Growing up in New Zealand, the name ‘Kuala Lumpur’ has always popped up in conversation as a flight stopover point. So, it was no surprise Googling flights between Australia and Sri Lanka to see KL pop up as the first option. We added in a few days to explore Kuala Lumpur with the kids to get as much of a first taste for Malaysia as we could.
Here is everything we most enjoyed about Kuala Lumpur with the kids.
Batu Caves – Kuala Lumpur with kids
Batu Caves is a series of limestone hills and caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The sight is reknownded for being one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India.
We called a Grab taxi for the 10km journey from town to Batu Caves, and were relieved to find 8:00am was still before the crowds.
The first thing we noticed was a crowd grouped around a roadside barber stall, where people were lining up to have their heads shaved; men, women, girls, and boys.
We soon learnt that this was part of the traditions of Hinduism. Pilgrims visiting the giant statue of Lord Muruga and temples at the caves, must shave their heads in a purification ritual at least once in their lives.
The men we spoke to sitting in the barber chairs said they come every year, but its most common for children or babies to have their heads shaved on a first visit.
Other Hindu devotees fulfil their vows by carrying hugely decorated carriers on their shoulders, called ‘kavadi’, most commonly adorned with bright peacock feathers and flowers, and palkudam (milk pots) balanced on their heads; up 272 steps to the Temple Cave.
How long do you need at Batu Caves?
It didn’t take long for us to walk up the stairs to the top. The views from above are impressive looking back out over the city, and down over the rainbow colours of the steps and temples below.
The boys were fascinated by the monkeys crawling and climbing all over the steps. The caves themselves are enormous inside and home to bats, roosters, birds, pigeons, as well as the brightly adorned shrines and statues that line the walls and nooks of the caves.
This was a great first stop for exploring Kuala Lumpur with the kids. There is a lot of cultural and religious activity condensed in the one place.
- Read our complete guide to Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur with kids.
KL’s Chinatown
What started out as a walk from Bukit Bintang to Chinatown, in search of some fresh drinking coconuts and some child-wearing-energy-burning…
Turned into quite a different and far smellier mission!
WE FOUND DURIAN!
Have you tried, and/or have you SMELT durian?!
Gavin has been on the lookout for some to try since last year. However, the only durian we ever see comes packaged in plastic wrap, or dried and packaged. It’s not cheap! And definitely an acquired taste…
But we found some in Chinatown! And, not only was he crazy/brave/mad enough to buy it and try it…
He also managed to convince the kids to have a bite as well!
Little India in Kuala Lumpur
We did Chinatown, so it seemed only just to visit Kuala Lumpur’s Little India as well.
We liked the bright and colourful streets adorned with sari’s and Indian colours and patterns. It has us feeling excited for India travels to come!
We found Indian sweets and drinks, and wandered along past shops blaring different tunes of Bollywood.
KLCC Park
We cant believe we only found KLCC Park and most amazing playground AND splash park on our third day!
The park is huge, with walking tracks and running tracks around an enormous playground and water splash park. It’s perfect for kids to cool off in the heat (and even more perfect to make friends and burn energy at the same time!).
Definitely a great place to head with kids while in KL!
Lot 10 Hutong – Food Court
In Bukit Bintang we stumbled across Lot 10 Hutong; a food court that is more like a heritage treasure of Malaysia’s best loved eateries, from countries and cultures all across Asia.
We found Chinese steamed buns, Macau pork rolls, Japanese okonomiyaki, Malaysian Nasi Lemak, Singapore Prawn Mee, Hainan Chicken Rice and soooo much more!
One thing that challenged us in Kuala Lumpur with kids?
Jet-lag! [But is it justified as a traveller to on occasion be thankful for jet-lag? Surely if it makes way for exploring it must be!].
We woke up early on our first morning in Malaysia, but grabbed the opportunity to head out for a wander and take in our first feelings of Kuala Lumpur. There is nothing quite like the buzz and activity of Asia in the early mornings!
Where we stayed in Kuala Lumpur with kids
- Kuala Lumpur: Orange Pekoe Guesthouse [awesome location; spacious room. Tea/coffee, breakfast, filtered drinking water; really friendly staff; very affordable rates for the centre of town!].
We really enjoyed the neighbourhood of Bukit Bintang. Giant modern skyscrapers and malls were juxtaposed against architecture from the traditional eras of Indian, Malay, and Chinese heritage of Kuala Lumpur.
It was a great place to base ourselves for a few days and it felt like a safe spot to explore Kuala Lumpur with the kids.
Getting around in Kuala Lumpur with kids
We purchased a SIM card before even reaching immigration at the airport (for about $7NZD) as we had been advised by our guesthouse that the easiest way to reach it would be by GRAB taxi.
From the airport this cost 65 RMB [$25 NZD] and it was a smooth process. An entire exit on the ground floor of the arrivals hall at KL International Airport is dedicated to e-hailing (Uber, Grab, and online taxis).
KL has a range of different transport options, and the centre of town is easy to get around on foot.
The MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) connects the city center with many of KL neighbourhoods. Tickets start at a cost of 1.2 MYR (NZD $0.50) and you can can buy individual tickets at the vending machines inside the MRT stations. (Grab a map from your hotel. It’s colour coded and easy to navigate!).
The KL Monorail goes straight from KL Central to Kuala Lumpur centre. The price starts at 1.30 MYR (NZD $0.60) for one stop. It’s easy to purchase the blue plastic coin tokens at dispensing machines inside the monorail stations.
Budget for Kuala Lumpur with kids
- Average accomodation: $64 NZD p/n ($41 USD p/n)
- Average daily expenditure: $97 NZD ($63 USD)
Overall, Kuala Lumpur is an affordable and exciting destination for a short stopover and explore. The daily expenses could be lowered if stretched out over more days.
Our daily expense includes a $40 GRAB taxi to and from the airport (twice within four days).
Plus, we actually booked a fourth nights accommodation at Orange Pekoe in order to check out late for a night flight. (Albeit the original cost of a family room is only $41 USD per night!).
If we went again we would…
Exploring only in and around Kuala Lumpur was exactly what we had planned for this trip. However, it did leave us feeling like we had missed out on exploring a country. It’s definitely a diverse metropolis, but that only left us wanting to see more of the rest of Malaysia!
Would we recommend seeing Kuala Lumpur with kids as more than a stopover though? Definitely!
It is a hive of colours, culture, and bustle – just as any Asian city. But amidst the mixture of modern and tradition it felt safe, and with opportunities for exploration in plentitude.
More about travel planning for Malaysia and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home).
Read more about travel in Asia
- Our Sri Lanka itinerary: Markets, buses, trains and beaches (on a budget).
- Sigiriya, Pidurangala and Dambulla: Climbing Sri Lanka’s big rocks with kids.
- Taiwan with kids: A complete Travel Guide.
- Visiting Busan’s Jagalchi Market, South Korea.
- Hong Kong: Mount Davis (accidentally) and the Monster Building.
- Pakistan with kids: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan.
- How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
- Our complete packing list for travel in India.
