Kuala Lumpur is a great place for a two-to-three day stopover. It’s an interesting city, but there’s probably not enough in the city itself to justify a longer stay. However, it is a good base from which to explore further afield in Malaysia, and to break up a trip along the peninsula between Thailand and Singapore.

Day 1

Start with a visit to the Petronas Towers. Get right up close for a view of perhaps the most impressive skyscrapers in the world. It’s free to visit the Skybridge on the 41st floor, but it’s often booked out for hours ahead. In the meantime, check out the ritzy shopping mall.
Head over to the 276m KL Menara Tower (a giant telecommunications tower), about 20 minutes walk away. The view is great. Continue into Chinatown and spend a few hours wandering around, staying for dinner at one of the numerous cheap and tasty eateries.

Day 2

Take a walk around Merdeka Square, surrounded by grand colonial buildings and where Malaysian independence was declared on August 31, 1957. Head over to the Masjid Negara mosque (dress conservatively) then to the very impressive Islamic Arts Museum. Take a walk around the lush and tranquil Lake Gardens. Head up to Little India and take your time wandering around.

Day 3

Take a trip out to the Batu Caves — a complex of caverns full of Hindu shrines. KL has great shopping – whether in a lavish air-conditioned shopping mall full of designer goods, or in the teeming streets of Chinatown or Little India — so spend some time hunting down a bargain.