Kuala Lumpur/Central

By train

The City Centre is easily accessible by rail, with two LRT lines, one MRT line and a KTM Komuter station serving the district. The LRT stations serving the City Centre include Pasar Seni and Masjid Jamek of the Kelana Jaya LRT line or Plaza Rakyat and Masjid Jamek for the Ampang LRT line. The newest MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line serving the Merdeka (interchangable with Plaza Rakyat) and Pasar Seni. If you're coming from KL Sentral, the main transportation hub of Kuala Lumpur in Brickfields, then take the Kelana Jaya LRT line. For easy access to Chinatown and the Central Market take the LRT or MRT to Plaza Rakyat/Merdeka and Pasar Seni stations whilst for easy access to Merdeka Square and the surrounding area use Masjid Jamek.
If heading towards the City Centre from the suburbs, your best option is to catch the KTM Komuter, alighting at Kuala Lumpur Station (not to be confused with KL Sentral). Kuala Lumpur Station is a bit more south of the LRT stations. Don't let this discourage you as the old colonial Kuala Lumpur Station is an attraction in itself and is a good option to access attractions like the National Mosque or Lake Gardens.

By bus

Almost all bus routes start and end in the City Centre. The main bus terminals are Pasaraman Kota (or the Klang Bus Station), Terminal Sultan Mohamed or Pasar Seni (opposite Pasarama Kota), Kotaraya (Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock), Bangkok Bank (Jalan Tun H.S. Lee), Sinar Kota (Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, formerly Jalan Silang) and Puduraya.
Some routes, especially those by RapidKL, may end at the outskirts of the City, such as at KL Sentral or Titiwangsa. You'll be able to catch connecting City Shuttles from this terminal into the City Centre. See Kuala Lumpur's Get Around section for route details.

Colonial district

• Masjid JamekIt's at the convergence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. The stately Masjid Jamek, constructed in 1909, is one of the oldest mosques in the city. Inspired by Mogul mosques in North India, this building's notable features are three elegant domes which used to dominate the KL skyline long before skyscrapers were built there. Its location between two rivers makes it appear as an island of tranquility in the busy city. Major construction work is ongoing due to the River of Life program, which is going to turn this area including the river into a prime recreational hotspot of the city.

• Merdeka SquareThis square has a special place in the hearts of all Malaysians as it was here that the Union Jack was lowered for last time in 1957 and Malaysia gained her independence. Standing tall here is also one of the tallest flag poles in the world, measuring in at 100 m. Surrounding the area are host of historical structures like Sultan Abdul Samad building (see below) and the Old City Hall. The Royal Selangor Club and St. Mary's Cathedral are two famous landmarks nearby.

• Sultan Abdul Samad BuildingBuilt as the offices of the Colonial Secretariat, they later served as the first administrative centre of the Malayan government. Built in 1897 by British architects, A C Norman and A B Hubback, this historical landmark is famed for its Islamic-inspired architecture. Today, it houses the Courts of Law. The 40-m-high clock tower is a popular gathering-point for New Year and National Day countdown celebrations and parades.

• Kuala Lumpur Railway StationA Moorish-style masterpiece designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a British Architectural Assistant to the Director of Public Works. As well as suburban trains and express trains to Ipoh, it houses a mini-museum of Malaysian railway history. It is one of three grand British-built railway stations on the Malayan railway network; the other two being Ipoh and the now-disused Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in Singapore. Fun fact: The construction was delayed as its rooftop design did not meet British railway specifications. It had to be able to support snow a metre deep.

Chinatown

• Sri Maha Mariamman Temple

  address: Jalan Tun HS Lee
  An elaborate Hindu temple known as the starting point of the yearly Thaipusam pilgrimage to the Batu Caves, where Hindu devotees haul portable altars pierced to their skin with 108 lances. Check out the elaborate gopuram above the entrance.

• Chan She Shu Yuen Temple

  address: Jalan Petaling
  The clan house (kongsi) of the Yuen family, this is the largest and oldest in KL, with the present version completed in 1906.

• Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

  address: Lebuh Pudu
  The oldest Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur built in 1882. The temple is dedicated to Shen Kong, worshipped as the guardian deity for the local Chinese miners and houses several other deities, including the deified Yap Ah Loy, third Kapitan Cina of KL. The ornate interior and elaborate roof ridges are typical of religious Chinese architecture and visitors can still see patrons conducting worship to the gods and the ancestors.

• Al-Bukhari Foundation Mosque

  phone: +60 3-9221 0554
  address: 1, Jalan Hang Tuah
  Beautiful mosque well worth a visit.

• PNB 118If you like massive skyscrapers check out the construction site of the future highest building in Malaysia.

• Petaling StreetA relatively tame area during the day that comes alive in the evenings with stalls selling fake handbags, shoes, watches, sunglasses, DVDs and other various items. Be sure to haggle furiously as many stalls will inflate the price significantly. Along with sellers hawking their goods are restaurants and food stalls lining the street who will attempt to entice you in, sometimes a little aggressively. It can get particularly busy in the evenings so be sure to keep hold of your valuables.

• Central Market

  phone: +60 3 2031-0399
  address: Cnr Jl Hang Kasturi & Jl Tun Tan Cheng Lock
  Kuala Lumpur's grand old market which opened in 1888 as a wet market, but has since been refurbished and has arguably lost some of its old charm, complete with air-con. The market is now aimed squarely at tourists and selling crafts, fabrics, jewelry and other trinkets, both local and foreign. A market street that runs parallel to the markets, called Kasturi Walk, also operates as part of the market.

Supermarkets

• Mydin Hypermarket

  phone: +60 3-20727378
  address: Bangunan Sinar Kota Jalan Tun Perak
  Has a supermarket on the 3rd floor.

• 99 Speed Mart

  phone: +60 3-30842845
  address: 34 G Jalan Hang Kasturi City Center
  There are many 99 Speed Marts around KL.

You will be able to find some of the most interesting places to eat at reasonable prices in this district. Chinatown is the place to head to for Chinese food while Lebuh Ampang just north of Chinatown is the place for Indian food. There are also the usual fastfood outlets like McDonald's and KFC.

Budget

• Lai Foong

  phone: +60 3 2072 8123
  address: 138 Jalan Tun HS Lee
  A classic Chinese coffeeshop with stalls offering a range of items. The beef noodles here is renowned throughout KL. Other items available include chicken and roast pork rice, prawn noodles and wantan mee.
• Soong Kee, 3 Jalan Tun Siew Sin (at the intersection with Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin (formerly Jalan Silang) and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee) - This is a well-known KL beef noodle shop, it is said to have started operating since 1945. It serves the noodles "dry" with beef mince while the beef balls are given separately in a bowl of soup.
• Kam Lin Kee (金莲記), (corner of Jalan Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir, opp Hong Leong Bank) No English sign, no menu in any language, and a kitchen you really don't want to look into - but it packs the crowds for its famous hokkien mee (fried noodles in dark sauce, RM5). Wash it down with a RM1 mug of cooling liang teh and soak in the busy market ambience.
• Lebuh Ampang banana leaf rice - The street is lined with banana leaf rice shops, just make your pick. One of them is Lakshmi Villas. For purely vegetarian food, you can try Bakti Woodlands.

• Restoran Vinni Jeyaa

  address: Jalan Sultan Mohammed
  typical Indian restaurant (as for Malaysia) but with exceptionaly wide choice of Indian delicacies (both veg and non-veg). Very friendly staff and budget prices - full meal with drinks for two = around RM13.
• Indian Restaurant in the Kuala Lumpur Old Train Station next to Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. Prices and service similar as in Restoran Vinni Jeyaa.

Mid-range

• Viaggio Italian Restaurant

  phone: +60 3 2031 6888
  address: Lot 243, Jalan Sultan (Chinatown)
  Pizzas, pasta dishes are on the menu. Spacious, contemporary with open-concept kitchen. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner or for snacks.

Splurge

There is little nightlife in this part of Kuala Lumpur, as most of the bars and clubs are in the Golden Triangle.

• San Francisco Coffee Express

  phone: +60 3 2284 7732
  address: LG-022 Lower Ground Floor, City Square Mall
  Hot and cold coffee beverages and delicious cakes of all kinds.

• Reggae Bar

  phone: +60 3 2026 7690
  address: 158, Ground Floor, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
  Popular drinking hole for backpackers. They also serve Asian and Western food.

Some of the cheapest accommodation within Kuala Lumpur is found in Chinatown and the surrounding area, but keep in mind that you tend to get what you pay for. The cheapest guesthouses are mostly rented by the hour and are rife with health and safety hazards, so are best avoided. For more upscale accommodation, see Golden Triangle instead; and if you're looking for hotels around the KL Sentral station, see Brickfields.

Budget

• Hostel Travel Hub

  phone: +60 123902339
  address: 15-1 Jalan Balai Polis
  Run by a friendly Sri Lankan family. Full A/C and breakfast included with free Wi-Fi and no curfews. Clean, very safe and basic.

• Hotel Petaling

  phone: +60 20789870
  address: 121-123 Jalan Petaling
  Clean and cheap hostel along Petaling Street run by Malaysian-Chinese owners. Good online ratings.

• The Original Backpacker's Travellers Inn

  phone: +60 3 2078 2473
  address: 60 B, Jalan Sultan
  No-frills, budget accommodation close to Bukit Bintang and Chinatown. 5 min walk from the Pasar Seni train station. 8 bed Dorms. A/C is on 9PM-9AM only. Private rooms are small. Rooftop restaurant/bar for breakfast. Has fast free wifi. Has cable tv in the rooftop restaurant/bar. Average online ratings.

• Etika Inn

  phone: +60 3 2032 2676
  address: 76A Jalan Sultan
  Unassuming with its small, easy-to-miss entrance. Large rooms, attached bathrooms with hot water shower, clean. Wifi is available in all the rooms. Average online ratings.

• Heritage Hotel

  phone: +60 3 2273 5588
  address: Bangunan Stesen Keretapi, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
  This place might have shut down! Please check and update. Housed in KL's beautiful old railway station, one stop from KL Sentral. With breakfast. Varying standard of condition and cleanliness throughout, Wi-Fi in the lobby. Bad online ratings.

• Chinatown Boutique Hotel

  phone: +60 3 2072 3388
  address: 34 Jalan Hang Lekir
  Some rooms are smaller than others and some have bigger windows, so you may want to check first. Windows are all quite thick and sound proof so noise from Jalan Sultan is not a problem. 24-hr CCTV, and (slow) Wi-Fi in the rooms. No breakfast is included. Average to good online ratings.

• Le Village

  phone: +60 3-2022 0811
  address: 47, Jalan Petaling
  Hostel in the middle of Petaling Street street market. Good online ratings.

• Matahari Lodge

  phone: +60 16-980 7001
  address: 58-1 Jalan Hang Kasturi
  Clean hostel/guesthouse, with private A/C single, double rooms and mixed dormitory with shared showers. 24/7 reception with security system. Single and double rooms are windowless but quiet. Helpful staff, TV lounge, free breakfast (toast, PB&J, tea & coffee) and internet (Wi-Fi & desktops @ TV lounge). Good online ratings.
• Oasis Guest House, Upper Floor 125 Jl Petaling. (Across the street from the Petaling Street Market). Rooftop terrace, TV/chill area. RM15 for dorm, RM25 for single w/fan, RM50 for single with A/C.

• Monkee Inn

  phone: +60 3 2072 4229
  address: 48 Jalan Sultan

• My City Hotel

  phone: +60 3 2026 6288
  address: 118-120A, Jl Petaling
  5-min walk from the Pasar Seni train station, and a short train ride from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).

• Travellers Home Moon Lodge

  phone: +60 320316873, +60 320313556
  address: No. 23 & 25 Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin (formerly Jalan Silang)
  Cheap, simple, central, no bed bugs, no hot water. Ideal for budget travellers.

Mid-range

• The 5 Elements Hotel

  phone: +60 3 2031 6888
  address: Lot 243, Jl Sultan (Chinatown)
  Boutique hotel inspired by traditional Wu Xing (五行) philosophy. Here, water, wood, fire, earth and metal set the theme.

• Citin Hotel Masjid Jamek

  phone: +60 3 2693 2999
  address: Lot No. 7, Seksyen 33, Jl Melayu, Off Jalan Masjid India
  New hotel near Little India. Rooms are simple and comfortable yet fun and trendy. A/C, 22" LCD TV, free wifi and ensuite bathroom. Cafe and room service though operating hours are limited.

• Hotel Chinatown 2

  phone: +60 3 2145 9599 (general), +60 3 2145 2593 (reservation)
  address: 70-72 Jalan Petaling
  Popular with foreigners. At night it may be noisy like all hotels on this street (centre of the Chinatown night market). Comfortable, generic rooms. Service is not friendly, but highly professional and efficient.

• D’Oriental Inn Chinatown

  phone: +60 3 2273 9999
  address: 82-84, Jl Petaling
  Quiet and comfortable.

• Hotel GeoDecent hotel near Pasar Seni station and Central Market. Near Jalan Petaling night market.

Splurge

• Midah Hotel

  phone: +60 3 2273 9999
  8, Jl. Kampung Attap. 10-min walk to China Town.

• Kuala Lumpur Public Library

  phone: +60-3-26123500
  address: 1 Jalan Raja
  Newspapers and books to read. Free wifi

• Heritage Internet & IT

  phone: +60 3-2022 0770
  address: Kota Raya Complex, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock

• GTN Internet Cafe

  address: 119 Jalan Sultan