When I think of Malaysia, the catchphrase “Truly Asia” always follows. and as if on cue, the Petronas twin Towers will regally rise into the spotlight, like a beauty contestant, greeting my thoughts with: “This is Petronas twin Towers, Malaysia!” but there’s more to Malaysia than its tourism slogan and skyscrapers. Its capital Kuala Lumpur alone has plenty to offer.
Last month, we visited this city for the fifth time! So when one of our readers asked if we already have a Kuala Lumpur travel Guide, we were confident we had one. imagine our surprise when we realized we don’t! All these years, we thought we had it covered. LOL. So here it is now, correcting this injustice.
WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?
Understanding Kuala Lumpur
How to get to Kuala LumpurBy Plane
By Bus (From Singapore and Thailand)
By Train (From Singapore and Thailand)
How to get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur City Center
How to stay connected in Kuala Lumpur
Where to stay in Kuala LumpurTop budget hotels Under USD50
Top Kuala Lumpur Hostels
Search for more: Kuala Lumpur Hotels
How to get around Kuala LumpurBy Train
Med bus
Med taxa
Places to visit in and around Kuala LumpurPetronas twin Towers
Istana Negara (National Palace)
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
National Museum
KL City Gallery
KL Tower
Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park
Putrajaya
Batu Caves
Sunway Lagoon
Kampung Kuantan
Other Attractions:
Day tours from Kuala LumpurMelaka (Malacca)
Cameron Highlands
Genting Highlands
Where to shop in Kuala Lumpur
Sample Kuala Lumpur Itinerary
Other tips for the poor Traveler
More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:
Understanding Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy composed of 13 states and three federal territories. Kuala Lumpur is one of those three federal territories. It is Malaysia’s largest city, as well as its national capital. Although not as old as Melaka and George Town, the city showcases seamless yet distinct coexistence of old and new, where preservation of structures will let you have a glimpse of what made this city what it is now.
This post is brought to you by Philippine Airlines most of the government offices are situated now in Putrajaya (another federal territory), but “KL” remains as the country’s economic and business hub. one of the strengths of this culturally-diverse city, so used to adjusting to changes, is its strong service-oriented economy. Its status as the only alpha world city (global city) in Malaysia is evident in the number of public and private infrastructures all throughout the city, especially the golden triangle Area, and even in the suburbs.
What we’ve always loved about it is that it is a melting pot of cultures — a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and even European, due to its colonial past.
Essential Information:
Language: The official language is Malay (a.k.a. Malaysian). English language is widely spoken.
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR, RM). USD 1 is around MYR 4.29; MYR 1 is around PHP 11.71; EUR 1 is around MYR 4.8 (as of June 2017)
Modes of Payment: local stores and restaurants only accept Ringgit, but certain foreign currencies and major credit cards (Visa and Master Card) are accepted by most hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Electricity Info: most establishments have 3-pin square plugs and sockets at 220 – 240 V AC and 50 Hz.
How to get to Kuala Lumpur
If you’re holding a Philippine passport, you don’t have to get a visa to enter Malaysia.
Med fly
Two airports serve Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur international airport (KLIA) in Selangor and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport (Subang Skypark) in Subang. At present, the latter mainly functions for turboprop and chartered flights while KLIA, which is 45 minutes away from KL city center, is the main terminal and is also the main hub for its flag carrier Malaysia Airlines and the budget airline Air Asia.
If you’re coming from Manila, know that Philippine Airlines has returned to Kuala Lumpur, offering daily flights. Although you will find “cheaper” flights, note that every pal economy booking already comes with 30 kilos baggage allowance for FREE, something that you will have to pay for separately with low-cost carriers.
The sample schedule above is also aligned with the usual hotel check-in and check-out times!
By Bus (From Singapore and Thailand)
Many people initially go to Singapore, then cross the border to Malaysia via land transfer. There are 3 main bus companies serving this route: KKKL, Transnasional, and Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES). A bus ticket is around RM50/USD12.53/PHP623 (one way) and travel time is 5 hours.
For those who are coming from Thailand (Hat Yai), there are a couple of bus companies offering this route: Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES) and Alisan golden coach Express. Bus fare is around RM55/USD13.78/PHP685 (one way) and travel duration is 7 hours.
Asian Public Transportation