Discover everything you need to know about travel, shopping, upcoming events, and more in Malaysia.
Discover everything you need to know about travel, shopping, upcoming events, and more in Malaysia.
In Kuala Lumpur, they say the best things in life are free so if you're looking for a fun way to spend your day but have no cash to splash, we suggest you take advantage of our fun and free guide to happenings around the city. When deciding which places should make the list, we thought of those of you who want to explore the city on a very strict budget and decided to compile a list of free things to do in Kuala Lumpur. Determined to keep your calendar booked solid, we have got you covered and the only thing you will be short of is free time to hit all these spots, so be sure to arrange your schedule well when you are in the Malaysian capital.
Enjoy greenery and fresh air in the middle of the urban jungle at some of the city’s large green lung parks. At the base of the Petronas Towers is the gorgeous KLCC Park, where an urban sightseeing trail is surrounded by beautiful skyscrapers. If you’d prefer a location further from the hustle and bustle of the city, check out Perdana Botanical Gardens, where you can cycle or jog around the pretty fountain lake.
Address: KLCC Park, Jalan Ampang, City Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Established in 1885, Royal Selangor is deemed the maker of the world’s finest pewter. Guests are welcomed with complimentary guided tours of the Visitor Centre which houses museum exhibits and even a chance to watch pewter crafting in real time. For those up to the challenge, you can try hammering a pewter sheet to get a feel of the process. The guided tour is available in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese. The entire viewing is also wheelchair accessible. Free shuttle van services are available at selected hotels to the Visitor’s Centre. There’s also the option of a five-minute taxi ride from the Wangsa Maju stop on the Kelana Jaya LRT line.
Address: Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya 53300 Kuala Lumpur
If something more challenging than a walk in a park calls out to you, then head to the hiking trails of Bukit Gasing or Bukit Nanas. These natural jungle trails will bring you closer to experiencing the tropical Malaysian rain forest. Go early in the morning because it gets hot later in the day. Also bring lots of bug spray, as mosquitoes thrive here.
Address: KL Forest Eco Park, Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur
Established in 1993, this non-profit visual art gallery is open to the public in KLCC to promote the continuity and development of Malaysian art. You can also participate in free art classes promoting local techniques. To view the current and past list of exhibitions, do visit their website. To get here, you can always take a taxi or utilize the Kelana Jaya LRT line that stops right below the Twin Towers (KLCC). If you’re coming from inside the mall, take the escalator or lift up to the 3rd Floor. If you prefer to walk, you can also use the elevated, air-conditioned KLCC to Bukit Bintang Pedestrian Walkway if you’re near to the Bukit Bintang area or Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Address: Lot 341-343, 3rd Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Drive a little more than 10km from Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, and you’ll end up at this famous limestone hill made up of several caves and indoor temples. Devotees of the Hindu God, Lord Murugan, regularly visit the temples to pray and give offerings. If you’re not particularly fond of crowds, you’ll want to avoid coming during Thaipusam as it packed full of devotees and visitors. During this festival, the Silver Chariot procession will make its way from Kuala Lumpur the night before to Batu Caves the following day. Visitors to this popular destination will have the chance to climb 272 steep rock stairs before reaching the first cave. If you’ve just started rock climbing, this is a good spot to practise and test out your climbing skills. It’s better to arrive earlier to pick out a good climbing spot, but there are also plenty of routes available. Just remember to bring your own climbing gear. Taxis are always available to this destination. Otherwise, you can also take the Intrakota Bus No.11D from Central Market (Pasar Seni) or the Bus No.69 from Jalan Pudu.
Address: Batu Caves, Sri Subramaniam Temple, Kuala Lumpur
You could take in the sights of Malaysia’s British colonial buildings on your own, but to truly get a sense of its history, there’s also a free guided tour offered by KL City Hall that starts from the City Gallery at Dataran Merdeka. The tour consists of 11 historical sites and will take about 2.5 hours from start to finish. If you’ve been itching to try out some local Malaysian snacks, there’s also free tastings available.
Address: 27, Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka, 50050 Dataran Merdeka
Wind down with a free movie under the stars at the modern and contemporary artistic hub, Publika. Screening local and foreign indie and old movies, this fun event is held every Monday evening. Keep an eye on the weather and feel free to bring your own mat and snacks for a late-night picnic.
Address: Solaris Dutamas Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, 50480, Malaysia
As the largest preeminent place of worship for Muslims in Malaysia, the National Mosque can be found at the edge of the Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur. The sacred halls are open to visitors during specific hours of the day. Before entering the mosque, you will be given a floor length robe to put on by an attendant before you will be allowed to enter. You will also be required to take off your shoes to promote silence and to avoid damaging the interior. The easiest mode of transportation would be a taxi. Another way is to stop at the Pasar Seni LRT Station and cross the bridge that links to the Kuala Lumpur Station (KTM). Do not pass the ticket counters; instead, walk further along until you come across a parking lot in front of the POS Malaysia building. You’ll see the entrance to an underpass that will take you across Jalan Kinabalu. From there, you’ll arrive at the mosque at the end of the tunnel.
Address: Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
The KL Forest Eco Park, formerly known as the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, is one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in Malaysia. Conveniently located beside the Menara KL Tower, this forest reserve covers an area of approximately 11, 0000 sq meter and was founded in 1906, making it the only remaining tropical rainforest in the middle of Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Visitors can find a variety of trees, herbs, bamboo, and creepers, as well as well-maintained walking trails ranging between 300 and 500 meter in length. All trails in KL Forest Eco Park are fairly suitable for beginners and children, plus there are also several facilities within the area, including a playground, campsite, and a wooden gazebo overlooking the Menara KL Tower. A must-visit here is the Canopy Walk, which is a wood-and-steel aerial bridge that’s about 200 meter in height. The bridge towers above the forest reserve, offering sweeping views of Menara KL Tower, and the KL city skyline. The KL Forest Eco Park is open daily and free to enter. It's popular to visit the park in combination with a trip up the Menara KL Tower. A free guided walk is included if you’ve bought tickets to the tower’s observation deck.
Address: Bukit Nanas, Jalan Puncak, Off Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur
Central Market, one of KL’s most familiar landmarks, may be known for its shopping opportunities but you can find plenty of free things to do if you’re travelling on a budget. Not only does it house a warren of boutiques, handicraft and souvenir stalls, the market is also a good place to enjoy free cultural performances and art exhibitions all year long. In the evening, visitors can watch a wide range of traditional dances, sketches, and music that are performed by locals in vibrant costumes at Central Market’s Outdoor Stage.
Address: No. 10, 1st-3rd floor, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
These were the most famous activities that people prefer to do at leisure. To know more about travel, food, and guide about KL visit our website www.kualalumpurhospitality.com.