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Aquaria KLCC
The impressive Aquaria KLCC is a short stroll from Suria KLCC, in the basement of the KL Convention Centre. As well as tanks of colourful fish and touch-a-starfish type activities, you can walk through a 90m underwater tunnel to view sinister-looking (but mostly harmless) sand tiger sharks and giant gropers. If possible, time your trip to coincide with the shark feeding ( on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday).
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Badan Warisan Malaysia
The Malay version of the UK National Trust, Badan Warisan Malaysia is itself housed in a restored colonial mansion. Trustees are campaigning to save similar historic buildings around Malaysia. One of the trust's big success stories was the Rumah Penghulu, moved to the trust headquarters from Kedah. The Trust also holds exhibitions in the mansion, which has a good shop selling antiques, crafts and books on Malay architecture and history.
Guided tours of the Rumah Penghulu (Malay House) are offered twice daily (11am and 3pm) from Monday to Saturday (with the exception of public holidays); a minimum donation of RM 10 per person is requested. Group tours and tours at times other than the regular times can be arranged.
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Bazaar Baru Market
This lively market sells clothes, toys, buckets, stationary, noodles, spices, fresh meat and live, flapping catfish, as well as a staggering array of weird and wonderful tropical fruit. Overweight cats loiter around the wet market looking for scraps, and locals struggle through the narrow aisles with huge bags of shopping. Just wandering round is a heady, sensory experience, particularly for the sense of smell.
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Buddhist Maha Vihar
The huge Buddhist Maha Vihar, centred on a stucco Buddhist shrine dating from 1895, was founded by Sinhalese Buddhists.
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Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve
The 421m Menara KL stands atop the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, gazetted in 1906. A series of nature trails snake through the jungle, which contains a variety of animals and plants typical of lowland dipterocarp forests. You can access the park from Jln Raja Chulan, Jln Bukit Nanas or from the Menara KL.
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Butterfly Reserve
Flying creatures of a different sort than at the nearby Kuala Lumpur Bird Park are showcased at the interesting Butterfly Reserve. Some of the iridescent butterflies fluttering around the covered grounds are real monsters, and there's a bug gallery where you can shudder at the size of Malaysia's giant centipedes and spiders. The park shop sells mounted butterflies and other giant insects, but it's best not to encourage the trade in these increasingly endangered creatures.
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Chan She Shu Yuen Temple
Facing the Bulatan Merdeka roundabout, the Chan She Shu Yuen Temple features a stunning tiled roof with dioramas of celestial scenes and dramatic woodcarvings inside the main shrine. There's also a library with 4000 Chinese books.
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Chan She Shu Yuen Temple Library
Boasts 4000 Chinese books.
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Chulan Tower
Completed in 2006, this new skyscraper on the edge of the Golden Triangle resembles a vast Chinese pagoda, jacked on up on top of a red-marble tower.
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Civil Service Memorial
Dedicated to the work of the Malaysian Civil Service.
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Cosmo's World
There are numerous theme parks and water parks dotted around KL. The most convenient is Cosmo's World located inside the Berjaya Times Square shopping centre. Despite the mall location, there's a full-sized looping coaster plus a good selection of thrill rides for teenagers and gentler rides for families. (Avoid the DNA Mixer unless you want too see your nasi lemak a second time.) You'll find more thrill rides and wet and wild activities at Sunway Lagoon, Mines Wonderland and Genting Highlands.
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Deer Park
Close to the children's play area in the Lake Gardens Park is the small Deer Park which has a collection of tame Malaysia deer, including the tiny kancil (lesser mouse deer), the world's smallest hoofed mammal.
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Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery
Just down the road from the consumer excesses of Suria KLCC, you can retreat into quiet meditation at this expansive Buddhist temple. Although modern, the calm spaces, potted bonsai, mandala ceilings and giant gilded statues create an appropriately contemplative mood. The shrine is dedicated to Guan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, represented by the central statue in the main shrine.
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Galeri Petronas
You can swap consumerism for culture at the interesting Galeri Petronas, an art gallery which showcases contemporary photography and paintings. It's a bright, modern space and the work on display often delves deep into Malaysian history and culture. Check the website for details of upcoming shows.
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Galeri Tangsi
Interesting art space in a heritage building west of Merdeka Square.
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Guan Yin Temple
Also facing the Bulatan Merdeka roundabout, the Guan Yin Temple is less dramatic than the Chan She Shu Yuen Temple but worth seeing for its golden Chinese Buddhist statues.
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Guandi Temple
The 1886 Guandi Temple is full of atmosphere. The main hall is hung with fragrant coils of spiral incense, paper clothes and money that are burned to bring good fortune to the ancestors. The temple is dedicated to Kwan Ti, a historical Chinese general revered by Taoists as the god of war.
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Hibiscus Garden
Adjacent to the Orchid Garden, the Hibiscus Garden is a riot of hibiscus blooms, surrounding a small art gallery. Both are places to stroll and contemplate. Several small shops sell live and cut orchids.
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Islamic Arts Museum
Malaysia's fascinating Islamic history is showcased at the Islamic Arts Museum, which houses one of the best collections of Islamic art in the world. The building itself is full of striking Islamic architectural details and the galleries contain carpets, costumes, textiles, tiles, ceramics, jewellery, weapons and religious manuscripts.
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Istana Negara
On the far side of the river, off Jln Istana, is the Istana Negara, the official residence of the Sultan of Malaysia. The palace itself is only distantly visible through the trees, but locals flock here to see the hourly changing of the palace guard (from to weekdays).
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Kampung Baru Mosque
Built in 1924 with a handsome gateway decorated with eye-catching tiles in traditional Islamic patterns. Stalls around the mosque sell religious paraphernalia, including white kopia and black songkok, the traditional head coverings for Malay Muslim men. It's a short stroll west from here to Chow Kit and the Bazaar Baru market.
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KLCC Park
Suria KLCC, the cathedral to consumerism, is surrounded by the KLCC Park, with a soft-surface jogging track, synchronised fountains, a fantastic kids' playground and paddling pool (under 12s only) and - of course - great views of the Petronas Towers. In the early evening, it can seem like everyone in town has come down here to watch the glowing towers punching up into the night sky.
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Kompleks Dayabumi
The former headquarters of Petronas, Malaysia's national oil and gas company, the Kompleks Dayabumi was built in 1981 on land formerly occupied by the workshops for the Malayan Railway. The landmark feature here is a tall marble tower, cloaked in delicate fretwork screens. In profile, the tower forms a four-pointed star intersected by a square, a reoccurring symbol in Islamic art. Despite being one of the older buildings in KL, the tower is notable for its clean lines and purity of form.
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Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
The undisputed highlight of the gardens is this fabulous aviary, where 160 species of (mostly) Asian birds fly free beneath an enormous canopy. Star attractions include ostriches, hornbills, eagles, flamingos and parrots. It's worth getting to the park for feeding times (eagles , ostriches and ) or the child-friendly bird shows ( and ), which feature plenty of parrot tricks to keep youngsters amused.
