If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

This article is specially created if you have only one day in Kuala Lumpur and wonder what you can do here. Many travellers make Kuala Lumpur a stopping or transit city when travelling around the region, mainly due to the cheap AirAsia flights being offered.

I have had many emails over the years asking me what to do in Kuala Lumpur in a day, and I have been providing all sorts of personal information to these travellers. I created this article for anyone wanting to know what you can do in Kuala Lumpur in a day.

Visiting Kuala Lumpur in One Day

suria-klcc If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Suria KLCC is a massive shopping mall under the Petronas Twin Towers.

Let me start with your arrival in Kuala Lumpur. Most travellers will be doing an extended transit or one-day layover in Kuala Lumpur before catching their connecting flights.

Anyone transiting in Kuala Lumpur must know how long your transit is before you make your way into KL city. This list caters to anyone within 12 to 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur.

If you are on a very short transit or stay, scroll to the bottom of this page, as I have a solution on what you can do.

Another reason may be that you are in Kuala Lumpur for a business trip or event and may have a free day to explore the city.

Kuala Lumpur offers some exciting landmarks to explore, most of which can be conquered within half a day. Among the most prominent landmarks are the Petronas Twin Towers, which are to be noticed, along with the Kuala Lumpur Tower or KL Tower.

These landmarks are just a 15-minute walking distance from one another and are located in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur. Note that if you are travelling from international airports, it will take you around 28 minutes to 60 minutes one way, depending on the mode of transport you use.

Below, I will list the areas you can explore with an estimated time to spend there.

bukit-bintang-area If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur. Photo by EasyBook.

Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur or KLCC Area

Several attractions are found around the Golden Triangle area of Kuala Lumpur, which can be visited within three to four hours. Remember to use Google Maps or Waze to find the best walking routes in the city.

The places listed below are all within walking distance and best done during the day. For those who have an entire day to spare, you can generally see the best of Kuala Lumpur in one day at the places mentioned below.

petronas-twin-towers If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

1. Petronas Twin Towers – This would be the best starting point where you can see the tallest twin towers in the world. The best place to take photographs is from the junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan P. Ramlee, near the Public Bank Tower.

Alternatively, you can also explore the Kuala Lumpur City Center Park or KLCC Park, the green lung providing manicured landscapes, beautiful views of the twin towers and the dancing fountain at Simfoni Lake, just outside Suria KLCC.

For those who want to indulge in lifestyle shopping, the Suria KLCC is the mall to visit here. In the mall, there is the Petrosains Discovery Center, which is a fun place for those travelling with kids.

Time to spend: From 30 to 90 minutes.

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The Underwater Tunnel at Aquaria KLCC. Photo by Star2

2. Aquaria KLCC – Kuala Lumpur’s most exciting aquarium, located at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center or KLCC, is just a few minutes walk. Great for both adults and kids, this aquarium houses marine and freshwater fishes, corals and a beautiful underwater tunnel.

Tickets are priced at RM65.00 for adults and RM56.00 for kids, and you can easily spend about an hour to two hours inside here. Go only if you love aquariums; skip this and head to KL Tower.

Time to spend: From 30 to 60 minutes.

kl-tower-sky-box If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

One of the thrilling experiences at KL Tower Sky Box. Photo by KL Tower.

3. Kuala Lumpur Tower or Menara KL – From Aquaria KLCC, you can take a 25-minute walk to KL Tower, the tallest structure in the city, offering majestic city views of Kuala Lumpur.

You can experience three things here: the primary indoor observation deck, the outdoor sky deck, and the unique glass skybox. The tickets start at RM52.00 for adults and RM31.00 for children and have various combo packages.

Menara KL has many other attractions, like the unique Upside Down House and a mini zoo, which is perfect for adults and kids.

Time to spend: From 30 to 60 minutes.

4. KL Forest Eco Park – Just next to KL Tower is a unique Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve in the city’s heart. This is the only green lung in Kuala Lumpur and the smallest forest reserve in Malaysia. There are really short treks with 300-meter lengths and a unique canopy walkway or treetop walk.

If you still need to, visit here to experience the Malaysian rainforest. To walk here from Menara KL, you will take about 20 minutes and use Jalan Raja Chulan to get to the main entrance. This place is open from 7.00 AM till 6.00 PM and is free entrance.

Time to spend: From 30 to 60 minutes.

bukit-bintang If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Bukit Bintang Shopping Area in Kuala Lumpur. Photo by Wonderful Malaysia.

5. Bukit Bintang Shopping Street – After your rainforest adventure, you can take a 20-minute walk to the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Bukit Bintang shopping area. This is where all the top shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur are located and recommended if you want to go shopping.

The main shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur to explore are Pavilion, Lot 10, Sungai Wang Plaza and Berjaya Times Square, and all of them are located within walking distance. Think of this place as the Malaysian Champ-Elysees, but the Southeast Asian version.

If you want to explore a unique mall, Low Yat Plaza is entirely dedicated to gadgets, accessories, phones, cameras, and computer stuff. This mall is located along Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Time to spend: From 1 to 3 hours.

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Jalan Alor at night. Photo by IQRemix on Flickr.

6. Jalan Alor Food Street – A minute’s walk from Jalan Bukit Bintang is the famous Jalan Alor food street, an entire one-kilometre street dominated by Malaysian Chinese, Thai, Cambodian, and Vietnamese restaurants.

This famous street is best visited around 5.00 PM for an early dinner, but the ambience improves when the sun goes down.

Apart from the fantastic food sold here, you can also sample local fruits and world-famous durians. Cold beer is also available at all the restaurants here.

You can also visit Jalan Alor during the day because the ambience is not 100%. There are local restaurants that opened here in the day.

Time to spend: From 30 to 60 minutes.

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Changkat Bukit Bintang at night. Photo by Kuaby.

7. Changkat Bukit Bintang – This lively street is just a minute’s walk from Jalan Alor and is known as the lifestyle and nightlife hub of Kuala Lumpur.

Along this road, you will find all kinds of unique bars, clubs and restaurants catering to the lifestyle travellers. Some bars or cafes are off Changkat Bukit Bintang, along Jalan Nagasari, Jalan Berangan and Jalan Mesiu.

Choices include a Cuban bar called Havana Bar and Grill, a Jazz Bar called No Black Tie, a Tapas Bar and even a place called The Whiskey Bar. These are just a few popular places, where there are 20 to 30 different entertainment outlets around here, which close around 1.00 AM to 3.00 AM.

Time to spend: From 30 to 90 minutes.

heli-lounge-bar-kuala-lumpur If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

The Kuala Lumpur Heli Lounge Bar is one of the most unique bars in Malaysia.

8. Heli Lounge Bar KL – One of the most unique rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur and the world is the Heli Lounge Bar, located at a helicopter landing on top of a skyscraper.

This unique place only opens at 5.00 PM and is one of the best places to experience the Kuala Lumpur skyline view. It is also the best location to catch the sunset.

From Jalan Alor, it is a 10-15 minute walk to the Heli Lounge Bar, which operates till midnight on weekdays and weekends; it closes at 3.00 AM. Truly one of the iconic lifestyle places in Kuala Lumpur, anyone visiting should make this place a must-visit location.

Time to spend: From 1 to 3 hours.

trec-kuala-lumpur If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

TREC Kuala Lumpur is the trendiest place for clubbing, bars and restaurants.

9. TREC Kuala Lumpur – This is an optional suggestion. TRECKL is currently the latest lifestyle entertainment spot for Kuala Lumpur, where you can find the best clubs in KL city.

The place comes alive once the sun goes down, and you can find a good selection of clubs, bars, live music and restaurants in one dedicated place.

The TREC main street is where you can find all these entertainment outlets, all next to each other, which creates a beautiful nightlife scene. You can come here for dinner, coffee and drinks if you are not into the clubbing scene.

For the clubbers, Zouk Kuala Lumpur is the most happening club in Malaysia, with local and international DJs performing till 5.00 AM on weekends. The best way to get here is to take a taxi or Grab from anywhere in the city.

Time to spend: From 1 to 3 hours.

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Petaling Street or Chinatown Kuala Lumpur.

Chinatown Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Street Area

This is the older part of Kuala Lumpur and is worth a visit if you like culture and heritage with a bit of shopping and architecture viewing.

This itinerary will take you on foot through some of Kuala Lumpur’s most historic places, and you can do it in two to four hours.

10. Petaling Street or Chinatown Kuala Lumpur – This would be your starting point, and the main area to explore here is Jalan Petaling and Jalan Sultan. So you know, ‘Jalan’ means Street in Malay.

Jalan Petaling is an open-aired covered walkway littered with stalls and shops selling all sorts of things, namely souvenirs, clothes, knock-off products and local food.

During the day, the main Jalan Petaling is active with shops and stalls on the sides, and at 4.00 PM, vendors start moving in to occupy the centre of the road, creating a lively night market atmosphere. The surrounding roads provide various types of restaurants, coffee shops and stalls selling different items.

Time to spend: 40 to 120 minutes around here.

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Central Market Annexe art row in Kuala Lumpur.

11. Central Market and Central Market Annexe – This historical wet market was converted into a handicraft and art complex called Central Market KL. From Jalan Petaling, it is only a four-minute walk here. Once you arrive, you will enter the air-conditioned market, which offers two floors of shopping or window shopping.

Inside Central Market KL, you will find countless shops and booths selling all sorts of souvenirs from Malaysia. On the first floor, the local Malaysian food court offers some local hawker cuisine worth an experience. A recommended shop is the Malaysian Wau or kite shop, which also sells miniature kites.

The connecting building at the back entrance leads you into the Central Market Annexe, a specialized section dedicated to Malaysian art.

Here, you will find a section where the local artists are seen painting their works in small cubical shops. Other shops and art galleries showcasing some of the more reputable Malaysian artworks.

Time to spend: 20 to 30 minutes.

birthplace-of-kuala-lumpur If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

The birthplace of Kuala Lumpur is Masjid Jamek Mosque. Photo John Mason on Flickr.

12. Kuala Lumpur Birthplace Lookout Point – From Central Market Annexe, just walk out the back to Leboh Pasar Besar Road and head towards the only bridge over the Klang River. You can spot Masjid Jamek Mosque from this bridge and where the two rivers meet.

This historical place is called the confluence of rivers, where Kuala Lumpur was born. What does Kuala Lumpur mean? Kuala means confluence, and Lumpur means muddy. There you go; now you know what the capital of Malaysia means.

Time to spend: 5 minutes.

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Victoria Fountain at Merdeka Square in KL. Photo by IQRemix on Flickr.

13. Merdeka Square or Dataran Merdeka – From the bridge, just continue walking for another two minutes, and you will arrive at Dataran Merdeka, a massive field called the Independence Square of Malaysia.

At Merdeka Square, you will find Southeast Asia’s tallest flagpole and the century-old Victoria Fountain, which was presented to Kuala Lumpur as a gift from Queen Victoria.

From the field, you will see the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a Moorish Classic Renaissance architecture built in 1897.

Around the field, various heritage buildings house the Kuala Lumpur Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur City Gallery and the KL Library.

Time to spend: 10 to 30 minutes

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Masjid India Market Street in Kuala Lumpur. Photo Wikimedia.

14. Masjid India Market Street Area – A very localized area that caters to the local fabric scene of Kuala Lumpur, where you will find hoards of traders selling all kinds of fabrics, sarongs, batik and general apparel for all walks of life.

From Dataran Merdeka Square, it is only a 10-minute walk to the Masjid India area. There is also a local covered bazaar near the central train station.

If you are fabric hunting, this place is recommended to explore in Kuala Lumpur, commonly called Masjid India. But for tourists, it would also be called India Street Market and is a great place to explore on foot.

In one section of Masjid India, you will see Indian jewellers selling all kinds of gold and a mini bazaar selling a mix of fabrics and souvenirs.

Retail shops and even small shopping complexes offer all kinds of raw fabrics or ready-made clothes. If you want to get Malaysian Indian attire and jewellery, this is the place to visit.

Time to spend: 30 to 60 minutes or more.

brickfields-kuala-lumpur If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur. Photo Lonely Planet.

15. Little India or Brickfields Kuala Lumpur – This is the official Little India of Kuala Lumpur, and it is located just out of the main city area and very close to KL Sentral Station.

Noted in many guidebooks or travel sites, most tourists want to visit this place. So, if you are travelling back to KLIA airport, this could be your last stop.

Over at Brickfields, you can explore the many authentic Indian restaurants, buy Indian jewellery and even art, browse through some of the Indian textiles, or explore some of the Indian temples here. Little India is a vibrant place with strong colours and is located.

Walking here from Masjid India or Dataran Merdeka Square will take 30-40 minutes. But from Masjid Jamek Station, you can hop on a train, which will take you 20 minutes to KL Sentral, then walk across to Little India, which will take a few minutes. Visit only if you have the extra time.

Time to spend: 30 to 60 minutes or more.

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Nu Sentral Mall at KL Sentral.

16. Nu Sentral Mall – One of the lifestyle and trendy shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur is connected to the KL Sentral Station. This place is a place to get whatever you need before heading back to the airport.

And if you are into the shopping and lifestyle scene, Nu Sentral Mall is the perfect place to chill out with casual shopping.

There are many cafes, restaurants, and lifestyle bars here. This is recommended; if you have a very short transit and want to explore shopping in Kuala Lumpur, this is one of the places.

Time to spend: 30 to 60 minutes or more.

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The KLIA Express is the fastest way into Kuala Lumpur. Photo Wikimedia.

How do you travel to Kuala Lumpur from KLIA / KLIA2?

By Train – The fastest way to travel to Kuala Lumpur from KLIA is by taking the KLIA Express Train, which takes 28 minutes one way. However, the train schedule varies throughout the day and night. Train tickets cost RM55.00 one way.

If you arrive late in the evening in Malaysia, with a six- or eight-hour transit, you should hang out at the airport until your connecting flight. Or you could visit Kuala Lumpur nightlife to some of the entertainment places mentioned in numbers 7,8 or 9 above.

By Ride-Hailing Car – This is now the best way, and you can just download Grab and use their service, as it is the most widely used ride-hailing service in Malaysia. There is no Uber or Lyft here.

By Bus – This would be the budget way of travelling into Kuala Lumpur, which takes about 60-70 minutes. The bus ticket is RM12.00 per person one way into KL Sentral, and after midnight, the frequency is less.

By Taxi – Taxis cost anywhere from RM80 to RM100 one way into the city, depending on which part. There is also a 50% surcharge on the taxi fare after midnight.

There are budget taxis that run on meters or fixed-rate taxis. And for four or more people, you need a bigger taxi, which will cost more.

You can get a taxi coupon from the transportation counters at each terminal. Please do not accept or entertain anyone approaching you for a taxi service. These are taxi touts and against the law.

mycar-malaysia-grab If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

MyCar and Grab are ride-hailing services in Malaysia.

Uber in Malaysia – There is no more Uber in Malaysia; Grab bought them over.

klia2 If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Baggage area at KLIA2.

Tips for Transits in Kuala Lumpur

I have also developed these tips for transit in Kuala Lumpur, which will help you greatly if you want to make the best out of your travels.

The best way to musea long transit is by booking your flight to arrive early in the morning in KL, where you can use the entire day to explore Kuala Lumpur city for a day trip. Then, you can return to the airport by evening to catch your connecting flight.

Please note that you must allocate at least two hours for a one-way trip to Kuala Lumpur if you take a bus or taxi. This also works for your travel back to the airport. You need at least three hours to travel to and from Kuala Lumpur.

You should have a transit time of at least six hours or more to visit Kuala Lumpur and experience some of the recommended places above.

If your transit is just three or four hours, you can take the KLIA Express Train into KL Sentral, explore (15) Little India and (16) Nu Sentral, and head back to the airport. This would also be best in the daytime from 7.00 AM till 8.00 PM.

Anything less than that, you are better off just hanging out in the airport, as you would want to avoid risking the timing to travel in and out of Kuala Lumpur.
For those on a budget, getting the KL Travel Pass is recommended, as it is the best way to move around Kuala Lumpur. This includes KLIA Express tickets, and other local train passes.

things-to-do-around-klia If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Lovers bridge at Tanjung Sepat. Photo Wikipedia.

What is there to do around KLIA or KLIA2 in Sepang?

There is little to do around the Kuala Lumpur International Airport area. Sepang Town is the closest town, which is about 30 30-minute drive one way. This is a local town with very Malaysian businesses and coffee shops.

There are several hotels or budget hostels in Sepang, but in terms of a tourist destination, there is nothing here. The closest options would be very niche and unique, depending on the type of traveller you are.

Nearby is a small town called Tanjung Sepat, which you can also explore, but this place is mainly for local tourism. There are some excellent local restaurants, a traditional coffee maker factory, and a scenic wooden lovers bridge here.

kuala-lumpur-in-one-day If You Only Have One Day In Kuala Lumpur

Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur.

Short Layover in Malaysia

If you are on a short layover in Kuala Lumpur, check out this article on what to do on a short transit in Malaysia. It highlights a few iconic places you can visit for anyone writing for six to ten hours.

Overall, this article about having one day in Kuala Lumpur is specially created for anyone on a long transit in Kuala Lumpur or business travellers with one free day after their meetings.

Conclusion

The places mentioned above include the estimated time required to visit, and based on your timings, you can see multiple locations in the same area or district of Kuala Lumpur.

I would love to hear your questions, comments, or suggestions below. Otherwise, have a great visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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