Things to do in Kuala Lumpur During a 24-Hour Layover

Have you ever purposely booked a 24-hour layover in a new city, just so you could explore it?

I confess I’ve done it a few times. Most recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where there’s no shortage of things to do.

Related: Check out this post about my layover in Doha, Qatar.

My husband and I were traveling from India to Bali for the end-of-year holidays. While we could have easily booked connecting flights through KL with only a couple of hours to spare, I thought, why not check out a new city and discover all of the great things to do in Kuala Lumpur?

Related: 10 things I loved and hated about Bali

And so we did!

Now, I’m sharing our experience with you so you, too, can take advantage of all the great things to do in Kuala Lumpur during a 24-hour layover.

The good news is that many of the things we did were outdoor activities, which are still considered safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember that regulations related to COVID-19 are changing daily. Make sure to check the restrictions for the country and city you are traveling to before booking your trip.

Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur: The 24-Hour Layover Guide

Visa Info for Malaysia

First things first. If you are planning to leave the airport during your layover in KL, make sure to check the visa requirements for your nationality. The last thing you want is to plan a layover but not have the proper visa to leave the airport and visit the city!

Getting to Kuala Lumpur From the Airport

I’ll be honest; we were a bit lazy here! While KL has a great and affordable train system connecting the airport to the city’s center (the KLIA Ekspres train), we opted for a taxi. It made sense for us because we were tired from a full day of travel and didn’t want to schlep our bags from the train to the metro to our hotel. (We also had larger suitcases with us after spending 2 weeks in Bali.) For comparison, the taxi cost us $19 US dollars, whereas a train would have cost $7.40 pp.

That said, the metro system in Kuala Lumpur is a dream compared to other cities. It’s safe, clean, and easy to navigate. We used it to get around the city without any issues.

Where We Stayed in Kuala Lumpur

Before I get to where we stayed in Kuala Lumpur, here’s a little secret I want to share.

For some reason, all of the luxury, 5-star hotels in KL are absurdly affordable compared to other major cities. Case in point – the Four Seasons, arguably one of the top hotel chains in the world, typically has a room rate of over $800 per night in places like Hong Kong. But in Kuala Lumpur? Room rates are around $225 per night. While that is still pricey for a hotel room (especially if you’re traveling on a strict budget), I just want to make the point that if you have the disposable income to splurge a bit, this is a great place to do it.

We decided to stay at the Shangri-La because we are big fans of this hotel chain. Also, the property in Kuala Lumpur is centrally located, which was important to us. We paid about $115 for our room, including taxes.

Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur – Our 24 Hour Layover

While there are plenty of things to do in Kuala Lumpur, If you only have 24 hours in the city, you should focus on the highlights. In our itinerary, which I share below, you can see how we squeezed in the top sightseeing sites within our 24-hour window. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of everything to do in Kuala Lumpur. Consider it a greatest hit list!

 Sunset Cocktails at a Helipad Bar

It’s not often you can say that you’ve had sunset drinks on a functioning helipad. That’s why you should definitely visit the Heli Lounge Bar on the rooftop of the Menara KH building.

I think at one point, this rooftop bar was one of KL’s best-kept secrets. Not so much anymore. When we went, the place was packed! But even so, it was worth it!

The rooftop bar has 360-degree unobstructed views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, including the famous Petronas Towers. And how cool is it to say you’ve had drinks on a helipad?!

To be honest, this was my favorite thing that we did during our 24-hour layover in the city. And I wasn’t even drinking because I was doing dry January. (Their virgin Mojitos were actually quite good.)

So about the helicopters…Don’t worry. There aren’t helicopters landing while you’re sipping on your cocktail. The helipad is active during the day, and at 5 PM, the rooftop is quickly transformed into an outdoor bar.

Pro Travel Tip: Get to the bar at 6 PM or earlier to ensure you get a seat with a great view on the rooftop.

Early Morning Visit to Batu Caves

I’m sure you’ve seen countless photos of the rainbow-colored steps leading up to the Batu Caves, so you might be wondering if this place is worth visiting or a tourist trap.

I won’t lie. The Batu Caves is a very touristy destination, and it gets quite crowded. However, I still consider it one of the great things to do in Kuala Lumpur because it is really cool to see in person.

From the towering gold statue of Murugan (42.7 meters / 140 ft high) and the 272 colored steps (that seem endless when you’re at the bottom), to the aggressive macaques and the Hindu shrines tucked away in the caves themselves, there is so much to take in when you visit.

So, what exactly are the Batu Caves? The site is a limestone hill comprising three major caves, plus a number of smaller ones, that are home to one of the most important Hindu shrines in the world outside of India. What’s interesting is that this very famous Hindu site is located in a country that’s primarily Muslim. It draws visitors of all faiths and nationalities.

The site is also an homage to Lord Murugan, a Tamil Deity who triumphed over Tamil Nadu demons of folklore. The commanding gold statue of Murugan is the largest one of this deity in the world. It was brought to Malaysia from neighboring Thailand.

Once you get to the top of the stairs, take your time exploring the caves and the Hindu shrines and temples inside. My biggest recommendation for visiting this site is to get there early to beat the crowds and the heat. (Like the rest of Southeast Asia, the weather in Kuala Lumpur is very hot and humid.)

The Petronas Towers

Ever since I saw the movie Entrapment with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, I have wanted to visit the Petronas Towers.

When the movie came out, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. (Today, at 88 stories and measuring 1483 feet tall, the towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.) That was just one of the many reasons I wanted to visit.

Malaysia also sounded exotic to me at the time. In my early twenties, I had traveled to Europe and Central America, but Asia was still an undiscovered place that I couldn’t wait to explore. And the Petronas Towers in KL were at the top of my list!

But I’m sure you care more about the logistics of visiting the towers than my long-held wanderlust for seeing the towers in person! So, let’s get to it.

The Petronas Towers From the ground, a great vantage point for seeing the towers is  KLCC Park. But I want to share a bit of a secret here. If you want amazing, unobstructed views of the Petronas twin towers, head to the Sky Bar on the 33^rd floor of The Traders Hotel. This hotel is located directly across KLCC Park, with spectacular views. I highly recommend heading there at sunset to see the towers lit up. Another good vantage point is from the rooftop restaurant and bar, Marini’s on 57, but you’re closer to the towers here, so the views are not as spectacular.

If you want to head to the top of the towers and experience the sky bridge (which connects the two towers), you must buy tickets to enter. I highly recommend reserving your tickets in advance because, like other popular tourist attractions, tickets sell out quickly, sometimes weeks in advance.

I didn’t care so much about entering the towers because I had access to so many skyscrapers at home in NYC. For me, it was more about seeing the towers up close, in person, and taking pictures. (Yes, I’m a tourist at heart!)

After our visit to the towers, it was time to head to the airport to fly back home to Chennai, India. (You can learn more about our move to Chennai, India, in this post.) However, I still want to do so many things in Kuala Lumpur. I know it won’t be long before we return for another visit.

In case you have more time when you visit Malaysia, here’s a list of additional things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

Things We Want to Do in KL the Next Time We Visit:

• Visit the National Mosque & Islamic Arts Museum
• Check out the old train station
• Explore Petaling Street
• Shop at the Central Market
• Tour the Sri Mahamariamman temple

With all The things to do in Kuala Lumpur, is a Layover Worth it?

 I will answer this question with a resounding yes! It is 100%  worth doing a 24-hour layover in Kuala Lumpur. I only regret not booking a longer layover because there are so many great things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

But that’s ok. Now we have a really good excuse to come back for another visit!

Now I’d love to hear from you. Have you been to Kuala Lumpur or Malaysia? If so, how was your experience? Did you find that there were enough things to do in Kuala Lumpur to hold your interest?

And if you’ve done a 24-hour layover in another city you loved, comment below with your recommendations! I’m always looking for my next adventure.