Sprawling for 243 square kilometres, with 1.7 million people in its centre and 7.4 million in the surrounding area, Kuala Lumpur is a busy, rapidly changing and hectic city.
But the constantly changing skyline of the Malaysian capital, with ever-more impressive architectural skyscrapers juxtaposed with colonial buildings and 100-year-old Chinese-style buildings, make this city a treat to explore with kids.
Around every corner, you can spot an older building overshadowed by a futuristic tower. At its city centre, Kuala Lumpur, KL as most people call it, is an easy and fun place to visit with kids.
As with most big cities, you can spend a week and not get bored, but with so many other gems to discover in Malaysia (like Penang and Borneo) and nearby Singapore, here’s how you and your kids can get a full taste of KL in just four days.
Day 1 – Explore the culture and history
Get the adults’ day out right away. Head to the heart of KL to the Merdeka Square, where Malaysia first raised its flag and declared independence from Britain in 1957. Right across, you’ll spot the beautiful Sultan Abdul Samad building, a Moorish looking building that used to house many government departments.
From there, cross the Leboh Asar Biesar bridge to feast your eyes on the Masjid Jamek Mosque, the oldest mosque before entering Jalan Petaling and the Central Market (KL’s famed Chinatown). You’ll find something to eat, drink and maybe a few souvenirs along the way.
Keep your eyes out for the impressive Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in KL, and the Chan She Shiu Yuen clan house, to round out your appreciation of the three major religions in KL.
Day 2 – A kids’ day out
This day is for the kids. Head to the KL City Centre (KLCC) to get up close and personal with the Petronas Twin Towers. At 451 metres (1,483 feet). There’s a large mall at the base of the towers, but it’s the grounds that make the KLCC a must-see with kids.
While it’s still cool, bring the kids to the nearby playground. This enormous park combines a dozen different play structures that stretch over 2 acres!! Our kids loved it, especially the massive monkey bars!
Once the weather warms up, head indoors to Aquaria KL and its amazing 90 metre tunnel, where fish, rays and sharks roam above and beside you. Time it right, and you’ll see divers hand-feed the fish, rays and some smaller sharks. This was one of our kids’ top attractions in all of Malaysia.
You can find a bite to eat to suit any budget either at the Twin Tower Mall or at one of the vendors inside the Aquaria building.
Afterwards, head to the KL Tower (locally called the Menara KL). If the weather holds up, and you are keen on spending money, then head up to either the observation deck (50RM per adult, 29RM per child) or the sky deck (99RM per adult and 52RM per child) and watch as the sun sets over KL and the skyline lights up. You can also walk around the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, where the tower is located.
Day 3 – Explore culture through religion and food
Head out early to the impressive, and nearby, Batu Caves and climb the 272 steps to the Cathedral (or Temple) Cave.
The site, a Tamil shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan, is the most popular one outside of India. Earlier is better as by mid-afternoon, the sun shines directly on the steps. While there are many steps, our kids weren’t overly phased by them, thanks to the small landings you can rest on. As you climb, keep your eyes open. The place is overrun by macaque monkeys, more than eager, and capable, of stealing things right out of your hands… or even your backpack.
There are three other temple caves that form the complex, but each has a fee. There’s also the Dark Cave, a conservation site just below the Temple Cave, that remains wild. You can take a guided education tour (35RM for adults and 25RM for children) or even an adventure tour (80RM per adult). At a minimum, do stop by its entrance to read the extremely informative panels on the geology of and life inside the caves.
Once you’ve made your way out of the Caves, head back into town and angle towards Bukit Bintang for its famous night food market on Jalan Alor. The neighbourhood also boasts a number of higher end restaurants and bars and is a popular tourist and local destination. At dusk, the whole street turns into one giant patio, with a multitude of food hawkers seeking to get your attention. Cuisines showcasing Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai cultures can all be had for extremely reasonable prices. Try the Nasi Lemak (coconut and pandan rice with either fish or chicken) or satay for authentic KL street fare. And for dessert, why not an ABC (shaved ice with a bit of everything in it).
Wash it down with some real fruit juice. Don’t mind the ice, as ice is regulated in Malaysia. In fact, most locals don’t use tap water for any type of drinking. While the water is treated to international standards, the pipe system in place isn’t necessarily the most modern and clean.
Day 4 – Seek tranquility
Head out early in the morning for the Perdana Botanical Gardens and go for a quiet stroll through 91 hectares of greenspace on the edge of downtown.
While vast, the park is thankfully patrolled by a few trams (RM15 and RM 10 for adults and children respectively), making it easy for you and your little ones to take in as much of the park as you can. There’s the Deer Park, Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Bamboo Garden and even a planetarium on the grounds. The KL Bird Park and its adjacent Hornbill Restaurant (mains reasonably priced and decent quality) are located near the grounds and along the trams’ path as is a small Butterfly Park. The entrance of the Bird Park is just in front of the Orchid and Hibiscus Gardens, while the Butterfly Park entrance is on the outside of the park. Both are accessible via tram.
After you’ve finished touring the gardens, hop back on the tram and visit the National Mosque. This impressive building was built in 1965 and highlights the predominant religion of this country. There are also information leaflets that break down the main tenets of Islam and even some volunteers who are more than willing to shine light on their religion. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this oft-maligned and extremely misunderstood religion.
From there, you can easily make your way back into Chinatown for supper, or stop at the nearest hawker centre for supper.
For longer visits
It’s easy to spend more than four days in KL, and there’s lots more to do in the capital with your children. The KL Zoo, the Islamic Arts Museum, the Lost in Chinatown cultural gallery, Lebuh Ampang (Little India), the National Monument, the Guan Di Taoist Temple and the National Textile Museum are all attractions that are easy to get to.
