History · Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia
7 historic sites to see in Kuala Lumpur
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shesmax, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Batu Caves, Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 9–9 hours across 4 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 9–9 hours
- Areas
- Gombak, Chinatown (Petaling Street) and Perdana Botanical Garden
Historic sites in Kuala Lumpur
Religious site · Gombak
1.Batu Caves
A 42.7-metre golden statue of Lord Murugan stands beside the 272 rainbow-painted steps that climb to the vast Temple Cave. Long-tailed macaques roam the stairs, and the site is the focus of the Thaipusam pilgrimage.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Active
Historic site · Chinatown (Petaling Street)
2.Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building
It is overlooked by the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building of 1897 with its copper domes and clock tower, the mock-Tudor Royal Selangor Club and a 95-metre flagpole. The KL City Gallery nearby tells the city's story.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
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Museum · Perdana Botanical Garden
3.Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Southeast Asia's largest museum of Islamic art, with manuscripts, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, architectural models of famous mosques and a fully reconstructed Ottoman-era room, all under decorated domes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- History
Religious site · Perdana Botanical Garden
4.National Mosque (Masjid Negara)
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times and are given robes and headscarves at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Religious site · Chinatown (Petaling Street)
5.Sri Mahamariamman Temple
During Thaipusam, a silver chariot carries the statue of Lord Murugan from here to Batu Caves.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
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Museum · Brickfields and KL Sentral
6.National Museum (Muzium Negara)
Built in the style of a traditional Malay palace, the National Museum traces Malaysian history from prehistory and the Melaka Sultanate through colonial rule to independence, with outdoor displays of vintage locomotives and cars.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Chinatown (Petaling Street)
7.Masjid Jamek and River of Life
The riverbanks around it have been landscaped as the River of Life, with a blue-lit pool and mist show after dark.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- History
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Gombak | Batu Caves | 2 hours |
| Chinatown (Petaling Street) | Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Masjid Jamek and River of Life | 1 hour + 30 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Perdana Botanical Garden | Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and National Mosque (Masjid Negara) | 2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Brickfields and KL Sentral | National Museum (Muzium Negara) | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 5 free, 2 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Batu Caves; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Gombak and Chinatown (Petaling Street)): Batu Caves → Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building → Sri Mahamariamman Temple → Masjid Jamek and River of Life, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Perdana Botanical Garden and Brickfields and KL Sentral): Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia → National Mosque (Masjid Negara) → National Museum (Muzium Negara), at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds. Showers increase towards the end of the month; mooncakes and lanterns appear for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- March: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot, with afternoon storms becoming more frequent; Ramadan currently falls around February and March.
- May: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and humid with frequent storms; a good time for indoor sights in the afternoon.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Chinatown (Petaling Street) — Shophouses, temples, street stalls and hip cafés around Petaling Street
- Brickfields and KL Sentral — Little India's banana leaf restaurants beside the main rail hub
More of Kuala Lumpur
All things to do in Kuala Lumpur · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kuala Lumpur?
Batu Caves. A limestone hill 13 km north of the city with Hindu shrines in its caves.
+Which of these are free in Kuala Lumpur?
Batu Caves, Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building, National Mosque (Masjid Negara), Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Masjid Jamek and River of Life.