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Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital of Malaysia, is a fascinating city that is constantly on the move. It offers stunning architecture, an amazing array of cuisines, a broad variety of shopping and an exciting and varied nightlife. Anyone planning to spend some time in Southeast Asia should have KL on their itinerary.

Petronas Twin Towers

1. Shop till you drop. From swanky high-end malls along Bukit Bintang Street to roadside stalls in Chinatown, KL is a shoppers’ paradise!

2. Explore Petaling Street in Chinatown and the nearby Central Market (a popular place for local handicraft). Petaling Street is an atmospheric outdoor market with hundreds of stalls selling a myriad of merchandise and food. Don’t forget to bargain! 

3. Stand at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. You can opt to walk across the Skybridge on the 47th floor (entrance is free and is on a first-come-first-serve basis; get there before 8am for the best chance of getting tickets).

4. Visit the KL Bird Park in the Lake Gardens. It’s one of the largest aviaries in the world. The Rhinoceros Hornbills are pretty impressive birds!

Old railway station

5. Take a walk along some of KL’s historic landmarks. Walk from the Moorish-inspired Old Railway Station, past the electric blue dome of the National Mosque to the Merdeka Square (Independence Square. The huge flag mast is the tallest in the world) and end at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers (the birthplace of KL). Don’t forget to visit one of my favourite mosques, the Masjid Jamek, that sits proudly at the edge of where the two rivers meet, and the nearby little India neighbourhood.

6. Go to the observation deck of the 421 m high KL Tower (Menara KL) for unbeatable views of the city. From here, you’ll have unparalleled views of the spires of the Petronas Twin Towers. Go before sunset and watch as the city lights up and the skyscrapers turn to gold.

7. Visit the historic Hindu temples in Batu Caves. Located 13 km north of KL, the Batu Caves are an intriguing place. A massive limestone outcrop houses a series of caves and cave temples. Get ready to climb the 272 steps to the main cave temple.

KL Monorail

8. Visit the Aquaria next to the Petronas Twin Towers for a preview of what to expect in the Malaysian seas.

9. Have an exotic meal at the food stalls along Jalan (street) Alor. Located parallel to Bukit Bintang street, Jalan Alor is often regarded as the heart of KL’s local cuisine. The hundreds of food stalls serve a mind-boggling variety of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Indonesian specialities. The atmosphere is electric and the many types of food available will leave the first-time visitor in a daze. Try the satay (lamb or chicken skewers served with a spicy peanut sauce) or the grilled stingray.

10. Take a ride on the KL Monorail for a different view of the city from above the trees.

Read other articles in the ‘Ten things to do..‘ series:

• Ten things to do in Hamburg
• Ten things to do when you travel alone