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15 Things to do in Kuala Lumpur for solo travelers

Ready to explore the city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia? I too was in this situation in 2017. Kuala Lumpur was my first-ever solo trip.

And you know what, I enjoyed my solo travel experience here! Here are a few places you should explore on your solo trip.

1. Visit the National Mosque (Bukit Nanas)

Known as the “Pineapple Hill,” Bukit Nanas is a little hill in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Located in the center of Kuala Lumpur, it houses the only remaining piece of unspoiled tropical rainforest. Here’s where you’ll find the public-access Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. In addition to a visitors’ center and a forestry museum, there are jungle trails. 

There are several unique structures on Bukit Nanas, including the iconic Kuala Lumpur Tower. The Bukit Nanas Monorail station provides service to the neighborhood. Bukit Nanas is one of Kuala Lumpur’s earliest Malay villages. Solo travelers going to the mosque aren’t required to pay any entry fee. However, visit is permitted only during non-prayer hours. 

2. Go on a shopping expedition through Little India

As the name suggests, this part of the town has an Indian vibe to it. You’ll see saris, glass bangles, and other items. And it’s quite a busy street.

On the streets of this town, you can easily find gulab jamun, vada, samosa, and other Indian foods. Grab a glass of the famous mango lassi or a basic lassi if you’re feeling thirsty. 

Enjoy the taste of the well-known banana leaf rice, served with a lot of curry and beef on a large banana leaf. The dinner isn’t over until you eat it with your hands, as is customary in India. 

3. Drink at one of the many bars along Petaling Street

Petaling Street is a well-known landmark in the city. It’s also known as Chinatown. And it’s humming with various activities that go on both day and night. 

Since it’s primarily a market, it’s continuously crowded with locals, tourists, store owners, and merchants.

In addition to being a significant cultural hub in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Street is renowned for the countless delicious food stalls that provide traditional Malaysian fare, including curry noodles, Asam laksa, grilled fish (Ikan Bakar), and Hokkien mee. 

The fresh fish is possibly the most remarkable aspect of this street. There is no entry fee required to feel the beauty of Petaling Street.

4. Check out Bukit Bintang at night!

Bukit Bintang, often known as Bintang Walk or Starhill, is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s entertainment and shopping center. It includes Jalan Bukit Bintang and the immediate neighborhood. 

The region has long been Kuala Lumpur’s most well-known shopping district and is home to numerous iconic shopping malls, outdoor cafes, pubs, night markets, food streets, Mamak booths, and hawker-style restaurants. You’ll find many young people here. This is the place where the nightlife happens.

There are countless places to eat in Bukit Bintang. Still, there are three places that locals visit frequently: Madam Kwan’s chain location (Pavilion Mall) for Malaysian food, Kim Lian Kee for Hokkien Mee noodles, and Ayam Penyet Betawi for Indonesian food (Sungei Wang Plaza).

5. Enjoy the skyline from the Twin Towers

Kuala Lumpur is known for its twin towers. At one point, these towers were amongst the tallest buildings in Asia. The tower is on the first floor. You can take a guided tour of this tower. And once you finish, you can buy souvenirs. 

Nearby the tower, you can also check out the Jalan Sultan Ismail five-star hotel strip, the Jalan P. Ramlee party street, and the entire Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Suria KLCC shopping center, KLCC Convention Centre, and KLCC Park.

The Petronas Twin Towers
The Twin Towers at night

Tickets are priced around 50 RM for foreigners.

6. Go on an adventure through Damansara Forest Park

The Kota Damansara Forest Park is a source of great pride for Malaysians. In close collaboration with the Selangor Forestry Department, volunteers and Temuan Orang Asli had planned and built them over several years with a lot of effort. 

The Petaling Trail and Scouts Trail were the first two trails built, followed by the Temuan Trail, Harmoni Trail, Sahabat Trail, and Unity Trail, which connected the trails from Section 9’s forest entrance to those from Section 10. 

As of now, 14 km of trails have been built in stages. Kota Damansara Forest Park has an entrance fee of RM2 per adult and RM1 per child (under the age of 12).

7. Plan a 2-day trip to the Penang National Park

The Penang National Park isn’t exactly located in Kuala Lumpur. It’s located to the very north of Malaysia, closer to the border with Thailand. 

So you’ll have to take a 2-3 day trip to this park. But there’s a lot you can do once you reach here. This park offers many things: hiking, speedboating, spotting dolphins or just chilling at the beach.

The visit cost is around RM 10 for adults.

8. See a movie theatre at Sunway Lagoon or Citibank Cinema City Mal!

More than 90 attractions can be found at Malaysia’s top multi-park destination’s six parks, which include an amusement park, a water park, a wildlife park, an extreme park, a scream park, and Asia’s first Nickelodeon-themed land, Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon. 

You can easily spend the entire day here once you enter! Discover the numerous restaurants that are offered in the theme park.

9. Visit Pulau Ketam – an island built on stilts! (my fav)

This island(Pulau) gave me some of the best memories of Malaysia. So I’ll recommend you this place. To reach here, you’ll have to take the train to Port Klang, and then a ferry ride to Pulau Ketam.

The fascinating part about this village is that it’s built entirely on wooden stilts. You’re not going to find a single car or a motorbike. So essentially, there’s no noise or air pollution. Imagine how peaceful it is.

Main Market street at Pulau Ketam
Main Market street at Pulau Ketam

People generally use an electric bike or a cycle. I used a cycle to roam around this place. The locals are super friendly too! And it’s a very unique experience of enjoying the rural life around Kuala Lumpur.

10. Travel around the Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

The Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station combines a British train station from the Victorian era and a mosque designed in the Moorish style. On a train between KL Sentral and Pasar Senai stations, you will sail past the station that sits below. However, be quick with your camera, or you’ll miss it. This is one of the shortest ways to see the station.

11. Watch birds at the KL Bird park.

Do you love to watch birds? Kuala Lumpur is a great option for you. The city has a bird park where you’ll find numerous birds of different species.

You can not just click pictures, but also feed the birds and also play with them. We paid around 65 RM for the entry back in 2017. 

Inside the KL Bird Park
Can you spot the peacock(s)?

As a bird watcher, this is a place you’ll absolutely love to be at!

12. Explore the Batu Caves

Visit the Batu Caves before you leave KL by stepping outside the city for a little while. The caves, located 13 kilometers outside of town, are a popular tourist destination and, in my opinion, among the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur. 

Ranveer at the Batu Caves
Myself at the Batu Caves

The shrines and statues, along with the cave’s natural beauty, have made this group of limestone caves an important location for Hindu worship.

The fact that the main Temple (Temple Cave/Cathedral Cave) is free to enter is one of Batu Caves’ most delicate features. Malaysians and non-Malaysians must pay different entrance fees to Cave Villa: RM7 and RM15, respectively. No matter what nationality, Ramayana Cave has an RM5 entrance fee.

13. Feel the silence of Planetarium Negara

The Planetarium Negara is located in the Lake Gardens, right above a hill. At the first glance, you might mistake the blue-domed building for a mosque, but it’s Malaysia’s national planetarium.

Visitors can explore the displays, which include the International Space Station’s interior, and movies and documentaries playing in the IMAX space theatre. The planetarium is worth a quick stop if you’re already strolling through the gardens because entry is free.

14. Discover Taman Connaught Night Market

Taman Connaught Night Market opens every Wednesday from 5:30 till midnight. It’s another option for night owls. The market has over 700 stalls selling everything from clothing to home goods at meager costs and an extensive selection of street food. 

The night market is one of the finest places in Kuala Lumpur for people hoping to score a deal.

15. Visit the Sri Mahamariamman Temple to pray

Near Kuala Lumpur Central Market and Chinatown lies the colorful Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple. It’s the oldest temple in Kuala Lumpur, constructed in 1873 and was an important place of worship for early Indian immigrants in Malaysia. 

The Temple’s tall, ornate front, which is decorated with colorful statues of Hindu deities, is now popular with tourists who want to take pictures of the stunning structure in addition to worshippers.

Conclusion

As promised, here’s a downloadable checklist. Keep it on your phone and refer to it as you explore Kuala Lumpur. Have fun! 

Things to do in kuala lumpur for solo travelers

Have fun!

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