This 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) walk across central Kuala Lumpur covers some of the main sights in the city centre.
Understand
[edit]This is a very diverse hike, during which you can experience the most bustling parts of the city as well as rain forest stretches that you will most likely have all for yourself. By no means should this be your only walk in the city. The Titiwangsa Lake Gardens and the Botanical Garden with all its sights should be on your list as well.
Prepare
[edit]About the only equipment you will need is comfy shoes, sun screen and possibly insect repellent. There are countless restaurants, food stalls and mini markets along the way. Some top picks are highlighted. The hike will take you around 3 hours of pure walking. With museum and sightseeing stops - especially at Kuala Lumpur Tower - plan at least 5 hours for the whole trip. It is best to take this walk early in the morning or in the late afternoon, in order to avoid the hottest hours of the day.
One option could be to start the walk at around 16:00-17:00 at Maharajalela station to arrive at the observation deck of KL Tower shortly before sunset (Between 19:00 in November and 19:30 in July). The attractions in the second part of the hike (namely Changkat Bukit Bintang, Pavillion, KLCC Park, Petronas Towers and Saloma Link Bridge) are all even more impressive in the dark. Chow Kit market will already be closed at this time though (This should not hold you back to at least take a stroll around Kampung Baru in the dark).
Get in
[edit]The sightseeing walk can be accessed at numerous points. If you are planning to walk the whole distance it is advisable to take the Monorail to either 1 Maharajalela (southern end) or 2 Chow Kit (northern end).
Walk
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Chinatown
[edit]Exit Maharajalela monorail station and walk towards northwest. You will reach Chinatown and the colonial district.
1 Stadium Merdeka. The independence of the Federation of Malaya from British rule was proclaimed here on 31 August 1957.
2 Merdeka 118. The second tallest skyscraper in the world.
3 Kwai Chai Hong. Back alley with Instagram-worthy murals.
1 Petaling Street. Market with low-cost counterfeit products.
1 Wan Tan Mee Food Stall. It serves a Malaysian dish of noodles with wontons, called Want Tan Mee. Don't get discouraged by the rather uninviting environment in the back alley. RM 6.50.
2 Central Market & Kasturi Walk. Central Market sells all types of souvenirs and memorabilia of KL and Malaysia in general. Kasturi Walk is another market with items similar to the ones in Petaling Street.
4 Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. The oldest Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur.
5 Merdeka Square & Flag pole. Malaysia declared its independence here in 1957.
6 Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Formerly the offices of the Colonial Secretariat it houses the Courts of Law today.
7 River of Life walkway. Beautiful walkway opposite Jamek Mosque at the confluence of Gombak and Kelang rivers (Thus the name "Kuala Lumpur", which means "Muddy River Mouth").
8 Masjid Jamek. One of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in the city.
Golden Triangle
[edit]Jungle, nightlife and shopping awaits you in this part of the city.
9 Muzium Telekom. If you are interested in the history of telecommunication in Malaysia this could be worth a visit.
10 St. John's Cathedral. A historic Catholic cathedral and the seat of the archbishop. Makes for a good photo motif with the KL Tower in the backdrop.
1 KL Forest Eco-Park Canopy Walk. Nice canopy walk over the jungle. Since 2020 an entrance fee has to be paid. Many visitors think that the price of RM40 is not worth the visit. 40 RM (foreigners), 10 RM (locals).
11 Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara KL). The viewing deck provides a stunning 360° panorama of the city.
1 Changkat Bukit Bintang. Night life hot spot of KL.
2 Jalan Alor Food Stalls. A massive collection of restaurants and stalls sell almost everything that culinary Malaysia has to offer.
12 Street Art. Colorful back alley.
3 Halab, Jalan Beremi 7, ☏ +603 2110 1458. M-F 10:00-04:00. Very yummy Middle Eastern food. The lamb dishes are especially good.
13 Bukit Bintang junction. The beating heart of the city.
3 Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The main shopping destination for locals and tourists alike in the centre.
14 KLCC-Bukit Bintang Pedestrian Walkway. An air-conditioned footbridge connecting Bukit Bintang with KLCC.
15 Aquaria KLCC. A gigantic aquarium housing over 5,000 aquatic and terrestrial species.
16 KLCC Park. Urban park, which is surrounded by skyscrapers.
17 Petronas Twin Towers. The most iconic landmark of the country.
Kampung Baru & Chow Kit
[edit]Stunning contrast between the village charm of Kampung Baru to all those highrisers, which are only a stone's throw away.
18 Saloma Link Bridge. Pedestrian footbridge with extraordinary design. Beautifully lit during night time.
4 Chow Kit Wet Market. The largest wet market in Kuala Lumpur.
Stay safe
[edit]Kuala Lumpur is a relatively safe city. Nonetheless it is important to stay alert. Pickpocketting and snatch thefts with scooters can happen. Chow Kit - the northern terminus of this hike - is considered a bit "rough" for KL standards. Thus if you want to avoid risks better don't go there after sunset.
Traffic is a much greater danger in this car-centric city, so take extra care when crossing the street—even at green lights.