Planning a trip to Kuala Lumpur and looking for the perfect Kuala Lumpur itinerary for 3 days? You have come to the right place! This Kuala Lumpur itinerary for 3 days includes a very detailed itinerary with all the essential travel tips and information you need to know for planning your trip. I have tried to make an itinerary which will help you to utilise your time in Kuala Lumpur in the best possible way. Plus: where to stay, where to eat and much much more. Let’s begin!

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and one of the best cities to visit in Asia. One of the most diverse cities with a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, Kuala Lumpur provides an opportunity to experience the rich multicultural heritage of Malaysia. Often underrated compared to other major Asian capitals, I found Kuala Lumpur to be a great holiday destination thanks to the incredible array of activities and sightseeing options on offer for every type of traveller.

With the perfect fusion of the old with the new, KL has striking skyscrapers along with old traditional temples, often found side by side. The trendy modern parts of the city with glamorous shopping malls lie alongside pockets of urban gardens/jungles providing a refreshing escape from all the hustle and bustle. Nature lovers should most definitely spend some extra time in these parks and gardens.

Being a culture lover myself, I cannot emphasise enough how much I loved the historical and cultural aspects of the city. There are enough cultural sights here in the form of temples, mosques and colonial buildings to wear you out.

Foodies will love Kuala Lumpur thanks to the array of different cuisines such as Malay, Indian, Chinese, Nyona, Thai, Peranakan, Hainanese etc. The restaurants are top notch but the hawker food markets are even better where you can all the dishes you want to without busting your wallet. The shopping is world class and the malls deserve a visit too especially some of their giant food courts. I also loved the nightlife and vibe particularly around the Bukit Bintang and KLCC areas which are super trendy with hip bars, cafes, hawker centres, restaurants, outdoor music and shopping.

 Communication was easy as everyone knew English. The infrastructure especially public transportation is on another level. There are trains, buses, trams, subway and monorail covering the entire city and most of the sightseeing spots. For far flung areas, Grab cabs are easy to book and not too expensive.

In this itinerary, I have included most of the places that I feel provide the quintessential Kuala Lumpur experience for a first time visitor along with a few lesser known gems. If you have less or more time on hand, check out the alternative itineraries I have listed below.

If you are visiting Malaysia, don’t forget to check out travel guides for Penang and the Perhentian islands.

KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS: THE COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE

HOW TO REACH KUALA LUMPUR?

Kuala Lumpur international airport is a hub for flight connectivity across Asia and major global cities. It will be easy to find lots of flights from wherever you are coming from including lots of budget airline options.

WHEN TO VISIT KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia is located near the equator which means a classic tropical climate. You can pretty much expect heat and humidity throughout the year and showers every few days. Kuala Lumpur also experiences the same. The best time is said to be from June to August and November to February. Even at those times, you can still expect some showers. These rains are usually short and the sky clears up quickly. March to May tends to have the heaviest showers. The weather is slightly cooler during Nov-Feb but it is peak season so be prepared for a lot of crowds especially during New Year and Lunar New Year.

HOW TO GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY

Kuala Lumpur international airport is located 45 kms from the city centre. You can travel from the airport to the city through train, bus or taxi.

• TRAIN: The fastest way to reach the city is by using the KLIA Express train service which goes up to the KL City Air terminal located in KL Sentral. The nonstop service takes 28 mins. You can check tickets and prices here.
• BUS: To take the bus go to Level 1, Main terminal building or Level 1, Block C, Short term car park. You will find various categories of buses here like express, coach, city liner etc that depart from Terminal 1 and 2 till the city centre. Check here for all details.
• TAXI: You can get Airport taxi service from Level 3, Main terminal building or metered taxi service from Terminal 1. You can purchase coupons from Level 3, Main terminal building. Alternatively, you can download the Grab taxi app (similar to Uber) and book your own ride to your hotel.

WHERE TO STAY IN KUALA LUMPUR

 There are 3 main areas where you can stay in Kuala Lumpur depending on your interests: trendy Bukit Bintang, convenient KL Sentral and cultural Chinatown.

1.BUKIT BINTANG: The best area to stay in Kuala Lumpur for first timers is the trendy Bukit Bintang area. It is the most popular part of Kuala Lumpur with lots of good hotels, restaurants, entertainment options like Pavilion mall and a lively nightlife. It is close to the Petronas twin towers as well. The area is walkable and is convenient for sightseeing thanks to the MRT and monorail stations. Bonus: home to Jalan Alor food street and Changkot which has a selection of hip bars. Hotel options include:

• Indie Hotel (Budget)
• The KL Journal hotel (Midrange)
• Capri by Fraser (Midrange)
• Mercure KL (Midrange)
• Ritz Carlton (Luxury)
• Banyan Tree (Luxury)

2.KL SENTRAL: This is the transportation hub of the city and a good place to stay if you are coming in/out of other South east Asian countries like Thailand. All the different transportation lines are linked here including the LRT, Monorail, KTM Kommuter train and Airport KLIA express. This makes sightseeing very easy using public transportation. The Perdana Botanical Gardens, National museum and Little India are some of the tourist attractions in this area. Some of the well reviewed stay options here include:

• Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral (Midrange)
• The Majestic Hotel (Luxury)
• St Regis (Luxury)

3. CHINATOWN: What used to be a run down area has been renovated to become vibrant and bustling. This part of the city is historic with lots of cultural attractions, plenty of shopping (Petaling street) and a foodie’s paradise with a great selection of restaurants and hawker centres. Some hotel options here include:

• Else (Luxury)
• Four points by Sheraton (Mid range)
• Tian Jing (Mid range)
• Big M hotel (Budget)
• Space hotel (Budget)

Apart from hotels, you can also choose to stay in apartments which are good for families/big groups and for cooking your own meals. Many of them have infinity pools and good views of the Petronas towers. Some options include:

• Ascott Star KLCC
• VE Hotel and residence
• The Face Style Hotel and Apartments
• Crown Suites Tropicana residence
• The Luxe Suites KLCC

TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE CITY:

.One of the best things about Kuala Lumpur is the extensive public transportation facilities which makes sightseeing easy and budget friendly. If you live near KL Sentral or Bukit Bintang you can get to most places using the metro or bus. Here is a summary of the main transportation options and the tourist areas they serve.

METRO SERVICES

• MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) has 3 lines: Line 9 (Dark Green) whose stations includes Bukit Bintang, Pasar Seni (Chinatown), Muzium Negara (Perdana botanical gardens) and Taman Connaught and Line no 12 (Yellow line) which includes Putrajaya Sentral and Ampang park stations.
• LRT (Light Rail Train) has 3 lines: line no 3 (Orange) which includes Masjid Jamek and Pudu stations, line no 5 (Ruby) which includes KLCC station, Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni for China town and KL Sentral station and Line no 11 (sky blue).
• MONORAIL: This light green line serves the city centre and includes KL Sentral, Maharajalela (for Chinatown), Bukit Bintang, Bukit Nanas and Chowkit stations.

KTM KOMUTER TRAIN: Has 2 lines: Line no 1 (Dark Blue) which runs from KL Sentral to Batu caves and Line no 2 (Red).

BUS:

• Go KL: This bus service has 4 main routes (green, blue, orange and purple lines) that cover many tourist attractions in the main areas of the city. Charges 1RM per ride.
• Rapid KL: Comprehensive bus network throughout the city plus services to LRT/MRT/MR stations.
• BRT (Bus rapid transit system): Electric buses running on an elevated platform.
• HOP ON HOP OFF BUS: This is an open top double decker bus service catering to tourists. They have a day tour from 9am -6pm with a city route and a garden route covering 40 attractions as well as a night tour from 8pm onwards that showcases KL’s nightlife. You can create a flexible itinerary by choosing to get on or off the bus at any of the designated tourist stops. You can book tickets here.

GRAB: This is a taxi service in South east Asia that is similar to Uber, except that it is cheaper. Grab is a convenient option for visiting some out of the way locations that do not have metro/train stations nearby such as Thean Hou temple or Wilayah caves. It is also useful if you are in a hurry or want to arrive somewhere early for photos etc.

WALKING: If you live near the central areas like Bukit Bintang, KLCC park or KL Sentral station, you can walk around and explore the local attractions like Petronas or Chinatown.

WHAT TO EAT IN KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala Lumpur is known for it’s incredibly diverse range of food. Thanks to it’s multicultural history, there is an assortment of Malay, Chinese, Indian and fusion dishes on offer. Make no mistake: your taste buds will have a great time here! Some of the dishes that you have to try in Kuala Lumpur include:

• ASAM LAKSA: a fish broth dish with rice noodles, herbs and veggies.
• CHAR KWAY TEO: spicy stir fried noodle dish cooked in prawns, squids and shallots in a coconut milk and shrimp flavoured curry with a little bit of sambar chilli paste thrown in.
• ROJAK: A local salad with pineapple, cucumber, raw mango served in a sticky black sauce with dough fritters, peanuts and shrimp paste.
• ROTI CANAI: Indian dish of Fried dough served with lentil soup or sambal generally eaten for breakfast.
• BEEF MURTABAK: Malaysian omlette that is made like a pancake and folded around meat and vegetables.
• OYESTER OMLETTE: my absolute favourite street food! Omlette made with small oyesters and other veggies with some sauces.
• NASI KANDAR: An Indian Muslim dish of Rice served with a mix of various curry sauces thrown on top along with a side of fried meat.
• NASI LEMAK: The national dish of Malaysia which consists of fragrant rice topped with veggies, peanuts, fried egg and the spicy sambal sauce. Found almost everywhere.
• Cendol: shaved ice for dessert that is flavoured with coconut milk, palm sugar and read beans.

You can try a food tour in Kuala Lumpur here.

WHERE TO EAT IN KUALA LUMPUR

Being one of the most diverse cities in South east Asia, Kuala Lumpur has a great selection of restaurants and cafes to indulge your tastebuds. Be it Malay, Indian, Chinese, Nyona or European you will find plenty of restaurants offering all sorts of cuisines. Apart from that, there are a lot of hawker centres and street food markets to try local food for cheap.

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Singh Chapati House, Brickfields (Indian)
• Limapulo: Baba can cook, Chowkit (Malay)
• Bijan, Bukit Bintang (Malay)
• Grand Imperial seafood hot pot and barbeque, Bukit Bintang
• Wong Ah wah, Jalan Alor (barbeques and satays)
• Restoran Meng Kee grill fish, Jalan Alor (seafood)
• Chocha Foodstore, Chinatown (Asian Fusion)
• Old China Café, Chinatown (Straits Chinese food)

STREET FOOD MARKETS

• Jalan Alor
• Chinatown
• Lot 10 Food court
• Taman Connaught Night market

THE ULTIMATE KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS

DAY 1 OF KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS: PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS, KLCC PARK, MALLS AND CHINATOWN

NOTE: To make best use of the first day, catch an early morning flight to check in with enough time left during the day for sightseeing. Or else, you can even arrive the previous night, rest and then wake up energised for a full day.

1.PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS

Start your 3 days Kuala Lumpur itinerary with the coolest attraction in town: the Petronas twin towers. These are the tallest twin towers in the world and till 2004 they were the highest building in the world too. Go up to the observatory deck on the 86^th floor to get magnificent 360 degree views of the city from so high above.

The tickets are not cheap and only a limited number are available daily. It is better to buy tickets online so that you do not miss out on the experience. The queue can become long especially during weekends and holidays so reach early by 8.30am if you want to buy tickets from the counter. Apart from the deck, the tour includes a visit to the double level skybridge located on the 41^st and 42^nd floors. The towers look stunning at night when they are all lit up. Check out the Suriya KLCC mall which is nestled in between the twin towers and houses a lot of popular brands.

3. PAVILION MALL/TIMES BERJAYA SQUARE

Kuala Lumpur is famous for it’s shopping and you have to include a mall visit in your trip itinerary. Pavilion is one of the most popular malls with more than 500 stores selling designer as well as high street brands. It is known for it’s extensive décor especially around the holidays and also houses a large cinema and a number of restaurants. You can conveniently have your lunch here at the popular Food court on the ground floor.

Another great option is Berjaya Times Square which houses an actual gigantic indoor theme park! The park holds the record for the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia. It is spread over 2 floors and houses rides, carnivals, games and other entertainment options for all age ranges. This is a good option if you have children.

4. CHINATOWN

After seeing the modern face of Kuala Lumpur, it is time for some cultural explorations with a trip to Chinatown. Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown is one of the oldest parts of the city and was founded by Chinese immigrants who used it as a trading centre. Recently renovated after years of neglect, today it is one of the hottest spots of the city, lively, vibrant and buzzing with a variety of sights and smells. Despite the modern bars, hip cafes and boutique hotels, Chinatown still retains the charm and authenticity of the past. I spent a few hours here and absolutely loved the place!

There are many things to see and do here but these are the one you cannot miss:

• Central Market: Probably the oldest market in Kuala Lumpur housing souvenir stalls selling local handicrafts, textiles and art work. Check out the food court on the first floor for a cheap bowl of Laksa/ Chicken rice. You can also find live music and other cultural shows taking place from time to time.
• Petaling street: The main market for street shopping in Kuala Lumpur and the heart of Chinatown. The street is instantly recognizable by the large Chinese style red gates and lanterns adorning the entrance at both ends. The lane is jam packed with hawkers displaying their wares on both sides. Expect to find lots of counterfeit stuff here in the form of shoes, bags, sunglasses and clothes. The street next to Petaling has a selection of restaurants to quell those hunger pangs.
• Kwai Chai Hong: A dull side alley that is now the most vibrant and trendiest spot in Chinatown! It showcases beautiful murals, colourful shopfronts and a selection of hip bars that have made it extremely photogenic and insta friendly. In short: my favourite spot in Chinatown.
• Shri Mariamman temple: This is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur with a beautiful and colourful design. Free to visit but dress respectfully.
• Street Art: KL’s Chinatown is also famous for the beautiful street art in it’s alleys. Check out the alleys around Kwai Chai Hong and the one besides Pik wah café for the best art.

In between all that sightseeing, you can pop into one of the hip bars and cafes for a drink and a quick bite: Some of the best ones include:

• Concubine
• Jann
• Old China café
• XO-KL
• Bun Choo

DAY 2 OF KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS: THEAN HOU TEMPLE, WILAYAH MOSQUE, KL TOWER, MERDEKA SQUARE AND KLCC PARK SYMPHONY SHOW

1.THEAN HOU TEMPLE

Begin your 2^nd day in this Kuala Lumpur itinerary for 3 days with a visit to this stunning Buddhist temple that is dedicated to Mazu, the deity of the sea in Chinese folklore and mythology. One of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen with six levels, intricate designs, hundreds of red/orange lanterns and an amazing view of the city. The temple also houses various smaller shrines and halls and offers pretty instagrammable spots and photo oppurtunities. Thean Hou is popular among the local Chinese population for wedding registrations as well making it a bit crowded on some days. Go early to feel the peaceful vibes here.

2.WILAYAH MOSQUE:

Next up is the beautiful Wilayah mosque (also known as the Federal territory mosque) with it’s 22 distinct blue domes that have been inspired from the famous Blue mosque of Istanbul, Turkey. The architecture combines Ottoman designs with Malay elements. The mosque is surrounded by gardens and 7 water fountains. Wilayah mosque offers free guided tours for visitors interested in knowing more about the religion and culture.

Note: that it is mandatory to wear the Islamic headdress/abaya which can be borrowed there itself.

3. KL MENARA TOWER

If you thought Petronas was the only tower in Kuala Lumpur, you are wrong! The KL Menara tower is 421 ft high and is the highest tower in Malaysia. This telecommunications tower is the perfect spot to spend the peak afternoon hours in a cooler environment instead of roaming around in the heat.

There are lots of things to do here including a closed observation deck, a separate glass floor open Skydeck with 360 degree views of the city, a glass skybox that is perfect for your insta shots along with a newly added canopy walk along the edge of the tower. Other activities here include a theatre, a small aquarium, minizoo, and an upside down house. It is a good lunch spot as there are many food options here including a revolving restaurant (Atmosphere 360) that is the highest in Malaysia.

4. JAMEK MOSQUE, RIVER OF LIFE AND MERDEKA SQUARE:

The entire area around Masjid Jamek and Merdeka square is part of the heritage area of Kuala Lumpur with beautiful buildings dating back to colonial times. Delve into the history of Malaysia with this walking tour called as ‘National Heritage walk’ that is easy to follow with proper signage everywhere. This is the route and the places to see here:

JAMEK MOSQUE: The 1^st stop on this route is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia that was built in 1909. The design by a British architect incorporates Mughal and Moorish elements with three domes and a beautiful fountain. The mosque can be viewed from a popular viewing spot/platform called the River of Life. This spot lies at the confluence of the Klang and Gombek rivers and provides a good photo spot. You can watch the mist arising from the water and koi fish. At night, the waterfront glows and a musical fountain show takes place.

TIPS: There is a beautiful mural covering an entire building on the right side of the river of life. The giant mural depicts 3 men surrounded by nature and trying to catch a fish. Make sure to take some photos here! Tip: This building is named as ‘Wisma Maran’ in Google maps.

Eating and drinking: For a quick bite, there is Makan Buzz (with a waterfront view), café Radius 75 and Mandela restaurant (Nepalese cuisine).

After visiting Jamek mosque, take the pedestrian bridge that crosses Gombak river to reach the main road, Jalan Raja. While crossing the bridge, look to your right to see the beautiful Supreme court building.

SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING: Often referred to as the most beautiful and photographed building in Kuala Lumpur! The Sultan Abdul Samad building houses the ministry of information and culture and is located right beside the main road. This place is famous as an Instagram photo spot.

MERDEKA SQUARE: The square green patch of land across the road from Sultan Abdul Samad building forms Merdeka square. The name means ‘Independence square and this place is of great national importance as the Malaysian flag was raised here for the first time in 1957. A 95 ft flagpole stands on the southern end of the Independence square where the Malaysian flag has been flying since 1957. The Victoria fountain lies besides it.

St MARY’S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL: a white church situated on the northern end of the square.

ROYAL SELENGOR CLUB: Keep walking to reach this club from British times, which lies on the Western end of the square.

KL CITY HALL AND GALLERY: Go further south to reach the KL city hall. Here, you will find an exhibition on Malaysia’s history along with a miniature model of the city. Outside you will find the iconic ‘I Love KL’ sign where tourists line up to have their shot.

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM: lies besides the city hall. Houses exhibits on batik, jewellery and traditional headgear.

NATIONAL TEXTILES MUSEUM: Cross the road to arrive here. This is the end of the walking tour.

5. SYMPHONY FOUNTAIN SHOW AT KLCC PARK

Go back to the KLCC park to catch the symphony light and sound show which is a musical fountain show. This show is free and takes place daily at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm. If you manage to arrive a bit earlier, you can also get a shot of Petronas during sunset.

TIPS: How to reach from Merdeka square: Catch the train from Masjid Jamek LRT station to reach KLCC LRT station.

DAY 3 OF KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS: BATU CAVES, LITTLE INDIA, PERDANA GARDENS, SUNSET DRINKS AND JALAN ALOR

1.BATU CAVES:

Wake up early and head to Batu Caves, one of the most famous sites in Malaysia. The Batu caves are a series of limestone caves which were discovered in the 18^th century and eventually came to be used as a Hindu religious site. The largest cave houses a Hindu temple that was built in 1920. The 272 steps leading to the top were painted in different colours in 2018 and these colourful and insta friendly steps propelled this spot to worldwide popularity. You will find devotees walking barefoot up to the top. At the foot of the steps, lies a beautiful 140 feet golden statue of Lord Murugan. Interested tourists can opt for guided tours to see the inside of the dark caves.

Do not forget to check out the Cave villa complex with statues and paintings from Hindu mythology along with a 50 feet high statue of Hanuman.

2. LITTLE INDIA (BRICKFIELDS)

After experiencing Malay and Chinese cultures, it is time to soak in bit of Indian culture at Little India. Explore the colourful shops selling textiles, spices and flowers and try some Indian food like Roti canai and dosa. Check out temples like Sri Kandaswamy temple and the Buddhist Mahavira temple.

TIPS:

How to reach: the nearest metro stop is KL Sentral station. If you are coming directly from Batu caves, you just get down at KL Sentral and walk 5 mins to reach the place.

3. PERDANA BOTANICAL GARDENS:

A large open park located near the city centre, these gardens (also known as lake gardens) offer a nature break from the urban city life. The garden is more than 200 hectacres in size with lots of gardens, sculptures, gazebos, a large lake, an onsite local restaurant and public toilets. It is quite easy to spend a few hours here as there are plenty of things to see and enjoy like:

• Perdana lake for boating
• Perdana canopy (famous as an Instagram spot)
• Sunken garden
• Children’s park
• Bamboo tree house
• Orchid garden
• KL bird park
• KL butterfly park

4. SUNSET DRINKS AT HELI ROOFTOP BAR

While Kuala Lumpur has no dearth of rooftop bars, Heli is a unique experience. This rooftop bar located on top of the Menara KH skyscraper is a helipad that gets converted into a rooftop bar post 5pm. From above, you get an amazing 360 degree view of the city which includes Petronas and KL Menara towers as well. They also have an indoor section which is useful for rainy days.

5. DINNER AT JALAN ALOR

End the day with dinner at one of the best street food markets in Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor. Hawkers start setting up their stalls around 6pm onwards till late at night. You will also find air conditioned restaurants here for indoor eating. Soak in the sights and smells and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of this local night market and try a variety of authentic dishes for cheap.

ALTERNATIVE ITINERARIES:

1 DAY IN KUALA LUMPUR:

Start the day with a visit to Batu caves at 7-8 AM. The cool air and peaceful vibes are the perfect way to start your 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur. 

From there, take the train to KL Sentral and then the MRT to KLCC park. Go to Petronas towers and take in the stunning views of the city from up above. 

For lunch, its best to go to one of the big nearby malls like Pavilion or Berjaya Times Square to have a wide range of food choices. For families with children, this is a very good option to entertain them as well.

Late afternoon, culture lovers can choose between either Thien Hou temple or Chinatown. Families can head to KL menara tower for more child friendly entertainment choices while getting some pretty shots in the glass skybox.

End the day with dinner at Jalan Alor food street which comes alive post sunset and offers a wide variety of mouth watering street food dishes for foodies. If you choose to visit Chinatown in the afternoon, you can have dinner there itself.

If you have extra time on hand, you can explore Chinatown and Little India in more depth, get sunset drinks at Heli rooftop or head to Genting highlands for some fun time. 

MORE PLACES TO SEE IN KUALA LUMPUR IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME ON HAND:

1. KL ECO PARK: A nature reserve right in the midst of the bustling city! This eco park is home to a lot of different varieties of flora and fauna and boasts of a canopy walk plus hiking trails.
2. AQUARIA: A big aquarium with 150 species of marine life, it is located near KLCC park convention centre.
3. PUTRAJAYA MOSQUE: A beautiful rose tinted mosque that is located on the edge of the Putrajaya river. You can take a detour to/from the airport.
4. GENTING HIGHLANDS:Located 1 hour away from Kuala Lumpur, Genting highlands is a hill resort with theme parks, restaurants, casinos and shopping. It is best for families looking for a fun day out.

EXPLORE MORE OF SOUTH EAST ASIA’S CULTURAL CAPITALS

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