2 Days Itinerary in Kuala Lumpur

As a Singaporean, I’ve visited Kuala Lumpur (KL) countless times, but I’ve never really documented my adventures. So, here I am, setting out to capture the essence of this vibrant city, and I plan to update this blog as I continue to explore it more and more.

Arrival at KLIA

KLIA is a solid airport, complete with an airport mall where you can grab snacks and have breakfast.

My go-to spot is Oriental Kopi. It's famous for its nasi lemak and curry chicken, both very flavorful. If you have time, definitely head here for breakfast before going into the city!

Thean Hou Temple

First on the agenda is Thean Hou Temple, a stunning six-tiered temple nestled in the heart of KL. It’s a popular spot among Chinese Malaysians, and when I visited in the morning, it was already bustling with families snapping wedding photos.

The basement area houses a traditional Chinese marriage registration spot, which explains the wedding photo frenzy.

Since I visited close to Chinese New Year, there was a food festival at the foot of the temple, making the atmosphere even more vibrant.

I also spotted some urban sketchers scattered around trying to draw the temple’s beauty.

Lastly, I saw some people in cosplay. Not exactly sure what they were doing here, perhaps some sort of period-drama photoshoot?

Just as I was about to leave, I noticed some people placing crayon-like items on the ground.

Turns out, they were firecrackers!

The explosion was so loud (my mistake since I stood wayyy too close) that I thought I might have burst an eardrum—my ears were ringing for a good few minutes after, although I still managed to snap a photo.

Getting there:

Thean Hou Temple is near from KL’s central areas, but not very accessible via public transport. From KL Sentral, it’s about a 10-15 minute drive, Grab or taxi. However, if you’re planning to take public transport, the closest station is Bangsar LRT, which is then another 25 mins walk to Thean Hou.

Batu Caves

After Thean Hou temple, I called a Grab and headed north to the Batu Caves. From Google maps, Batu caves looks far from the main city, but it's honestly not. It's at the outskirts of KL and about a 30 min drive on Grab.

You can also take the KTM train but Grab in Malaysia is so affordable I'd recommend it over public transport.

This site is significant for the Tamil community and it features a large Tamil temple outside the cave and another one within.

The highlight of Batu Caves is actually the outside - the giant statue of Lord Murugan and the colorful rainbow stairs leading up into the cave.

As I climbed the stairs, I encountered plenty of monkeys. They can be quite bold, especially if they think you have food.

Tip: don’t provoke them! I saw some tourist almost getting bit by one of the monkeys.

My photos from Batu Caves seemed unusually crowded because I accidentally visited during the Thaipusam festivities. While the crowd was a bit overwhelming, witnessing the Tamil rituals and prayers was an unforgettable experience.

After climbing up the steps, I was greeted with an Indian temple inside a cavern. It's quite a sight to behold.

Pavilion Area

After Batu Caves, I moved on to the Pavilion area. This is KL’s shopping district, akin to Singapore’s Orchard Road or Bangkok’s Siam area. It’s filled with big malls and familiar chain stores like Uniqlo. Honestly, there’s not much here beyond the typical retail experience.

Petronas Twin Towers

The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are just a stone’s throw away from the Pavilion area. I’ve seen them several times, but I believe the best time to visit is at night when the towers are lit.

Unfortunately, during my last trip, I missed out on this due to a bout of food poisoning. I had been looking forward to catching the light show at night.

Best Places to Eat in KL

Here are some food spots I recommend from my many visits:

1. Char Siew Yoong: A hit with the locals, their char siew is charred and caramelized to perfection—super juicy and full of flavor.
2. Village Park Restaurant: Famous for its nasi lemak, the star here is the fried chicken, which is marinated and fried to crispy perfection.
3. Fantasy Valley Restaurant: Slightly outside the city, this family spot by the river serves fantastic seafood soup. I visited during a rainstorm, and the atmosphere was thrilling!
4. Zaini Satay: I have a fondness for charred food, and the satay at Zaini are superbly charred.

My Top 5 Things to Do in KL

1. Thean Hou Temple
2. Batu Caves
3. Twin Towers
4. Shopping around Pavilion
5. Food-hunting

Of course, these are suggestions based on my personal preferences.

Would I recommend visiting Kuala Lumpur?

To me, KL feels like a quintessential Southeast Asian urban center. It strikes a balance between modernity and a cultural tapestry of Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences. It’s not as polished (and sterilized) as Singapore, but it’s also not as frenetic as Bangkok.

How many days to stay in Kuala Lumpur?

Would I visit KL as a dedicated trip? Probably not. I honestly think you can tour Kuala Lumpur in 2 days if you want to.

Spending more days will be more comfortable as you can spend more time hunting food, but 2 days is sufficient for the main sights if you are in a rush.

I’d recommend KL as a short 2 days stint in a multi-city tour in Western Malaysia—think Malacca > KL > Cameron Highlands > Penang

Stay tuned as I continue to explore and document my adventures in this city!