Updated August 2024
There are so many free things to do in Kuala Lumpur I’m sure I have only just scratched the surface. The following list includes religious temples/mosques, museums and galleries, parks and gardens, colonial history and markets! For more very cheap activities – so cheap they might as well be free, check out Kuala Lumpur on a Shoestring! and More of Kuala Lumpur on a Shoestring!
1. Batu Caves
The Batu Caves are a series of caves, and cave temples, located just north of Kuala Lumpur. It is a popular tourist icon and an important Hindu shrine. However, the massive statue of Murugan, a Hindi god, is probably the most outstanding feature of this attraction. Standing at 42.7 m (140 ft) high, it is the world’s tallest Murugan statue. Nearby is a colossal staircase of 272 steps, which leads to a large cave. On the climb up the stairs, you will undoubtedly be entertained by the antics of the cheeky monkeys.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open daily 06:00 – 21:00
Location – Sri Subramaniam Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Getting there – Batu Caves are easily reached by train. KTM Line – Batu Caves are the last stop. Cost RM 2.00 (less than a dollar). The trains are clean and comfortable. Be aware that they usually have two coaches dedicated to ladies only. In my experience, they have been coaches three and four. They are labelled, but if you are not looking, you will not see them; once inside, they are also labelled ‘ladies only’, as we found out!
More info – Batu Caves
Batu Caves are also easily reached travelling by car – parking costs RM 2.00 at Batu Caves.
2. Sri Mahamariamman Temple
The Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in KL. This large elaborate temple is a kaleidoscope of colour! Even before I walked into the temple, I was enchanted by the ornate, colourful ‘Raja Gopuram’ tower. This five-tiered threshold “between the material and spiritual world” comprises 228 Hindu idols depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The temple has shrines, intricate carvings, hand-painted motifs and the main prayer hall. The place is alive with the smell of incense and bright colours.
Cost – Free (you must remove shoes and leave them at a counter at the front of the temple – costs RM 0.20)
Hours – Open daily 06:00 – 21:00 (but these hours can vary during festival etc)
Location – Jalan Tun H S Lee, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Telephone – +603 2078 5323
3. National Mosque
This immense building was built in 1965 and has a capacity of up to 15000 people. Non-Muslims are welcome outside of prayer times, and you must remove your shoes and be appropriately dressed. We had to wear a robe because Dwayne and I were not appropriately dressed.
Cost – Free (Robe hire also free)
Opening hours – Non-Muslims are not allowed into the mosque on Fridays between 09:oo to 15:00 and between 16:00 to 17:00, and on other days between 12.00 to 15:00 and from 16:00 to 17:00
Location – Masjid Negara Jalan Perdana 50480, Kuala Lumpur
Telephone +603 2693 7784
Museums & Galleries
4. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum
This is a museum about money… and who doesn’t love money! So how can this be boring? The museum was established by the country’s central bank, the Bank Negara Malaysia. This place is full of interesting facts and, at this museum, you can learn all about money through interactive games and computerised activities. The museum comprises several galleries, including the Economics Gallery, Islamic Finance Gallery, Numismatics Gallery and Children’s Gallery. There is also a collection of notable Malaysian contemporary artists in the Art Gallery.
Cost – Free
Hours – Daily 10:00 to 17:00 (except for Hari Raya Aidilfitri)
Tour Guide – Free of charge and must be booked two weeks in advance.
Location – 2, Sasana Kijang, Jalan Dato’ Onn
Getting there
KTM Komuter: 10-minute walk from the Bank Negara Komuter station (KA03)
Rapid KL LRT: 15-minute walk from the Bandaraya station (ST6- Ampang Line)
Telephone– +603 9179 2784
Email – [email protected]
Website – Bank Negara Museum
5. Royal Malaysia Police Museum
The evolution of the Malaysian Police Force is fascinating. The history of this integral community element begins with a short video that depicts and explains the evolution of the Royal Malaysia Police in chronological order. Then, you can spend hours looking at the vehicles and weapons used by the police and the amazing and grizzly display of weapons confiscated during the “Malayan emergency”. This museum will keep the overgrown boys entertained for hours!
Cost – Free (RM 1.00 on weekends and public holidays)
Hours – Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 – 18:00 / Closed between 12:30 – 14:30 on Fridays / Closed on Mondays
Location – 5 Jalan Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur (Old Kuala Lumpur station is around 5 minutes walk away).
Telephone – +603 2272 5689
For more information – Royal Malaysian Police Museum
6. Trade Museum
The Trade Museum provides extensive information about the evolution of trade in Malaysia. From ancient times to now, this museum explores the influences that led to Malaysia’s trading across the years. Discover how the Malay Peninsula has emerged as one of the most critical lands that link the world’s trade. The museum is divided into three zones – On The Trail of Trade, Evolution of Trade in Malaysia and the Information Centre.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open Monday -Thursday from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, and on Friday from 09:00 to 12:15 and 14:45 to 17:00
Location – Menara MATRADE, Level 2, Jalan Khidmat Usaha (Off Jalan Duta)
Telephone – +603 6207 7077
Email – [email protected]
Website – MATRADE Trade Museum
7. National Textile Museum
This museum is worth a visit, even for those not wild about textiles! It is a fascinating and colourful display of Malaysia’s textile history, which includes collections of fabrics, accessories and costumes, and the tools, materials, and techniques in which they have been and/or are still made. In addition, there is an interesting video that outlines all the different types of textiles and their development. Whether it is Batik, Songket or Pua Kumbu, the unique style and design of Malaysian textiles are synonymous with intricacy and beauty.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open daily 09:00 – 17:00
More info – Guided tours and activity calendars are available on the website below.
Location – 26, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Telephone – +603 2694 3457
Website – Muzium Tekstil Negara
8. National Art gallery
The National Art gallery houses the artworks of Malaysia’s leading artists along with several changing exhibitions.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on Hari Raya Aidilfitri & Aidiladha).
Location – 2, Jalan Temerloh (Off Jalan Tun Razak)
Telephone – +603 4025 4990
Email – [email protected]
Website – National Art Gallery
Street Art
9. Petaling Street & Jalan Alor
Petaling Street and Jalan Alor are just two of the many street art sites in Kuala Lumpur. If you are a street art lover, make sure to keep an eye out as you wander around the city.
Cost – Free
Hours – Some areas have specific opening times, such as Kwai Chai Hong, which is open daily from 09:00 to midnight
Location – Many locations, including Lorong Panggung, Jalan Rembia, Jalan Berangan
More info – Kwai Chai Hong
Colonial History
10. Heritage Walk
Go for a free guided walk through the streets of Kuala Lumpur and learn about life when it was still under British rule. There are a few free guided tours to choose from. Many are designed to understand how the colonial part of Kuala Lumpur came into being and will include many historical sites within the region of Merdeka Square. You will enjoy these tours if you are interested in history, culture, and/or beautiful colonial architecture. Most of the buildings/sites on this tour are over 100 years old and beautifully presented.
Cost – Free
Hours – Varied
More info – Free Walk Kuala Lumpur Unscripted & Guru Walk
Parks & Gardens
11. KL Forest Eco Park
The KL Forest Eco Park is a natural rainforest situated in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, making KL the only city in the world that can boast of having a stretch of tropical rainforest within city limits. The forest officially became a protected area in 1906 and is one of the oldest in Malaysia. The 9-hectare eco-park has a canopy walk, nature trails, jogging and trekking Routes, Timber Product Gallery and Herbal Garden.
Cost – NO LONGER FREE—Children under 6 and people with disabilities are free. MYKAD Holders start at RM1.00, and non-MYKAD Holders start at RM5.00.
Hours – Open daily from 08:00 to 17:30, including weekends and public holidays.
Location – Near the KL Tower
More info – Malaysia Travel
12. Perdana Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens are the oldest and most popular public recreational park in Kuala Lumpur. It was originally built in the 1880s as a recreation park. The Kuala Lumpur Botanical Gardens has many flora collections, including a forest tree collection, herb garden, orchids, a hibiscus park, and a few unique plants such as the bottle tree, sausage tree, cannonball tree, and baobab tree. In addition, guided walks are provided free of charge on workdays between 0800 and 1000.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open daily from 07:00 to 20:00
Location – Located within the Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park
Email – [email protected]
Phone – +603-2276 0432
Website – KL Botanical Gardens
13. KLCC Park
KLCC Park is a 50-acre garden near the KLCC shopping centre. Within the park, there is a large man-made lake called Lake Symphony. The lake boasts a 43m bridge and water fountains that shoots water up to 42m. Entertainment includes a ‘lake symphony music and light show’. The various facilities within the park included a large children’s playground, a 1.3km-long jogging track, a children’s swimming pool, a waterfall, fountains, footpaths, shelters and sculptures. This is a perfect place for a relaxing stroll or to allow the children to run off a little energy.
Cost – Free
Hours – Open daily from 10:00 t0 22:00
Hours for Lake Symphony Music and light show are daily at 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00. The Lake Symphony Water Fountain showtimes (Light only) are daily at 19:30, 20:30, and 21:30.
Location – Kuala Lumpur City Centre
More information – Suria KLCC
Markets
Ok, technically, markets are not free if you buy something, but they are free to visit. The three markets I want to mention are my favourites, and I think, apart from the fact that it is cheap to eat at the markets, you must visit markets for the atmosphere and the free entertainment, such as buskers.
14. Central Markets
The Central Market is a cultural heritage site within a restored Art Deco building. Here, you can wander amongst all the usual souvenir stalls, antiques, carvings, art, and waving lucky cats! In addition, these markets feature a fish spa, henna tattooist, 3D art museum, and fortune teller. The Central Markets have school holiday programs that feature batik competitions and carnivals and Saturday Night Out with buskers, street food, and a car boot sale. Check out this website at Central Markets for heaps more information.
Hours – Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00
Location – Lot 3.04-3.06, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi (Location Map and how to get there)
Telephone: 03-2031 0399
Email – [email protected]
Website – Central Markets
15. Petaling Street Market
Petaling Street is the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. Hundreds of stalls sell all sorts of things at the Petaling Market, including “genuine fakes” and ridiculously useless stuff such as rubber squawking chickens (which we just had to buy!). Enjoy the hustle and bustle, and have fun bartering the price down. Eat from the many food carts or small market eateries. Take in the sights, sounds and aromas of this vibrant night market. For more on what to expect, visit have a look at – Petaling Street Market.
Hours – Open till late
Location – Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur
More info (including how to get there) – Malaysia KLIA2
17. Jalan Alor
Jalan Alor is a street crammed with hawker stalls and seafood restaurants. There is often entertainment in the form of buskers and a wide range of food, such as frog porridge, skewered frogs, seafood, duck, dim sum, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Malay fare. It is a must-do if you enjoy trying different food or are a fan of giant prawns.
Hours – Open every evening (some of them open all night)
Location – Jalan Alor is in the Bukit Bintang area.
More Information
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) – written here as RM
Getting to Kuala Lumpur
Try WayAway for cheap flights with cashback.
Getting around Kuala Lumpur
Rapid KL
Includes – Light Railway Transit (LRT), KL Monorail, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and bus. Click here for their website or download the Pulse App, which covers the MRT, LRT, KL Monorail, Sunway BRT, buses under the Rapid KL, Rapid Penang, and Rapid Kuantan, including the MRT feeder buses.
Grab
If we do not use public transport, we use Grab. It is super cheap and easy to use in Malaysia. One of the best things (apart from how cheap it is) is that you can see how much it is going to cost before you even order the car. Download the GRAB app.
Taxi
A few years back, we used taxis, but it was a very painful experience. Even though they say (on the outside of the vehicle) that the meter must be on and there is no bartering for taxi ride cost, many taxi drivers refuse to turn on the meter and just charge you what they want to. It is so much easier to use GRAB.
Car Rental
Check out GetRentacar for car rental at the best prices in all countries!
Accommodation
We typically book our accommodation through booking.com. We like the convenience of booking online, and we can usually pay for our accommodation on arrival at the hotel/resort or room. Also, booking.com advertises many different accommodation styles in Kuala Lumpur, so you are sure to find the perfect place.
Do you need a visa?
Click here for an Online Travel Visa Check. Simply enter your country of origin and destination!
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
SIM Card
When we travel to Malaysia, we use Maxis prepaid.
Photo credit:
Hindu Temple at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, by Marco Verch
Lane in Kwai Chai Hong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by Philip Mallis
Murals on side of building in laneway off Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by Philip Mallis
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