What to see, eat, drink and do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
With some of Southeast Asia’s best attractions, food, drinks and sights, Kuala Lumpur (KL) is by far one of the most exciting cities to visit. In this series you will find all the information you need on all the best things you can see, eat, drink and do in Kuala Lumpur, plus a few top tips.
Admire the Petronas Twin Towers
Dominating the city’s skyline, the Petronas Twin Towers are probably Kuala Lumpur’s most recognisable attraction and it is definitely also one of the most visited. Completed in 1996 and opened to the public in 1999, the towers are by far the tallest buildings in Kuala Lumpur, standing at a whopping 451,9 m tall. They were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004 when they were surpassed by the Taipei 101 building which is 509,2 m from bottom to tip. With 88 floors, the Petronas Twin Towers are still the tallest twin towers in the world and they are true icons of the city.
If you are fascinated by large skyscrapers or if you want to get a great photo of the KL skyline, take a tour inside and up the famous towers. Tours are very organised; all visitors must wear colour-coded lanyards to ensure you stick with your group and the visiting schedule. After purchasing or collecting your pre-booked ticket, you will be introduced to the building and receive a safety briefing via a hologram. You will then be escorted into a large lift and taken up to the SkyBridge which connects the two towers on their 41st and 42nd floors. Hanging 170 m above the ground, the SkyBridge is a great place to get a few photos with the city in the background. Note that you will only get around 10 minutes on the bridge and it is completely enclosed.
Next you will be ushered back into the lift and up you go to the 88th floor where you can step out onto the observation deck on the 86th floor. Here you can get a fantastic 360° view of Kuala Lumpur and on a clear day you can truly see for kilometres. After 15 minutes you will be guided back into the lift and the tour ends in the gift shop where you can indulge in overpriced souvenirs.
The entire tour takes around 45 minutes and an adult ticket will cost you roughly R320. The Petronas Towers are open from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–21:00 but are closed on Fridays between 13:00 and 14:30. You can check available times and pre-book your tickets by visiting the Petronas Twin Towers website.
If you would rather enjoy a view of the towers from the ground, there are some fountains outside the Suria KLCC Shopping Centre which forms the base of the Petronas Twin Towers. The view over the fountains towards the towers is spectacular, especially at night, so prepare yourself to find some big selfie crowds. Be sure to take a wide-angle lens or buy one from the many hawkers hanging around to ensure you get that famous fountain-tower shot. You can also get great views of the Petronas Twin Towers from the gorgeous, green KLCC Park, one of the city’s other great attractions.
Stroll around the KLCC Park
The KLCC Park is one of the favourite green spaces of both locals and visitors in Kuala Lumpur. In stark contrast with the city’s grey buildings and black roads, the park is green, lush, tropical and a wonderful escape. Built in 1998 under the watchful eye Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx, the park was to “leave the world a little more sensitive and a little more educated to the importance of nature”.
With that in mind, the park is a world-leading green space amid the busy city and showcases the rich and diverse flora Malaysia is famous for. The park subtly campaigns for the protection of the country’s rich biodiversity and the importance of its conservation. Over 1 900 indigenous trees from 74 different species, including 66 different species of palms, were planted in the park, all deliberately selected to attract local and migratory birds, such as the Asian Koel that you can hear calling throughout the park.
When in Kuala Lumpur, take three to four hours to really explore the park. Although it is only just over 50 acres, there are lots of incredibly beautiful gardens and man-made elements to discover and the entire park is completely free for you to enjoy. If you are a runner, try the very popular 1,3 km-long jogging track through the park, and if you are travelling with kids, make sure you take them to the big children’s park and public swimming pool that are also completely free to use.
Apart from the trees, gardens, large grassy lawns, children’s park and pool, the park also has a massive 10 000m² man-made lake with a 43 m bridge that cuts across it. Aptly named Lake Symphony, the lake has a massive fountain display in front of the Petronas Twin Towers that gives light and music shows at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 daily, so make sure you take a walk through the park at night as well.
As smoking is banned in most public places in Malaysia, never ever be tempted to smoke in KLCC Park. As from 1 June 2019, anyone caught smoking in a public place such as KLCC Park will face a maximum fine of roughly R40 000 or up to two years’ imprisonment. This includes vape and e-cigarettes, so be very, very careful.
Enjoy drinks at the Heli Lounge Bar
Having a cold cocktail in a trendy rooftop bar should be on everyone’s travel to-do list. In Kuala Lumpur you really have the best of the best to choose from as the city is home to some of the best and coolest rooftops bars in Asia. However, there is one bar that literally stands out above the rest.
The Heli Lounge Bar is located in the Menara KH building in the very popular Bukit Bintang district of Kuala Lumpur. During the day, the 36th floor is a working helicopter landing pad. From Monday to Saturday at 18:00 the helipad morphs into a fantastic cocktail bar. As the Heli Lounge Bar is a bit of an insider’s secret, it is hard to find information, never mind the actual place, so here is the scoop.
The Heli Lounge Bar is made up of two separate levels – a nightclub on the 34th floor and the helipad bar on the 36th floor. If you want a table, you must make sure you are there by 17:00. It is a popular venue and you need to be prepared to almost fight for a seat. After entering the building, take the lift to the 34th floor where you can pay and enter the aviation-themed nightclub at 17:00 on the dot. The bar has a R200 entrance fee, but this includes your first drink and I can definitely recommend the lychee martini. You will have to wait around until 18:00 when you may climb the steep steps up to the 36th floor to the famed helicopter landing pad.
Once on the helipad, there are many plastic tables and chairs and a few softer sofa-type seats that you can grab if you are fast and very dedicated. There are waiters all around, taking drinks and snacks orders, and expect cool but relaxing dance tracks from the raised DJ booth. Although all of this is nice, the reason to go to the Heli Lounge Bar is for the view. With an uninterrupted 360° view of the entire Kuala Lumpur, it is by far the best place in the entire city to sit back and watch the sunset.
If you are planning to simply go for a few drinks and a sunset, casual clothes, shorts and even open shoes will be fine, but be warned that the bar gets seriously fancy and after 21:00 you are expected to dress to impress; men must wear long trousers and formal shoes.
