A walk down a street can take you past a Hindu temple, a Mosque, and a modern shopping mall, all within a few minutes. I love Kuala Lumpur, but Malaysia is a fantastic country to explore. Consider getting away from the city and visiting some other highlights such as the Cameron Highlands and Penang. Kuala Lumpur is also a good base if you want to stay put for a while and have access to everything you need.
Only have one week in Malaysia? There are a few options when it comes to choosing where to stay in Kuala Lumpur. Many people opt to stay near the Petronas Towers. This is one of the most modern areas of the city, but there are still plenty of local eateries and shops. If you want a modern-feeling neighbourhood with everything on your doorstep, this is the place. This is one of the most popular areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur. I personally think this is the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Chinatown is right in the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur. But it offers an authentic experience and puts you close to some delicious street food. I stayed at Mingle Hostel in Chinatown for four nights. Kuala Lumpur is a safe city, including for solo female travellers.
I spent five days there as a solo female and never once felt unsafe. Another piece of advice for big cities is not to walk around alone at night. The tourist areas such as the Petronas Towers are often very crowded at night, so these areas are normally fine. Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid throughout the year. Rain can hit Kuala Lumpur at any time of the year, however. I visited in September and we had a rainstorm every single day. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over Asia head to Kuala Lumpur for the celebrations.
There are fireworks galore and the malls are decorated to the max with stunning displays. The only downside of visiting for Lunar New Year is the crowds. Download the app and have everything set-up before your arrival to make the process as smooth as possible.
