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Our three days in Kuala Lumpur: tickets, visa, hotel, SIM, getting around and the attractions, planned smartly to see the most.
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Flights
We flew AirAsia from Hyderabad, a convenient middle point for a group coming from Pune and Visakhapatnam. It cost about ₹20,000 per person return.
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Open Trip.com →Visa & MDAC
When we travelled, Malaysia was visa-free for Indians, but the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) was compulsory. Fill in your details and hotel before you fly. Immigration was smooth: they only checked our passports and boarding passes. (Rules change, so check before you go.)
Airport to city: 3 options
KLIA is about an hour from the city.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLIA Ekspres train | 55 RM | ~30 min to KL Sentral | Speed |
| Bus | 18 RM | 1–1.5 hours | Budget, solo |
| Taxi | ~100 RM | 1–1.5 hours, to your door | 3+ people |
We took the KLIA Ekspres. From KL Sentral you still need a metro or taxi to your hotel.
SIM
About ₹1,000 gets you 7 days of unlimited data. Buy it at 7-Eleven, because the airport was pricier.
Where to stay: Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang is central, happening and close to everything. Prices looked high 10 days out, so we stayed one station away at Raja Chulan (Holiday Inn Express, about ₹5,000 a night). Everything major was 5–10 minutes by cab.
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Open Agoda →Money: where to exchange
Don't convert much in India, just 100–200 RM to reach your hotel. The best rates are in Bukit Bintang: we used the money-exchange shop next to the Tarbush restaurant on Bukit Bintang. Avoid malls.
Day 1: KL Tower, Petronas & Jalan Alor
- KL Tower: 421 m, a telecom tower with a viewing deck.
- Petronas Twin Towers: 451.9 m, the world's tallest building until 2004 and still the tallest twin towers.
- Avenue K mall next to Petronas has artificial snowfall in December, which is magical.
- Pavilion Mall: huge, so dip in and out.
- Jalan Alor: Bukit Bintang's street-food heaven, with chefs working magic at every stall, plus lots of Turkish and Arab food (shawarma). It never sleeps.
Day 2: Batu Caves, Independence Square, Aquaria & Petaling Street
- Batu Caves: the cheapest way is the train. A taxi costs more depending on traffic. Full Batu Caves guide
- Independence Square (Merdeka Square): on 31 August 1957 the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag raised here for the first time.
- Aquaria KLCC: 5,000+ creatures, sharks and stingrays. Our Aquaria review
- Petaling Street: first copies of sneakers, watches and bags. Honestly, Thailand's are better.
Day 3: Shopping & spa
The fashion outlet in the basement opposite Pavilion had great deals on trendy clothes, then Pavilion itself, a shopper's paradise. Finish with a spa.
More KL: the real KL: Thean Hou Temple, Little India & Petaling Street · Genting Highlands.
📶FAQs
How do I get from KLIA to Kuala Lumpur city?
KLIA Ekspres train (55 RM, about 30 minutes to KL Sentral), bus (18 RM, 1–1.5 hours) or taxi (about 100 RM, door to door). For three or more people, the taxi makes sense.
Where should I stay in Kuala Lumpur?
Bukit Bintang or one station away. Most attractions are 5–10 minutes away and it has the best currency exchange rates.
Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia?
When we went, it was visa-free for Indians, but the MDAC digital arrival form was compulsory. Check the current rules before you fly.
TAGS: KUALA LUMPUR · MALAYSIA · ITINERARY · BUKIT BINTANG · PETRONAS · BUDGET
💬 Questions & answers
NO QUESTIONS YET. ASK US ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TRIP.
Prashant & Sunaina
A travel couple from Pune with Kashmiri Pandit × Maharashtrian roots, 8+ countries and counting. Every rupee shared.
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