Basic information for your visit
The population is 7. 2 million in the main metro area and the languages spoken are mainly Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. However, English is widely spoken in most places a normal visitor would go. The timezone is GMT +8 and International dialling code +60. Visas may be required for some people but UK nationals are issued with a free 90-day tourist visa on arrival. The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), with exchange rate around MYR5 to the UK£.
The best place to see the city is the observation area on the 86th floor of Petronas Twin Towers, at 370m above ground level it off¬ers the best views. You can also get views of the skyline from the revolving restaurant on the top of KL Tower (276m).
There are no specific vaccinations that are required. The street food vendors offer delicious and cheap meals, some travellers occasionally pay with the odd stomach upset but this is often to do with the heavy spice content of the dishes. There are lots of guidebooks on Kuala Lumpur and if you plan to spend a few days then a small pocket version can add to the enjoyment of your visit. The official website for the Visit KL tourist office is visitkl.gov.my, while more information can be found on Tourism Malaysia’s site (tourism. gov. my). Another useful thing is the App on the Visit KL site, the app is for both Android and iOS. It is both useful and intuitive to use giving suggestions of things to do, how to get around and an interactive map with recommended accommodation.
Temperatures usually vary between 26ºC and 35ºC. March and April mark the arrival of monsoon season, but usually, the rains are fairly short. If possible visit between May and July which is the best time to avoid the humidity.
What to do on your first day
Start the day like a local and go to SK Corner on Jalan Rembia. Here you can set yourself up for the day with a delicious roti canai, which is a flaky flatbread, often served with curry and the Tarik, a milky tea. Then flag down a taxi to Suria KLCC mall and you’ll be dropped in front of the Petronas Twin Towers; its 86th-floor observation deck off¬ers the perfect viewpoint over the city. After this grab a taxi to Little India for the most aff¬ordable vegetarian thali lunches in town and some unique souvenir hunting. Once lunch is overhead to the fine Islamic Arts Museum to see some truly exquisite pieces that are on display. The Majestic Hotel on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin serves afternoon tea between 3pm and 6.30pm. The cost is only MYR50 and very much worth it, I always think this is a highlight of any trip to KL. Now it’s time to walk off¬ the calories with a stroll past the National Mosque and down to Merdeka Square.
The population is 7. 2 million in the main metro area and the languages spoken are mainly Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. However, English is widely spoken in most places a normal visitor would go. The timezone is GMT +8 and International dialling code +60. Visas may be required for some people but UK nationals are issued with a free 90-day tourist visa on arrival. The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), with exchange rate around MYR5 to the UK£.
The best place to see the city is the observation area on the 86th floor of Petronas Twin Towers, at 370m above ground level it off¬ers the best views. You can also get views of the skyline from the revolving restaurant on the top of KL Tower (276m).
There are no specific vaccinations that are required. The street food vendors offer delicious and cheap meals, some travellers occasionally pay with the odd stomach upset but this is often to do with the heavy spice content of the dishes. There are lots of guidebooks on Kuala Lumpur and if you plan to spend a few days then a small pocket version can add to the enjoyment of your visit. The official website for the Visit KL tourist office is visitkl.gov.my, while more information can be found on Tourism Malaysia’s site (tourism. gov. my). Another useful thing is the App on the Visit KL site, the app is for both Android and iOS. It is both useful and intuitive to use giving suggestions of things to do, how to get around and an interactive map with recommended accommodation.
Temperatures usually vary between 26ºC and 35ºC. March and April mark the arrival of monsoon season, but usually, the rains are fairly short. If possible visit between May and July which is the best time to avoid the humidity.
What to do on your first day
Start the day like a local and go to SK Corner on Jalan Rembia. Here you can set yourself up for the day with a delicious roti canai, which is a flaky flatbread, often served with curry and the Tarik, a milky tea. Then flag down a taxi to Suria KLCC mall and you’ll be dropped in front of the Petronas Twin Towers; its 86th-floor observation deck off¬ers the perfect viewpoint over the city. After this grab a taxi to Little India for the most aff¬ordable vegetarian thali lunches in town and some unique souvenir hunting. Once lunch is overhead to the fine Islamic Arts Museum to see some truly exquisite pieces that are on display. The Majestic Hotel on Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin serves afternoon tea between 3pm and 6.30pm. The cost is only MYR50 and very much worth it, I always think this is a highlight of any trip to KL. Now it’s time to walk off¬ the calories with a stroll past the National Mosque and down to Merdeka Square.