Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city, is a melting pot of culture, history, and modern architecture. Kuala Lumpur is known for its skyscrapers like the Petronas Twin Towers, delicious food scene, and religious sites like the Batu Caves. Obviously, you can spend several days to weeks here, but if you are short on time and want to see Kuala Lumpur’s best highlights and try local food, then don’t worry, I did all the research prior to my trip and came up with this perfect 2-day Kuala Lumpur itinerary. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting to Kuala Lumpur from KL International Airport There are a few transportation methods of getting to Kuala Lumpur from KL International Airport. If you are visiting for the first time like me, I recommend either taking the train which I did or using Grab which I also did and highly recommend.  One option to get to Kuala Lumpur from the airport is to take the KLIA Express. This is an easy and relatively stress fee method. At KL International Airport, following the signs to the KLIA Express, tickets can be purchased using the automated machines. You can then pass through the gate and wait for the KLIA Express to Kuala Lumpur.  Tickets were about RM 44-50 which is about $ 9 – 11.  We booked to KL Sentral which is the main station in Kuala Lumpur. From KL Sentral we took a fixed taxi to our hotel, Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur. The cab ride was another RM 40 so around $8. The other and highly recommended way to get from KL International Airport to your hotel in Kuala Lumpur is to book a ride share through Grab.  Using the Grab app, we were picked up in front of our hotel and dropped off at the correct terminal. The price for Grab was RM 72 or about $15.  Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur Did you know that Kuala Lumpur has some of the cheapest 5-Star hotels in the world. So you can stay at a luxurious hotel and it won’t affect your wallet like other places. Depending on where you want to stay in Kuala Lumpur will have a huge impact on what hotel you decide on.  I stayed in the city center just based on the walking distances between several attractions in Kuala Lumpur I wanted to visit.  Based on price, accommodations, city views, pool, and breakfast, I stayed at the Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur. The Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur had it all. The rooms were unique with amazing floor to ceiling views of the Petronas Towers. The hotel also had a roof top pool, gym, and bar. Breakfast in the morning was a nice mix of local cuisine and western items.  Again, I stayed at the Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur and was very satisfied with my stay after spending 2 days in Kuala Lumpur.  2-Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary 2 days in Kuala Lumpur is enough time to see the main highlights and try a lot of the tasty dishes. I did my research prior to visiting Kuala Lumpur and managed to fit in a few more attractions then originally anticipated that I feel are worth mentioning. This Kuala Lumpur itinerary is based entirely on my trip to Malaysia and my recommendations. Feel free to copy my Kuala Lumpur itinerary, mix and match, or explore the city your own terms. If doing the latter, please comment and let me know what other attractions you managed to find that are worthwhile!  Day 1 Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque and River of Life The Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque or simply Jamek Mosque is an iconic mosque and one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest.  The Jamek Mosque is beautiful and from our hotel was on the way to Merdeka Square.  I didn’t go inside, to be honest, I am not sure if it is allowed, but I enjoyed looking at it from the other side of the river.  The River of Life is an area in Kuala Lumpur where the Gombak and Klang Rivers meet right by the Jamek Mosque. There are some nice river trails and fun murals to take photos of.  Merdeka Square To outsiders, Merdeka Square is a huge square with a grass center surrounded by beautiful buildings. But to locals, Merdeka Square is the location of their independence that occured on August 31, 1957.  The iconic flagpole is the tallest in the world, 95m (311 ft) in height.  Central Market The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur is a must when visiting the city, if anything just to escape the hot and humid weather during the day. This historical market has been around since the late 1800’s although the building itself was finished in 1937.  With hundreds of shops and vendors at the Central Market, there is something for everyone. I found most shops sold cheap tourist goods but a few shops did have some worthwhile items.  You can find shops here that sell clothing, jewelry, unique art, religious items, and much more. There was a food court here, a few restaurants, and some outdoor stalls selling snacks, fruits, desserts, and drinks. I found a cookie place here called Aeira Soft Baked Cookies that stood out to me. The cookies she made were freshly baked and the perfect treat after being on my feet all day.  Petaling Street Market If you love cheap goods and haggling for good deals then Petaling Street Market might be just for you.  I wasn’t a huge fan of this area to include Chinatown. Honestly, it was kind of a let down, I expected more food vendors but it was full of vendors selling knock off brands. There were a few cool areas within the Petaling Street Market area that I found were pretty neat though. So because of these attractions, I recommend at least coming to this area. The Petaling Street Art area is a cool block of alley ways with interesting street art.  If you are looking for a cool bookstore to visit while in Kuala Lumpur, check out the REXKL. This was one of the most unique book stores I’ve visited and well worth popping in.  KL Forest Eco Park and Canopy Walk The KL Forest Eco Park and Canopy Walk was getting a lot of hate on Google Reviews, but I had a few hours to kill prior to the food tour I scheduled that evening, so I decided to keep an open mind and visit the KL Forest Eco Park.  I’m glad I decided to go to the Forest Park in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I had a blast on the Canopy Walk and walking through other jungle trails. I did see a few groups of monkeys here as well.  The entrance fee was RM 40 for foreigners.  Food Tour I recommend joining a food tour on your first evening of exploring Kuala Lumpur. I just feel like on the first day of visiting a new city, it’s nice to have someone hold my hand and guide me through the process of ordering food, what to eat, and how to differentiate tourist traps and places where locals go.  I booked the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15 + Tastings through Viator and highly recommend this tour. The guide was great, I learned so much about Malaysia’s history, culture, and of course the food. We sampled Durian from a local fruit vendor and had Nasi Lemak, a local favorite.  If you want to read more into Kuala Lumpur food tours, I have a whole post dedicated to it, Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: Sampling Malaysia’s Culinary Delights. Day 2 Batu Caves On day 2 of exploring Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend a visit to the Batu Caves. These limestone caves are located just outside of Kuala Lumpur and are easy to get to via Grab or train.  The Batu Caves is not only a spectacular natural phenomena but also a cultural and religious site.  You’ll notice the 42.7 (140 ft) golden statue of Murugan. Behind the statue are 272 rainbow painted stairs leading to the cave entrance. Within the cave is a beautiful Hindu temple.  Oh yeah, there are monkeys everywhere here. So if like me, you love wildlife and nature, the Batu Caves is a must!  Interested in visiting the Batu Caves? I have a post on the Batu Caves with information on the caves, how to get here, and so much more. Feel free to read my post here: Guide to Visiting the Batu Caves: Everything you Need to Know Petronas Twin Towers After a visit to the Batu Caves, I highly recommend making your way to the Petronas Twin Towers. The Petronas Twin Towers are a symbol of Kuala Lumpur. These impressive towers stand at a height of 452m (1,483 ft) tall  and are one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. I recommend both seeing the Petronas Twin Towers from various locations around Kuala Lumpur, but visiting the inside is well worth your time. Do not miss seeing the Petronas Towers at night, they are lit up beautifully. For more information on the Petronas Towers to include booking a tour, admission and hours, I have a guide dedicated to Visiting the Petronas Towers. KLCC Park In need of a break from all the skyscrapers and shopping malls? You are in luck, there is a nice relaxing park called KLCC Park at the base of the Petronas Towers. KLCC Park is a great place to unwind, there is so much to do here. If you are looking for things to do in Kuala Lumpur for kids, then KLCC Park is the perfect place as there are playgrounds and a waterpark.  I really enjoyed the trails within KLCC Park and the views of the Petronas Towers.  Jalan Alor Food Street Jalan Alor is a popular food street in Kuala Lumpur located in the Bukit Bintang district.  This whole area is full of fun restaurants, food stalls, and stores. I came here at night for one thing and one thing only, Food!  I walked up and down Jln Alor street looking for a place to grab a beer and sample some local Malay dishes. Most restaurants have a similar menu and atmosphere. I randomly sat down outside at a place called Restoran Sai Woo and am glad I did as I had one of my favorite dishes in Kuala Lumpur.  I sat down, ordered an Anchor Smooth Pilsener with a mix Satay. Jill on the other hand ordered a Crispy Fried Yam Basket which blew me away.  The Yam Basket consisted of yam that is mashed and shaped like a bowl that is full of some style of stir-fry. The dish has Chinese Five Spice in it, which I am now addicted to. But the texture of the mashed yam and other flavors made this dish a total winner!  After eating at Restoran Sai Woo, I found a Shawarma place and ate a very satisfying Shawarma.  Conclusion I hope you found this 2-day itinerary for Kuala Lumpur to be beneficial. Although you can spend much more time in a city of this size, I feel 2 days is enough to cover the basics, see some of the main highlights, and eat incredible Malay food.  If you have to just pick a few sites to see in Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend a tour of the Petronas Towers, seeing the Batu Caves, and of course trying the food.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do

The Batu Caves, are a series of limestone caves located just outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Batu Caves are considered one of Kuala Lumpur’s most popular attractions, but they are also an important cultural and religious site. This guide provides everything you need to know when visiting the Batu Caves from how to get here to what not to miss. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit the Batu Caves: The Batu Caves are one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist and religious destinations. The caves and Murugan Statue are an impressive attraction to see.  Top Things to do at the Batu Caves: Visit the 42.7 m tall Murugan Statue. Climb the 272 colorful stairs. Ramayana Cave.  If you don’t have a car when visiting Kuala Lumpur, consider booking a Batu Caves Temple Tour or a Cultural Half Day Tour to the Batu Caves.  Brief Background on the Batu Caves Batu Caves are an interesting and unique natural and religious site just outside of Kuala Lumpur.  The site where the Batu Caves are is considered a mogote. As a geography major, I learned that a mogote is a sometimes standalone hill. A mogote can be steep along the sides and are common in tropical climates. Limestone is the dominate rock at the caves.  The caves themselves are millions of years old, although human activity has been recorded here for hundreds of years.  The most notable feature of Batu Caves is the large state of Murugan. The statue measures a height of 42.7 m or 140 ft. In the Hindu religion, Murugan is the God of War.  When entering the main cave complex, there is a decorative temple called The Subramaniar Swamy Temple.  Visitors will notice the rainbow staircase behind the Murugan Statue leading to the cave entrance. There are a total of 272 colored stairs.  Getting to the Batu Caves There are a few options to get to the Batu Caves. Visitors can take the commuter train, hail a taxi, or use Grab.  The Batu Caves are about 13 km from the city center.  Personally, I recommend just using Grab to get to Batu Caves. This was definitely the easiest way and it was very affordable. But I’d like to show you what other options there are.  Trains do run directly from KL Sentral to the Batu Caves via the KTM Komuter. You can view the Train Schedule, ticketing, and more information on the KTM website. Depending on your location, you might not need to head to KL Sentral.  If departing from KL Sentral to Batu Caves, the journey can take around 45 minutes to an hour.  Price wise, the KTM Train ticket is RM 2.20.  Besides hailing a cab to the Batu Caves, I recommend using the Grab app and getting to the Batu Caves via Grab.  For those that are unaware, Grab is a ride hailing app like Uber and is popular in some countries in Asia.  Again, I’ll use KL Sentral as an example. If you are at the train station and get a Grab, the drive time is around 20 minutes to the caves depending on traffic. The Vehicles we took each way were comfortable and I felt safe every time we used Grab in Malaysia. The price for the Grab to Batu Caves from our location was RM 15 so around $3.  Admission and Hours An attractive feature of visiting the Batu Caves is that the rainbow staircase and main temple area are free to visit. That’s right, there is no admission fee to walk the stairs and enter the cave.  However there is one portion of the caves, the Ramayana Cave – Suyambu Lingam, that does charge an entrance fee. The fee was very cheap, at the time, RM 7 for locals and RM 15 for foreigners which is still very cheap.  The Batu Caves are open daily from 7:00 am – 21:00.  Best Time to Visit the Batu Caves The Batu Caves are open year round from 7:00 am – 21:00.  It is recommended to visit the Batu Caves either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon into the evening hours. The weather is a bit cooler, the sun isn’t beating down on you, and the crowds tend to be smaller during non peak hours.  When I visited the Batu Caves, I was here by 8:00 am and although there were already people here, I felt it wasn’t very crowded and there was still a lot of breathing room. The monkeys were out and about and I got great photos. Once the time got to around 10:00 am I immediately felt how crowded it really gets. Many of the monkeys scattered off, the crowds at the entrance were almost unbearable and the rainbow staircase looked like an an hill. Things to Do at the Batu Caves Visiting the Batu Caves is much more then just seeing Malaysia’s tallest statue and climbing to the top of the rainbow staircase.  There is a lot to explore here and I recommend a minimum of two hours for your visit. I think I spent at least 3 hours here if not 4.  If you are wondering what else is there to do and see at the Batu Caves, below are my recommendations.  Arulmigu Murugan Statue Batu Caves Batu Caves Murugan Statue is an impressive 42.7 m (140 ft) tall statue at the entrance of the caves.  The Murugan Statue is the tallest statue in Malaysia and is made of steel and concrete. Its gold color, detail, and sheer size truly make it stand out. Climb the 272 Steps at the Rainbow Staircase Directly behind the Murugan Statue is the rainbow staircase. This beautiful staircase consists of 272 steps. From afar, the stairs are incredibly beautiful. Walking up the stairs is no easy task but doable if you take your time. Hence another reason to visit the Batu Caves earlier. It’s cooler out and the stairs are less crowded.  Many of the monkeys tend to hang out on or around the stairs so keep an eye out for your belongings and give them their space.  Batu Caves and the Temple The entirety of Batu Caves is impressive and the Subramaniar Swamy Temple within the caves is just as marvelous as the rest of the cave.  The temple within the cave is a Hindu temple, it’s decorative and colorful. visitors can enter the temples, but be warned it’s a religious site, so follow the rules and be respectful.  Ramayana Cave – Suyambu Lingam A far less touristy side but absolutely worth it part of the Batu Caves is visiting Ramayana Cave.  Ramayana Cave is the portion that charges an admission fee of RM 7 for locals and RM 15 for foreigners. Paying the admission fee is well worth your time.  First, you will notice the 15m (49ft) tall statue of he diety Hanuman.  Once you enter the Ramayana Cave you will be greeted by the friendly staff and can freely walk around. This cave was not crowded at all, in fact when I was here, there were about 4 other people in the cave, compared to the hundreds next door. There is a giant statue of Kumbhakarna lying in the cave with smaller statues of what I assume are servants around him.  Shopping and Snacks At the base of the Batu Caves are numerous shops and a few restaurants. I didn’t spend much time here, but for those that like to shop for religious items and souvenirs, all this can be found at the many shops. The Monkeys at Batu Caves Any attraction that has wildlife will always be a favorite of mine, especially when monkeys are involved. Seeing monkeys in the wild never get old to me. I spent most of my life in Europe and North America, so seeing wild monkeys just isn’t a thing.  When visiting the Batu Caves, obviously, the first thing I saw was the statue of Murugan, it’s kind of hard to miss. But right away I noticed a ton of pigeons being fed by people and within the groups of pigeons were wild monkeys scavenging for food.  The monkeys at Batu Caves are known as long-tailed macaques. They have extremely long tails in comparison to their bodies.  For the most part, the monkeys seemed to mind their own business and not be bothered by humans. I did see a few cases of people losing their belongings to the monkeys, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings and keep things close to your body. I also witnessed a baby monkey tug on a women’s dress and an adult monkey get territorial with a man. Please, respect the wildlife here and give them space.  Popular Questions on the Batu Caves Is there a Dress Code to enter the Batu Caves? – Yes, this is an active religious site. For both men and women, please make sure your knees and shoulders are covered. I did my research before and made sure to wear my hiking pants and a t-shirt. If you do come unprepared, a Sarang can be borrowed near the entrance.  How Many Stairs to the Top of the Batu Caves?– There are a total of 272 stairs on the Rainbow Staircase. But be warned, there are more stairs within the caves and on other parts of the Batu Caves complex. For instance, there are numerous steep stairs inside Ramayana Cave.  How long do you need at Batu Caves? – I recommend a minimum of two hours at Batu Caves. We explored the area for about 3-4 hours and saw most of the must see sites.  Are the Batu Caves worth visiting?– 100% the Batu Caves are worth visiting. In fact, this is a must visit when in Kuala Lumpur. The site is only 13 km from the city center and can easily be seen in the morning. Conclusion Visiting the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur is a must. For a free attraction in Kuala Lumpur, you get to visit a stunning limestone cave, Hindu Temple, and see wildlife, what’s not to love? The Batu Caves are easy to reach from Kuala Lumpur’s city center and offer a unique experience for each and every visitor. Plain and simple, the Batu Caves should be on everyone’s Kuala Lumpur itinerary.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Towers are truly an incredible site to see. Standing at an impressive 452 meters (1,483 ft), the Petronas Twin Towers are amongst the tallest buildings in the world and hold the title as the tallest twin towers in the world. The Petronas Towers can be spotted almost throughout the entire city of Kuala Lumpur. During the day, the towers stand out nicely but at night once lit up, the Petronas Towers really stand out. Visiting the Petronas Towers is a must. Visitors can walk the skybridge and even go to the 86th floor.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world, standing at 452 meters or 1,483 ft. From 1998 until 2004, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. According to the Petronas Towers website The design of the Petronas Towers were by an Argentine architect, Cesar Pelli. His vision was to create the towers to reflect the culture of Malaysia. The towers when seen from above are in the shape of an eight pointed star. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so the eight pointed star represents unity, harmony, stability, and rationality.  The construction of the Petronas Towers began in 1993 and were completed in 1996.  These 88 story twin towers are connected at the middle by a skybridge. At the base of the Petronas Towers is a luxurious shopping mall. Visiting the Petronas Towers Visiting the Petronas Towers is a must when in Kuala Lumpur. It’s one thing to see this iconic skyscraper from the outside, but actually visiting the inside, seeing the skybridge, and going to the 86th floor is a whole different experience.  We booked our Petronas Towers tickets online through the Petronas Towers website. Remember, tourists pay a different entrance fee then locals. For adults we paid RM98 which comes out to about $20.  You can buy tickets for the Petronas Towers at the towers itself, but they tend to sell out. So it’s worth it to plan in advance and have your electronic tickets.  It took us some time to figure out where to go for the tour as the map they provide on the website isn’t 100% user friendly.  We entered through KLCC Park and went to the ground level. From here you see the ticket counters and place to queue for your time slot.  Visiting the Petronas Towers includes a trip to the Skybridge, where you get a 360° view of Kuala Lumpur, and you can take the elevator to the 86th and 83rd floor.  I found the experience of visiting the Petronas Towers really enjoyable. The amount of people per group is limited to a small number so it doesn’t get congested anywhere. It’s nothing like Tokyo Skytree where they allowed hundreds of people enter at a time.  Admission and Hours Admission Infant – FreeChild – RM 17 (MyKad) RM 50 (Non-MyKad)Adult – RM 35 (MyKad) RM 98 (Non-MyKad)Senior Citizen – RM 17 (MyKad) RM 50 (Non-MyKad) **MyKad is for locals and Non-MyKad is non locals. Hours Closed on Monday (Open on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month) Tuesday – Sunday 9:00 am – 21:00 Skybridge The Skybridge is the bridge that can be seen between the two towers.  The Skybridge is on the 41st floor and is 170 meters high.  Visitors get a chance to walk across the Skybridge and can view Kuala Lumpur from either side of the bridge.  Observation Decks After visiting the Skybridge, the tour continues to the 86th floor, 370 meters high.  From this observation deck, you get a close up view of the other tower and can actually see Merdeka 118 and the Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower) off in the distance.  The observation decks are smaller, but clean, and well organized. You get great views of Kuala Lumpur and the mountains surrounding the city. The 83rd floor has a cafe and gift shop, there are also restrooms.  Conclusion Visiting the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur is a must. The Petronas Towers are a sight to see from the outside, but to truly discover these iconic twin towers it is recommended to visit the inside. The tour includes a chance to walk the Skybridge linking the two towers and offers visitors some of Kuala Lumpur’s nicest views from the observation decks on the 83rd and 86th floors.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.