Golden Triangle,
and all over Chinatown and Little India. Food
sometimes may not look the most enticing, but it
can be devilishly tasty sometimes, and frightfully
cheap.
Chinatown Pavillion, 25-27 Jalan Hang Lekir,
Chinatown This busy restaurant is located at a
lively intersection in Kuala Lumpur's Chinese
quarter and, with seating inside and out, is popular
with both locals and tourists. After you've perused
the menu that's packed with staple dishes like
noodles and rice, watch life go by in one of the city's
most exciting areas. Open daily from 6.30am-1am.
ABC Food's Corner, 1009 Jalan Masjid India,
Little India Standing for 'Always Best Choice', the
name might sound a bit tacky but when you see the
number of local Indian inhabitants eating here you
might give it a chance. Choose from set menus, or
separate dishes, and don't forget the naan bread to
wipe up the sauces. Open daily 24 hours.
Estana Curry House, Jalan Nagansari, Golden
Triangle Curries or noodles are what you should try
here. If you want a typically Malaysian dish opt for
'nasi goreng kampung' - fried rice with prawns, egg
and chicken. Open daily from 12 noon-midnight.

After Dark
Luna, Menara PanGlobal, Jalan Punchak,
Golden Triangle While this bar is extremely swish
and stylish, it boasts one of the most breathtaking
views in Asia thanks to its location on the 34th floor
of the Pacific Regency Hotel Apartments. You won't
need to worry about what to talk about as you gaze
at the Petronas Towers lit up in all their glory. Open
daily from 6pm-1am (until 3am at weekends).

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre,

Golden Triangle KL's iconic twin towers are
something of an emblem for the Malaysian capital
and are remarkably pleasing on the eye. Some
would argue they are the city's most beautiful
structures. Visit them twice - once in the day and
again at night when they are even more
spectacular.

The Green Man, 40 Changkat Bukit Bintang,

Golden Triangle Marketing itself as an English bar,
yet at the same time emphasizing the fact that you
can buy Guinness and other Irish beers here, The
Green Man seems a confused man. Nevertheless,
this bar is popular with expats and is a good place
to catch up with friends. Open daily from
11am-1am.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple, 163 Jalan Tun HS

Lee, Chinatown Founded in 1873, this is the oldest
practising Hindu Temple in Malaysia. Its faade is
fascinating, as is its main prayer hall, which houses
the famous 'silver chariot' which is marched to the
Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival. Open
daily from 6am-9pm; admission free.

Gay / Lesbian Kuala Lumpur

KL's gay scene is widespread but still largely
underground due to British colonial law and
Muslim attitudes. Most gay bars and nights are
found in bars and clubs around the Golden
Triangle. The city's (and country's) oldest gay
club is Blue Boy (54 Jalan Sultan Ismail), while
nearby Frangipani (25 Jalan Changkat Bukit
Bintang) hosts gay nights on Fridays. Liquid
(Central Market Annexe) is one of the city's
most popular gay clubs.
Zouk, 113 Jalan Ampang, Golden Triangle 15
years after opening its flagship club in Singapore in
1991, Zouk moved to Kuala Lumpur. Now firmly
established as the Malaysian capital's number one
club, it regularly attracts the world's top DJs for
one-off events. There is also a separate 'Velvet
Underground' section which isn't so full on. Open
Thurs-Sat 9pm-3am; admission charge.
Beach Club Caf, 97 Jalan P Ramlee, Golden
Triangle Located on one of the city's most vibrant
strips, the Beach Club Caf does everything in its
power to ensure you feel close to the sea and by
the beach. It's an outdoor bar in beach-hut style,
there are palm trees galore and lots and lots of
cocktails being sipped. Open daily from 6pm-3am.
Bangsar Avenue, 18 Jalan Liku, Bangsar
Bangsar Avenue is in KL's other part of town
popular after dark - Bangsar, so no prizes for
guessing how they came up with the name. This
large establishment has something to suit all tastes.
There's an outdoor terrace for some al fresco
socialising, a pool table for some activity, and a club
for some dancing. Open daily from 11am-3am.

Hostelworld Guide for Kuala Lumpur

Don't Miss

Massage in the Golden Triangle All around the

Golden Triangle are places offering all types of
massages. Head, feet, full...the list goes on. They
are cheap in comparison to similar massages in the
western world and are perfect for unwinding.

The climb to the caves

Batu Caves These caves 13km from KL's city
centre shouldn't be missed. Guarded by the
world's largest statue of Hindu god Murugan
and a spate of monkeys, they were discovered
in 1878 by American Naturalist, William
Hornaday. To get to the caves you have to
climb a grand 272 steps. Once inside, the noise
of Hindu music and dripping water, along with
the sight of the numerous shrines, make this a
truly unique experience. Open daily from
7am-9pm; return taxi from central Kuala Lumpur
RM40.
Menara KL, 2 Jalan Punchak, Golden Triangle
Better known as KL Tower, this is Kuala Lumpur's
other skyscraper. While it isn't as famous as its
counterpart, it boasts the city's highest viewing deck
and the views from the top are unrivalled. Open
daily from 9am-10pm; admission RM38.

Mark Your Calendar

January - Thaipusam Every year, more than a
million devotees gather at the Batu Caves, one of
Malaysia's natural wonders, to celebrate the Hindu
festival of Thaipusam. The sheer amount of people
and the beauty of the landscape means this can't
be missed.
February - City Day Parades, fireworks displays,
cultural shows and a general carnival atmosphere is
the order of the day throughout the city every 1st of
February.
March - Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair
The KLIBF is attended by over 1 million people
each year. Held at the Putra World Trade Centre,
this festival includes book launches, conventions
and plenty more, and is a must for book lovers.
June - Starlight Cinema The annual Starlight
Cinema festival is the largest outdoor film festival in
Asia and is staged in Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Kiara
Country Resort. On the grounds there's also a food
village meaning you can really make a night of it.
July - Flora Festival & Parade For this week-long
festival in July flower sales and exhibitions are held
in various locations throughout the city, while the
highlight is the parade at the end of the week.
August - KL International Tower Jump After Aziz
Ahmad asked for permission to jump off Kuala
Lumpur's tallest building in 1999, this festival was
born, and is now held once a year, usually in
August.
August - National Day The country celebrates its
independence on 31st of August with parades and
shows, and Kuala Lumpur is the focal point for the
celebrations.
September - Malaysia Fest Also known as
'Colours of Malaysia', the two-week long Malaysia
Fest is a huge event and is celebrated all over
Malaysia and celebrates the culture, cuisine and
handicrafts of the country's thirteen states.
October - Mega Shopping Carnival Held annually
in October, there are bargains galore at every
shopping venue in Kuala Lumpur during this annual
two-week shopping extravaganza.
November - Deepavali Also known as the 'Festival
of Lights', this event is a Hindu celebration. During
the festival you can expect to see even more lights
shining across the city.

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Neighbourhood Watch
Chinatown Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown dates back
to the mid-19th century and is best-known for its
shopping along Jalan Petaling. Rather than shop,
it's sometimes better to soak up the atmosphere
along the less hectic Jalan Tun Hs Lee and Jalan
Sultan which run parallel to it. It's a good place to
eat out and there are lots of temples to visit also.
Kampung Baru Founded in 1899, Kampung Baru
is the oldest Malay residential area of Kuala
Lumpur. Walking around its streets you can still see
the wooden houses that are standing since the
neighbourhood first existed. Its main attractions are
the Kampung Baru Mosque and the 'Sunday
Market' which actually begins on Saturday evenings
at 6pm.

A piece of India in KL
Little India Kuala Lumpur's Indian quarter is a
colourful district, albeit a small one. Centrally
located, it is just a stone's throw from
Chinatown. Its main thoroughfares are Jalan
Masjid India and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Stroll along these streets and you will encounter
shops packed with bright saris, others selling
traditional medicines and herbs, and restaurants
specialising in cheap, Indian food.
Golden Triangle Home to both of Kuala Lumpur's
celebrated skyscrapers, the Golden Triangle is also
the city's main shopping and nightlife district. Along
Bukit Bintang shops are plentiful, as are the bars as
this was once the most vibrant part of the city.
Today that accolade belongs to Jalan P Ramlee
and Jalan Sultan Ismail, both in this part of town.
Brickfields Ask a local how to get to Little India and
they may well send you here as Brickfields is also
home to an extremely large Indian population. It is
easy to get thanks to KL Sentral and a monorail
stop. Once there don't miss Sri Kandaswamy Hindu
Temple on Jalan Thambipillay.

Hostelworld Guide for Kuala Lumpur

Retail Therapy
Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Golden
Triangle Located at the base of the Petronas
Towers and covering a staggering 1.5 million
square feet, this enormous shopping centre is the
city's flagship shopping mall. Here you will come
across stores belonging to Levi's, Zara, GAP and
FCUK to name but a few. If you're not in the
position to shop you may find yourself visiting for
the air-conditioning alone. Open daily from
10am-10pm.

Bargains galore
Jalan Petaling, Chinatown Open from early
morning until late at night every day, Kuala
Lumpur's famous Jalan Petaling doesn't come
alive until the sun sets. Then the hawkers really
let loose, telling you of the 'good price' they can
offer you for their leather handbags, counterfeit
t-shirts, pirated DVDs, shades and so much
more. Open daily from 10am-11pm.
Chow Kit Market, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman,
Kampung Baru One of Kuala Lumpur's 'wet' (food)
markets, the daily Chow Kit market is a colourful
place. Just meters from Chow Kit monrail station,
on the stalls are fruit, vegetables, spices, meat, and
all types of seafood. At night though, clothes and
other products can be bought. Open daily from
8am-8pm.
Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Downtown
KL Specialising in local artwork and antiques, this
shopping mall between Chinatown and Little India is
a great place to go to see Malaysian art and culture.
There are other things available too, such as
pleasant-smelling toiletries and souvenirs. Open
daily from 10am-10pm.
Plaza Low Yat, 7, Jalan Bintang, Golden
Triangle If you're a high-tech buff and you're
looking to pick up a bargain try this shopping mall
off Jalan Bukit Bintang as its second floor is known
as 'Computer City'. Open daily from 10am-10pm.

Budget Tips
Visit the National History Museum Conveniently
located on Merdeka Square, this museum is the
only museum in Malaysia dedicated to the country's
history from its early age until today. Some of the
galleries include 'The Advent of Islam', 'Malay
States', 'Japan Occupation' and 'Formation of
Malaysia'. Open daily 9am-6pm; admission free.
Don't get scammed! More a warning than a
money-saving tip, make sure not to get scammed
when in Kuala Lumpur. Taxi men are notorious for
overcharging, but the prices they overcharge
tourists aren't exactly extortionate. Instead be more
wary of a scam carried out around the Petronas
Towers. Tried by over-friendly locals, they will ask
you where you are from, then tell you their sibling is
studying there. Once they tell you that, stop talking
to them as they're trying to scam you!
Check out the National Art Gallery Opened 50
years ago in 1958, Kuala Lumpur's National Art
Gallery on Jalan Temerloh (off Jalan Tun Razak)
houses five different galleries and over 2,500
separate works of art. Open daily from 10am-6pm,
admission free.
Ride the monrail Go on a trip on KL's monorail that
zooms about the city centre and you will be treated
to a bird's-eye view of some of the city's sights as
well as city life below. Each journey is a mere
RM2.50 which is less than $1 (US or AUS), 1 or
1.

Different to its counterparts

Visit the Petronas Towers' 'Skybridge' Unlike
other viewing decks around the world, you don't
have to pay for your ticket to the Petronas
Towers' 'Skybridge'. Instead 1,400 free tickets
are issued daily which permit you to a
15-minute visit to the bridge. The ticket desk
opens at 8.30am and they're given out on a
first-come first-served basis so get there early.

A Day in Kuala Lumpur...

Begin your day by visiting the 'Skybridge' at the
Petronas Towers. The visit starts with a 3D film
before stepping inside the elevator to go up 42
flights in 42 seconds!
Go from one skyscraper to another and visit KL
Tower. Its viewing deck is higher than that of the
Skybridge and boasts the best views of the
Malaysian capital.
Take the short stroll to Chinatown. This vibrant
neighbourhood is full of temples, restaurants and is
great for shopping.
Afterwards visit Little India. Another colourful
neighbourhood, it is full of shops selling traditional
Indian goods. Grab a bite to eat either here or back
in Chinatown.
Jump in a cab bound for the Batu Caves. Just 13km
from the city, they aren't to be missed. Watch out
for the monkeys on the way up the 272 steps to the
caves.

Upon returning to the city centre, go back to

Chinatown to the market on Jalan Petaling. It is far
livelier at night and you'll find something within your
budget.
Situated in the Golden Triangle, Jalan Alor is
peppered with restaurants. After some shopping
make your way here. Try something Malaysian or
some seafood.
Return to the Petronas Towers. While they are truly
amazing any time of the day, at night when they are
lit up they will really take your breath away.
Finish the perfect day off in the Malaysian capital
partying the night away in one of the bars along
Jalan P Ramlee or Jalan Sultan Ismail, the liveliest
strips in town.

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