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Sightseeing Overview
The city’s traffic system can still be a logistical nightmare for congested rush hour commuters, but it is increasingly handy for tourists with a number of rail and monorail options in the city center that make navigating the sprawling city much easier. The real pleasure, though, is walking around, savouring the sights and sounds of this colorful city.

The heart of Kuala Lumpur is around Datran Merdeka (Independence Square) and this open space makes a good starting point for a city tour. The Royal Selangor Club sits on the square and is an excellent example of colonial architecture, while the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (the seat of the high and supreme courts) is an intriguing mix of Victorian and Moorish architecture.

Elsewhere around the city, in striking contrast to the British-built architecture, are the stunning Masjid Negara (National Mosque) and Masjid Jamek (Friday Mosque). The ornate Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is something of a hybrid of the two, looking more like a dreamy Moorish palace than a transport hub. These days, it no longer functions as an important railway station, giving it a lost, old world feel that definitely merits a visit.

Those looking to get an insight into the layout of the city should ascend to either the observation level of the Petronas Towers or the viewing platform at the Menara Observation Tower. The latter is a better option as it gives 360-degree views that include the Petronas Towers from its hilltop position. Menara also has a restaurant, a cafe and a small museum.

KL’s harmonious ethnic diversity is one of its greatest charms and a visit to the divergent areas of the city is essential. Chinatown, with its traditional shops and lively night market, Little India and the art deco Central Market, which showcases cultural displays and Malaysian arts and crafts, all shed light on their respective communities.

The main attractions in the Golden Triangle business, hotel and shopping district are the towering Petronas Towers themselves, the KLCC Park, the fashionable and vibrant Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail.

An unlikely newcomer on the tourist route is the western suburb of Bangsar Baru. Located a short journey from Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, the pavement cafes of Bangsar are popular with visitors and locals alike and are increasingly becoming the place to see and be seen.

Further out from the city, you can visit the new administrative city of Putrajaya and the hi-tech city of Cyberjaya can be visited on day tours, offering a fascinating insight into town planning on a grand scale.

Tourist Information
Malaysia Tourism Center (MTC)
109 Jalan Ampang
Tel: (03) 9235 4800.
Website: www.tourism.gov.my
Opening hours: Daily 0800-2200.

The main tourist office looks more like a tourist resort than an information center. There are restaurants and craft shops but unfortunately the commercialism continues to the desk staff, who are often more interested in organizing guided tours or trips around the country rather than dispensing useful information about the city. There are additional tourist information offices in Plaza Putra (on the southern edge of Independence Square) and at KLIA.

Passes
There are no tourist passes currently available in Kuala Lumpur.

Key Attractions:

Masjid Jamek (Friday Mosque)
The Friday Mosque, the city’s oldest built in 1909, is situated astride the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers (at the point where the first Europeans scrambled ashore) and is one of the most stunning and popular sights in the city. The best time to visit is at sunset or during the muezzin’s call to prayer, which echoes around the ornate domes and palm trees, lending the mosque an air of calm amongst the skyscrapers. When visiting any of Kuala Lumpur’s mosques, it is essential to dress conservatively and remove footwear.

Jalan Tun Perak
Tel: (03) 2691 2829.
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1330 and 1430-1800.
Free admission.

Masjid Negara (National Mosque)
The National Mosque is a modern mosque, built in 1965, which gleams every bit as brilliantly as any of Kuala Lumpur’s skyscrapers. The main dome is molded in the shape of an 18-point star to represent the 13 states of Malaysia and the five central Pillars of Islam. The huge main prayer hall can hold up to 10,000 worshippers, although this section of the mosque is closed to non-worshippers. To the rear is a mausoleum holding the remains of some of Malaysia’s most revered sons.

Jalan Perdana
Tel: (03) 2693 7784.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1200, 1500-1600 and 1730-1830.
Free admission.

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
Veteran train traveller and writer Paul Theroux summed up this unique building when he called it ‘the grandest station in South East Asia’. The 1911 Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is an extraordinary architectural mélange - a kind of Walt Disney meets Moorish British colonialism. The riot of minarets, towers, arches and spires make starting or ending a journey here, or even just visiting the station, a breathtaking pleasure. Sadly trains no longer stop at the station and it is in the midst of a major renovation that will hopefully preserve its special character. It is due for completion at the end of 2009.

Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
Tel: (03) 2274 7410.
Website: www.keretapi.com/the-kuala-lumpur-railway-station.html
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Free admission.

Central Market
The blue and pink pastel art deco Central Market was built in 1936 and spent many years as the home of the city’s largest fresh produce market. Since 1986, the needs of tourism have taken over and the market has 130 arts and crafts shops with batik, pottery, woodcarvings and basketry amongst the highlights, as well as regular cultural performances both inside and on the riverside stage. Mercifully, some authentic Malaysian and Indian food outlets have managed to survive alongside the tourist-orientated eateries.

Jalan Hang Kasturi
Tel: (03) 2274 9966.
Website: www.centralmarket.com.my
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200.
Free admission.

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
For those with even a passing interest in Islamic art, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is an essential stop. Domestic Islamic architectural styles are well covered across the three floors of museum space and there are also scale models of the Taj Mahal and the Amir Timur Mausoleum. The Ottoman Room contains various artifacts from the days when this powerful Islamic empire threatened the gates of Vienna and the rest of Western Europe. The Al-Quran and Manuscripts Gallery boasts over 200 Islamic manuscripts. They also now have an on-site restaurant.

Jalan Lembah Perdana
Tel: (03) 2274 2020.
Website: www.iamm.org.my
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission charge.

Petronas Towers
Since its opening in 1997, the Petronas Towers has become one of the city’s main symbols. It is one of the world’s tallest buildings, looming into the heavens and often lost in cloud when the afternoon thunderstorms rumble in. Standing 452m (1,483ft) and 88 storys high, the building (designed by Cesar Pelli) consists of two similarly shaped towers joined by a 58m (192ft) Skybridge at the 41st and 42nd floors, which is open to visitors wanting to survey the city skyline. Petronas have also opened a Science Discovery Center packaged as PETROSAINS, which provides a fun and educational way for children to learn about both petroleum science and science in general.

Level 4, Suria KLCC
Tel: (03) 2382 8000.
Website: www.klcc.com.my
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200 (Skybridge Tues-Sun 0900-1900).
Admission charge.

Muzium Negara (National Museum)
Since 1963, the National Museum has been an essential stop for anyone interested in delving beyond the skyscrapers and discovering more about the rich history and culture of Malaysia. The exhibitions present the history of the country, while the building itself incorporates various different Malaysian architectural styles and craftwork from different parts of the nation.

Jalan Damansara
Tel: (03) 2282 6255. 
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800.
Admission charge.

Tugu Negara (National Monument)
The National Monument (an impressive brass sculpture designed by an American, cast in Italy and erected in Kuala Lumpur in 1966) is one of the world’s largest free-standing sculptures. The heroic soldiers depicted were engaged in ‘The Emergency’ in the 1950s, when Malaysia battled with communist insurgents.

Jalan Tugu, off Jalan Parlimenn
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Free admission.

Menara Kuala Lumpur
The dome topped, needle-like Menara Kuala Lumpur is one of the world’s tallest telecommunications towers and it offers fantastic 360-degree panoramic views over the city from its 276m- (905ft-) high observation deck. Built in 1996, the landmark sits atop a hill and affords visitors unique vistas of the soaring Petronas Towers. Other facilities at the tower include a revolving restaurant, cafes and a souvenir shop.

Jalan Punchak
Tel: (03) 2020 5444.
Website: www.menarakl.com.my
Opening hours: Daily 0900-2200.
Admission charge.

Further Distractions:

Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens)
The Lake Gardens date back as far as 1888, when the British colonials built their elegant houses around the landscaped gardens. Today, the focus of the 68-hectare (172-acre) oasis is the boating lake, but other highlights include the orchid garden with around 800 different varieties, the hibiscus garden with some 500 different species, the deer park, butterfly park and the bird park.

Jalan Parlimenn
Free admission.

Little India
Explore beyond the Malay mores that Kuala Lumpur wears so proudly on its sleeve and there are traces of a multitude of other cultures that blossom in the city, such as Little India. This historic district is full of colorful streets, especially Jalan Masjid India.

Jalan Masjid India

Millionaires Row
Known locally as either Millionaires Row or Ambassadors Row, Jalan Ampang is lined with the luxurious mansions of the old colonialists who grew rich on the wealth generated by the tin trade. Today, many of these dwellings have been converted into embassies and consulates, giving it its alternative name. Curiously, few visitors explore this area even though it gives a lucid insight into the embryonic years of the city.

Jalan Ampang

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