What can I do in Kuala Lumpur during a 48 hour layover?
If you are going to make a short layover you may be wondering: “What can I do in Kuala Lumpur in 48 hours?” Look no further! As the largest city in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is an exciting and interesting city in which to spend a short stay. The city’s beautiful historic buildings, glittering towering skyscrapers, exciting nightlife and chatty street vendors create a fun and enchanting party atmosphere. The food in Kuala Lumpur is excellent and there are landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves and the lush green aviaries at Tamang Burang to keep you entertained. Its most famous urban shopping district is Chinatown’s Golden Triangle, Bukit Bintang and Suria KLCC shopping mall and there are numerous amusement and water parks to keep the family busy. Let’s take a closer look at the city of Kuala Lumpur!
Must-see attractions
Reaching for the sky, the Petronas Twin Towers are probably the most famous landmark in Kuala Lumpur. They are the tallest twin buildings in the world and the tallest in Kuala Lumpur. At the *Batu Caves, you can see no less than six world-famous Hindu temples. The word “batu” means rock and the temples were built on the rock faces of Gombak. They are a very sacred place and the location of a shrine dedicated to the Hindu icon, Lord Murugan. It is also here that the annual Thaipusam festival takes place every year. The Sri Muruga statue depicts the Hindu god of war Kartikeya and is the tallest deity statue of a Hindu god in Malaysia and the third tallest in the world. It towers over visitors in awe and took almost three years to create!
The KL Tower offers a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the city and climbing the tower is the perfect way to take that special photo. Its height increases to an impressive 421 meters thanks to a long antenna and it is the seventh tallest tower in the world. The observation deck includes a revolving restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal. Beautiful architecture is everywhere in the city center, so take a selfie with the beautiful Masjid Jamek in the background, or smile in front of the colorful lanterns on the world-famous Petaling Street in Chinatown. Other great spots for a fantastic photo include the beautifully lit fountain at the Lake Symphony Show across from KLCC park and the Skybar at the Trader’s Hotel.
A must-visit for bird and nature lovers, Taman Burung is a large, lush aviary where visitors can see thousands of birds and hundreds of species. Around 200,000 visitors flock to this popular green space in the Bukit Aman greenbelt. You can find it next to the Jardines del Lago, near the National Mosque and the Royal Police Museum. Chinatown is one of the most popular and vibrant shopping districts in the city, with hundreds of shops and street vendors offering food, sweet desserts, colorful or spicy drinks and other products. Haggling is an acceptable way to get good deals on curios, crafts, and food like Hokkien mee or curry noodles. It’s also here that you’ll find the iconic Reggae Bar. Family-friendly amusement parks include Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, KidZania, and MinNature Exhibition Park, where you can find numerous miniature exhibits.
Local delicacies to try
Malaysia’s famous blue rice, Nasi Kerabu, is one of its most beloved dishes. It is usually served with egg, fried keropok (fish crackers), and chicken. If you like creamy dishes, try laksa curry made with coconut milk and laksa paste. Bak kut teh or pork rib soup is another traditional favorite, as is Hainanese chicken rice, which is usually served cold. The ever-present roti, satay kebabs and Nasi lemak, coconut milk rice with fried crispy anchovies, sambals, roasted peanuts and cucumber, are delicious. For dessert, there is Ais kacang, a green mixed ice. Apam balik is a buttery pancake that you can get at restaurants and street vendors. Kuih bahulu are small traditional shaped cakes that are baked in brass ramekins. They are available almost everywhere in the city and are usually shaped like flowers, fish or other animals. Wash it down with Teh Tarik (hot milk tea) or a “Dinosaur Milo”, an iced Milo or Milo and coffee drink.
Shops and street vendors throughout the city sell batik silk t-shirts, garments and sarongs. There are a variety of other nifty gifts and souvenirs to buy: handbags, tropical fruit chocolates, the ever-popular beaded crowns and patterned fabrics with gold or silver threads (called songket), or traditional women’s dresses called baju kurung that can be haggled on. . . The merchants also stock an excellent variety of artistic statues and jewelry made from pewter. In Kuala Lumpur, cigars, watches, chocolates, alcohol, cigarettes, photographic equipment, and watches are duty free. Many of these and other duty-free items can be found in both the Menara Tower and the KLCC shopping mall area. Don’t forget to stock up on your favorite instant noodles to take home with you so you can recreate your festive atmosphere in an authentic way!
