SEKAI Explorer Guide Kuala Lumpur (2011)

Wikitravellers are members of a world-wide community of contributors to Wikitravel (a collaborative travel guide). We are people who care about travel in general, and about sharing knowledge with others in particular. That allows you to explore beautiful places. No other travel guide can provide you with more interesting places.

This book was created to allow Kindle reader a optimized version of the associated Wikitravel article and is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Generic License. For further License information please visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ and for page credits please check the article itself.

Wikitravel is not associated with this book and we assumes no liability and makes no guarantee of accurarcy. Use this ebook at your own risk and fun.

Table of Content:

• Districts

• Understand

• Get in

By plane

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

Subang Airport

By road

By bus

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) or (Southern Integrated Terminal)

Hentian Puduraya

Hentian Putra

Hentian Duta

Kuala Lumpur Old Railway Station

Online Booking

Others

By train

By boat

• Get around

By train

By bus

By taxi

By car

On foot

Talk

• See

• Do

Volunteer

• Buy

Shopping Malls

Jalan Ampang

Bangsar

Midvalley

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

Respect

Stay healthy

• Stay safe

• Get out

Districts

Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city and its residential suburbs seem to go on forever. The city also merges with the adjacent towns of Petaling Jaya (originally developed as a satellite town), Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang and Port Klang, creating a huge conurbation called the Klang Valley.

The city can be divided into the following areas, each of which offers a particular attraction or activity.

- City Centre – This is the traditional core of Kuala Lumpur where you’ll find the former colonial administrative centre, with the Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Selangor Club. This district also includes Kuala Lumpur’s old Chinese commercial centre which everyone refers to now as Chinatown.

- Golden Triangle – The area of Kuala Lumpur located to the north-east of the city centre, the Golden Triangle is where you will find the city’s shopping malls, five-star hotels, Petronas Twin Towers.

- Tuanku Abdul Rahman / Chow Kit – It's fast regaining its old fame after a decade of slow growth. Located just 500 m north of Chinatown & adjacent to the Petronas Twin Towers, this is the traditional colourful shopping district of Kuala Lumpur north of the city centre that moves into high gear when the festivals of Hari Raya Puasa (Eid ul-Fitr) and Deepavali approach. Located just beside the Golden Triangle (northern neighbour) with many popular budget accommodations. The gigantic Putra World Trade Centre & the traditional Kampung Baru food haven are among the most important landmarks.

- Brickfields – This area, located south of the city centre, is Kuala Lumpur’s Little India filled with saree shops and banana leaf rice restaurants. Kuala Lumpur’s main railway station, KL Sentral, is located here.

- Bangsar and Midvalley – Located south of the city, Bangsar is a popular restaurant and clubbing district while Midvalley, with its Megamall, is one of the city’s most popular shopping destinations.

- Damansara and Hartamas – Largely suburban, these two districts to the west of the city house some interesting pockets of restaurants and drinking areas.

This district also merges into the northern part of Petaling Jaya.

- Ampang – Located east of the city, Ampang is home to Kuala Lumpur’s Little Korea and most foreign embassies.

- Northern suburbs – This huge area to the north of the city is home to several attractions, such as the Batu Caves, the National Zoo and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.

- Southern suburbs – This district may not interest travellers much, although Kuala Lumpur’s main stadium at Bukit Jalil and The Mines theme park are located here.

Understand

Merdeka

Prior to independence, Malaya was a British colony. When Malaya's independence, to be attained on 31 August 1957, was approved by the British Government in 1956, the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman announced it to the public in Malacca at what is today Dataran Pahlawan.

On the evening of 30 August 1957, crowds gathered at what was then known as the Selangor Club Padang (Green) to celebrate the historic event. As the clock on the State Secretariat Building (today's Sultan Abdul Samad Building) struck 12 midnight, the crowds, led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, shouted "Merdeka" seven times. The Union Jack was lowered and the flag of the new country was raised to the strains of the national anthem, Negaraku. The Selangor Club Padang is today known as Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). The next day, the official handing over of power by the British was held at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium).

The country was renamed Malaysia on September 16, 1963, when Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya formed a new federation.

Founded only in 1857 as a tin mining outpost, Kuala Lumpur is fairly new as far as Malaysian cities go and lacks the rich history of George Town or Malacca. After rough early years marked by gang fighting, Kuala Lumpur started to prosper and was made capital of the Federated Malay States in 1896. Malaysia's independence was declared in 1957 in front of huge crowds at what was later named Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), and Kuala Lumpur continued as the new nation's capital. The economic boom of the 1990s brought KL the standard trappings of a modern city, bristling with skyscrapers and modern transportation systems. Like most of Malaysia's big cities, about 55% of Kuala Lumpur's population is of Malaysian Chinese descent.

Get in

By plane

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

All scheduled air flights, whether domestic or international, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport [2] (IATA: KUL ICAO: WMKK) located about 50km to the south of Kuala Lumpur, in the Sepang district of Selangor. The US$2.5bil modern structure of glass and steel was inaugurated in 1998 and has been ranked as one of the top airports of the world. It replaced the former Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang, which is now used for chartered and turboprop flights. Over 50 airlines call at KLIA.

Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) opened in March 2006, and is currently used by AirAsia [3], Tiger Airways [4], and Cebu Pacific [5]. Though the LCC Terminal is across the runway tarmac from the Main Terminal Building, it is nearly 20 km away by road. Frequent shuttle buses connect the two terminals, costing RM2.50 per trip. At the Main Terminal Building, catch the shuttles at the Bus Terminal on the Ground Floor of the Car Park C building, while at the LCCT, wait for the buses at the bus bays right in front of the terminal. If you are transferring from the KLIA Ekspres train, make your way to Level 2 and follow the signs to Car Park C and the Bus Station.

Be careful when locating the transfer bus from the main terminal to the LCCT, as taxi drivers giving the appearance of being airport customer service personnel will try to steer tourists to a mini-bus or taxi with a cost many times greater than the actual LCCT transfer bus. Frequently they will ask for a fee similar to a taxi ride into Kuala Lumpur, typically RM90.

A gigantic new LCC Terminal is being built close to the Main Terminal and will be called "KLIA2", due for completion in 2012. It will also be linked to the KLIA Ekspres fast train from KL Sentral Terminal in the city centre.

Transfers - Main Terminal

By train:

- The KLIA Ekspres [6] links the airport directly with the KL Sentral transportation hub in Kuala Lumpur in 28 min. Trains run from 5AM-12 midnight. There is one train every 15 min between 5AM-9AM, and between 4PM-10PM; while trains run every 20 min outside those hours. The cost of a one-way ticket is RM35. There is no discount on return tickets. If flying Malaysia, Emirates, Cathay or Royal Brunei, you can also check in your baggage at the Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal in KL Sentral. See "Get around" section below on how to get to/away from KL Sentral.

- The KLIA Transit [7], like the KLIA Ekspres, also links the airport with KL Sentral except that it stops at three intermediate stations - Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, and Bandar Tasik Selatan. The journey takes 36 min. The fare from end to end is the same as for the KLIA Ekspres, which is RM35. Different fares apply for journeys to the intermediate stations. From KL Sentral, trains run every half hour from 5.33AM-12.03AM, while from KLIA, trains run every half hour from 5.52AM-1AM. You may use the KLIA Ekspres' check-in services even when holding a KLIA Transit ticket.

- You can also catch KTM Komuter [8] trains to Nilai station and take a connecting bus to KLIA. The frequent Nilai-KLIA buses are operated by Airport Coach and Sepang Omnibus. The entire journey may take about two hours, but the cost is considerably cheaper than the above two options. For example, the fare from KL Sentral to Nilai is RM4.70 while the bus fare from Nilai to KLIA is about RM2.50. You can also use the KTM Komuter to go to other destinations, such as Seremban in Negeri Sembilan. For other KTM Komuter destinations, see "Get around" section below.

By bus:

- Airport Coach runs a one hourly express bus between KL Sentral and KLIA from 5AM to 10.30PM from Sentral, and 6.30AM to 12.30AM from KLIA. RM10 one way, or RM18 return.

- Star Shuttle [9] bus runs from KLIA to Kota Raya and Pudu Raya (both are near the Chinatown), RM10 one way.

- Sepang Omnibus runs local bus services directly to Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Banting in Selangor and Sepang town where you can get connecting buses to/from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The buses may be a little basic and uncomfortable, and do not follow a timetable (at least, not one that is publicly known).

- Both Airport Coach and Sepang Omnibus run frequent buses between KLIA and Nilai where you continue your journey on the KTM Komuter. See the "Get around" section below for details on the KTM Komuter.

Alternatively, you can take the bus to the LCCT then connect to KLIA.

Note that taxis hovering outside, near where the airport shuttle buses depart from, will try to get your business claiming that trains and the Monorail are not working, or finished for the day. Always check these schedules before believing a word the taxi drivers say.

By taxi:

WARNING: Do not to accept offers from touts in the arrival foyer because they usually charge more than Airport Limo taxis, even if you are shown what seems to be legitimate price lists. These touts usually drive private vehicles not meant to ferry passengers and the drivers do not have PSV (public service vehicle) licences to take passengers. You will also not be covered by insurance if an accident happens.

- From KLIA: Only Airport Limo limousines and budget taxis are allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. You buy coupons from Airport Limo counters just before you exit the international arrivals gate, or just outside the domestic arrivals gate. Ask for a budget taxi, which is perfectly fine and costs a fixed RM 74.80 to get to Kuala Lumpur; otherwise you'll be given a misnamed "premier" car that costs an extra RM25. If there is more than one person, it is probably cheaper to take a taxi directly to your destination, rather than going by train and then having to take a taxi onto your destination.

- To KLIA: Any taxi can bring passengers to KLIA, including Kuala Lumpur's metered red-and-white taxis, although you will find it very difficult to get drivers to use the meter. Make sure you agree on a price before getting into the taxi if the driver refuses to use the meter. Fares should be between RM80 and RM100, this should include the airport surcharge of RM12 and toll fees (taxis only pay half the normal toll fees). If the driver will not use the meter it may be better to seek an alternative taxi.

- Airport Limo Budget Taxi [10] from Kuala Lumpur city to KLIA is RM64.40 for a Budget class car, ☎ 1300 88 8989 (24 hr), ☎ +60 3 9223 8080 (8AM-12 midnight), +60 3 8787 3030 (12 midnight-8AM)

By road:

If you have your own wheels, KLIA is well connected to Peninsular Malaysia's expressway network. The airport is directly linked with the North South Expressway Central Link (known by its Malay abbreviation "Elite") about 70 km or nearly 1 hr away from Kuala Lumpur city centre. Exit the expressway at KLIA interchange for both the Main Terminal and LCCT.

Transfers - Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)

By train:

- There are no direct train connections to the LCCT (although the government has agreed to build one). However, you can buy a "KLIA Transit to LCCT" ticket (RM12.50/22 one-way/return), which covers the KLIA Transit to the ERL Salak Tinggi Station and a free connecting bus to the LCCT.

By bus:

- SkyBus [11] runs direct services every half hour or so from KL Sentral to the LCCT. RM9 one-way. If prebooked with AirAsia ticket (can be done only during initial booking, not while updating flight details later), it would cost RM6.50 one way and RM13 return - but beware, that if you miss your flight or change your mind and decide not to travel it, the SkyBus fare, as well as other additional services on that booking, will not be refunded.

- Aerobus [12] also runs direct bus services every half hour from KL Sentral to the LCC Terminal. RM8 one-way, RM14 return journey.

- Star Shuttle [13] (Tel: +60-3-40438811) has direct buses to the Pekeliling Bus Terminal and Batu 3 (3rd Mile) Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur, as well as direct connections to the Subang Jaya KTM Komuter station and the PKNS Building in Shah Alam. Check its website for schedules. Fares are RM9 per trip.

By road:

The LCCT is about 20km from the Main Terminal and can be accessed via the KLIA circular or airport cargo road. Shuttle buses links the 2 terminals for RM2.50 one way.

Subang Airport

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB) (ICAO: WMSA), more commonly referred to as the Subang Airport, was the country's main international airport until KLIA was opened in 1998. As it is much nearer to the city centre and less crowded than the newer KLIA, it can make a convenient entry point for those flying from Singapore or other parts of Malaysia. After the opening of KLIA, it was designated for turboprop aircraft and is currently served by two airlines.

- Firefly [14] a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary began operating from Subang in late 2007, flying initially to Penang twice daily but now serves a whole range of destinations with new ATR aircraft in Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and to Ko Samui and Phuket in Thailand.

- Berjaya Air [15] flies daily to/from Tioman Island and Redang Island. It also has 2 flights weekly to/from Ko Samui in Thailand.

Subang Airport's Terminal 1 has been demolished. The Immigration Department utilise Terminal 2 for the issue of passports and local documentation.

Airlines

Destinations

Terminal

Berjaya Air

Koh Samui, Redang, Tioman

3

Infinity Travel and Services
operated by Berjaya Air

Ipoh (Charter) [16][17]

3

Firefly

Alor Setar, Batam, Johor Bahru, Kerteh, Koh Samui
Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu,Langkawi
Medan, Pekanbaru, Penang, Singapore

3

Getting there/away: The airport is 25 km from the city centre and the best way to get there is by taxi. Rapid KL bus U81 (destination Mah Sing and Pekan Subang) from the Sultan Mohd Bus Hub next to the Pasar Seni LRT station goes past the airport. The fare is RM2.50 one way and takes approximately 40 min in clear traffic. It can take nearly 1 hr and 30 min during peak rush hour.

By road

Most important roads in Peninsular Malaysia lead to/from Kuala Lumpur. The city lies about midway along the North-South Expressway (Motorway) (NSE; route numbers E1 and E2) which runs from the Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru in the south, on the Malaysian side of the Causeway to Singapore. The main expressway exits for Kuala Lumpur on the NSE are Jalan Duta (from the north) and Sungai Besi (from the south).

The Karak Highway (E8), which later turns into the East Coast Expressway, links Kuala Lumpur with the East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.

For those who do not want to pay toll, Kuala Lumpur is on Federal Route One (the "Trunk Road") which, like the NSE, runs through all West Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia from Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru.

Those travelling along the West Coast Road (Federal Route Five) should leave the road at Klang and get to Kuala Lumpur via the Federal Highway.

By bus

The double-decker KL Hop-on Hop-off bus service for tourists includes 42 sightseeing places.The buses have free wifi on board. Each passenger is provided with a multi-lingual commentary headset. The tickets are valid for 24 hr from purchase, and you can hop on and off the bus throughout the day. Price is RM38 for adults, RM17 for children, senior citizens, the disabled, and holders of an ISIC card. Children below 5 years old are free of charge. However, to enjoy these features, be prepared for long waiting time as the timings are notoriously bad! It may be best to use the service outside of rush hours. The buses are scheduled every half hour but intervals may be as long as two hours due to traffic jams. You should not plan your itinerary based on these bus schedules.

RapidKL [33] operates a cheap and comprehensive public bus network in and around Kuala Lumpur, but the low frequencies (20-30 min on most routes) and the near-total lack of signage make this a poor option for the casual visitor, and at rush hour buses can be jam-packed. For those (few) attractions best visited by bus, specific bus information is given at each place of interest on this page.

If you do venture on board, it's worth nothing that buses are broadly divided in three categories: Bandar (B) routes are city center shuttles, Utama (U) buses travel to outlying suburbs and Tempatan (T) buses are feeder services for train stations. For all three, you can either buy zone-based single tickets (RM1 for Zone 1, up to RM3 for Zone 4) on board, or use a Touch 'n Go card (not sold on board). In addition, Ekspres (E) services use the highways and cost a flat RM3.80. Buses run from 6AM-11PM or so, with no night services.

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) or (Southern Integrated Terminal)

Since March 2011 all south-bound buses leave from the gigantic & ultra-modern TBS in Selangor. (North-bound buses operate from Puduraya). TBS is located in Bandar Tasik Selatan and is served by 3 train lines - KLIA Transit on the KL Sentral-KLIA route, KTM Komuter on the Rawang-Seremban line, and the LRT on the Sri Petaling line.

Hentian Puduraya

Puduraya bus station reopened in April 2011 amd serves northern and inter-city buses. Southern buses operate from the new Tasik Selatan Integrated Transport Terminal.

Access is from Plaza Rakyat station (Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines) within walking distance; many local bus stops are nearby.

To/from Hat Yai, in Thailand:

- Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES [18] ☎ +60 3 20313036) has departures at 10:30A0 & 11PM: RM45 one-way.

- Alisan Golden Coach Express [19], Hentian Pudu Raya, ☎ +60 3 20322273 have three buses every day which leave Kuala Lumpur to Hatyai, departure at 9AM, 10PM, and 10:30PM, ticket around RM45, 7 hr journey.

To/from Singapore:

- Transnasional ☎, +60 3 20703300 is Malaysia's biggest long-distance bus company. Economy class departures to Singapore's Lavender Street terminal at 8:45AM, 10:30AM, 1:30PM, 5:30PM, 10:30PM & 11:59PM - RM30 one-way and takes 5 hr.

- Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES [20]) ☎ +60 3 20701321) has several buses daily to/from the Golden Mile complex in Singapore.

Hentian Putra

Most East Coast services use this terminal which is in the northern part of the city centre on Jalan Putra.

Access: PWTC station (Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines) and Putra station (both KTM Komuter lines) are within walking distance. Also the Chow Kit station (Monorail train) is only 15 min walk away.

Hentian Duta

Many north-bound Transnasional [21] express buses use this terminal which is located a distance to the west of the city centre on Jalan Duta.

Access: the only convenient way is by taxi.

Kuala Lumpur Old Railway Station

Now used as a bus terminal, but still handles commuter trains on both KTM Komuter lines, also accessible via Rapid KL City Shuttle No. 109, 115.

Plusliner luxury services (under the brand names "Nice" and "Platinum Service") are based here; destinations include Penang, Johor Bahru, Singapore, and Hat Yai in Thailand.

Online Booking

Most other operators have banded together in one largest shared booking portal. The boarding locations are at various locations like Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) / (Southern Integrated Terminal), Hentian Puduraya, Berjaya Time Squares.

Bus Online Ticket [22] @ http://www.busonlineticket.com - including major operator AirAsia-affiliated StarMart.

Others

Pekeliling Bus Terminal is on Jalan Tun Razak to the north of the city centre, and handles local bus services to some Pahang destinations like Genting Highlands, Bentong, Raub and Temerloh. Access: Titiwangsa station is within walking distance. Rapid KL City Shuttle No. B101, B102, B103, B104, B109.

Deluxe long-distance buses leave from all over the place:

- Aeroline [23] uses the Corus Hotel (on Jalan Ampang) serves as the terminal for express buses to/from Singapore. Access: KLCC station is 300m away. Rapid KL City Shuttle No. B103, B104, B105, B106, B114. The company also runs the same service from various locations around Klang Valley.

- First Coach [24] services to/from Singapore leave Bangsar LRT station.

- Transtar [25] uses the Pasar Rakyat bus station off Jalan Melati, a 5 min walk from Bukit Bintang.

- Transnasional [26] Executive Coaches to Singapore and Penang leave from the Malaysian Tourist Information Complex (MATIC) on Jalan Ampang, between KLCC and Bukit Nanas.

By train

Kuala Lumpur's public transport system consists of 3 LRT (Light Rail Transit) lines operated by RapidKL [28], the semicircular KL Monorail [29] looping through the Golden Triangle and the KTM Komuter [30] for trips to the outer northern, southern & western suburbs. Fares are cheap (RM1.2 and up), although connectivity between different lines is poor due to inadequate integration (read: you will also need to buy a new ticket for the next leg of your trip, and will likely get wet if it is raining since connections are not covered). The Touch 'n Go [31] card, which can be purchased for RM10 at major stations, can now be used on all lines except the airport express. Some particularly convenient stations:

- Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail), for shopping in the Golden Triangle

- Bukit Nanas (KL Monorail), for clubbing at P. Ramlee

- KLCC (Putra), for the Twin Towers and the Suria KLCC shopping mall

- KL Sentral (Kelana Jaya/KL Monorail/KTM Komuter), for intercity trains and the KLIA Ekspres to the airport

- Masjid Jamek (all LRT lines), for LRT interchange as well as access to Chinatown and Little India

- Plaza Rakyat (Sri Petaling/Ampang), for Puduraya bus station

A few quirks:

1. The Kelana Jaya and Gombak LRT lines, formerly known as "PUTRA LRT", is now known as "Putraline" while the Sri Petaling and Ampang LRT lines, formerly known as "STAR LRT", is now known as "Starline". Signage is a bit inconsistent but is slowly being updated.

2. The KL Monorail's "KL Sentral" station is now a bit of a haul from KL Sentral. The covered walkway and the parking lot that was once used for access has been closed off for construction. To get to the KL Monorail, you will have to walk around the parking lot which doubles the distance you had to walk before.

3. Trains usually follow a timed schedule, with the frequency increased to two/three minutes during peak hours. Take note however that as Putraline is a "driverless" system (unlike Starline where the trains are driven by human drivers), in the event of a train breakdown, service may be disrupted for two hours or more, although such breakdowns are few and far between.

By boat

Kuala Lumpur is not located by the sea. However, there are ferry connections to/from Sumatra (Indonesia) at Port Klang, about 40 km west of Kuala Lumpur. See the Port Klang article for details on how to get there.

Get around

The first phase of Kuala Lumpur's ambitious public transport system is now complete, the city's public transport system is fairly efficient and convenient, but as there is still a fair amount of room for improvement to the system's integration. The city, like many developing cities, suffers from paralytic traffic jams periodically throughout the day. In rush hours, it may be worthwhile combining public transport by different means. For example: soar over traffic jams by monorail to the station closest to your destination and thereafter take a taxi for the final leg.

By train

Kuala Lumpur's public transport system consists of 3 LRT (Light Rail Transit) lines operated by RapidKL [28], the semicircular KL Monorail [29] looping through the Golden Triangle and the KTM Komuter [30] for trips to the outer northern, southern & western suburbs. Fares are cheap (RM1.2 and up), although connectivity between different lines is poor due to inadequate integration (read: you will also need to buy a new ticket for the next leg of your trip, and will likely get wet if it is raining since connections are not covered). The Touch 'n Go [31] card, which can be purchased for RM10 at major stations, can now be used on all lines except the airport express. Some particularly convenient stations:

- Bukit Bintang (KL Monorail), for shopping in the Golden Triangle

- Bukit Nanas (KL Monorail), for clubbing at P. Ramlee

- KLCC (Putra), for the Twin Towers and the Suria KLCC shopping mall

- KL Sentral (Kelana Jaya/KL Monorail/KTM Komuter), for intercity trains and the KLIA Ekspres to the airport

- Masjid Jamek (all LRT lines), for LRT interchange as well as access to Chinatown and Little India

- Plaza Rakyat (Sri Petaling/Ampang), for Puduraya bus station

A few quirks:

1. The Kelana Jaya and Gombak LRT lines, formerly known as "PUTRA LRT", is now known as "Putraline" while the Sri Petaling and Ampang LRT lines, formerly known as "STAR LRT", is now known as "Starline". Signage is a bit inconsistent but is slowly being updated.

2. The KL Monorail's "KL Sentral" station is now a bit of a haul from KL Sentral. The covered walkway and the parking lot that was once used for access has been closed off for construction. To get to the KL Monorail, you will have to walk around the parking lot which doubles the distance you had to walk before.

3. Trains usually follow a timed schedule, with the frequency increased to two/three minutes during peak hours. Take note however that as Putraline is a "driverless" system (unlike Starline where the trains are driven by human drivers), in the event of a train breakdown, service may be disrupted for two hours or more, although such breakdowns are few and far between.

By bus

The double-decker KL Hop-on Hop-off bus service for tourists includes 42 sightseeing places.The buses have free wifi on board. Each passenger is provided with a multi-lingual commentary headset. The tickets are valid for 24 hr from purchase, and you can hop on and off the bus throughout the day. Price is RM38 for adults, RM17 for children, senior citizens, the disabled, and holders of an ISIC card. Children below 5 years old are free of charge. However, to enjoy these features, be prepared for long waiting time as the timings are notoriously bad! It may be best to use the service outside of rush hours. The buses are scheduled every half hour but intervals may be as long as two hours due to traffic jams. You should not plan your itinerary based on these bus schedules.

RapidKL [33] operates a cheap and comprehensive public bus network in and around Kuala Lumpur, but the low frequencies (20-30 min on most routes) and the near-total lack of signage make this a poor option for the casual visitor, and at rush hour buses can be jam-packed. For those (few) attractions best visited by bus, specific bus information is given at each place of interest on this page.

If you do venture on board, it's worth nothing that buses are broadly divided in three categories: Bandar (B) routes are city center shuttles, Utama (U) buses travel to outlying suburbs and Tempatan (T) buses are feeder services for train stations. For all three, you can either buy zone-based single tickets (RM1 for Zone 1, up to RM3 for Zone 4) on board, or use a Touch 'n Go card (not sold on board). In addition, Ekspres (E) services use the highways and cost a flat RM3.80. Buses run from 6AM-11PM or so, with no night services.

By taxi

With RM3 flagfall (2 km) and around RM0.90/km afterward, red and white normal taxis are reasonably priced and probably the best way to get around, at least outside the congested peak hours. Bright blue executive taxis have a RM4 flagfall and also charge a bit more by the kilometre. There are also various small surcharges for radio call (RM2), baggage (RM1 per piece), etc.

While all taxis are supposed to use the meter, drivers may be reluctant to use it and will often demand a fixed price, always higher than the price when using the meter, before commencing travel. This is especially so when demand exceeds supply, such as during the rush hour or when it rains, when the price demanded of tourists can be up to 2-10 times the meter price. This is technically illegal (and reportable) and happens most often with cabbies who lurk outside hotels, stations and major malls, while they wait for unwary tourists to come along. Hail cabs off the street if you can, but if you must, at least negotiate hard: RM5 should cover most cross town trips of 15 min or so, even with traffic. If you are staying in an expensive hotel, give a nearby shopping mall as your destination instead. Generally speaking, Malay taxi drivers will be more willing to use the meter than Chinese and Indian ones.

It is cheaper to use the meter through the day, although the opposite is true late at night, and especially after midnight, when the displayed meter price at the end of the journey is increased by 50% (ie. at 1AM, if the meter shows RM12, then you have to pay RM12+6).

A few popular places (notably both airports, KL Sentral, Menara KL and Sunway Pyramid Megamall) enforce prepaid coupon systems, which generally work out more expensive than using the meter, but cheaper than bargaining. Taxi Services from Pavilion Shopping Mall's taxi counter is using approved taxi meter with only RM2 surcharge.

Combining public transport with taxis can sometime make trips quicker if there are traffic jams.

Some taxi drivers will hang around near hotels offering tours similar to those offered by established companies. Feel free to listen to their offers and bargain with them if you like. Some of these cabbies are quite knowledgeable and you may end up with a specially tailored, private tour for less than the cost of an official tour.

If you get so off the beaten track that you need to call a cab, here are some telephone numbers:

- Comfort Cabs ☎ +60 3 6253 1313

- Sunlight Taxi ☎ +60 3 9057 5757

- Public Cab ☎ +60 3 6259 2020

- Uptown Ace ☎ +60 3 9283 2333

- Unicablink ☎ +1300 88 0303

By car

Kuala Lumpur has good quality roads, but driving in the city can be a nightmare, with massive traffic jams, a convoluted web of expressways and often confusing road signage. If driving, be especially aware of sudden lane changes by cars and reckless motor bike drivers who enjoy weaving in and out of traffic.

Do not park at the road of busy districts such as Bangsar, Bukit Bintang etc. Other cars might lock you in by parking next to you in the 2nd or 3rd lane. Use covered car parks or park a bit off the beaten path and then walk back.

Renting a car is an option for travelling in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia. You may rent a car from the provider below:

- Mayflower Car Rental, Mayflower Building, 18 Jalan Segambut Pusat, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Tel: +603-62531888, [34] / [35]

On foot

Depending on your age, physical fitness and urban inclination (or not), Kuala Lumpur is a fine city for walking and has clear, well-placed signage. Street signs are jumbo sized, blue with white lettering at eye level. Most corners have multi-directional pointers. There are city maps in places. Tiled sidewalks are 5 m in width, on average (a warning: treacherously slippery at sloped curb sides). Main arteries are boulevard broad and tree-lined. Most intersections have bright, yellow striped pedestrian crossings. While traffic can be daunting at times, it rarely moves fast enough to be seriously hazardous. Beware of speeding and criss-crossing motorcyclists, though!

Kuala Lumpur can be very hot and humid. To keep your walks comfortable, avoid walking between 11 am- 3pm, when the sun is at its hottest. Wear comfortable clothing and carry water with you. There are generally many shopping malls in the Golden Triangle area so if your walk is planned around that area, the occasional stop in an air-conditioned mall to cool down will feel very good.

Be careful when jaywalking on major streets, especially near downtown. The police occasionally crack down on jaywalkers in a public awareness campaign. Luckily, the on-the-spot fine is light (RM 20/30 for tourists/locals), and the whole process is over in a few minutes, but they will check your passport for travel documents. If you see large groups of traffic officers on both sides of a road, it's probably a smart idea to use the designated crossing areas.

Here is a walking tour (circle) that encompasses the main centre attractions (2-3 hr): starting at Chinatown (Petaling Street), identify on a map the following landmarks: the Maybank building, the Times Square towers, the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower. Once on the street do a visual scan of these buildings. You'll likely not need the map henceforth. Proceed from the Maybank building (vertically striped wedge) up Jalan Pudu, which turns into Jalan Bukit Bintang (Royale Bintang Hotel) at about 1 km. Stop for coffee at Bintang Walk, or check out the electronics mega-mall, Plaza Low Yat. Continue on Jalan Sultan Ismail towards Petronas. Be amazed! Wind your way from Petronas along Jalan P. Ramlee past the KL Tower and down Jalan Raja Chulan back to the Maybank building and Chinatown.

If you're fortunate enough to do this walk on a typical Sunday afternoon you will find a calm and attractive city.

Talk

As with much of the rest of Malaysia, Malay is the main language in Kuala Lumpur, and almost universally spoken by everyone. However, being Malaysia's capital and largest city, Kuala Lumpur is a mosaic of Malaysians of many different cultures and ethnicities, and while Malay is the lingua franca, several other languages are commonly heard as well. Among these languages, the most commonly spoken ones are Tamil, which is the first language of a majority of the Indian community, and Cantonese, which is the lingua franca of the Chinese community when conversing amongst themselves (even though their mother tongues could be other Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Hakka or Teochew). As most Malaysian Chinese learn Mandarin in school, most of the ethnic Chinese are also able to converse in Mandarin. English is also widely spoken, and tourists should have almost no problems getting by with English.

Urban Malaysians are generally known to be multilingual, with proficiency in Malay, English and their respective mother tongues. Malay and English are taught in all schools from a young age, while most the Chinese and Indians also learn Mandarin and Tamil respectively in school.

See

Despite having many attractions, Kuala Lumpur is one of those cities which is short on must-see attractions: the real joy lies in wandering randomly, seeing, shopping and eating your way through it. It's hot, humid and sometimes crowded though, so schedule some air-conditioned downtime in shopping malls or restaurants into your plan. You may find that most attractions are only crowded on weekends/holidays and deserted on weekdays.

The main attractions are spread throughout the city, although the greatest concentration of places of interest are in the City Centre, where you’ll find Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), where Malaysia would usually celebrate the Malaysian independence day (the exact spot where independence was declared at the start of Aug 31, 1957 is at the Stadium Merdeka); the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and other Colonial-era buildings surrounding the square; the modern and rather unadorned National Mosque; the Moorish-style Kuala Lumpur Railway Station which now houses a mini-museum on Malaysian railway history; many of Kuala Lumpur's other museums including the recently refurbished National Museum (RM5 for foreigners, RM2 for Malaysians) tracing the history of the region through prehistory and the Malaccan empire to Independence, and the extremely well-regarded Islamic Arts Museum (RM12, 10-6PM), and the nearby 'Police Museum; and the pretty Lake Gardens to the west. Within the city centre is also the fascinating narrow streets of Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur's traditional commercial district, with its many Chinese shops and places to eat.

Another area of interest to the traveller is the Golden Triangle. Although predominantly a shopping and night-life district, it is also home to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and the Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest building. In the nearby KL Convention Centre is the Aquaria KLCC which contains some 5,000 varieties of tropical fish. Just south of the Twin Towers is Menara KL Tower, which is situated on top of Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill), a forest reserve right in the heart of the city. PDA-Guided views from Menara Tower (RM38, 9AM-10PM) being at 276 m, are far superior than those from the Petronas Towers (viewing deck at 170 m), and come highly recommended since it allows first time visitors the chance to orient themselves quickly about the layout of the city. It is however, not a particularly easy place to reach by public transport, so use either a taxi or the "hop-on/hop-off" tourist bus that makes a continuous circuit through the city.

There are also several attractions just outside Kuala Lumpur which are worth visiting. The Batu Caves in the Northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, are located in a limestone outcrop and are the focal point of the fascinating annual Thaipusam festival, usually held in February. The caves are easily accessible by KTM's kommuter mass transit rail service (Batu Caves stn) or RapidKL bus U6 from Chow Kit area, though ask the driver to let you know the correct stop as the caves are not immediately obvious. Do some light cave exploring in Batu Caves which is really fascinating. The entrance is 50 ft below the main temple cave and on the left as you climb. The event will be memorable and is not risky even for children as young as 3 years. Another option is to catch Metrobus 11 for RM2 at Lorong Bas, near Pasar Seni (Central Market). Malaysia’s National Zoo (Zoo Negara) is also located in the north of the city.

- KL Bird Park (free-flight walk-in aviary), 920, Jalan Cenderawasih, Taman Tasik Perdana (Next to Islamic Art Museum in the City Centre), +60 3 22721010, [36]. 9AM-6PM. Great semi-wild habitat for many different species of mostly Asian birds. The Bird Park allows you to approach quite close to the birds which are skittish but not fearful for some very nice photos. A bit pricey, but makes for a nice long day in a mostly shaded area. Feedings and shows throughout the day give something to see at any time, and the 20+ acres provide plenty of area to walk and explore. The photo booth offers a wide array of tamed birds that will happily sit on you and pose for photos for a small price (RM8 per person: your camera, 2 birds; RM25 per print: glossy printout of your group covered in birds). Concession stands are priced fairly and offer drinks, ice cream, etc. RM45 (adult), RM35 (child).

See the respective district pages for more details.

Do

KL is the type of city where the first things that come to mind when you talking of doing anything is "shopping", both of which are adequately covered by the Eat and Buy sections.

Those activities aside, KL has its fair share of sporting opportunities such as golfing, cycling, running, jogging and even equestrian. If you’re into rock climbing, the Batu Caves in Northern Kuala Lumpur is a popular weekend haunt of those wanting to scale some heights. However, for anything more strenuous and challenging, you’re better of heading to other spots in country.

Malaysia is trying to encourage greater cultural expression, and Kuala Lumpur has several good theatres and places for performances, such as the National Theatre (Istana Budaya) and KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) in the northern part of the city, the KL Philharmonic in KLCC, and the Actors Studio in Bangsar.

You can also get a good dosage of pampering in Kuala Lumpur. For those in search of spas, there are several five-star hotel-connected as well as independent treatment centres in the Golden Triangle. You will also find heaps of reflexology and foot massage places everywhere but especially in Bukit Bintang in the Golden Triangle and Chinatown.

Kuala Lumpur also has many theme parks around the city and in the surrounding cities. The most famous of these parks is Sunway Lagoon in the neighbouring city of Subang Jaya. The theme park has rides, a huge waterpark, an extreme park for adventure junkies, a scream park for those wanting a good scare, and a petting zoo for the kids. Sunway Lagoon is a 40 minute drive from central Kuala Lumpur in good traffic and can be reached by bus or taxi.

Volunteer

If you are taking an extended trip consider spending a week or more volunteering.

- Nur Salam (Chow Kids), No. 24A-B Jalan Chow Kit, +60 3 4045 4021, [37]. Volunteer with the street kids of Chow Kit (KL) to "help improve the quality of life for the children of Chow Kit whose parents are usually former and current drug addicts & sex workers in Kuala Lumpur". Chow Kids offers training for volunteers who wish to spend any amount of time interacting and helping these deserving children.

- Zoo Negara, Hulu Kelang, Ampang, Selangor, +60 3 4108 22219 (education@zoonegaramalaysia.my), [38]. Love animals? Volunteer at the National Zoo - Zoo Negara outside the city. Simply fill out the Volunteer Form on the website and show up for a shift at the zoo in a variety of areas. Check out their volunteer website for more information.

Buy

Shopping in Kuala Lumpur is one of travel's greatest pleasures! Kuala Lumpur alone has 66 shopping malls and it is the retail and fashion hub for Malaysia. Goods are available in every price bracket.

Suria KLCC is one of Malaysia's premier shopping destinations due to its location beneath the Petronas Twin Towers.

Kuala Lumpur's premier shopping district, the Bukit Bintang area in the Golden Triangle, resembles Tokyo's Ginza, New York's Fifth Avenue and Singapore's Orchard Road and has the highest concentration of shopping outlets in Kuala Lumpur, which cater to varying budgets. Bukit Bintang, which is part of the Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, spans over 3 roads, namely Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail. It houses various cafes, alfresco (open air) dining outlets and shopping complexes such as Berjaya Plaza, Berjaya Times Square, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Imbi Plaza, Kuala Lumpur Plaza, Lot 10, Low Yat Plaza, Pavilion KL, Starhill Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is a recent addition to the cluster of shopping malls in this area and houses a wide range of international retail brands in an ultra-modern complex. Fans of electronic gadgets would delight in the multitude of choices at Low Yat Plaza, whilst shoppers hunting for the latest in affordable Asian style should definitely check out Berjaya Times Square and Bukit Bintang / Sungei Wang Plaza. It is also the location of the largest single department store in Malaysia, SOGO Kuala Lumpur which is located at a landmark site on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, one of the best known shopping streets for locals in Kuala Lumpur.

Several popular malls lie outside the Golden Triangle. The Bangsar and Midvalley areas are home to some of the best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, namely the MidValley Megamall and the adjacent upmarket The Gardens, the more cozy Bangsar Village and Bangsar Shopping Center in Bangsar. The Damansara area north-west of Kuala Lumpur, though not in the city-proper, it is one of the high concentration of shopping outlets in Kuala Lumpur. It houses various shopping malls like The Curve, e@Curve, Ikano Power Centre, IKEA, Cathay Multi Screen Cinemas, Courts Megastore, NiuXehSui Ara Damansara and 1 Utama (one of the top shopping centres in Malaysia).

There are also many shopping malls in the neighbouring towns of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. Sunway Pyramid Megamall [39] in Petaling Jaya is very nicely designed, and it is worth making the trip down to have a look even if you don't plan to buy anything.

Despite the onslaught of malls, Kuala Lumpur still offers some Asian tradition with traditional shopping streets and markets. The best area for such shopping is Chinatown in the City Center. This district is also the best place to hunt for souvenirs, especially in Central Market, a former produce market which has been converted into an art and craft market. It is also known as Pasar Seni in Malay.

The Little India near Jalan Masjid India offers various fabric for use. Most of the fabrics are imported from countries like Indonesia, India and China while some are locally produced. Indonesian traditional batik and songket are traditional fabric commonly found in Central Market. For greater satisfaction choose the hand made ones. You may be interested to buy ready made baju kurung or baju kebaya (the traditional Malay blouse). For peace of mind, buy from the bigger stores. Some Thai handicrafts are also sold here, alongside handmade Malaysian wooden souvenirs.

Since 2000, the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia has kick-started the mega sale event for all shopping in Malaysia. The mega sale event is held thrice in a year—in March, May and December—where all shopping malls are encouraged to participate to boost Kuala Lumpur as a leading shopping destination.

Shopping Malls

Bukit Bintang

- Berjaya Times Square - Its currently the 13th biggest shopping mall in the world boasting 12 levels of retail with a total of 320,000 m² (3,5 million ft²). Although initially aimed at the upper-echelon of society. It is currently positioned as a middle-class shopping mall offering youth fashion targeted at the younger crowds. For entertainment, it has the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia located on the 7th floor of the building, it also offers an exciting cinematic experience with its 3D-Imax theater located on the top floor of the retail podium.

- Starhill Gallery - Starhill Gallery is probably the ritziest and luxurious mall in the whole of Kuala Lumpur alongside KLCC. A Louis Vuitton flagship outlet flank the exterior facade of this grand structure. Renowned fashion houses whether Gucci, Fendi, Valentino you name it, It can all be found here. There is a Food Galore on the Lower Ground floor which renders an excellent culinary experience in a cosy setting that exudes grandeur.

- Pavillion KL [40] - Built in late 2007, it is targeted at the middle-upper segment of society. It offers a diverse tenant mix which makes it one of the most successful malls in Kuala Lumpur. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur contains over 450 retail shops that are spread across seven levels. Parkson, Tangs, Golden Screen Cinemas and Harvey Norman are the anchor tenants of this mammoth 7-storey retail podium. There are a number of double-storey flagship stores, of which some are street-front fashion boutiques which constitute the shopping mall, such as Burberry Prosum, Esprit (occupies four floors), Gucci, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Juicy Couture, Prada, Versace and others. There are several fashion and luxury goods boutiques that encompass a large portion of the mall's retail floor area. Labels such as Paul Frank, Juicy Couture, Kiehl's, Thomas Pink, YSL, Jean Paul Gaultier, Zegna, Dianie Von Furstenburg, Bebe and Shanghai Tang opened their first stores in Malaysia within this shopping mall. Several eateries and cafés also exist in the shopping mall like fast food restaurants, coffeehouse chains and a Food Republic food court. Malaysia's previous prime minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad opened his very own bakery here located strategically at the entrance.

- Fahrenheit 88 - Renamed and refurbished, now again open for business but as of October 2010 still many unopened stores, previously the deteriorating KL Plaza. Poised to be the new hub for the hip and trendy of Kuala Lumpur, consisting of 300,000 square feet of lettable space spread over 5 levels of zoned shopping space. There are designated zones for Japanese and Korean fashion consisting of an entire floor each. It is widely speculated that Swedish-fashion chain H&M and Japanese Uniql and Muji will make their Malaysian debut here in the coming Fall.

- Lot 10 - When opened in 1991, it was considered the Harrods-equivalent of Malaysia housing designer outlets like Aigner and Versace. Over the span of 2 decades, time has however taken a toll on this unique landmark mall which boasts a green facade. Nowadays it is widely-reckoned as a middle-class retail destination as most outlets have shifted as a result of competition and degradation. In 2009, Nicholai by Nicky Hilton and William Rast by Justin Timberlake opened their flagship stores to cater to the Malaysian market after widespread refurbishment to the mall at a cost of RM20 million. Debenhams also made a comeback in Bukit Bintang by opening a 3 floor departmental store here for the people living here in early 2010. Its roof boasts a Garden in the City concept featuring concept restaurants and trendy bars, designer clubs and a spanking new California Fitness gym designed none-other than Yuhkichi Kawai of Super Potatoes. If food is your thing, this is heaven. A cornucopia of Malaysia's best food is located on the lower-ground, its food court Hutong is just awesome.

- Low Yat Plaza - Also another veteran on Bintang Walk it remains the ultimate one-stop centre when shopping for electronic gadgets. The ratio between IT outlets and F&B outlets are 70:30. Do not let its fading white-hues fool you as it has a wide range of electronic goods selling at bargain prices considering the ringgit's sub-par value. Do not always be fooled by the pricing as some unscrupulous sellers may have switched original components of devices with fakes. Verify before purchasing.

- Sungei Wang Plaza - Despite being 30 years old, it remains a 100%-occupancy mall with the highest visiting traffic in Malaysia, though visitors more towards the younger crowd. It features trendy fashion at bargain prices. Shirts/tops ranging from RM15 (US$5) and RM50(US15). This is THE place for the stylish and sassy bargain-hunters. The focal point of youthful, to some, outlandish self-expression, this is the place where goths and cross-dressers roam without looking out of place.

Jalan Ampang

- Suria KLCC [41] - Suria KLCC is one of Malaysia's premier shopping destinations due to its location beneath the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It is located on 6 floors, with anchor tenants Isetan, Parkson, Kinokuniya, Tanjong Golden Village, Signatures Food Court, Marks & Spencer, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Suria is the native Malaysian word for Sunshine. It was opened on August 31, 1999. It houses mostly luxury and fashionable shops, as well as cafes, restaurants, a 12 screen cinema, a concert hall, an art gallery, and a Science Discovery Centre, over 6 floors. It is almost directly underneath the Petronas Twin Towers, the third tallest buildings in the world (and the tallest twin towers). It is one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations.

- Great Eastern Mall - Great Eastern Mall is located at Jalan Ampang which adjoined with the Menara Great Eastern. Great Eastern Mall Amidst the embassy community, Great Eastern Mall is primed to be the favourite neighbourhood mall that offers a 'fine lifestyle and relaxation' shopping experience.

- Ampang Park [42] - Ampang Park is recognised as one of Malaysia's first shopping centres and is located located near Suria KLCC, in Kuala Lumpur. The complex is accessible with the Kelana Jaya Line via the Ampang Park station, which is located after the KLCC Station. The train station is located opposite the shopping complex. Ampang Park is on the northern outskirts of the Golden Triangle and has clothes and jewellery shops, and money changers. It is also known as the place to go for top to toe Malay fashion and is usually packed during Hari Raya. It also houses shops dealing in electrical and electronic equipment.

- Avenue K [43] - Avenue K is located on Jalan Ampang, opposite Kuala Lumpur City Centre. With its bold tagline, "style has a new address", the complex is a hip shopping haven complimented by a classy, city-living address, "K Residence". Avenue K aims to create a "shopping culture, where lifestyle, aesthetic and social elements converge." It boasts internationally acclaimed fashion brands.

Bangsar

- Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof - Better known as BSC, this mini shopping centre is a favourite among expats and the locals staying around the Bangsar & Damansara Heights neighbourhood. Plenty of cafes & restaurants - a good spot to meet up with friends. BSC also features speciality stores plus the Cold Storage Supermarket.

- Bangsar Village, Jalan Ara - This is another favourite with those staying around Bangsar & Damansara Heights neighbourhood. Bangsar Village 2 is linked to the original Bangsar Village by a covered pedestrian bridge.

Midvalley

- Mid Valley Megamall [44] - This really is "mega" with over 430 shops crammed into what claims to be one of South-East Asia's largest shopping malls. Anchor tenants include big department stores and hypermarkets such as Malaysian arm of AEON Japan called Jusco, local store Metrojaya and French hypermarket Carrefour. If you need to change money, the lower ground floor has several money changers. The Megamall is connected to the upmarket The Gardens at Mid Valley. (KTM Komuter: Mid-Valley)

- The Gardens at Mid Valley [45] - This mall is anchored by a high-end shopping gallery (anchor tenants include Isetan, Robinson's, Marks & Spencer, GSC Signature and Market Place), two landmark office towers, five-star Gardens Residences and five-star Gardens Hotel. The mall will be linked to the Abdullah Hukum LRT station in 2012 giving additional access option to shoppers. (KTM Komuter: Mid-Valley)

Eat

Malaysians are obsessed with food and it is hardly surprising that as the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur reflects this love affair with eating. You'll be able to find the entire range of Malaysian cuisine (although some, especially those from Penang, argue that what you get Kuala Lumpur is not the best) as well as food from around the world.

As far as the budget is concerned, you can eat fairly well for fairly little in Kuala Lumpur. Just head to the roadside stalls and what Malaysians call coffeeshops (kedai kopi) - a shop which operates like a food court with many stalls selling a variety of food (some of them are halal and some non-halal, Chinese coffee shops usually serve non-halal) . Some coffeeshops offer streetside dining by placing their tables on the sidewalks of roads. Coffeeshops are found on virtually every street in Kuala Lumpur, but Chinatown (especially Jalan Sultan, Jalan Hang Lekir and Jalan Petaling) in the City Center and Jalan Alor in the Golden Triangle have some of the greatest concentration of coffeeshops and stalls. They mostly open only at night.

Rivaling the coffeeshops in terms of numbers, as well as the price of food, are what Malaysians call "Mamak shops" - food outlets run by Indian Muslims. They can also be found at almost every street corner in Kuala Lumpur. The food is of course halal (food permissible by Muslim law, much like kosher for the Jewish tradition). The streetside version, called the "Mamak stall" is also popular. One famous collection of streetside Mamak stalls is at Jalan Doraisamy near the Heritage Row (see Tuanku Abdul Rahman page). The most popular food is the 'roti canai'.

Food courts in shopping malls can also provide you with a good opportunity to sample Malaysian food in more hygienic conditions, although the prices will be a little higher than coffeeshops.

Lot 10 shopping mall in the Golden Triangle has a collection of 20 street vendors who were invited to relocate in the food court. While there are some international choices, the specialty here is Chinese.

Kuala Lumpur has a good number of restaurants, some of them offering better food than others. The Golden Triangle, Bangsar and Midvalley, Heritage Row and some areas in Damansara and Hartamas are the usual places for people looking for a restaurant meal. Beware that most restaurants close by 10 PM, so you will probably need to look for street food if you are hungry at night. the street food stalls are getting better during the late night than before.

In terms of ethnicity, Malay food can be found in Jalan Masjid India, Chow Kit and Kampung Baru areas in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district.Chinatown is the best place to search for Chinese (especially Cantonese) food, although all kinds of Chinese cuisine, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, can be found all over Kuala Lumpur. Head to Lebuh Ampang in the City Center and Brickfields for Indian food. Bangsar has many high-end restaurants offering Western food. If you are dying for Korean food, head to Ampang Jaya. A lot of Arab and Middle Eastern restaurants have mushroomed in Bukit Bintang, Cyberjaya and Damai.

Drink

Kuala Lumpur has quite a vibrant night-life and the Golden Triangle is the epicentre of most of the partying which goes on in the city. Jalan P. Ramlee, just south of KLCC, is Kuala Lumpur's central clubbing area, while the action also spills onto Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Pinang and Jalan Perak. Nearby Bukit Bintang also throbs with action, and its neon-lit nightclubs, many of them with hostesses, certainly have a more Asian feel to them.

Heritage Row, in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district, is fast catching up as a popular nightspot. It occupies a row of refurbished colonial-era shop houses and is now home to one of Kuala Lumpur's swankiest clubs and trendy bars. Strictly for well heeled visitors and locals. It is on Jalan Doraisamy just off Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Dang Wangi.

Bangsar has long been one of the busiest places in Kuala Lumpur after the sun goes down. The action is around Jalan Telawi and its side streets, and is definitely the place to go for clubbing and deafening music.

Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara in the Damansara and Hartamas district have popular pubs and some clubs as well as nice coffee places. You may be able to find live performances in some of the outlets.

After a tiring night out, Malaysians like to head to Mamak stalls - streetside stalls or shops operated by Indian Muslims - which offer a range of non-alcoholic beverages like teh tarik (frothed tea) and light food. In fact, these stalls have also become night hangouts in their own right, and many outlets have installed wide-screen projectors and TV where they screen football matches. Most outlets are open 24 hours. They are found all over the city and are a wonderful part of the Malaysian night scene.

Another trend that has hit Malaysia is the kopitiam fad, a more upmarket version of the traditional Chinese coffeeshop. These mostly open during the day and offer some of the best tea and coffee and light meals and snacks like nasi lemak (coconut flavoured rice with fried anchovies and peanut) and the ever popular toast with kaya (coconut curd, used as a spread). If you prefer Western style coffee, there are many coffee outlets in Kuala Lumpur: most of them are part of international and local chains like Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and San Francisco Coffee. Most of them can be found in shopping malls.

Sleep

Kuala Lumpur's budget accommodation can be found everywhere where a dormitory bed for the night can be as little as RM20 (USD7). Increasingly, newer & better ones are opening in the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman / Chow Kit and Jalan Ipoh areas, the so-called growth areas in the city centre. An example is the Tune Hotel on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Chow Kit area).

If you are arriving on the overnight buses (arriving at 4:00 a.m.) from the east coast islands, buses will stop at Hentian Putra in the Chow Kit area.

Mid-range hotels are comparatively poor value in Kuala Lumpur, and it is worth it to spend a little extra (or look a little harder) for a true luxury hotel on the cheap. Kuala Lumpur is one of the world's cheapest places to experience 5 star luxury, with rooms available for as little as RM400 (US$130).

Please see the individual Kuala Lumpur district pages of a list of places to stay.

Contact

Internet cafés are quite plentiful in Kuala Lumpur and you can find them in most shopping centres. If you have your own laptop, Maxis' [46] WLAN service is the best deal around, a prepaid RM15 card gets you unlimited use for 2 weeks. Few hotels in Kuala Lumpur offer Internet access in their rooms. However, some hotels around the KL Sentral station have LAN cables with Internet access in the rooms. Furthermore, many hotels offer free wifi access in their lobbies. Free wifi access is also available from many dining establishments and shopping complexes in the city

- Malaysia Tourism Centre (MTC), 109 Jalan Ampang (between KLCC and Dang Wangi), [47]. Formerly MATIC, this tourist information centre has a wealth of information on Malaysia, occasional cultural shows, surly staff and semi-crippled but free PCs for browsing the Net.

- Starbucks Coffee Company: selected outlets in Kuala Lumpur (including KL Sentral) have partnered with the Time telecommunications company to provide free Zone wifi service to customers who have wifi equipped laptops or PDAs. Outlets which do not have free Zone wifi usually have commercial WLAN services such as Maxis' WLAN in its place.

- Coffeebean, free wifi in all Coffeebean outlets, you just ask for the password when you order.

- Air Asia Counter in KL Sentral Several computers with internet access are available for you to check out the Air Asia website (and maybe glance at your e-mail or the news quickly)

Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates

- Argentina Embassy, 3, Jl. Semantan Dua, +60 3 255 0176, +60 3 2552564.

- Australian High Commission, 6 Jl. Yap Kwan Seng, +60 3 21465555, [48].

- Austria Embassy, Wisma Goldhill, Suite 10.10-01, Level 10, 67, Jl. Raja Chulan, +60 3 2057 8969, [49].

- Bangladesh High Commission, Blok 1, Lorong Damai 7, Jl. Damai, +60 3 2148 7940, +60 3 2142 3271, +60 3 2142 2505, [50].

- Belgium High Commission, Suite 10-02, 10th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, Letter Box N 10-02 207, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2162 0025, [51].

- Brazil High Commission, Suite 20-01, 20th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2171 1420, [52].

- Brunei Darussalam High Commission, No. 19-01, Tingkat 19, Menara Tan & Tan, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2161 2800.

- Cambodia Embassy, 83/JKR 2809, Lingkungan U Thant, +60 3 4257 1150.

- Canada High Commission, 17th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 27183333, [53].

- People's Republic of China Embassy, 229, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2163 6815 (extension: 102,103,104,105,106), [54]. Also handles Hong Kong/Macau visas.

- Croatia Embassy, 3, Jalan Mengkuang, Off Jl. Ru, Off Jalan Ampangr, +60 3 42535340.

- Czech Embassy, 32, Jalan Mesra, Off Jl. Damai, +60 3 2142 7185, +60 3 2141 3205, [55].

- Denmark Embassy, Wisma Denmark, Denmark House, 22nd floor, 86 Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2032 2001, [56].

- Finland Embassy, Wisma Chinese Chamber, 5th floor, 258 Jl. Ampang, +60 3 4257 7746, [57].

- French Embassy, 192-196, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2053 5561, [58].

- German Embassy, 26th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2170 9666, [59].

- Greek Consulate, 33rd Floor 340-33-1, Vista Damai 340, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2775 2388.

- India High Commission, 2, Jl. Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, +60 3 2093 3510, [60].

- Indonesian Embassy, 233, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2116 4000, [61].

- Iranian Embassy, No. 1, Lorong U Thant Satu, +60 3 4251 5576.

- Irish Embassy, Ireland House, The Amp Walk, 218 Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2161 2963, [62].

- Italian Embassy, 99, Jl. U Thant, +60 3 4256 5122, +60 3 4256 5228, [63].

- Japanese Embassy, 11, Persiaran Stonor, Off Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 4256 5122, +60 3 2177 2600, [64].

- DPR Korea (North Korea) Embassy, 4, Persiaran Madge, Off Jl. U Thant, +60 3 4256 9913, +60 3 4251 6713.

- Republic of Korea (South Korea) Embassy, No. 9 and 11, Jl. Nipah, Off Jalan Ampang, +60 3 4251 2336, +60 3 4251 5797.

- Kuwait Embassy, 229, Jalan Tun Razak, +60 3 2142 1062.

- Laos Embassy, No. 12 A, Persiaran Madge, Off Ampang Hilir, +60 3 4251 1118.

- Maltese Consulate, No. 51-3, 2nd Floor, Feisco Suite, Kompleks Udarama, Jl. 2/64A, Off Jalan Ipoh, +60 3 4042 3618, [65].

- Mexico Embassy, Menara Tan & Tan, 22nd Floor, 207 Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2164 6362, [66].

- Myanmar Embassy, 8c Jl. Ampang Hilir, +60 3 42516355.

- Nepal Embassy, Suite 13A.01, 13th A Floor, Wisma MCA, 163 Jl. Ampang, +6 03 2164 5934, +60 3 2164 9656, [67].

- Netherlands Embassy, 7th Floor, South Block, The Ampwalk, 218, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2168 6200, [68].

- New Zealand High Commission, Level 21, Menara IMC, 8 Jl. Sultan Ismail, +60 3 2078 2533, [69].

- Royal Norwegian Embassy, 53 Floor, Empire Tower, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2175 0300, [70].

- Pakistan High Commission, 132, v Ampang, +60 3 2161 8877, +60 3 2161 8878, +60 3 2161 8879.

- The Philippines Embassy, 1, Changkat Kia Peng, +60 3 2148 9989, +60 3 2148 4233, +60 3 2148 4682, +60 3 2148 4654, +60 3 2142 1508, [71].

- Embassy of the Republic of Poland (Ambasada RP), No. 9, Lorong Damai 9 ((off Jl. Damai)), +60 3 2161 0780, +60 3 2161 0805.

- Russia Embassy, 263, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 4256 0009, +60 3 4256 7252, [72].

- Royal Saudi Arabia Embassy, 4th Floor, Wisma Chinese Chamber, 258 Jl. Ampang, +60 3 4257 9831, +60 3 4257 9433, +60 3 4257 9825, [73].

- Singapore High Commission, 209, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2161 6277, [74].

- South African High Commission, Suite 22,01 Level 22, Menara HLA, No. 3 Jl. Kia Peng, +60 3 2170 2400, +60 3 2168 8663, +60 3 2161 7629, [75].

- Spanish Embassy, 200, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2148 4868, +60 3 2148 4655, +60 3 2142 8776.

- Sri Lanka High Commission, 12 Jl. Keranji Dua, Off Jalan Kedondong, Ampang Hilir, +60 3 4256 8987, +60 3 4257 1394, [76].

- Sweden Embassy, Wisma Angkasa Raya, 6th floor, 123 Jl. Ampang, +60 3 2052 2550, [77].

- Switzerland Embassy, 16, Pesiaran Madge, +60 3 2148 0622, +60 3 2148 0751, +60 3 2148 0639, +60 3 2142 8766, [78].

- Royal Thai Embassy, 206, Jl. Ampan, +60 3 214 88222, +60 3 2148 8350, +60 3 2148 8420, +60 3 2145 8004, [79].

- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Level 7, Menara Yayasan Tun Razak, 200 Jl. Bukit Bintang, +60 3 2161 4439, [80].

- Turkey Embassy, 118, Jl. U Thant, +60 3 4257 2225, +60 3 4257 2226.

- United Arab Emirates Embassy, 12, Jl. Kenanji 2, +60 3 4253 5221, +60 3 4253 5420.

- British High Commission, 185, Jl. Ampang, +60 3 21702200, [81].

- United States Embassy, 376, Jl. Tun Razak, +60 3 2168 5000, [82].

- Vietnam Embassy, 4, Persiaran Stonor, +60 3 2148 4036, +60 3 2141 4692, +60 3 2148 4534.

Respect

Kuala Lumpur is ostensibly a liberal city and wearing revealing clothes will rarely cause major problems. However, avoiding overly revealing clothes goes a long way towards blending in.

Many mosques and temples require covering up, and you will get more respect from officialdom if you dress up a little. Many places of worship including all mosques will require you to take your shoes off before entering.

When eating with hands rather than cutlery, do not eat with the left hand in public as it is considered impolite.

If you can speak just a few words of the four main local languages, namely Malay, Chinese (especially Cantonese), Tamil and English. It will ingratiate you a lot with the locals.

Also, while you may drink in pubs, restaurants and bars, public drunkenness is not tolerated. You will be more vulnerable to getting robbed or will find yourself in the back seat of a police car.

Stay healthy

Tap water in Kuala Lumpur is heavily chlorinated and thus safe, but unfortunately the pipes that carry it may not be. Most locals boil or filter it before use; alternatively, bottled water is cheap and ubiquitous.

There is no malaria in the city, but dengue fever can be a problem at times, so take precautions against mosquitoes.

Between May and October, Kuala Lumpur is occasionally shrouded in dense haze from forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo, which can be a health concern for asthmatics and pretty unpleasant for everybody. However, the haze comes and goes, and varies greatly from year to year: it was terrible in 2006, but non-existent in 2007, and had started again in 2008.

Stay safe

Crime is not rampant in Kuala Lumpur. The perception of crime is high, but in recent years the Malaysian police have managed to reduce crime significantly in and around urban Kuala Lumpur. Reports of violent crime against foreigners are uncommon but instances of pickpocketing and bag snatching have risen in recent years. Kuala Lumpur is considered a very safe city for travellers (very often, it is locals who are targets of a crime), but do be wary of over-friendly locals trying to con you. In recent years, City Hall has increased the amount of foot and car patrols by policemen in Kuala Lumpur. It's also common in the daytime to see traffic police on the streets in the city centre. Tourist police have also set up police booths and maintain frequent foot patrol in the tourist areas of the city particularly around the Golden Triangle area with its greater density of hotels, shopping malls, foreign tourists, and locals. There are also scattered regular roadblocks in and around KL at night set up by the police to do checks on illegal racing, drunk driving, and general transport misdemeanors.

Generally, it is safe and rewarding to walk in the city but caution must still be exercised, especially if walking alone or in a small group. Beware of snatch thieves who are known to be rather ruthless. It is not uncommon to hear of women, particularly, being knocked unconscious by bag snatchers on motorbikes. It is probably better to let them have your bag than to be dragged several metres and risk injury. Keep a close eye on your valuables in crowds, especially street markets and public transport (especially during rush hour), and hold your bag on the side away from the street if there are motorbikes around to avoid 'bag snatching'. Try not to wear any flashy jewelry in the first place. If you don't have to wear it, it's best not to. Care must also be taken with any alleyways or parking grounds that appear to be dark and deserted. Petty thieves with knives or sometimes even small firearms might mug you, especially at night.

When it rains the pavements and streets turn into small rivers and crossing a street can be an adventure. Many pavements in Kuala Lumpur become as slippery as ice when wet so it is advisable to wear proper footwear (such as sneakers) if there is a chance of rain.

Be careful of the poker scam run by Filipinos pretending to be locals. They normally target lone tourists around the popular touristic places. It starts with a friendly approach, and you will end up at their homes at the pretext of trying to get firsthand information of your home country. You will then be invited to play poker and will eventually accumulate losses. You will then be made to pay up with cash or jewellery purchases. Never go to someone's house if you meet that person on holiday.

Also, some have been duped through couchsurfing and ended up being similarly scammed.

The bogus cop scam is usually run by Middle-Easterners. You will be stopped by "plain-clothed police officers" on the pretext of checking your travel documents. You will be brought to a secluded area in the process and made to handover your wallet. Should you be stopped, you have the right to insist that you be taken to the nearest police station before saying/showing anything.

Taxis are generally safe, but they often refuse to use the meter and a few cabbies will gouge tourists mercilessly. If they refuse to use the meter, then take another taxi, as by law they are required to use the meter. However, if you are desperate to use that taxi, always agree on the fare in advance, and try to get an estimate of the cost from a local before you climb on board. Many also pretend to not know your hotel and will bring you to their preferred hotels by saying that your hotel is in a bad area, closed or far. A good idea would be to buy a public transport map and get well acquainted with the locations of stations, train times, etc. If you can use a train or bus to get to a place, it would be cheaper and safer to do so.

Also watch out for counterfeit banknotes (such as RM50) given as change by a dishonest taxi-driver: the easiest way to tell being to hold it up to the light to see the continuous silver strip. If in doubt, avoid and refuse RM100 notes.

Malaysian law requires that visitors carry their passport at all times, and both police and "RELA" (civil volunteers) carry out spot checks for illegal immigrants.

Locals are very friendly to the tourists, and many in Kuala Lumpur can speak decent English. Communication with the locals is almost as easy as it is in Singapore and significantly better than that of Bangkok, especially in terms of understanding people's pronunciation. Greet them well with warm smile and they will be happy to show you around. Be friendly: if you are lost, just ask anyone smartly dressed on the street.

Get out

- Genting Highlands, 40 min by road using the East Coast Highway, has cooler weather, theme parks for the kids and a casino for the adults.

- Putrajaya, Malaysia's megalomanic new federal administrative centre is 30 km to the south (20 min by train called KLIA Transit) along the way to the airport.

- Kuala Selangor, 1 hr north-west of Kuala Lumpur, is notable for its fireflies that flash in unison, and seafood restaurants.

- Taman Negara National Park, The largest national park on Peninsular Malaysia, known for its excellent jungle trekking and wide variety of birds and insects.

- Sungai Tekala Recreation Park, located 40 min south of Kuala Lumpur (near Hulu Langat District's Semenyih Dam) is a favourite recreation park with comfortable jungle trekking in concrete steps and natural waterfalls suitable for families.