Everything You Need to Know for Your Family Holidays to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s vibrant capital, effortlessly blends tradition and modernity.
The famous Petronas Twin Towers dominate the city’s skyline, symbolising the city’s growth and ambition.
Beyond the skyscrapers, a rich mix of cultures thrives in lively neighbourhoods, bustling markets, and incredible street food.
We hadn’t planned on starting our three-month adventure in Kuala Lumpur, but it was the only city where we could use Avios points for a reduced fare to Asia.
Once we arrived, Kuala Lumpur exceeded all expectations.
We were captivated by the city’s Dubai-like development, countless malls, dazzling nighttime skyline, friendly locals, and delicious food.
Jalan Alor, a vibrant street food hub, was a highlight, offering a sensory feast.
Kuala Lumpur also provided a perfect balance of city life and nature.
One moment, we explored malls, and the next, we marvelled at the Batu Caves or relaxed in lush parks.
Our time in this city was unforgettable.
If you wish to experience Kuala Lumpur holidays with kids, keep reading for family-friendly activities, tips, and insights to help plan your adventure.
What You Need to Know BEFORE Going to Kuala Lumpur
Fast Facts
Language: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) is Kuala Lumpur’s official language, but English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, markets, and restaurants. We also heard Chinese dialects like Mandarin and Cantonese, as well as Tamil, reflecting the city’s rich diversity. We easily navigated the city using English, but learning a few Malay phrases, such as "hai" (hello), "terima kasih" (thank you), and "selamat tinggal" (bye), made our trip more fun.
What It's Known For: Kuala Lumpur highlights include its mix of modern skyscrapers and charming architecture, dominated by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Kuala Lumpur's delicious street food and diverse culinary offerings— from bustling night markets to high-end restaurants— will tantalise your taste buds with flavours from across Asia. Cultural attractions like the Batu Caves, colourful temples, and world-class shopping malls offer an exciting array of experiences that showcase Malaysia's rich heritage and contemporary lifestyle.
Local Currency: The official currency in Kuala Lumpur is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). As of January 2025, 1 GBP ≈ 5.60 MYR, 1 USD ≈ 4.50 MYR, and 1 EUR ≈ 4.60 MYR.
Local Cuisine: Kuala Lumpur's culinary scene has Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences, offering tourists an exciting array of flavours. Must-try dishes include nasi lemak (coconut rice with anchovies and sambal), satay (grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce), and roti canai (flaky flatbread served with curry). For an authentically local experience, head to bustling street food markets like Jalan Alor, where you can sample local favourites, such as char kway teow (stir-fried noodles) and laksa (spicy noodle soup).
Best Time to Visit Kuala Lumpur
Peak Season (December to February)
We visited Kuala Lumpur in January, right in the middle of the festive peak season.
The city was buzzing with New Year’s celebrations, and the weather was mostly perfect for exploring, with temperatures ranging from 22°C (72°F) to 32°C (90°F).
The dry conditions made it ideal for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and strolling through the vibrant streets.
However, it’s important not to make assumptions about the weather to avoid surprises.
Despite the heat, we experienced sudden rain on two out of the six days we were there.
Checking the weather forecast in advance and regularly can help you dress appropriately and plan your activities with confidence.
Off-Peak Seasons (March to November)
Kuala Lumpur is hot all year round, but travelling between March and November, outside the peak season, offers a great balance of pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
In March, April, August, and September, temperatures range from 24°C (75°F) to 32°C (90°F), making it quite easy to explore the city’s vibrant streets and iconic landmarks.
Occasional showers may pop up, especially in spring, but they’re usually brief and won’t interrupt your plans.
From May to July, and again in October and November, you’ll find even quieter experiences with lower rates, though there's more rain.
Despite the occasional downpour, the warm and humid weather remains ideal for sightseeing or indulging in Kuala Lumpur’s diverse food scene.
Best Time for Specific Activities
Thaipusam (January/February): A stunning Hindu festival at Batu Caves, where thousands of devotees carry offerings up 272 steps in vibrant processions during the full moon of the Tamil month Thai.
Chinese New Year (Late January - February): Parades, lion dances, and fireworks fill the city with colour and excitement.
Rainforest World Music Festival (March): Held in Sarawak, this event celebrates global and local music talent in a rainforest setting.
Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (June- August): Enjoy up to 70% discounts across malls and stores.
Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival (September): A vibrant showcase of theatre, music, and visual arts.
Entry Requirements
As UK citizens, we were able to enter Kuala Lumpur for tourism visa-free, with a 90-day stay granted upon our arrival.
The only documents we needed were passports, valid for at least six months beyond our planned departure date, with at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
We also had to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) for each family member within three days before our trip, which has been required since January 1, 2024.
Although not required, we prepared proof of onward travel and sufficient funds for our trip.
Tourists with US passports valid for at least six months beyond their planned stay in Kuala Lumpur can also enjoy visa-free entry for up to 90 days.
If you plan to stay longer than 90 days or visit for non-tourism purposes, you must apply for a visa in advance.
For the latest customs info or entry requirements, check with the Malaysian embassy before you travel.
Vaccinations & Immunisations
As UK citizens, we weren’t required to have specific vaccinations when we visited Kuala Lumpur.
However, it’s important to ensure your routine vaccinations, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and polio, are up to date.
We also got vaccinated for hepatitis A and typhoid as a precaution due to potential food and water risks, especially when trying street food.
If you’re planning a more extended stay or travelling to rural areas, vaccines for hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, or rabies might be recommended.
As of 2024, there are no COVID-19 vaccination requirements in Kuala Lumpur, but checking closer to your trip is a good idea.
Speak to a travel health professional for personalised advice at least four to six weeks before travelling.
Lastly, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance before your trip, which will give you peace of mind in case the unexpected happens.
Where to Stay
Here's a quick overview of the top neighbourhoods in Kuala Lumpur, especially for tourists:
Bukit Bintang (Where We Stayed): We stayed in the vibrant, central neighbourhood of Bukit Bintang, and it was the perfect base for our trip. With everything we could need or want within walking distance— endless dining options, bustling night markets, and shopping hubs like Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX, and Berjaya Times Square— it offered unparalleled convenience. The area felt lively and safe, and it’s a fantastic spot for families.
Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC): Ideal for luxury and convenience, this area is close to the iconic Petronas Towers, parks, and Suria KLCC. Perfect for families with upscale hotels and kid-friendly amenities.
Chinatown: Many vibrant markets, temples, and authentic street food surround this cultural hotspot. Chinatown has vacation rentals with more space and kitchen facilities, appealing to families.
Mont Kiara: This quiet residential area is perfect for extended stays. Mont Kiara offers a relaxed vibe with spacious accommodations, ideal for families looking for a home-away-from-home feel.
We’ve also written a detailed blog on why we chose Bukit Bintang and what made it perfect for our trip— check it out here!
What to Do
Petronas Towers: The iconic 88-story twin skyscrapers offer breathtaking city views from the Skybridge and Observation Deck, thrilling both kids and adults.
Batu Caves: This colourful Hindu temple complex features 272 rainbow-painted steps leading to limestone caves, delighting families with its vibrant atmosphere and mischievous monkeys.
Aquaria KLCC: Home to over 5,000 marine creatures, this aquarium's 90-m (295.28-ft) underwater tunnel and interactive exhibits fascinate curious young minds.
Suria KLCC: This upscale mall at the base of the Petronas Towers provides shopping, dining, and entertainment options for the whole family.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur: This premier shopping destination offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including a dedicated children's play area and seasonal events.
LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre: This vibrant Japanese-inspired mall offers family-friendly entertainment, including a rooftop e-kart raceway, roller skating rink, and interactive play areas for kids of all ages.
The Exchange TRX: A luxurious lifestyle destination featuring Malaysia's first massive rooftop park with exciting play zones, water features, and green spaces, this mall is perfect for family outings and adventures.
KLCC Park: This massive urban oasis features a large playground, wading pool, and jogging track, offering a perfect respite for families in the city centre.
Berjaya Times Square Theme Park: As Malaysia's largest indoor theme park, it features exciting rides and attractions suitable for all ages, including a thrilling indoor roller coaster.
Jalan Alor: This vibrant night food market offers a feast for the senses, allowing families to sample delicious local street food in a lively atmosphere.
Kuala Lumpur (KL) Tower: The world's seventh tallest freestanding tower offers panoramic city views and a revolving restaurant, exciting kids with its height and vistas.
Sunway Lagoon: This massive theme park boasts six adventure zones with water slides, wildlife encounters, and thrill rides, guaranteeing fun for all ages.
Zoo Negara: Malaysia's national zoo houses over 5,000 animals across 476 species, providing educational and entertaining experiences for animal-loving families.
Petrosains, The Discovery Centre: This interactive science museum offers hands-on exhibits and activities that make learning fun for children of all ages.
District 21 Kuala Lumpur: This post-apocalyptic-themed adventure park features challenging obstacles and thrilling activities, perfect for active families seeking an adrenaline rush.
Learn more about these Kuala Lumpur attractions and activities by checking out our in-depth blog here.
Communication
Mobile Phone Data: We both used Holafly e-SIM data plans during our trip, which made staying connected a breeze because we could enjoy unlimited data packages without messing around with physical SIM cards. Alternatively, you can get a physical SIM card with generous mobile data plans from local carriers like Maxis or Celcom.
WiFi: Kuala Lumpur offers reliable and widespread WiFi access, readily available in luxury hotels as part of their modern amenities, shopping malls, cafes, and many public spaces, making staying connected throughout your visit easy. However, protecting your data with a VPN is important when connecting to multiple public WiFi networks. We recommend NordVPN for secure browsing and peace of mind.
Stroller Accessibility
We found it relatively straightforward to navigate Kuala Lumpur with our double stroller.
The roads were generally smooth, although there weren’t drop curbs in some places, and the curbs were relatively high, making it a bit challenging at times. Thankfully, this didn’t happen often.
If you plan to visit a mall, you could even leave your stroller at your hotel room or vacation rental.
All the malls we went to had stroller rental services, making our outing more convenient.
Shopping malls and newer developments like KLCC Park are generally very stroller-friendly, offering smooth surfaces and accessible facilities.
The public transportation system, particularly the Light Rail Transit (LRT), is largely accessible, but for convenience, using a baby carrier or a lightweight stroller when commuting might be a better option.
Getting Around Kuala Lumpur: Transportation Options
Ride-Hailing Services
We relied on Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing service, for most of our travels in Kuala Lumpur.
The app offers point-to-point rides that are typically cheaper than traditional taxis, with fixed prices shown upfront— no need to negotiate fares or worry about metres.
With cashless payment options, we didn’t have to carry much cash, making Grab a convenient and affordable choice for getting around.
For added safety, Grab drivers in Malaysia must be Malaysian nationals and hold a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) license, which includes background checks and training. This gave us extra peace of mind during our travels.
Taxis
We were strongly advised to avoid traditional taxis in Kuala Lumpur, as they are known to target tourists and overcharge them.
While metred taxis are readily available, many drivers refuse to use the metre, opting instead to charge inflated prices.
To avoid this hassle, it’s best to use ride-hailing apps like Grab, which are reliable, convenient, and provide transparent pricing.
Although potentially expensive, taxis should be safe as Malaysian taxi drivers must hold a PSV license with background checks and training.
Public Transportation
Go KL City Bus: The bus system serves key areas in the Central Business District (CBD), such as Bukit Bintang, KLCC, and Chinatown, making it ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Trains: The LRT connects central attractions like KL Sentral and Petronas Towers, while the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) extends to suburban areas, including Damansara and Kajang. These family-friendly transportation systems offer free rides for children under 6 years old, and easy access via lifts and escalators. However, connections can be inconvenient; when travelling from Bukit Bintang to Batu Caves, we had to walk over 15 minutes between stations, and the train to the caves only runs hourly. After missing a train ride, we opted to book a Grab ride to save time.
Car Rentals
Renting a car in Kuala Lumpur offers tourists flexibility and convenience, with prices ranging from 70 MYR (≈ 12.57 GBP) to 500 MYR (≈ 89.79 GBP) per day depending on the vehicle type.
You need a valid driver's license and an International Driving Permit for non-Malaysian licenses, and you should be at least 23 years old with one year of driving experience.
While navigating Kuala Lumpur's mix of modern highways and narrow streets can be challenging, GPS navigation is readily available.
What You Need to Know Upon ARRIVAL in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the main international airport serving the Malaysian capital.
Facilities & Services
Arrivals: International flights arrive at Kuala Lumpur Airport’s Satellite Building, with an Aerotrain connecting to the Main Terminal. Automated immigration clearance is available for travellers from 63 countries, including the UK and the US, who have completed and submitted the MDAC, Malaysia’s online pre-arrival form that streamlines the immigration process, at least three days before their arrival.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available throughout the passenger terminals, with a three-hour limit per session. For secure browsing, especially when connecting to public networks, use a VPN like NordVPN to protect your data and ensure online privacy.
Dining: The airport boasts numerous restaurants, including 24/7 options and well-known chains like McDonald's and Starbucks.
Shopping: Kuala Lumpur International Airport features extensive duty-free shopping, souvenir stores, and convenience outlets like 7-Eleven.
Luggage Services: Baggage Solutions, open 24/7 in the Main Terminal Arrival Hall, offers luggage storage starting at 19 MYR (3.39 GBP) for small items. Lockers are also available, costing 38 MYR (6.78 GBP) for medium and 48 MYR (8.56 GBP) for large lockers per 24 hours, with discounts for over seven days.
Family-Friendly Features
Baby Care Rooms: These rooms equipped with baby beds, changing tables, chairs, and wash basins, are available in the Main Terminal, Satellite Building, and both Contact Piers.
Children's Play Area: Children can burn off energy during wait times.
CARE Ambassadors: Friendly staff are ready to assist you with any queries.
What You Need to Know DURING Your Stay in Kuala Lumpur
Shopping for Food
Staying in a serviced accommodation in Bukit Bintang made it easy to settle in quickly.
We stocked up on everything we needed for family meals and essentials like nappies.
Mercato at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur became our go-to, but Kuala Lumpur also offers great options like Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer, and Cold Storage, which carry international products and familiar brands.
If you’re staying in serviced accommodations, you can also use apps like HappyFresh or Grab to have groceries delivered directly to your doorstep. This can be a great time-saver, allowing you to focus on exploring the city with your family without worrying about shopping trips.
Tap Water vs Bottled Water
We stuck with bottled water in Kuala Lumpur, as the tap water isn’t recommended for drinking due to possible contamination from old pipes.
Bottled water was easy to find and safer for consumption, especially for our kids.
Safety
During our time in Kuala Lumpur, we felt completely safe exploring as a family.
Malaysia’s capital offers a welcoming environment, with a relatively low crime rate compared to other major Southeast Asian cities.
The modern infrastructure, including well-maintained parks, shopping malls, and public transport, made getting around with our kids easy and comfortable.
Of course, like in any big city, petty theft can happen in crowded areas, but we found that simple precautions— keeping our valuables secure and staying aware— were enough to maintain our peace of mind.
To feel more secure, we stuck to reputable areas, used Grab for transport, and followed local customs when visiting religious sites. All these things helped ensure a worry-free experience.
The locals were incredibly friendly, especially towards children. Many places— from restaurants to points of interest— had great kid-friendly amenities.
Cultural Sensitivity
We were mindful to show our respect for Malaysian culture and norms, and we expressed this by doing the following:
Encourage our toddler to greet elders with a slight bow and say "selamat pagi" (good morning), "selamat petang" (good afternoon), or "selamat malam" (good evening), to show respect.
Avoid public displays of affection, especially in religious or traditional areas, where such behaviour may be considered inappropriate.
Dress modestly when visiting places of worship, ensuring shoulders and knees are covered.
Helpful Apps & Resources
We were able to make the most of our trip, thanks to the help of the following apps:
Grab: We were able to book rides and order food effortlessly with Grab, a convenient all-in-one app for exploring Kuala Lumpur.
Moovit: Navigate public transport with ease using Moovit’s real-time updates, route planning, and live directions.
MyRapid Pulse: Stay on top of Kuala Lumpur's transit system with MyRapid Pulse for journey planning, fare info, and updates.
Touch 'n Go Wallet: Go cashless with this digital wallet, which is perfect for public transport, parking, and payments citywide.
TripLingo: Simplify travel with TripLingo’s translator, phrasebook, and cultural tips for seamless local communication.
WhatsApp: Stay in touch with free calls and messages with WhatsApp, which is widely used in Kuala Lumpur for local and international communication.
Wrapping Up
Kuala Lumpur was incredible and so underrated!
We had a fantastic time and would absolutely recommend it to anyone considering a visit.
The city is like London, New York, or Dubai— but at a fraction of the cost.
Unforgettable adventures await families in Kuala Lumpur!
With these insider tips on entry requirements, accommodations, transportation, local culture, and everything you need to know about Kuala Lumpur, we hope you can navigate the city with ease.
What excites you the most about the idea of a Kuala Lumpur family holiday? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you've visited Kuala Lumpur with your family, we’d love to hear your tips and experiences— drop them in the comments!
Join us on our journey! Don’t miss out on our latest adventures— subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel now!
You can also follow us online!
Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.
