While the rest of Malaysia lives quietly and simply, the city of Kuala Lumpur keeps up with contemporary culture and modern evolution. Glass high-rises, glitzy hotels, and hundreds of restaurants offering five-star international cuisine line the city. Despite its modernization, however, Kuala Lumpur holds its history sacred.
Whether you’re vacationing in Kuala Lumpur or your flight to Kuala Lumpur is a stopping point before further Malaysia travel, take some time and explore the city. Start in Merdeka Square (translated to “Independence Square”), and visit the Sultan Abdul Building, where the city’s government branches sit; the Royal Selangor Club, a high-ranking social club; and the Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. The area of Jalan Petaling hosts outdoor markets and shops influenced mainly by the Chinese community. A jaunt across the river will land you in Lake Gardens where travelers can explore Kuala Lumpur's bird park, butterfly park, and other gardens.
Need something to show your friends and family? How about a picture of the tallest twin buildings in the world? The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are located in downtown Kuala Lumpur and until someone builds something taller, these two towers hold the record. Take a window seat on your Kuala Lumpur flight and see the towers from 35,000 feet up in the air – it’s an awe-inspiring moment that few travelers to Southeast Asia experience.
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When planning your cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur, take rain into consideration, or you’ll be wishing you brought your galoshes. Malaysia’s placement near the equator generates hot and humid weather all year round, with heaps of driving rainfall. Daytime temperatures soar into the 90’s, and nights fall only to the 70’s, with regular humidity reaching 90 percent on a daily basis. Rain comes in all forms, spanning from quick and refreshing showers to drowning monsoons in the months between November and February. Torrential downpours and strong winds in the winter are supplemented by the bone-dry months of June and July.
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To experience the city at its fullest, book your flight to Kuala Lumpur when the crowds roll in, so you’re sure to see the town at its ultimate capacity. Join the swarm around holidays and school vacations.
Peak Season: School vacations in early April, early August, mid November, and in early January are the most popular times for people to book flights to Kuala Lumpur, so make sure to book yours in advance to lock in a spot in the madness. Since June and July are the driest months, they also provide the perfect opportunity to walk around the city.
Off-peak Season: Since rain falls almost year round, an off-season here doesn’t really exist. To be as discerning as possible, book cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur before or after autumn, when the wettest months make for crowded, clammy public transportation. While some Muslim countries might note Ramadan as an off-season, Kuala Lumpur is rather liberal, so most businesses will still be open and ready for customers.
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The Express Rail Link train provides fast transportation to the city center. The KLIA Express and the KLIA Transit links the airport to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral - City Air Terminal) and vice-versa. At the City Air Terminal departing passengers have the option of checking-in their luggage, receiving their boarding passes and proceeding to board the train for the airport. Immigration clearance will be completed there. Travel time between KL Sentral to the airport is 28 minutes on the KLIA Express and 37 minutes on the KLIA Transit. Taxis are also available; they should be paid for in advance at the ticket counter in the arrivals hall. Many hotels can arrange for a car to pick up guests, though this is generally more expensive than taking a taxi.
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Within the city, Kuala Lumpur travel revolves heavily around taxis, buses, and trains.
As soon as your flight to Kuala Lumpur arrives, the Express Rail Link will get you to the city’s center quickly and safely. At the City Air Terminal, you can check luggage, obtain with your boarding pass, and deal with all of your other flight arrangements as conveniently as possible. The KLIA Express and the PLIA Transit are other options between the city and the airport, and will get you from one to the other in about a half hour.
There’s a variety of ways to use taxis. Stepping off your Kuala Lumpur flight, it’s easy to pay for a taxi in advance in the arrivals hall, and your ride will appear soon after. Within the city, taxis are very common except for at rush hour and during rainfall. You can hail one, wait at a stand, or call for a ride in advance, but calling may cost more. Communicate with the driver ahead of time to get an idea of what it will cost, so there are no surprises upon arriving at your destination. Also, don’t be fooled by the tricky one-way road systems – your driver isn’t taking you in circles, he or she is merely following the intricate road rules.
If you’re brave enough to drive on your own, you can arrange for a car through your hotel, though it’s a more expensive (and more challenging) means of transportation. Driving isn’t widely recommended for tourists who are unfamiliar with Kuala Lumpur’s road systems, because small streets and over abundance of cars cause enormous traffic jams, despite recent improvements to expressways. Ironically, traffic (as well as stifling climate) makes walking around the city difficult, too, so the best way to travel on foot is to follow the locals and watch for moving vehicles.
The public rail system helps Kuala Lumpur travel quite a bit. The Monorail will bring you to popular shopping centers and hotel accommodations as well as other out-of-the way tourist destinations. The Light Rail brings you to more local places like Chinatown, and towns on the city skirts. Both methods are comfortable and straightforward, although can be crowded at times. While the rail network has been sufficiently built up in recent years, trains primarily give service to those in the suburbs a way to get to the city, and most leave from KL Sentral train station.
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Bazaar Baru Market: If you’re sick of standing in line, buying tickets, and seeing the same sights as every other camera-toting tourist, shake the droves of day-trippers and shop like a local. The Bazaar Baru Market sells everything you need for a truly unique consumer encounter. Take the money you saved on a cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur and buy clothes, stationary, spices, meats, and fruits like the natives do. It’s easy to make the experience a sensory one – sounds, smells and sights will overwhelm your perception in the best way possible as you meander through tiny aisles and around stray animals looking for a treat. Bring a bag, because there’s no way you’ll leave empty handed, and think ahead to allow baggage room for your return Kuala Lumpur flight.
Butterfly Reserve: In a hidden spot near the Lake Gardens, you’ll find a place where the little things matter most. Little things, like bugs. Though you might not want these creepy crawlers inching around on your flight to Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be wowed when you walk into the Butterfly Reserve and encounter exciting brushes with tiny, buzzing, flying creatures. Colossal butterflies with massive wingspans and dazzling colors flutter around in a protected environment. Nearby, the Bug Gallery showcases giant centipedes and crawly spiders in containers. Dead bugs are mounted and sold, but use your discretion: some species are endangered, and purchasing them encourages their elimination.
Chan She (*Also spelled “See”) Shu Yuen Temple: Situated in historic Chinatown, one of the largest and oldest surviving temples in Malaysia remains a center of the Chinese community. This Petaling Street place of worship is decked with a tiled roof, celestial paintings, wooden carvings, and a Buddhist shrine. Built in 1906, its architecture is influenced by the ancient Chinese methods of roofing and coloring, and the terracotta depicts scenes from important events in Chinese history. When you’re done wandering through the sacred scenery, head to the back of the temple, where a library houses more than 4,000 Chinese books.
Bangsar: Just outside the city limits, there’s a section of town that every taxi driver knows. Sometimes called “Kweiloh Lumpur,” meaning “Foreigner Lumpur,” a nook of 2-3 blocks filled with bars, cafes, and restaurants has been drawing expatriates for years. It’s a bit quieter on weekdays, but revs up again each weekend. For the visitor missing home and aching for a return Kuala Lumpur flight, hop in a cab for a small fare and join the other outsiders in a round of drinks.
Petronas Twin Towers: Eighty-eight stories and 1482 feet soaring into the air, what once were the tallest buildings in the world still tower in all their glory. The pair of buildings, called Petronas win towers was erected with geometric Islamic architecture, and visitors are allowed to view the city from the 41st and 42nd floors, where a glass bridge connects the two structures. With free admission in the city’s center, you can’t beat this convenient and once-in a lifetime sight Not even a window-seat view on your flight to Kuala Lumpur can compare.
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Your cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur will arrive at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL). The airport is located in Sepang, 31 miles south of Kuala Lumpur.
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