Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's capital, known for the Petronas Towers, a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian food, and a non-stop train from KL Sentral to the airport.

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Kuala Lumpur, usually called KL, is the capital and largest city of Malaysia. It is a federal territory on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, sitting inside Selangor state. The city is the country's main center for culture, tourism, education and finance, and it holds Parliament and the national palace, Istana Negara. Its skyline is led by the Petronas Towers, 452 meters tall, whose design draws on Islamic art motifs.

Travelers go for the food, which mixes Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking, and for Merdeka Square, Petaling Street in Chinatown and the limestone caves of Batu Caves on the edge of the city. Bukit Bintang is the main shopping and entertainment area. The climate is hot and humid all year, with daytime highs of about 31 to 33 °C. Rain is heaviest from October to March. June and July are the driest months, but rain still falls. Give the city center a few days and set aside a day for Batu Caves.

Kuala Lumpur in five

Take the KLIA EkspresThe airport train runs from KLIA to KL Sentral in about 30 minutes, much faster than the road at rush hour.Getting around Malaysia
Book the Petronas Towers skybridgeTimed tickets for the skybridge and observation deck sell out. Book online a few days ahead.
Dress for Batu CavesCover knees at the temple caves; sarongs can be rented at the entrance. KTM Komuter trains run there from KL Sentral.
Carry an umbrellaHeavy afternoon storms are common all year, often with thunder.

Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

See all attractions in Kuala Lumpur

Aquarium · Kuala LumpurAquaria KLCCChoose a weekday or an evening visit to avoid some of the busiest periods.

Theater · Kuala LumpurWorld Trade Centre Kuala LumpurCheck the event schedule before going; the halls are most active during exhibitions and other major events.

Park · Kuala LumpurKLCC ParkThe light-and-sound fountain displays are listed at 8 and 9 p.m.; a light-only display is listed at 7:30 p.m.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Kuala LumpurPut the places you like in Kuala Lumpur on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: KLIA (KUL), about 30 min by KLIA Ekspres
Getting there: Trains and buses from Penang, Singapore and across the peninsula
Getting around: LRT, MRT, monorail and Grab
Best base: Bukit Bintang for food and shopping, KLCC for the towers
Time needed: 2–3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Drier
FebruaryRain18 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Drier
MarchRain25 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Showers
AprilRain29 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Wet
MayRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Showers
JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Drier
JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Drier
AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Showers
SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Showers
OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Wet
NovemberRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wettest
DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet

Average daily high and low in Kuala Lumpur, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kuala Lumpur

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 97%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 99%

Kuala Lumpur

04:41 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today31°24°99%Tuesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 99%.
Wed31°23°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu30°23°100%Thursday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri30°23°100%Friday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sat29°23°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sun30°23°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated 02:06 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 4.057 MYR

Amount

Converted to

MYR · Malaysian Ringgit

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Kuala Lumpur

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Batu Cavesabout 30 min by KTM KomuterHindu temple caves up 272 steps.
Melakaabout 2 hours by busOld trading port with Dutch and Peranakan streets.

Before you go to Kuala Lumpur

Petronas Towers timed entrySkybridge and deck slotsBook timed entry

Batu Caves and Melaka toursDay trips with hotel pickupCompare day trips

eSIM for MalaysiaGrab pickups and train-route mapsRead the guide

Travel insurance for MalaysiaCover for flash-flood travel delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Kuala Lumpur, checked

Many nationalities can enter Malaysia visa-free. Check the current entry rules on the Immigration Department site before you book, and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before arrival.Source
Declare cash and currency above the legal limit to Royal Malaysian Customs at arrival or departure. Check the current limit with customs before you travel.
Dial 999 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Malaysia.
Taxis are red and white. Some online reports say drivers refuse to use the meter and quote high flat fares, so agree the fare first or insist on the meter. Malaysia's drug laws are strict, so check before you carry any medicine with controlled substances.

Plan around Kuala Lumpur

All of Malaysia

Penang, Langkawi, Borneo and the rules for entry

Read the guide Penang

George Town food, by train or flight

Read the guide Langkawi

Island beaches by flight from the capital

Read the guide Singapore

Across the causeway by train, bus or flight

Read the guide Getting around Malaysia

Trains, buses, flights and ferries compared

Read the guide Entry rules and visas

Check what your passport needs before you fly

Read the guide

Kuala Lumpur FAQ

Where should I stay in Kuala Lumpur?

Bukit Bintang for a first trip. It has the food streets, the malls and good rail links, and KLCC is a short walk.

How do I get from KLIA to the city?

The KLIA Ekspres runs to KL Sentral in about 30 minutes. Grab and taxis take longer at busy times.

When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur?

It is hot and humid all year. January, February, June and July tend to be a little drier; April and October to December are the wettest.

How many days do you need in Kuala Lumpur?

Two full days cover the towers, Chinatown, Batu Caves and the food streets. Add a third if you want Melaka as a day trip or slow evenings in Bangsar. Most visitors pair it with Penang, Langkawi or Borneo.

How do you get around Kuala Lumpur?

Use the LRT, MRT and monorail for the main districts and Grab for the gaps. Heat, traffic and patchy pavements make long walks between districts tiring, so hop between rail stations rather than walking the whole way.