On our way from Singapore to Langkawi, we stopped over for one day in Kuala Lumpur. We had heard such great things about this city and were so excited to make the most of our layover despite our limited time. If you have less than 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur, we’re sharing our exact layover itinerary to show you how to maximize your time and see many of KL’s top attractions in just one day!
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Kuala Lumpur in One Day – What you need to know
Is one day in KL enough?
This is obviously subjective and depends on what you want to get out of your layover in KL. If you just want to see the top sights, then yes, I’d say one day is sufficient. However, if you really want to experience the culture, temples, and all the amazing food, then I’d say three days would be ideal.
We were happy with what we were able to experience in just one day, but really wish we had more time. KL is definitely a city we will be going back to so that we can experience even more of what it has to offer. The food, in particular, is something I’d love to have more time to enjoy!
What to wear in Kuala Lumpur
Considering the weather is hot and humid year-round, it is best to wear flowy, breathable fabrics. Also, since Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, you may want to dress a bit more conservatively. If you are visiting any of the temples or mosques, then obviously bring something to cover up with.
KL is very multicultural and I definitely felt like I could get away with showing more skin than in the Middle East. However, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to wear shorts, so I stuck with flowy capri pants. For men, shorts are fine, so Ryan was comfortable wearing his DriFit pair.
I did opt for a sleeveless top though and felt completely comfortable wearing that. I just brought along a thin scarf in my purse in case I needed to cover up.
As for shoes, wear some comfy sneakers so you can withstand a lot of walking!
What currency do they use in Kuala Lumpur?
The currency used in Kuala Lumpur is the Malaysian ringgit, abbreviated as RM. One ringgit is worth about $0.23 USD.
We withdrew some ringgit from an ATM at the train station when we arrived in Kuala Lumpur, but found we didn’t need a whole lot for our layover. The cash came in handy when paying for street food, but we were otherwise able to use our credit cards for most things.
What language do they speak in Kuala Lumpur?
The national language of Malaysia is Malay, but it is just one of many languages spoken in Kuala Lumpur, thanks to its multicultural diversity. English is widely spoken, and you’ll also hear Tamil, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien as well.
We had no issues communicating in English with locals throughout the city.
Do I need a visa for Malaysia?
Most visitors qualify for visa-free entry into Malaysia, including those from ASEAN member states, Australia, Canada, EU, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, UAE, UK, and USA.
There are only 34 countries from which passport holders require a visa. You can find the current list on the official Malaysia Government website.
How to get from KLIA to the city
Kuala Lumpur’s international airport is located about 50km outside of the city so you’ll need to decide whether you want to take the train, bus, or taxi in. The bus is the cheapest option, but going by train will save you time.
For this one-day itinerary, we suggest taking the KLIA Ekspres train as it’s the quickest way to get from the airport to the city. It leaves every 20 minutes and takes only 33 minutes to KL Sentral station, where our itinerary begins.
We booked our tickets on the Klook app before we left Singapore so that we had everything ready when we landed. Roundtrip tickets cost only RM89 (about $20 USD) and you get a QR code that you just scan directly on the turnstiles at the train station. It’s so simple!
The train is very comfortable and has a dedicated area to store your luggage.
How to get around Kuala Lumpur
The city is large and spread out, but luckily, public transportation is plentiful and cheap. Buses and trains will get you wherever you need to go, but for this particular itinerary, we suggest opting for a Grab taxi to save time getting around.
We were shocked at just how cheap a ride in a Grab taxi was. For example, a 15-minute ride cost us less than $3.50 USD! Also, Grab availability was very good and we never had to wait too long for a ride to show up. It was so convenient and affordable.
Where to stay for one night in Kuala Lumpur
There are so many great hotels to choose from in KL, and all at much cheaper rates than you’re probably used to. If you want to experience 5-star luxury at a fraction of the cost, this is the place to do it!
For convenience, we recommend staying right by the KL Sentral train station for this one-day itinerary as it makes it easy to get off the train and drop your bags at your hotel. Then the next morning, you can quickly and easily get right back to the airport without having to worry about traffic.
Luxury: The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
We decided to splurge a bit and spend our one night in Kuala Lumpur at the magnificent St. Regis Kuala Lumpur hotel. The location is perfect as you are able to get off the KLIA Ekspres train and walk right to the hotel via the terminal in only 10 minutes.
The hotel is stunning, with huge rooms, great city views, and a fabulous buffet breakfast. Starting at around $300 USD per night, we found it to be great value for such a luxurious stay.
Mid-range: Hilton Kuala Lumpur
If you’d prefer something a little cheaper, you have the Hilton Kuala Lumpur with rooms starting around $130 USD per night. This hotel is also connected to KL Sentral train station so it is just as convenient.
Budget: Easy Hotel KL Sentral
If you really want to save some money, there’s the highly-rated Easy Hotel KL Sentral located just a 5-minute walk from the train station. With rooms starting at only $30 USD per night, it’s a very affordable, yet clean and convenient, place to stay!
One Day in Kuala Lumpur Itinerary
Now that we’ve covered the basics and where to stay, let’s get to our itinerary! We spent just under 24 hours in KL, arriving at KLIA at 11:35am and flying out again the next morning at 10:00am.
Below is the exact itinerary we followed for our one day in Kuala Lumpur. You will obviously need to rearrange the times depending on your exact schedule, but this should give you an idea of what is possible to see all in one day in KL. It’s not a leisurely itinerary by any means, but if you are trying to see as much as you can, this itinerary is for you!
12:35pm Take the KL Ekspres train
We took the 12:35pm train from KLIA to KL Sentral. Upon arriving at KL Sentral, we stopped at an ATM to take out some ringgit, and then proceeded to follow the signs to our hotel.
1:15pm Drop bags at your hotel
We arrived at our hotel before check-in time so we asked them to store our luggage until our room was ready. This allowed us to go out and explore the area already without worrying about lugging our bags around.
1:30pm Explore Brickfields
Just a 15 to 20-minute walk from KL Sentral is the vibrant neighbourhood of Brickfields. While there is a separate area called “Little India”, this neighbourhood also feels like a Little India due to its strong South Indian presence.
Walking along the main road, you’ll hear Indian tunes blasting out of the shops and restaurants, witness all kinds of colours, and smell all kinds of scents. It is such a fun and wonderful place to explore without feeling too overwhelming.
Tip: From KL Sentral station, just walk through Nu Sentral Mall and exit onto Jalan Tun Sambanthan, the main road through Brickfields.
We stopped to buy some Indian sweets for only RM10 and I was tempted to buy some saris as well. There’s lots of little trinkets you could pick up here for souvenirs.
2:30pm Lunch
As you walk through Brickfields, you’ll pass by many tempting restaurants. Choose any one that appeals to you and get ready to dig into some delicious Indian food!
We decided on Restoran Seetharam Family Curry House. It looked very popular with the locals so we figured it would be good!
The menu was extensive and overwhelming. We wanted to order so many different things, it was hard to narrow it down.
Ultimately, we went with the Chicken Set Tali, Poori, and Onion Tossai. To drink, we went with a classic Chai Tea and Mango Lassi.
The servings were bigger than we expected, but it was all so delicious! We absolutely love Indian food and this really hit the spot. Best of all? It only cost a total of RM38 (less than $10 USD)!
3:30pm Batu Caves
From Brickfields, take a Grab to the famous Batu Caves. It’s only about 15km north and should take 15-40 minutes, depending on traffic. When we went, it took us only 18 minutes and cost RM15.
These series of limestone caves are home to a number of Hindu temples. As such, make sure to dress modestly, covering your knees and shoulders. If not, you’ll be asked to rent or purchase a sarong at the bottom of the steps.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll be in awe of the gigantic golden statue of Lord Murugan and colorful staircase leading up to Temple Cave. No matter how many times you’ve seen it on IG, it’s even more impressive in person.
After snapping some photos, prepare yourself for a hot and sweaty climb up the 272 steps. Make sure to bring water with you! We only brought one bottle to share between the two of us, and needed to buy another once we reached the top. The climb itself is not that tiring – it’s the humidity that gets you.
Also, beware of all the monkeys chilling on the steps. Don’t get too close or they may grab your snacks!
Once at the top of the steps, you’ll enter into the massive Temple Cave. It’s about 100m high and 80m long and there’s no cost to enter.
When we went, it was very wet and humid inside, with water dripping all over us. So, be prepared.
If you have more time, you can pay to tour the Dark Cave, located at step 204. This unique cave is an incredible two kilometres long!
There’s also the beautiful Ramayana Cave located to the left of the bottom of the steps. This elaborately decorated cave costs RM5 to enter.
Hours
6:00am-9:00pm daily
5:30pm KL Tower
Once you’re done exploring Batu Caves, take a Grab to KL Tower. It took us 21 minutes and cost RM18.
KL Tower, at 421 metres high, offers amazing 360 degree views over the city, including the Petronas Towers. This is an excellent time to visit to catch the sunset (as long as the weather cooperates)! Honestly, this is one of the better towers we’ve visited around the world as the views are just spectacular.
We suggest purchasing a combo ticket for the Sky Deck + Sky Box on Klook ahead of time for RM58. Admission tickets for just the observation deck are cheaper at RM19.65 but this only allows you access to the indoor viewing deck at 276m. The Sky Deck, on the other hand, is outdoors at 300m and offers the best views.
The Sky Box is located on the Sky Deck and extends out from the ledge. Looking down through the glass bottom offers a thrilling experience.
When you purchase a Sky Box ticket, you’ll be given a paper with a number on it. Make sure to listen for your number to be called as that is your timeslot to enter the Sky Box.
Once inside the Sky Box, you are only given 45 seconds, which feels very rushed but they are trying to get through all the groups. A photographer will take your photos, which you can view and purchase before exiting the Sky Deck. You can also get them to take photos with your own camera, which we advise.
The cost was RM200 for 3 printed photos in a booklet, and then we were able to add digital copies for RM175. Shockingly expensive compared to the low cost of everything else in KL!
Bad weather policy
It’s important to note that the Sky Deck shuts down if there’s any threat of lightning or bad weather. When we arrived at the tower, there was no rain nor lightning but they shut it down stating that there was a storm in the distance.
Unfortunately, no refunds are given due to weather, which is absurd. They will only provide a revisitation ticket valid for 7 days. We waited an hour before they reopened it for a short period so we luckily made it up before they shut it down again.
There are some shops and restaurants at the base of the tower so we were able to grab a coffee and take some photos while waiting.
Hours
9am-10pm daily
7:30pm KLCC Park and Petronas Towers
From KL Tower, take a Grab to another iconic KL attraction – the Petronas Towers! It’s only 2km away so it will be a short ride.
Once you arrive, head outside to KLCC Park as this is where you’ll get the best views of the tower. It looks extra stunning at night when it’s all lit up!
Since you’ve already experienced awesome 360 views from KL Tower, there’s no real need to pay to go up the Petronas Towers unless you really want to. We felt the views from KL Tower were superior, so we skipped going up the twin towers and just appreciated them from down below.
8:00pm Lake Symphony Light and Sound Water Fountain Show
Right below the Petronas Towers, in KLCC Park, is the 10,000 sq.ft. Lake Symphony which hosts nightly light and sound shows at no cost. Since you are right there already, might as well enjoy one of the beautiful 10-minute shows.
Hours
- Light Show: 7:30pm, 8:30pm, and 9:30pm daily
- Light & Sound Show: 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm daily
9pm Jalan Alor Food Street & Night Market
By now, you’ve probably built up quite an appetite and are ready to dig into some delicious local food! Take a Grab (or walk the 2km) to Jalan Alor, one of KL’s best street food destinations.
This area comes alive at night, with plenty of al fresco restaurants and food stalls. It’s heaven for any foodie. You’ll find predominantly Chinese dishes, but Malaysian and Thai as well.
We were so looking forward to dining here, but unfortunately the weather was quite stormy so we decided to skip it and grab food inside Suria KLCC (the giant mall at the Petronas Towers).
If you, too, find yourself caught in bad weather, or if you’re just too tired, head to the mall’s food court where you’ll find lots of options. We ended up grabbing some South Indian food from Saravana Bhavan, which was delicious and cheap. Our dinner came to only RM26.
The next morning: Breakfast Buffet
If you’ve chosen to stay at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur as we recommended, you can’t miss their amazing breakfast buffet. You’ll be spoiled for choice at the hotel’s restaurant, The Brasserie.
From local Malaysian specialties, Chinese and Indian options, to Western favourites, you’ll surely be satisfied by all the high quality dishes.
We hope you are able to make the most of your one day in Kuala Lumpur by using this itinerary. Make sure to check out our other Malaysia posts linked below!
One Day in Kuala Lumpur Map
One Day in Kuala Lumpur Layover Vlog
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More Malaysia posts:
Review: The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur (Upgrade to the St. Regis Suite!)
Batik Air Review: Economy Class from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
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