If sleeping at the airport, eating over-priced food and lack of entertainment are not what you want out of your Kuala Lumpur stopover (let’s face it, who wants that?), then I’ve got you covered. KL is a common stopover city, especially if you’re flying from Australia and then on to another destination. You may find yourself with a spare 6-10 hours, sometimes even 24, which is more than enough time to sample some Malaysian cuisine and fit in some sightseeing. I personally stayed in Kuala Lumpur for three nights and left feeling as though a short stopover would suffice.

Turn your layover into time you can actually look forward to and follow this guide to making the most out of a limited amount of time in Malaysia’s capital!

Transport

To and from the airport:

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is the city’s main airport and is found about 50km from the hear of the city. In a hurry? Don’t stress as you can reach the city in half an hour via the express train. The line is also connected to the less frequented KLIA2 airport.

Cost: RM35 for a one way ticket (approximately AUD $11)

Your view from lunch at the KL Bird Park

Hop-On Hop-Off:

If you aren’t keen on the idea of navigating around the city in a short amount of time, the hop-on hop-off bus is a great option. The buses cover over 70 attractions and have a total of 23 stops that come and go every 20-30 minutes. If you’re coming from the airport, get off at KL Sentral where you’ll find a bus stop. It will drop you right in front of popular attractions like the Petronas Towers, KL Bird Park, markets and shopping malls!

Cost: The 24 hour option costs RM45 (about AUD $15) + you can find the tour map here.

KL Bird Park

Batu Caves

First up, head straight to one of KL’s most famed attractions - the Batu Caves. These towering limestone caves are seen as a national treasure and are practically run by the cheekiest of monkeys. Climb the many stairs and you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view over KL and look down upon the giant gold buddha. Your legs may be hating you at this point, but you can continue into the depths of the caves for more monkey photo opportunities!

Getting there: Take the train direct from KL Sentral to the Batu Caves stop.

Time needed: Approximately 1-1.5 hours.

Cost: The main cave has no cost.

Lepaq Lepaq

The heat may be getting to you at this point and to continue this busy day, of course you’ll want to rid yourself of hunger and thirst. What better place than the modern, sleek and quirky Lepaq Lepaq cafe! I ordered the ‘rainy day’ coffee. I imagine coffee in heaven is served like this; with a fairy floss cloud melting into a hot cup of coffee.

Getting there: From the Batu Caves, you can take a taxi for 25 minutes - just make sure you get a good price. It is a lot easier to get there by taxi as a train will set you back an hour or so. From the city centre, the taxi ride should only be a few minutes, though!

Time needed: About 30-45 minutes to soak up the aircon and take 500 photos of your food, drinks and the interiors!

Cost: A ‘rainy day’ coffee will set you back about RM12-15, I think! Find their Facebook page here.

Petronas Towers

Think of KL and these rocket-like towers may come to mind. Built in 1998, these stainless steel landmarks are set 88-storeys into the sky and are the tallest pair of towers in the world at 452 metres! If you’re thinking of getting up to the observation deck and Skybridge connection, think ahead of time as the majority of tickets sell out in advance. Being down on ground level and feeling quite minuscule against the towers is optimal for photo opportunities, anyway! Hopefully you arrive here in the afternoon to see them in both day light and lit up at night - both times of day are beautiful!

Venture inside the buildings to experience more of what KL is famous for; shopping. I spent quite a while shopping and savouring the aircon, as well.

Getting there: Take a train to KLCC Station

Cost: Tickets to go up the towers cost RM85 for adults + you can book them online here.

Time needed: 1-2 hours

Heli Lounge Bar

If you can think of a better way to end your layover in KL than sipping cocktails on a helipad with 360 degree views of the city, then let me know. My rooftop bar dreams were shot down by rain as the bad weather prevented us from going outside, but views from the bar window downstairs were still amazing. The bar is fittingly decked out with an aviation theme and cocktails are fruity and delicious.

Getting there: About a 15 minute walk from the Petronas Towers will lead you to the Menara KH building, though I suggest getting out your google maps. Take the elevator to the top and you’ll find the bar.

Time needed: About 1 hour

Opening hours: The helipad opens at 6, so get there just before to grab a drink and secure a good spot. It is closed on Sundays.

Accommodation

If you find yourself in KL overnight or just want a good rest between flights, I would highly recommend this Airbnb at the Regalia residence. This is, however, not ideally close to main attractions and the airport. It was one of the best apartments I’ve stayed in, though - large, luxurious and cheap! The highlight is quite obvious; the infinity pool with views of the skyline says it all.

Cost: $68 per night

WHAT DID YOU GET UP TO ON YOUR LAYOVER IN KUALA LUMPUR? DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS?

READ MORE OF MY MALAYSIA POSTS HERE