Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital and its most bustling city, with many iconic buildings, museums, cafes, and hotels to explore. With so many places to visit and check out, it begs the question: How do you best spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur?
During a recent outing to the big city and a visit to InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, I tried my best to see what I could do with a full day in the city, and it was an enlightening look into the history, culture, and tasty food this city had to offer.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or celebrating Merdeka Day with a nice holiday in the city, here is a guide on how to spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur.
A brief history of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, came into existence in the mid-19th century during the tin rush peak. It was founded in 1857 where the Klang and Gombak rivers confluence as a settlement of Chinese tin miners. Its name, “Kuala Lumpur,” or “muddy confluence,” is indicative of its terrain. Originally beset by sickness, floods, and warfare, the settlement slowly became a trading center in the hands of Yap Ah Loy, a leading Chinese Kapitan who was instrumental in its initial development and stability.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kuala Lumpur thrived as the administrative and commercial center of the Federated Malay States under British colonial power. Its infrastructure was further developed by adding railways, roads, and typical colonial-era buildings, such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. With Malaysian independence in 1957, Kuala Lumpur went on to develop into a modern urban city, defined by rapid urbanisation, economic growth, and multiculturalism. It is now a symbol of Malaysia’s progress, fusing historical legacy with modern monuments such as the Petronas Twin Towers and Merdeka 118.
View this post on Instagram
Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur this Merdeka Day
Luck Bros Kopi – 10AM
I started the day with a classic Malaysian breakfast of nasi lemak and kaya toast at Luck Bros Kopi. Known for their tasty sambal combos and oiled rice, you can enjoy their Malaysian dishes in the morning and noon. But from evening onwards the kopitiam sets up tables and chairs outside with a stunning view of Merdeka 118.
I ordered nasi lemak with chicken curry and the rice paired well with the sweet yet spicy sambal. The sambal bergedil (Indonesian sambal) also gave the dish a nice fresh kick. The curry chicken served was tender and flavorful, though I wish they could’ve served bigger chicken pieces. The meal was washed down with a cup of smooth teh tarik – less sweet of course.
Address: 9, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Operating hours: 8AM – 2AM
Contact: 012-610 8856
REXKL – 11AM
Next, I visited Kuala Lumpur’s hipster hub, REXKL. Once an iconic cinema, the building has been refurbished in 2019 to hold cafes, bars, a grocery mart, and a BookXcess. Well, I wasn’t there to drink matcha or read a book from my totebag. Instead, I wanted to visit the BookXcess book store with it’s unique staircase like architecture that is a mini-maze of literary gems.
However, on the way I couldn’t help but peek into the vintage store Bang Bang which sold a variety of items from vinyl records and designer clothes, to vintage watches. Stepping into a vintage store here hits pretty different as it’s almost like looking at a mini museum, except you can buy a piece of history. Though I left with my wallet intact, I knew it be a pretty good place to spend some spare change.
After that detour, I finally arrived at BookXcess at the top floor. There was a visual arts exhibition happening in the event hall where the bookstore overlooked, so the music gave a really good ambience to browse through books or look at others doing the same. For newcomers, the book store may be a bit of a maze but I would encourage to explore further and you will get a lay of the land eventually. Whether you’re actually into books or not, it’s a great place to chill, read, or space out.
Address: 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 8:30AM – 10PM
Central Market (Pasar Seni) – 12PM
After passing by Petaling Street, I headed down to newly renovated Central Market. The building was once a wet market established in 1888 before being converted into the iconic baby-blue building in 1937. Today, it serves as a food court and souvenir shop for tourists; it even has a small supermarket selling Malaysian goods.
Although I wasn’t really there to shop, the market has changed a lot from when I visited the place as a child. Firstly, the entire building is well ventilated, and secondly, there are a whole host of flags of different Malaysian states hung on the glass ceiling. There was also a variety of batik shirts, local beauty and fragrance products, and craftwork for sale.
I visited Lau Legacy, a vintage store selling collectible comic books and old Chinese antiques. The prices for the comics start at RM10 and the owner, Mr Lau, is a kind gentleman (almost sage-like) who is knowledgable and will help you find the right item.
Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10AM – 10PM
Contact: 1-300-22-8688
Kedai Kopi Lai Foong – 1PM
After all that walking and window shopping, I was craving for some beef noodle soup. Luckily on the walk back from Central Market was Kedai Kopi Lai Foong, a hawker shop selling beef noodles for generations. The stall also serves excellent chicken rice and char kuey teow.
I ordered beef noodle soup with bee hoon and beef tendon and it was a delight. The soup was flavorful and cooked with lots of beef bone, and the tendon had a nice soft texture. RM17 for beef noodles is a steep price for the city, but the experience of sitting in a historic kopitiam does somewhat justify the price.
Address: 138, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 7AM – 8PM
Contact: 03-2072 8123
KLCG Confectionery & Bakery, Medan Pasar – 3:30PM
While heading to Dataran Merdeka, we stopped by KLCG, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most popular bakeries and cafe. I ordered a pain au chocolate and an iced americano as a small reward for braving the Malaysian heat on foot.
The cafe is usually pretty crowded, so I would recommend taking the pastries to go and enjoying it with a view of the River of Life nearby. As expected from KLCG, the pain au chocolate was delightful with a buttery crisp and rich dark chocolate, pairing excellently with my iced black.
Address: 2, Medan Pasar, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 9AM – 6PM
Contact: 03-2022 3272
Dataran Merdeka – 4PM
Dataran Merdeka is the penultimate iconic Malaysian landmark, Petronas Twin Towers aside. It is the place where the Union Jack flag was lowered, and the Malaysian flag was first hoisted in August 31, 1957. The square is surrounded by colonial era buildings like the Royal Selangor Club, National Textiles Museum, and Sultan Abdul Samad Building which is currently under renovation as per time of writing.
Yes, there will be a lot of tourists around hustling for a picture with a good backdrop. But, it is still worth it to take a walk around the old buildings or visit the National Library if you’re looking to witness a piece of Malaysian history that’s still standing today.
Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 24 hours
Ilham Gallery – 5PM
After a Grab ride down from the city, I stopped by at Ilham Gallery. Yes, you could go to the National Museum if you are unfamiliar with Malaysia’s history, but as a Malaysian, Ilham’s artpieces have another layer of context that a national gallery can’t really show. For an alternative view with more complex themes of culture and history Ilham’s art piece are my recommendation.
Their current exhibition, The Plantation Plot, running from April 21 to September 21 explores the societal issues arising from colonisation, plantations, and the stories from those affected. Some of the artworks are beautiful, some make you pause and reflect, and others are not for the faint-hearted. Either way, you will leave with a renewed perspective on Malaysian history and culture.
Address: Levels 3 and 5, Ilham Tower, 8, Lrg Binjai, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11AM – 7PM (Closed on Monday)
Contact: 03-2181 3003
InterContinental Kuala Lumpur – 7PM
Finally, we ended our 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur with a lavish Malaysian buffet at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur. I savoured their Cita Rasa Kebangsaan Dinner Buffet which is available from now until September 13 at the Serena Brasserie restaurant. The wide array of dishes included fresh seafood, grilled lamb, and Salmon Wellington.
But the highlight of the night was the local dishes served, such as the Beef Rendang, Ayam Kerutup, and Nyonya Curry Chicken. Some of my favourites included the ayam kerutup, which was sweet and savoury and paired well with white rice, as well as the chicken and beef satay skewers which were well marinated, juicy, and tender. I also tried the Jalur Gembilang mocktail – mixture of soda, tea, and fruit juice – which made a refreshing end to good feast.
I ended my night at the Super King Classic room which featured a cosy Super King sized bed and a view of the city. The spacious size of the room would make it the ideal resting spot for a couple or a solo traveler. The bathroom amenities were also refined, using Byredo as their hand soap and shampoo. After a warm bath, I tucked into the huge bed and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
Find out more about Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur and its Cita Rasa Kebangsaan Dinner Buffet here.
Address: 165, Ampang Blvd, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-2782 6000
(Hero and feature image credit: Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images)
