It’s funny how comparisons can influence your view of a place. My first arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was after spending a month in Goa. In comparison with India I appreciated the city’s relative calm, modernity and cleanliness. I felt the KL love so much, a few months later I returned. If you don’t have long here, check out the coolest Kuala Lumpur backpacking itinerary for one day. Read on to discover where to stay and all the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
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Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
The best area to stay in Kuala Lumpur for backpackers is the city centre. Here, you’re close to Masjid Jamek metro station, Chinatown and the eclectic stalls and Art Deco architecture of Central Market.
The best backpackers hostel in Kuala Lumpur city centre is Nonee Guesthouse, which has mixed and female-only dorm rooms.
It is an ideal base for your 3-week Malaysia itinerary, as you’ll meet fellow travellers and can share tips. For example, I met a lady at my hostel who told me about the Batu Caves, which I’ll talk about later in this article.
Browse and book from the wide selection of hostels in Kuala Lumpur here or explore the map below:
Your Kuala Lumpur day tour itinerary
Take your photo with the ‘I Love KL’ sign
On an evening walk with new friends from my Kuala Lumpur backpacker hostel, we discovered the ‘I Love KL’ sign outside the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery on Merdeka Square (exact map pinpoint here). It’s a great place for a photo as you pose on the famous statue.
The gallery itself is free to enter and you will benefit from the refreshing air-conditioning. A highlight of the gallery is a miniature model of Kuala Lumpur city. Just a few metres away from the gallery is Malaysia’s tallest flagpole, as well as a fantastic view of the city skyline, including the KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers. More on these below.
Check out this Kuala Lumpur street food tour with 15+ tastings here.
Visit the shopping malls (even if you don’t buy anything)
At 203 m (666 ft) tall, the 48-storey Berjaya Times Square is the city’s largest shopping mall, described as a ‘paradise for shoppers’.
It also contains a hotel, apartments and even an indoor amusement park. To celebrate the mall’s 10th anniversary, in July 2013 its owners installed the world’s largest capsule vending machine – another good photo opportunity.
Admire KL’s towers
Menara Kuala Lumpur
You won’t be able to miss the lofty Menara Kuala Lumpur. At over 420 metres, it is the world’s 6th tallest telecommunications tower and one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
A ride to the top of this tower gives you a panoramic view over your urban surroundings. From high up here it makes most of the other skyscrapers look small.
Petronas Towers
My highlight of the city was seeing the Petronas Towers. These are the architectural gems of Kuala Lumpur.
They were the tallest buildings in the world for almost a decade after their construction, and their 452-metre height keeps them in the top 10.
Guided tours are held on their adjoining bridge. Impressive during the day, at night is where these towers come into their own. The statuesque twins light up and sparkle like two dazzling giant diamond earrings.
I couldn’t resist having my photo taken in front of this pair of show-offs. No Kuala Lumpur backpacking trip is complete without visiting these towers.
This Kuala Lumpur: Half-Day City Tour includes a photo stop at the Petronas Towers.
Explore the impressive Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are a short train ride to the northern outskirts of the city.
During my first trip to KL a fellow traveller had described this 100-metre hill containing elaborately decorated Hindu cave temples as ‘all right’, so I wasn’t expecting much. (Perhaps that is the key to successful travel: low expectations).
At the end of the 19th century, the Batu Caves’ creator was inspired by the spear-shaped entrance to the largest cave, known as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave. He built what is now one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India.
I enjoyed visiting this ancient limestone hill with its craggy, tree-covered cliffs and monkeys hopping about. The fresh air here was a relief after the enclosed, smoggy spaces of the city. It’s always a pleasure to experience nature after spending time in an urban environment.
Entering the Batu Caves
A 15-metre tall statue of a blue-skinned monkey god Hanuman welcomed us inside the Ramayana Cave, which tells the story of the Hindu epic, often conveyed in Balinese dance, through quirky statue displays. The combination of the colourful, cartoon-like exhibits and the dripping limestone walls was a feast for the eyes – certainly not something you see every day. An audio guide or written signs explaining what you’re looking at would have improved the experience, but it was still fascinating.
Book your tour of the Batu Caves in advance here.
The famous gold statue and inside the caves
Then, walking along the front of the hillside containing the caves, we came upon an enormous statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Standing at over 42 metres, it is the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.
Climbing the 272 steps to reach the cave entrance, signs implore visitors not to smoke or ‘exercise’. Meaning, I assume, that some nutcases have chosen to run up and down these steep steps. Walking up them was quite enough for me!
Inside the cave, the high ceilings and holy shrines are reminiscent of being in a cathedral, hence the name. It all seemed a little half-finished to me, though we did arrive right at the end of the day so perhaps some elements had shut down. So much could be done with this space. You could hold a really special event here. Nearby is the entrance to the ominous sounding Dark Caves, which sadly we did not have time to explore. Nevertheless there are many great photo opportunities here, so it’s well worth a visit while you’re backpacking Kuala Lumpur.
Final thoughts on the Kuala Lumpur backpacking itinerary
Kuala Lumpur backpacking offers a blend of modern attractions and cultural landmarks that make it a fantastic city to explore, even in just one day.
From snapping a selfie at the iconic ‘I Love KL’ sign to marvelling at the architectural wonders of the Petronas Towers and Menara KL, this vibrant city has something for every traveller.
A visit to the Batu Caves adds a sense of adventure and tranquility, providing a refreshing contrast to the urban jungle.
Whether you’re exploring bustling shopping malls or climbing the steps to the caves, Kuala Lumpur delivers unforgettable experiences at every turn. So, if you’re short on time, this one-day itinerary ensures you won’t miss out on the best this dynamic city has to offer.
Now check out my essential guide to backpacking more destinations across Malaysia here.