Last updated on March 28th, 2023 at 10:22 am
I bring to you a 2 day Kuala Lumpur itinerary. We really enjoyed our visit to Kuala Lumpur. We found that it was a very diverse city with a mix of tropical rainforest, unique temples as well as some of the tallest buildings in the world. There was an eclectic mix of cultures on display which was enjoyable to experience.
If you happen to be flying long haul and Kuala Lumpur will be one of your lay overs, then make a day or 2 out of it and take some time to explore the city. What’s great too, is that it is quite a cheap city to visit.
The route of this 2 day Kuala Lumpur itinerary is built to be time efficient to prevent racing from one side of the city to the other. Use this guide to make the most of your 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur.
One tip before I get into it, is to be sure to download the app ‘Grab’ (similar to Uber) before you get to KL as this is much cheaper than getting taxi’s.
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If you plan to explore more of Asia, I recently wrote posts on the following topics which you might find useful:
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Day 1
KL Tower Observation Deck
Start your day by taking a trip up to the KL tower. You can go up to the observation deck where you can get a 360° view of the city from above. The cost is around €12/54RM. Tickets can be bought here. You can also get a ticket which is more expensive to see the sky deck – around €25.
KL Forest Eco Park
This is a lovely walk through the rainforest and I would highly recommend it. Why? Because it is like a little hidden rainforest in the middle of the city. You get to walk a rope bridge and spot some monkeys in the trees. It is right beside the KL tower and the ticket costs €8.70/40RM, which can be purchased on the way in. But, be sure to have cash as they do not accept card.
Bukit Bintang
Explore the Bukit Bintang area where you will find high end malls and fashion boutiques, a 19 minute walk from the eco park. Then go for a stroll down Changkat bukit bintang where you can admire some cool street art. Also pass through Jalan Alor food street, which would be a good place to stop for a bite to eat.
Plaza Low Yat
Just a 5 minute walk from Bukit Bintang is Plaza Low Yat. If you are looking to buy some tech stuff then this is the place to go. It has at least 6 floors full of tech stores and great prices. I bought a phone cover for €10 for my one plus and we got a laptop cover for €6.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to haggle to get a better price either.
Berjaya Times Square
Continue to walk another 5 minutes and you will arrive at Berjaya Times Square. Check out the Theme Park which is located on the top floor of a shopping center. A rollercoaster in a shopping centre is something you don’t see often and is worth a look. Go for a ride on it if you are brave enough…
Saloma Bridge
A 35 minute walk or a short grab is the Saloma Bridge. It is something that many recommend to go see, which is why I will include it here. But it is not a must see if you are stuck for time.
Suria KLCC
Only 10 minutes walking from Saloma Bridge is Suria KLCC. Take a walk through the shopping centre of the Petronas towers. It has a whopping 6 floors full of well known brands. Then get something to eat in the food court, where the food is fairly cheap.
Petronas Towers
After you have some food got, take a walk out to see the Petronas twin towers (the world’s largest twin towers) and take a few photos. Then have a stroll around the KLCC park, just outside the shopping centre at the lake side.
If you want to go up the twin towers, you can buy tickets here for €22. Be sure to book well in advance, like 2 weeks or more, as they book out.
Symphony Lake Water Show
Then head back to the fountains to watch the light show which are on at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm daily.
Day 2
Batu Caves
Start off your morning, by taking a visit out to the Batu caves. This was definitely one of the highlights for me in Kuala Lumpur.
As you enter, you are met with a massive statue of Murugan, a hindu God, standing 142 feet in height and 272 colorful steps that lead into the cave. At the top, you will be met by macaques (monkeys) who will be looking for food off you. Be sure to hold onto your belongings tight as they are known to steal things off you.
To add to the experience, we went to the caves during Thaipusam, a hindu celebration of Lord Murugan. It was extremely crowded when we arrived. Some taking part pierce themselves with spikes, carry pots of milk on their head and so on. What’s more, they had walked 15km from Kuala Lumpur to the Batu caves by the time we arrived, and mostly barefoot. It takes place every January or February during the full moon. It is certainly a unique experience, if you wish to travel here around that time. Read more about it here.
How to get to the Batu Caves
The caves are about a 20 minute drive from the Petronas towers – you can get a grab which will cost about €5.50 to go out.
Or another option which might be a good choice if you are staying close to KLCC, you can get two trains from KLCC that is half the price (about €2.60 each way) but it takes far longer to get there (about 1 hour).
Make sure you have your return trip from the caves back to the centre organised before you leave. The trains that run from the Batu caves back to the centre do not go that often. Also there is no wi-fi at the caves to order a grab. So my suggestion is if you have no data, either pre-book a grab back to the centre before you leave your accommodation or arrange it so you are just in time for one of the return trains.
Tip: Don’t forget to cover your knees or you won’t be let in – wear pants or bring a sarong to wrap around you when your there. If you forget, don’t worry you can buy one there for about €3.
Botanical Gardens
Then go for a walk around the Botanical gardens for a break away from the business of the city. It is free to enter and a nice place to admire some nature.
Independence Square & River of Life
Next pay a visit to independence square or Merdeka square as you will find it called on google maps. This square is situated in front of the Sultan Adbul Samad Building. From here, walk over the river of life where you will see the Jamek Mosque, one of the oldest in Kuala Lumpur. After this, continue to walk down the river until you get to the central market.
Central market
This market is a centre for Malaysian culture, arts and crafts. It is full of stalls selling jewellery, clothes, ornaments and much more. It is a nice place to wander through and find some unique malaysian souvenirs.
Chinatown
From the central market, walk down past the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, one of the oldest in KL. Then, make your way to Petaling Street or Chinatown where you should wander through the stalls where vendors gather daily to sell everything from clothes and bags to trinkets and toys. Haggle with them to get some money off.
Kwai Chai Hong
Just a short walk from Chinatown is Kwai Chai Hong (little ghost lane), where you will find plenty of colorful murals, so get out the camera and take a few photos. There is also some nice cafes and restaurants around here so it is a good place to get something to eat and take a break. We ate at the Hungry Tapir, which is a plant based restaurant and it was delicious!
Little India & Thean Hou Temple
Little India was recommended also but we did not get a chance to visit. It is a 32 minute walk from Kwai Chai Hong or you can get a tram from Pasar Seni, just a 4 minute walk from Kwai Chai Hong. Also you could opt for a grab.
Thean Hou Temple is another place we did not get to see and is suggested by others to visit. It is a 22 minute walk from Little India. There does not seem to be options for public transport so you could get a grab which would be very cheap if you do not fancy the walk.
Heli Lounge Bar
The last thing to do on the 2 day Kuala Lumpur itinerary is to pay a visit to the Heli Lounge Bar. It is used as a Helicopter pad by day and a restaurant by night. You get great views of the city from here including the Petronas towers and the Merdeka 118 (the second tallest building in the world). It costs 100RM/€22 to enter and you get 2 free drinks with that.
Accommodation
Mingle Highstreet Hostel
We stayed at Mingle Highstreet Hostel and it was perfect for what we wanted. It was located about half way between KL eco forest and independence square. It was a basic accommodation, clean rooms, good air conditioning and a good atmosphere.
They held social events there too meaning it is good for meeting people. Plus, it is close to a really nice cafe ‘Lokl Coffee Co‘. There was shared toilets and showers. The only con is that it was a bit loud at night but it didn’t keep us up, and they provide ear plugs if you ask too.
MOV Hotel Kuala Lumpur
For accommodation more high end, have a look at MOV hotel Kuala Lumpur. This 4 star hotel is well rated and you can get a double room for as little 200RM/€44 per night. It is located on Bukit Bintang, a great location, just a 15 minute walk from the Petronas Towers.
That is all for this post. I hope you enjoyed this 2 day Kuala Lumpur itinerary, share it with your travel friends. Plus, don’t forget to subscribe for the latest.
Thanks for reading,
Lisa