August 22nd, 2018 by OYO Team

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia is a must-visit when in the country. Here the skyline is ultra modern, the skyscrapers rise high and the British heritage peeps through the colonial remnants, this is where imagination comes to life! In a city like this, it’s easy to have a list longer than the days you have in your itinerary. Sometimes you might even feel lost with so many places to cover in such a less time. But don’t let the travel fatigue get to you. Skip a tourist trap in Kuala Lumpur and do these fun things instead. After all the idea is to have a fun-filled vacation, isn’t it?

Here are the 12 Fun things & Activities to do in KL

  1. Enjoy Genting Highlands
  2. Walk at Aquaria KLCC
  3. Become pilot for a day in KL
  4. Sunway Lagoon – The water park for all age groups
  5. Shopping at Bukit Bintang
  6. Hone culinary skills at KL’s cooking classes
  7. Chuff  on a helicopter
  8. Climb the crag behind Batu Caves
  9. 360-degree view of the city at KL Tower
  10. Wild River Tubing at KL
  11. Meet friends with beautiful wings at Butterfly Park
  12. Diamond tower of the city at Petronas Twin Towers

Enjoy the colourful hill station of Genting Highlands

Genting Highlands

Genting Highlands is among the three cool hill stations that form Peninsular Malaysia’s north-south backbone. It is said to be the Asian-styled Las Vegas. Famous for its nightlife and world-class resorts, it attracts many tourists from all over Asia, especially from Singapore.

REACH: To reach Genting, KL Sentral has a bus service “Go Genting” which drops you at the cable car station. From there take a cable car to reach the highlands.

THINGS TO DO AT GENTING HIGHLANDS:

  1. Choose between standard gondola (RM8 per person) and glass floor gondola (RM50 per person) at Awana SkyWay to go to the peak of Genting Highlands and on the way view a 130 million-year-old rainforest.
  2. Try out your luck at Genting Casino with over 400 different types of electronic casino tables. And if you are tired of the city life then go for a horse ride through the cool hillside at Awana Horse Ranch.
  3.  Another fun place is the Happy Bee Farm which gives you the safe experience of apiculture along with its natural products like bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis and natural honey
  4. Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Center, home to 500 elephants that pick up peanuts from your hand and give you a quick ride if you hop on.
  5. The Arena of Stars has hosted many international acts and is a place to go for an exhilarating experience. It’s construction is not finished yet and is set to be done by the end of 2018, 20th Century Fox World is going to be one of the best theme parks in Malaysia.

Walk beneath the aquatic animals at Aquaria KLCC

Walking in Aquaria KLCC

Located beneath the KL convention centre within KL city centre, Aquaria KLCC is an oceanarium. With over 5,000 different aquatic animals, it is the longest tunnel at 90 meters. As you enter, there is a ticket counter at the beginning of the tunnel. The entrance fee for adults (non-Malaysian) is RM69 and for children (non-Malaysian) is RM59.

The oceanarium is divided into two levels. From evolution zone, the stream and shipwreck in level 1 to the deep forest, living ocean, aqua-theatre and station labs in level 2, experience the ocean world like never before.

REACH: Aquaria KLCC can be accessed through the main gate located at the Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 08:00 pm.

THINGS TO SEE IN AQUARIA KLCC:

Level 1: The evolution zone (Piranha tank, Gene pool, Electric zone), The stream (Riverbank jungle, Otter den) and Shipwreck (Coral discovery).

Level 2: Deep forest (Flooded forest), The coast (Coastal nursery, Mangroves), Living ocean (Sharks’ den, Reef fish, Sea turtles, Deep sea), Aqua Theatre, Weird and Wonderful (Jellyfish, Glass bottom boat), Atlantis souvenir store and Station Aquarius (Labs)

Become pilot for a day in KL

Aircraft

Who would have thought that becoming a pilot is so easy? All you need is courage, willingness and Ringgits! Unleash the aviator within you aboard Cessna with a DCA approved flying instructor. There are many companies which provide this tour but the routine is the same. One day before, a training session is held where the pilots are given proper information about all the safety measures and instructions. On the final day, after debriefing and pre-flight checking, you take off and fly across KL with a complete view of the city beneath you.

The flying has a 30-minute and a 60-minute duration and costs RM750 per person and RM1200 per person, respectively. If you want to go as a rider it costs RM150 per person to sit in the back seat. RM30 is the insurance fee per person.  

REACH: The most famous place for a one-day pilot tour is Subang Skypark, Terminal 3, Selangor Malaysia Airport Berhad. There are many other places where this tour can be taken: Sapura Aero, Oxbold or The Entertainer. There are also many online websites which offer a discount with pre-booking.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

  • Passengers have to be certified as physically fit by a doctor before taking up this activity. Pregnant woman, senior citizens, overweight or people with heart issues are not allowed due to safety precautions.  
  • Jeans, T-shirts, trousers with sports shoes are HIGHLY recommended. Any sleeveless, short wears or open flip flops or sandals are STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED.
  • Carry your original identity card for check-in. You can carry food and a camera.
  • In case of bad weather, the flight might get postponed or rescheduled. You will be informed beforehand.
  • The bookings must be made at least one week before the flying date to for confirmation.

Sunway Lagoon – The water park for all age groups

Sunway Lagoon - KL

Spread across 88 acres of land with over 80 attractions, this place gives you the most adventurous experience. The best thing about this park? Pay the admission fee and get all the rides for free! There are a few exceptions. Some extreme rides are chargeable. It has many sub-parks like the waterpark, amusement park, etc. and each has multiple rides. From easy to highly adventurous, you will find one for every age group. So, no matter how old, Sunway Lagoon is your ticket for fun.

PRICE:

Child – RM140

Adult – RM170

Senior citizen – RM140

THINGS TO SEE IN SUNWAY LAGOON:

  1. Waterpark (Vuvuzela, waves of fun, waterplexx 5D, little Zimbabwe, African python, surf beach).
  2. Nickelodeon themed land – Literally, every child’s dreamland!

iii. Amusement park (pirates revenge, carousel, fun world, colorado splash, grand canyon river rapids).

  1. Extreme park (bungee jumping, G-force X, go-kart, paintball target shooting, archery, pedal boating).
  2. Scream Park (ghostbuster).

REACH: Take a train to Subang Jaya station and then take a feeder bus from there to the Sunway pyramid stop.

No 3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, | Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 46150, Malaysia

Go on a shopping spree at Bukit Bintang

Shopping in Bukit Bintang

Filled with countless retail shops and food vendors, Bukit Bintang is the epicentre of entertainment, fashion and food in KL. Your trip to Malaysia will be incomplete without Bukit Bintang, a place so famous among tourists that they prefer staying at hotels nearby this attraction.

REACH: Since it is in the central area of KL, it’s quite easy to travel to Bukit Bintang by public transport like buses, monorails, etc. Buses or taxis are available for travelling in and around Bukit Bintang.

THINGS TO DO:

Thinking what’s fun about Bukit Bintang? Ask what’s not? Shop, eat your heart out, learn cooking.

  • Shopping:

The key places for shopping in Bukit Bintang are:

Berjaya Times Square – a 48-storey twin tower with 1,000 retail shops and 65 food outlets.

Central Market – popular for handicrafts and Malaysian batik prints.

Pavilion KL – home to all major brands.

Sungei Wang – This shopping centre has colour coded shops for ease of shopping. The rates are cheap and a wide range of products are available.

Fahrenheit88 – Shop for the latest fashion trends at reasonable rates.

  • Eating:

The key places for eating in Bukit Bintang are:

Changkat Bukit Bintang – a famous after-hours place

Jalan Alor – is the cultural heart of KL. Go here for the local street food

Shanghai at JW Marriott – experience the elegance of fine dining.

Prego at The Westin – an Italian restaurant that serves the best authentic food.

Dining in the dark – first restaurant that lets you dine in dark for a whole new experience

Hutong at Lot 10 – has been featured in a lot of TV shows. Has a food hall with multiple food stalls to eat from.

  • Others: Sri Mahamariamman Temple (Hindu temple), Chan See Shu Yuen Temple (Buddhist temple), No Black Tie Jazz Bar (nightlife, jazz bar), multiple spa and massages centre, special culinary studios to learn cooking, etc.

Hone your culinary skills at KL’s cooking classes

Learning how to cook fishes can always come in handy. Tourists often fall head over heels in love with the Malaysian food and fail to find the same taste and aroma back at home. So, if you take the cooking classes, you will easily learn the art of Malaysian food and impress those guests you have over dinner.

HOW DOES IT WORK: It’s quite easy. You have to pick a day for your visit. The recipes are different every day so if you choose this class for two days, you will learn two Malaysian dishes. The classes begin with a driver picking you up from your hotel and dropping you off at a local market where you will meet your teacher. The teacher will explain every ingredient to you while you shop for the dish of the day followed by a cooking tutorial. And that’s where the fun begins! Now toss those authentic ingredients as you master the Malaysian cuisine.

TIMING AND PRICE: Usually the classes are for 4 to 6 hours. Each includes a market tour, cooking one Malaysian dish (you can discuss with your classmates a day before and vote for your choice of dish) and pick and drop facility from and to your hotel.

The cost for one class per person ranges between RM290 to RM320 inclusive of the pick-up and drop-off fee. 

Chuff around the city on a helicopter

Another way to enjoy the aerial view of KL is a helicopter tour. After 10-15 minutes of debriefing, the chopper will be up in the air viewing the panorama of KL. The pilot will take you across many important spots like Petronas Twin Tower, Birk park, Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur City Centre and others. The pilot will also explain all the major spots to you as you take this opportunity to click outstanding aerial shots.

For safety reasons, sometimes, the tour is cancelled or delayed due to bad weather but it happens rarely.

PRICE LIST for a maximum of 3 people:

Duration Price
6 minutes RM630
15 minutes RM1550
30 minutes RM3050
45 minutes RM4410

LOCATION: Titiwangsa Helipad, Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Climb the crag behind Batu Caves

Batu Caves is not only home to many temples in Malaysia but it also has many cliffs nearby that are great rock climbing spots for beginners. You don’t have to worry about the safety as all the required measures are observed by the expert guides here. There are 8 crags with 170 routes in total with various difficulty levels. So depending on the climber’s experience (first timer or frequent climber), the most suitable one is chosen by the guide.

The tour is taken on a half-day basis which is for 4 hours and full-day basis which lasts for 8 hours. First timers are advised to take the former as it might get too tiring otherwise. Book the tour beforehand to avoid housefulls.

After the climb is over you can ask your tour guide to drop you off at one of the nearby temples for a good end to the day.

PRICE: You can climb together as a group of 3 (max in one tour) which will cost RM150 per person. If you wish to climb alone then it costs RM250. Additional RM100 is charged for a full day tour i.e. 8 hours.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

  • Carry at least 1-2 litres of water with you because it’s a complete workout.
  • It is necessary to wear a safety helmet.
  • You can bring your own gear but if you don’t have one, they are available on rent.
  • Bring a mosquito or insect repellent with you.
  • Follow all the safety measures and instructions carefully.

Get a 360-degree view of the city at KL Tower

View From Kl Tower

Kuala Lumpur Tower is the 7th tallest building in the world standing at 1381 ft. It has 6 storeys and 4 operating elevators.  

One of the reasons why KL Tower became so famous is “Atmosphere 360”, a restaurant that revolves slowly as you enjoy a 360-degree view of the city with a scrumptious meal on the table. There are also a few cafés that are perfect for snacking. The entrance ticket to the tower can be bought as a combo of observation deck and skybox. Individual tickets are available as well.

REACH: Monorail, taxis or buses can be used to travel to the KL Tower because it is well-connected.

Location: 2, Jalan Puncak, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

THINGS TO DO AT KL TOWER:

  • Upside Down House: Everything from furniture to the lights is upside down at the House of Illusions. This place at the entrance of the KL Tower makes for a cool photoshoot location.
  • Mini Zoo: Although small, it still has enough to keep you interested. You can see animals like python, squirrel monkeys and furry rabbits here. A definite visit for kids!
  • Observation Deck: This deck allows the complete view of the city at 276 meters. The fee to the observation deck is RM53 for adults and RM31 for children.
  • SkyBox: The box is made of clear glass and extends out of the tower giving the visitors a thrilling experience. The fee of the skybox is paid with the fee of observation deck which combined will be RM110 and RM56 for adults and children respectively.
  • Cultural shows: You can always watch the cultural performances that are regularly held in the tower.
  • Other places to eat: Moghul Mahal Restaurant and Santino’s Pizza.

Feel the wild with Wild River Tubing at KL

Sit in an inflatable tube and whisk away with the flow of the water. River tubing locations are only a few hours away from KL and they are the best getaways for fun. There are tours that begin with a delicious Malaysian breakfast and then off you go for river tubing. River tubing is basically river rafting but instead of rafts, you use tubes. This multiplies the fun by 10 times! The tour guides will constantly be with you the whole time and guide you through rough areas like rocks and falls.

Starting from the calm waters on the upper side of the Selangor River, you make your way through the beautiful scenery. As you go ahead, the adrenaline levels rise. The tour ends with another delicious Malaysian meal.

PRICE: The price for one person is RM350 which includes breakfast, lunch, tour guide, pick-up and gears for river tubing.

LOCATION: B-5-8 Plaza Mont Kiara | Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur 50480, Malaysia

Meet friends with beautiful wings at Butterfly Park

Located adjacent to the Bird park, this butterfly park shelters around 5,000 butterflies each with a unique pair of wings. When you enter the garden area and look around, all you see is butterflies fluttering around. The garden also has benches in some corners for visitors to sit and enjoy. The park has many exotic plants and flowers which are fed on by the butterflies. There is a waterfall in the garden that keeps the place cool. Turtles, koi fish, and other fishes swim around in the lakes. A great place to capture the colours of nature, you can use the bridges as props for a perfect shot.

REACH: Located near Lake gardens and the bird park, this place can be reached by taxi or public transport.

ENTRY FEE: RM25 for adults, RM14 for kids and extra RM5 to bring your camera in.

Visit the diamond tower of the city at Petronas Twin Towers

Twin Towers

Argentine-American designer César Pelli designed this diamond-like structure of Petronas Twin Towers and called it “diamonds glittering in the sun”.

This 88-storey tower is the tallest twin tower in the world standing at 452 meters. A sky bridge links the two identical towers at 41st and 42nd floor and has an observation deck. Tower 2 also has an observation deck on the 86th floor. There are 29 double-decker passenger lifts. The shopping area has almost every brand there is to shop for. Even if you don’t get to visit the inside, the towers are a great visual delight from the outside too.

LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur 50088, Malaysia.

REACH: Any direct train can be taken from the station to KLCC.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS: Tickets to Petronas Twin Towers are sold on a first come first serve basis and there is a rush in the early hours. It’s better to book the tickets online here.

The tickets sell for RM85 per person and group tours are led by an expert guide. You can also book a separate tour for yourself by paying extra charges.

So, how many have you put on your list? When on a trip, it is not necessary to go by the conventions. It’s good to go offbeat and have a little fun, especially when you are in a place like Kuala Lumpur where the possibilities are endless and the options are so many!

 

About OYO Team

We’re people who love to travel and it’s a pleasure to share our experiences from around the world with you here. You’ll see our favourite destinations, quirky stays and budget stay. Also the best wedding banquet halls and the most lit party destinations. You’ll also find insightful opinions about why we travel in the first place and what it’s really like out there. Enjoy the blog and please tell us what you think - feedback welcome!