Travel Guide Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, the sprawling capital of Malaysia, has gradually transformed from a major city to an authentic Asian megalopolis. The approximately 7 million urban dwellers prospering in the western part of the Malaysian peninsula come from three main communities: Malay, Chinese and Indian, all of which are cultural singularities that can be found in urban planning, with a diversity of temples, as well as in the way they dress and in the cuisine. The tourist guide of Kuala Lumpur proposes to explore this Asian multiculturalism, taking the traveller from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, from small boui-boui to luxury hotels, in a cosmopolitan city, a clever mix of millenary traditions and modernity, like the twin towers Petronas, the city's emblem. Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!
What to visit Kuala Lumpur?
Suggested addresses Kuala Lumpur
When to go to Kuala Lumpur?
When to go to Kuala Lumpur? Generally speaking, the rains are too erratic to rule out any time of the year. With temperatures ranging from 23 to 33°C all year round, the best time to go to Kuala Lumpur is... all year round! It should be noted that the holiday periods (Ramadan, Chinese New Year and Christmas) bring a lot of domestic tourism and a surge in housing prices. So when to go to Kuala Lumpur? All year round, taking care to avoid the local vacation periods.
Weather at the moment
The weather in Kuala Lumpur is dependent on the Malaysian equatorial climate, which is subject to maritime influences. The country has two monsoon periods. As a result, there is no real dry season, it is very hot (except in high altitude resorts) and humid almost all year round. The good news is that the water temperature is almost constant, between 26 and 29°C. The same temperatures prevail for the air in Kuala Lumpur, all year round.
The currency used in Kuala Lumpur is the Malaysian national currency: the Malaysian Rinngit (RM). While Malaysia is a very cheap country compared to European countries, it is one of the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia, particularly in the capital Kuala Lumpur. However, with a little trickery and anticipation, you can generally get by at a low cost.
A visa for Kuala Lumpur? French, Belgian, Swiss, Luxembourg and Canadian nationals are automatically issued a three-month tourist visa upon arrival in Malaysia. You may be asked to show your return flight ticket at customs to ensure that your stay in Kuala Lumpur and in Malaysia in general is effective.
The health situation differs between the main cities, the coasts and the rest of the country. Kuala Lumpur is not affected by malaria but by dengue fever. In addition to malaria and dengue fever, there are other risks in rural areas, including Japanese encephalitis. A vaccine against the latter may be useful if you plan to leave the city. Unlike Singapore, water is not drinkable in Kuala Lumpur.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
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How to go to Kuala Lumpur? Our advice & tips
It is quite possible to use the services of travel agencies and other specialists in the region to organize a stay in Kuala Lumpur. Most of these professionals often offer tours combining the discovery of the capital with other more touristic regions of Malaysia. This type of offer has the advantage of being often less expensive than a trip prepared by oneself. Unless you are well organized and anticipate.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationTo get to Kuala Lumpur, the most convenient and fastest way is certainly by air. If you plan well in advance, you will find very affordable air tickets. As far as accommodation is concerned, if you take care to avoid vacations and local festivities, you can also manage quite well.
There are several options to get around Kuala Lumpur: the bus, often full and with frequent stops (difficult to use if you don't really know the city); the cab, only slightly more expensive than the bus; the metro, better known as KTM Komuter; and finally the private cab applications, very used in Kuala Lumpur. Urban adventurers can also try cycling, with caution!
