Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year. The drier months are usually January to February and June to August; April and October to November bring more afternoon thunderstorms. Rain rarely lasts all day, so plan indoor sights for the afternoons.

• KLCC

  Around the Petronas Towers: big hotels, the park and the malls, with the train at the door.

  Good for: First visits, Families

• Bukit Bintang

  The shopping and nightlife street, close to Jalan Alor's food stalls and the monorail.

  Good for: Food lovers, Nightlife

• Chinatown and Merdeka Square

  Older streets, markets and the colonial buildings, at a lower price than the centre.

  Good for: Budgets, Sightseeing

1. 1

   The Petronas Towers

   See them from KLCC Park at dusk, when the lights come on. Tickets for the skybridge and the top sell out, so book ahead.

2. 2

   Batu Caves

   A Hindu temple inside a limestone hill, reached by a long, steep stair and a short train ride from the centre. Cover your knees; sarongs are lent at the foot.

3. 3

   Eat at Jalan Alor

   A street of food stalls that comes alive at night: satay, grilled seafood, noodles and tropical fruit.

4. 4

   Merdeka Square and the old centre

   Where independence was declared, ringed by Moorish-style colonial buildings, a walk from Central Market and Chinatown.

Malaysian food mixes Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking: nasi lemak, roti canai with curry, char kway teow and satay. Most food is halal, and halal signs are clear in restaurants and malls; the Chinese stalls are the ones to ask about.

Trains

The LRT, MRT and monorail cover most sights and are cheap and air-conditioned. A stored-value card saves queuing.

Ride-hailing

Grab is easy and reasonably priced, and avoids haggling with taxis.

From the airport

The KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in about half an hour.

• Malls and trains are strongly air-conditioned. Carry a light layer.
• Mosques welcome visitors outside prayer times, with robes provided; check the visiting hours before you go.