Cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from $428

Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide

While the rest of Malaysia lives quietly and simply, the city of Kuala Lumpur – frequently referred to as KL – 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 or your flight to Kuala Lumpur is a stopping point before further Malaysian travel, take some time to 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.

Down on the ground, Kuala Lumpur is a shopper’s dream. The Bukit Bintang area is where most shoppers go. Souvenir hunters head for Central Market, a great starting point for a wander through Chinatown (its heart is Petaling Street, home to bustling night markets) and Little India, a jumble of stalls selling brightly colored saris and food stands offering Indian snacks.

Kuala Lumpur’s annual Motorcycle Grand Prix in October is one of Malaysia’s best-loved and most popular sporting events. Taking place at the impressive Sepang F1 International Circuit, huge crowds gather together to embrace the distinctive sounds, excitement and atmosphere of Kuala Lumpur’s highpoint of the sporting calendar. The racing circuit is also home to the Malaysian leg of the Formula One, Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia racing tournaments.

Whether you’re heading to Kuala Lumper for business or pleasure, there’s much to do and see. Here are some tips to help you plan and enjoy the smoothest possible trip to this glittering and bustling capital of Malaysia.

Getting to and around the city of Kuala Lumpur

Flights land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) situated about 35 miles from the city center. Kuala Lumpur International Airport makes it easy to get to the city center once you’ve arrived on your cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur. The KLIA Ekspres – an Express Rail Link train – is the fastest way of getting downtown; the non-stop journey takes about a half hour. There’s also the KLIA Transit, a commuter service, which stops at three stations (Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya and Salak Tinggi) and takes around thirty-five minutes. The Express Coach departs every thirty minutes with a journey time of one hour. 

There are also airport coaches and taxis. There are four types of taxis and limos: budget, premier Limo, super luxury and family service. Coupons for taxis and limos can be purchased in advance – which is highly recommended – at the Airport Limo counters. Many hotels can arrange for a car to pick up guests, though this is generally more expensive than taking a taxi.

Once you’ve settled in to your hotel and are ready to explore the city, you’ll find that, in general, public transportation and taxis are the way to go in Kuala Lumpur. The monorail and light rails are both fast and easy to figure out. Take the Kuala Lumpur Monorail to get to the main shopping and hotel districts or the Putra LRT to get to Chinatown. Taxis can be hailed or picked up at stands. Note that calling for a taxi will cost you a surcharge. There is also a surcharge for late-night and early-morning trips. Don’t worry about finding a taxi; there are tons, unless it’s rush hour or raining. It’s smart to make sure your driver is clear on your destination, and that he knows how to get there and that the meter is turned on.

Driving in Kuala Lumpur is not recommended. Traffic is so congested that renting a car is a waste of time. There isn’t any space on the road and traffic jams slow rush hour to a crawl. Leave this option for those who know the city well. Lastly, it’s amazing how much farther away your destination will seem after walking in Kuala Lumpur’s heat and humidity; consider distance before taking a stroll. Traffic will make your trip even slower and crossing the street can scare years off your life. Follow a group of pedestrians and cross with them if you can.

Tips for your stay in Kuala Lumpur

• 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.
• 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.
• Situated in historic Chinatown, one of the largest and oldest surviving temples in Malaysia, the Chan She (*also spelled “See”) Shu Yuen Temple, 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.
• Just outside the city limits, there’s a section of town that every taxi driver knows, called Bangsar. 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.
• Eighty-eight stories and 1,483 feet soaring into the air, what once were the tallest buildings in the world still tower in all their glory, and remain the tallest twin towers. The pair of buildings, called Petronas Twin Towers, were 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.
• Batu Caves is easily reached from Kuala Lumpur. The limestone caves are filled with statues to Hindu deities, as well as five temples. Climb 272 steps to reach the largest cave. If the effort is too much, take frequent pauses along the way to play with the many monkeys.
• For shopping or just people-watching, head to Central Market. The market is housed in a splendid refurbished building and you can buy any type of souvenir here, especially arts and crafts. There are also restaurants on the ground floor. Take a seat and you’re sure to catch some sort of performance – from a cultural offering on the open air stage, to watching the portrait artists at work.
• You can readily eat a variety of different cuisines in Kuala Lumpur. Most popular is Malay, Chinese and Indian. Malay specialties include satay (skewered, barbecued meat), noodles and rice. Much of the food is cooked with lemon grass or kaffir lime leaves.
• There are lots of gardens and parks within the city, for a walk on a sunny day. Try the orchid garden, Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, hibiscus garden, deer park or the Asean sculpture garden.
• Kuala Lumpur was the starting point for the Hash House Harriers, “The Drinking Club with a Running Problem”. Started in the city in 1938 by British colonials who were concerned about their weight, hash harrying still takes place today. It is similar to a fun run; competitors race through the jungle chasing a series of markers.
• If you are looking to party, Kuala Lumpur has one of the best party beaches in southeast Asia. Perhentian Kecil’s pristine shores offer plenty of entertainment after the sun goes down.

Finding Flights from Kuala Lumpur

If you are planning to extend your trip through Indonesia or Asia, or travel on to Australia or other locations, there are plenty of flight options from Kuala Lumpur. The airport is a hub for Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia and both companies offer plenty of flights to international destinations. You can find terrific flight deals for popular routes from Kuala Lumpur at https://www.cheapflights.com.my.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is located about 35 miles outside the city center. The KLIA Express train that runs between the airport and city center at regular fifteen-minute intervals during peak hours, twenty minutes off-peak and thirty minutes after midnight, takes about thirty minutes and is a cheaper option than a taxi.

Once you choose a destination and departure city, be sure to check out our Kuala Lumpur airport guides for detailed travel information and helpful tips.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia airport overview

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is situated approximately 31 miles (50km) south of Kuala Lumpur. It is one of south-east Asia’s largest airports, and is ranked as the 13^th busiest airport in the world with around 35 million passengers per year.

The airport is a veritable city, spanning an enormous 100 km² (38 m²) and employing a 25,000-strong workforce, which results in efficient service throughout all operations.

The passenger terminal complex consists of three buildings – the Satellite Building, Contact Pier and the main terminal building (Terminal 1). The Satellite building, in addition to housing a vast array of restaurants, cafes and shops, serves international flights departing from and arriving at Kuala Lumpur International. The Contact Pier is reserved for passengers of Malaysia Airlines, while Terminal 1 caters to the needs of all passengers arriving, departing or in transit.

Although not as extravagant as Singapore and Seoul Incheon, Kuala Lumpur International is modern, clean and easy to navigate. With a host of excellent retail outlets and dining establishments, you won’t have any trouble killing time. Better yet, an advanced railway system gets you to Kuala Lumpur Sentral in less than 30 minutes.

Take note that carrying alcohol into Kuala Lumpur is generally prohibited. Alcoholic beverages are sealed in special bags and are only allowed to be opened once you have departed.