Often simply referred to as KL, Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital city. The name means muddy estuary in the Malay language and it should be clear to visitors that the city has come a long way since it was first named.

Once a sleepy Chinese tin mining village, the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur is now home to more than 6 million residents and has a lot to offer, whether you’re interested in fine dining, shopping, seeing the sights or luxurious hotels.

Kuala Lumpur is a great place to explore on foot. One of the most popular attractions are the Petronas Twin Towers, which are 436 meters tall and offer spectacular views from the top. The nearby KL Tower is also an impressive sight, while Bintang Walk is a great place to stop for coffee. Visit Chinatown in the evening to dine on a range of delicacies and enjoy the colourful decorations.

The National Museum is a good place to get an idea of Malaysia’s diverse history, while the Police Museum and Islamic Arts Museum offer special perspectives of life in Kuala Lumpur. Marvel at the thousands of colourful tropical fish in the Aquaria KLCC and climb to the top of Pineapple Hill – also known as Bukit Nanas – to walk through an enchanting forest reserve.

Despite being a busy city, there is still plenty of natural beauty in and around Kuala Lumpur. Take a walk in the pretty Tasek Perdana Lake Gardens to the west of the city and head to the northern suburbs to explore the limestone Batu Caves.

Shopping is a popular pastime in Kuala Lumpur and there are plenty of large western-style shopping malls where visitors can pick up a bargain or too. These shopping malls are also good places to find a descent meal, while the city’s night market often cheap and tasty traditional dishes.

One of Kuala Lumpur’s most beautiful attractions is the Friday Mosque, which sits astride the Klang and Gombak Rivers at the position where the first Europeans scrambled ashore. Visit the mosque at sunset to admire the ornate domes and take a stroll along the banks of the river.

Malaysia Truly Asia

Holding its own among Asia’s best know destinations, Malaysia encompasses the best of the region’s outstanding characteristics, without the hassle or concerns of its neighbours. From the stunning beaches in Langkawi to the history on Penang and Sophistication of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers its 20 million annual visitors a completely satisfying experience.

On this site we cover the entire Peninsula and Borneo, including Melaka, the Cameroon Highlands, the islands of Perhentian and Redang, as well as Kinabalu, and the jungles and beaches of East Malaysia. Written by an old hand on Southeast Asia, this blog will soon be upgraded to a full travel site with hundreds of pictures and pages to help you plan your trip to Malaysia.

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, history, shopping, beaching, culture, backpacking or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this organised and mutli-cultural country, there’s something for you on this site. We’ve got the tourism on Malaysia covered.

The best way to see Malaysia is under your own steam with a rental car. This allows you to get around easily to the various rural areas of beauty. It’s best book online in advance using an online car hire comparator that lists the best deals from car hire companies in Malaysia