November 29, 2023 | View Online | Sign Up
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Kuala Lumpur, the bustling capital of Malaysia–possibly the most underrated country in Southeast Asia–is a kaleidoscopic rollercoaster.
It may only be 165 years old, but its unique cityscape embodies every facet of Malaysia’s complex history. The soaring Petronas towers, futuristic symbols of the country’s business edge, sit mere blocks from traditional Malay shophouses. Taoist temples rub shoulders with Buddhist monasteries and haunting prayer calls echo around the Batu Caves. All the while the region’s last pieces of virgin rainforest grumble with life.
Creatively stunted travel publications are quick to pin the term “melting pot” on any city with a cluster of diversity. But while it’s a cliched overstatement in most destinations, it sells Kuala Lumpur's cultural fusion far short.
Grab a kopi, lah.
Welcome to Kuala Lumpur.
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| EAT, SLEEP, DO
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Your Guide to the Best of Kuala Lumpur
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🌴 What to do
Kuala Lumpur is a destination in itself, offering everything from high-end cocktail bars to iconic cave temples. But after you’ve discovered the city, it’ll function beautifully as a base for exploring the rest of the underappreciated gem that is Malaysia. Here are the best things to do in the city and elsewhere in Malaysia.
🍜 What to eat
The city is built of three distinct ethnic groups (and small groups of a ton of others), making food a high priority on any visit. Taste the local Malay food on Jalan Alor, grab some outstanding Indian food in Brickfields, or dive into the boundary-crossing Chinese-Malay food in Chinatown. It’s a special food scene so here are the best places to eat in Kuala Lumpur.
🛌🏽 Where to stay
Kuala Lumpur is a major financial hub in Asia, so you’re never short of luxury hotels in the city center–some with incomparable views of the iconic towers. But as tourism grows, many of the quaint shophouses and traditional residences are being transformed into wonderful boutique hotels. Whatever you fancy, there’s something for everyone. These are the best hotels in Kuala Lumpur.
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| MONEY MOVES
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Head to Kuala Lumpur Year After Year with Smart Points
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Kuala Lumpur is one of the biggest airport hubs in Asia, making it an easy destination hit using points and miles. Qatar, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and a ton more all offer routes into the country for a fraction of the price of a cash ticket.
It’s cool to do it once. But we’d love for you to be so good with your points you can work out a trip this big every year.Â
By signing up for Smart Points: The Course, you’ll learn all the skills you need to continue travel hacking like a pro. You won’t need our help finding the best deals–you’ll be able to do it yourself with the sizable hoard of points you’ll have stocked up.
We’re about to bump up the price, so if you’d like one of the last presale spots for $99, sign up here.
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| TRAVEL PLANNING
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| KUALA LUMPUR FASTÂ FACTS
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🌆 Tin the beginning: Kaula Lumpur isn’t very old. It was founded in 1857 as a tin mining town. Since then, its growth has exploded, becoming one of the most important cities in Asia.
💦 The Name Game: The city has grown up around a central point where two rivers. The Klang and Gombak, meet. The flood-prone marshy area was called Kuala Lumpur in Malay or “Muddy Confluence” in English. Today, most people shorten the name to "KL."
👯 Twin Peaks: The city’s most iconic landmarks are the Petronas Towers, twin structures soaring 452 meters above the city. They were once the tallest buildings in the world, but since 2004, they’ve dropped to 21st.
🫅🏽 Rolling Royals: Malaysia’s home to the world’s only rotating monarchy. Instead of a set line of hereditary rulers, nine members of a “conference of rulers” elect the monarch every five years.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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Linguistic Quirks
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Malaysia was once under British rule, and despite an amicable separation in the fifties, many of the cultural habits of the Brits remain. As a tourist, that’s helpful, as almost everyone speaks at least a little English. Any attractions and restaurants will typically have an English menu, and it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself completely stumped.
You may notice, however, the unique blend of Malay and English called Manglish. You’ll hear the last consonant of some words left out, among some other differences, but the most notable quirk is the addition of “lah” at the end of many sentences.
It doesn’t have a standard meaning but can be used to make a sentence light-hearted or to turn a verb into a command. “Drink lah” would be a firm “please drink.” While “don’t worry about it, lah” would be a light-hearted piece of advice.
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Prepare for the Weather
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Kuala Lumpur is built where an ancient rainforest once stood. That should give you an indicator of the weather you can expect.
Its tropical climate means there’s not a huge fluctuation in temperature–read that as hot, hotter, or very hot. It’ll also be humid, especially in the monsoon season between October and April.
But don’t worry too much about the rain. While it does rain regularly, it’ll usually be in a compact time frame in the late afternoon. The skies will open, you’ll enjoy the most spectacular thunder and lightning, then it’ll disappear.
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Getting Around is Easy
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Kuala Lumpur is a big place. While it does have a solid metro system, your location will dictate how useful that will be. If possible, try to plan your hotel as close to a station as possible. It’ll make things easier for you.
If you end up further afield, don’t worry. The local app ride hailing app Grab can get you around the city cheaply. Just try not to travel during the busy rush hour periods. Traffic in the city can get hectic.Â
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN KUALA LUMPUR
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