5 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city sits at the confluence of Sungai (River) Gombak and Sungai (River) Klang. The words “kuala” and “lumpur” mean muddy confluence. It takes only 53 minutes to fly from Singapore and one hour 58 minutes from Bangkok.

This once muddy confluence is now a sprawling metropolis filled with old and new iconic landmarks, and it is the main economic hub for Malaysia. Known as KL to locals and travel professionals, Kuala Lumpur ranked 11 in Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations in 2016.

Planning a trip to Kuala Lumpur? Here are 5 things to do there:

1. Visit the colonial buildings and Dataran Merdeka

Did you know, once upon a time the Union flag flew in the iconic buildings at Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square)? Malaysia was a British colony and became an independent nation on August 31, 1957.

Rapid urbanization has brought about several skyscrapers and modern structures like the Petronas Tower. But to feel the essence of colonial KL, check out the colonial buildings and Dataran Merdeka. Here is a list of buildings to see:

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

St Mary’s Church (Malaysia’s oldest Anglican church)

Royal Selangor Club

Masjid Jamek (under renovations)

Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (a Moorish-style railway station)

2. Discover the history of the Majestic KL Hotel and cocktail

The Majestic KL Hotel will transport you to Kuala Lumpur of the 1930s. Once the grandest and the largest, this newly renovated hotel still has the old British colonial charm. It was the meeting place for the elite of Kuala Lumpur.

A stay at the hotel is a must for those who wants to discover the history of Kuala Lumpur. Guests can choose to stay either in the new wing or at the restored colonial suites in the Majestic wing (original building).

Must do things at the Majestic KL Hotel

Try Code 55 and 2 Bulat cocktail, a signature colonial cocktail made of beer, gin, whiskey and lemonade. You’ll never find this cocktail anywhere else in the world. Inside your glass are two test tubes filled with red and black liquid. Take a look at the photograph.

Check out the Orchid Conservatory with thousands of orchid plants.

Dine at the Colonial Cafe and try out colonial dishes like Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Relax in the Tea Lounge and immerse in the tea culture of colonial times.

The hotel is located in front of the Old Railway Station.

3. Tour the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC

After visiting the colonial buildings, head over to the modern part of Kuala Lumpur - to the Petronas Twin Towers and KLCC.

The double story Skybridge connecting both the twin towers (on the 41st floor) is the highest in the world. A tour of the towers include a 10 minute walk on the Skybridge and a 15-minute visitor pass to the Observation Deck on the 86th floor. At the Observation Deck you’ll get a 360-degree view of Kuala Lumpur.

After the short tour, you can dine in one of the food courts or restaurants or shop in the thousands of stores in KLCC. KLCC is an upscale mall located at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers.

Note: The Petronas Twin Towers are closed on Mondays and on major Malaysian holidays.

4. Join in the fun at Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

After all the shopping, dining and sightseeing, head over to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park for a little bit of fun in the sun. Your options include:

Water Park

Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon

Amusement Park

Wildlife Park

Extreme Park

Scream Park

Starbucks, Nathan’s, Burger King, and Subway are some of the familiar joints to stop by for refreshments and fast food. If you prefer a hearty meal, check out the buffet lunch at the Resort Cafe. For afternoon tea and coffee go to EGG. Both restaurants are located in Sunway Resort and Spa.

5. Try out local foods

Just like its neighboring cities, Bangkok and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur has plenty of street markets, night markets, and food courts. Some of the famous street foods are in Chinatown (Chinese food), Little India in Brickfields (Indian food), and Kampung Baru (Malay food).

If you prefer dining in an air-conditioned place, go to the food courts in Mid Valley MegaMall, Lot 10, Suria KLCC and Pavilion.

Have you been to Kuala Lumpur? What were your favorite things to do?