Best time to visit · Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia
The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
_-_img_02.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year, so there is no bad season, only wetter and drier ones. January, February, June and July tend to be the driest months, while April and October to December bring the heaviest afternoon storms. Haze sometimes affects air quality between June and September. Many visitors time trips for festivals: Chinese New Year and Thaipusam early in the year, and Merdeka Day on 31 August.
Key facts
- Best months
- January–February and June–July
- Shoulder season
- March, May, August–September and December
- Warmest month
- February (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~19 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–June and September–November
Seasons
Kuala Lumpur has an equatorial climate: hot and humid all year, with highs of about 32–33°C and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The wettest periods are around April and from October to December; smoke haze from regional fires can affect air quality in some years, usually between June and September.
December–March
Northeast monsoon
Kuala Lumpur is sheltered from the worst of this monsoon, and January and February are usually the driest months, busy with Chinese New Year and Thaipusam.
April–May
First inter-monsoon
Hot and humid with heavy late-afternoon thunderstorms; mornings are usually clear for sightseeing.
June–September
Southwest monsoon
Relatively dry and sunny, with school holidays, the durian season and Merdeka Day; haze is possible in some years.
October–November
Second inter-monsoon
The wettest period, with frequent storms and occasional flash floods; plan indoor sights for afternoons.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 23°C | 11 | 12 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| February | 33°C | 23°C | 11 | 12 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| March | 33°C | 24°C | 14 | 12.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 33°C | 24°C | 16 | 12.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 33°C | 24°C | 14 | 12.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 33°C | 24°C | 10 | 12.3 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 32°C | 24°C | 10 | 12.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 32°C | 24°C | 11 | 12.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 32°C | 24°C | 13 | 12.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 32°C | 24°C | 17 | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 32°C | 24°C | 19 | 12 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 32°C | 23°C | 15 | 11.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Thaipusam — devotees carry kavadi up the steps of Batu Caves (January or February); Chinese New Year — lanterns at Thean Hou Temple and in Chinatown (late January or February) |
| March | Ramadan bazaars and Hari Raya Aidilfitri — end-of-fast celebrations (dates move about 11 days earlier each year) |
| August | Merdeka Day — National Day celebrations and parade (31 August) |
| September | Malaysia Day (16 September); Mid-Autumn Festival — lanterns in Chinatown and at Thean Hou Temple (September or early October) |
| October | Deepavali — festival of lights, celebrated in Brickfields (October or November) |
| December | Christmas displays in the malls of Bukit Bintang and KLCC; New Year's Eve fireworks at KLCC |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–June and September–November, and the sights are quietest in March–May and September–November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Northeast monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| First inter-monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Southwest monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Second inter-monsoon | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur is hot and humid all year, so there is no bad season, only wetter and drier ones. January, February, June and July tend to be the driest months, while April and October to December bring the heaviest afternoon storms. Haze sometimes affects air quality between June and September. Many visitors time trips for festivals: Chinese New Year and Thaipusam early in the year, and Merdeka Day on 31 August.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Kuala Lumpur?
Usually in January–June and September–November. One of the drier months, with Chinese New Year and Thaipusam often falling in late January or February.
+What is the rainiest month in Kuala Lumpur?
November, with about 19 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Kuala Lumpur get?
The warmest month, February, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 23°C (73°F).