Most tourists can roam the whole Kuala Lumpur. But some could be stuck to the KLCC.
Don’t worry. KLCC is one of the most awesome location to be trapped in.
Stop thinking that KLCC is only about snapping a gazillion insta-worthy pictures. Here are 20 things that you can actually do around the KLCC Twin Towers.
1. See the Wonders of the Ocean in the Aquaria KLCC
Seeing the 60,000 square feet aquarium underneath the KLCC Twin Towers is one of the most popular thing you can do in the KLCC.
Yes, it is not as amazing as the Sealife in Johor. But this KL aquarium is a huge tourist attraction. It has over 5000 marine and freshwater animals and a cool 90-metre travelator.
This oceanarium has a few different landscapes, from the misty highlands and flooded tropical jungles, right to the Amazon rivers, coral reefs and the open ocean.
It’s not all about walking and seeing though. If you are feeling adventurous there’s the Dive with Sharks or the Cage Rage. If you have kids and are here during school holidays, enroll them in the Sleep with Sharks program. But book early as spots are limited.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the 10 foot long gigantic Arapaima feeding time (Mon, Wed, Sat at 2:30pm at the Flooded Forest area).
Tips : Buy your Aquaria ticket online for the best discount price.
2. Play at the Petrosains KLCC
If you got kids younger than 12, this interactive touch and play kid museum will keep them occupied. Half science center, half playground, this place is built right on the KLCC Mall’s 4th floor, so you don’t have to go far.
The theme is focused on oil. So, you’ll see a stone that bleeds oil, you could get up close to a Formula 1 Car, walk into an oil rig or feel what it’s like to be in a helicopter with a heli simulator.
Always enter Petrosains on full stomach and not let the simple entrance fool you. The place is massive, and even after 2 hours of exploring, your little ones may not even want to call it a quit yet.
3. Stroll, take selfies and play in the KLCC Park
Just because you’re in the middle of the city doesn’t mean you have to travel far to enjoy some greeneries. This pocket of green overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers is a great place to stroll, enjoy the sun or snap some great photos of towers.
If you have kids under 10, let them enjoy the wading pool here as it is opened for free. Just remember to bring their swimming trunks (there’s a changing room nearby).
And if an hour of water play is not enough, there’s plenty of swings and slides to try in the 2 acre playground. This will be the biggest playground they’ll ever encounter in Malaysia and one of the best free things to do around KLCC.
Tips: Don’t forget to walk across the 43m bridge in the middle of the park.
It’s one of the best place to snap your photos with the KLCC as the backdrop.
4. Window Shop in the KLCC Mall
This is not your average daily mall. With a wide array of haute couture stores, this 6 level mall caters the need of the affluents.
We are talking about brands such as Versace, Coach and Louis Vuitton. If you want to buy something Malaysian, there’s shoes from Jimmy Choo.
With more than 380 stores of upscale and world known brand boutiques, this mall will definitely elevate your retail fantasy into a new level (or make you feel like a pauper).
5. See KL From the SkyBridge
If Maharaja Shah Jehan built the Taj Mahal as a symbol of love to his beloved wife, the locals claim that the KLCC is built by the then Prime Minister for his wife, Tun Hasmah.
And they’ll tell you that the proof is in the bridge — as it makes the towers form the letter ‘H’ for Hasmah.
No one can verify this claim, but the engineers of the towers say that the main purpose of the skybridge is to link the two towers to act as a fire escape route.
If you plan to getting up on the bridge, be prepared to queue as early as 6:30 am to snatch the limited daily passes (if you can get one).
Be sure not to stroll leisurely here. You are only allowed to stay for 10 minutes on the bridge and another 15 on the observation tower.
Tips: To guarantee access, you can buy your KLCC skybridge ticket here.
6. Explore KL from KLCC for FREE with GOKL
If you still plan to see the city, you have a few options. One is in the comfort of an air-conditioned GOKL buses.
You can hop on the free bus at the KLCC bus stop and ride away to the Bukit Bintang, see the KL Tower from afar or see the hustle and bustle of the Chinatown or Central Market area. You could get off, or you could just sit while the bus roams around the city and back to KLCC.
Yes, the city’s traffic jams are unavoidable, but the buses offer free WIFI connection to give you some distractions on your phone.
The starts bus as early as 6 in the morning right to 11 in the evening.
7. Appreciate Some Arts in the Petronas Gallery
If you’re into arts, there’s the the Petronas Gallery in the KLCC mall.
This gallery mainly showcases the works of local artists. But is also known to occasionally include arts from foreign talents.
Entry to this gallery is free, which is not only great news for art lovers, but also great if you just want a calmer escape from the mall areas.
The collection is normally small, and since there’s no lines and no queues, expect to spend an hour or less here.
8. Explore Manga Comics in the Kinokuniya Bookstore
Love books? Great. Make your way to the Japanese owned Kinokuniya bookstore on the 4th floor of the Suria KLCC mall. You’ll find your space, your heaven.
If you are into Japanese Manga, Anime and weird Japanese stationary knick knacks, you’ll spend hours getting fascinated with new findings. If all your knowledge about Japanese manga is concentrated to Naruto, be prepared to discover more amazing works of comic art and literature completely overlooked by most Western audience.
If you are into architecture, arts and photography, the mezzanine level has a huge selection of books dedicated just for you.
Most books are wrapped, but you can always ask the assistants here to unwrap them for viewing. Be prepared to spend 2 – 3 hours if you love books than anything else in your life.
Tips: If you need something to quench your thirst, there’s a tiny cafe within the bookstore.
Get cosy, enjoy your coffee and relax by the window overlooking the KLCC park.
9. Watch the KLCC Fountain
If you happen to be around the KLCC area after sunset, get out of the mall, join the crowd by the pool and watch the waterworks and music playing at Lake Symphony.
A refreshing way to enjoy the night breeze, the fountain show is fun to watch especially if you come with kids. Yes, it is not worth a special trip. But the 5-10 minutes fountain show do offers the shopping crowd something free to do outside of the KLCC mall.
The light and music fountain show starts at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm daily while the light-only showtimes are at 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm .
The front area is normally crowded. But you can find plenty of spaces on the KLCC facade.
10. Bored with KLCC? Explore Bukit Bintang via the Elevated Walkway
Yes, KLCC is great. But in case you plan to taste some great Chinese street food, Bukit Bintang’s Hutong food court and Jalan Alor are the way to go. And there’s no better way to get there on foot than by taking this new walkway.
Before this walkway was opened in 2015, the only way to get there is by maneuvering through the mad KL traffic on uneven paths, under sweltering tropical heats.
With no traffic to worry about, the 1km covered walkway is your best way to get anywhere from the KLCC Convention Centre to the Impiana KLCC Hotel, KL City Walk and the Pavilion mall. Just follow the signs within the walkway to get to your destination along the way.
Don’t worry if you plan to walk back to your hotel room at night. This is also the safest way to travel during the time as there’s CCTV cameras and policemen stationed in this brilliant pedestrian path.
Alternatively, you can explore Malay food in Kg Bharu by walking across the amazing looking Saloma bridge.
11. Dine in a Michelin Star Restaurant
Ah, talking about pampering your tastebuds.
If you want to dine at the best, Kuala Lumpur is home to a few Michelin Star restaurants. And NOBU, the famous Japanese restaurant is right in the KLCC area itself.
Built in the KLCC tower 3 (next to the Mandarin hotel), you’ll have an up close view of the Petronas Towers. Match that sweeping view with the culinary blasphemies that made Nobu well-respected, you’ll have an awesome way to end your day.
This restaurant serves one of the world’s best sashimi, sushi and tempuras. Expect to spend around RM 400 for a multi course menu.
If you are with kids, sorry. No kids under 12 may enter the premise (except on weekends and public holidays). For muslim customers, this restaurant is pork free but not certified halal.
12. Check out the KL Food Truck Scene
To get here, prepare to walk some 900 meters away from the KLCC.
But launched in 2016 by 3 childhood friends, the Tapak Food Truck scene is a new way to enjoy the city’s food and ambience.
There’s more than 20 food trucks here serving mostly hipster or Western food to hungry locals crowds. To beat them to the table, you should get here before 7 pm. And it is best to come with a partner as you can grab a table while he or she orders the food.
Like most hipster food area, do come for the scene and the late night outdoor ambience. But never come solely for the food.
13. Enter the Chocolate Lovers Haven at Godiva
If you are into chocolate, KLCC will be your heaven.
Known for its premium confectionery, the Godiva boutique (yes, these Belgian call it that) will pamper you with their soft serve ice creams and their brilliant selection of dark chocolates truffles.
Get ready with your moolah as the chocolates are sold by grams. But don’t let that deter you. Chocolate lovers swear that you don’t truly know about chocolate until you try the one in Godiva.
Tips : If chocolate is not your thing, get the soft ice cream instead.
14. Enjoy an English Afternoon Tea at Mandarin
This country was colonised by the Brits for over 100 years. So relaxing over an afternoon tea in Kuala Lumpur is like taking a trip down memory lane.
The city has a few places for this ritual, but the best option to do this around KLCC is at the Mandarin Oriental’s Lounge on The Park.
Tips : Here is a list of hotels in KL with awesome afternoon tea ( post is in Malay)
Your English Afternoon Tea Stand here consists of the usual servings like warm scones, delicate finger sandwiches, as well as a platter of miniature cakes. If you are worried about your waistline, opt for the ‘Healthy Choice’ Afternoon Tea Stand for an array of English and Chinese delicacies.
They have over 60 premium teas here. But you can always order coffee, cocktails or juices too. Just remember to brush up on your tea etiquette.
Afternoon tea is served daily, 2.30-6.00pm.
15. Get your Kids Pumped Up at the Superpark
Got kids? Great. This 40,000 square feet Finnish indoor playland will be perfect for the your kids if KL throws you a bad weather.
The park is in the Avenue K, a mall just a few minutes walk away across the street.
Your kids can jump on the trampolines, climb a wall or just throw themselves on cool foam wall. For more actions, they could hop on the scooters, skate boards or try ice skating at the Avenue K’s synthetic ice skating rink.
This Superpark has 26 activities that’ll get the out of steam so fast, your kids will be totally exhausted in no time.
Tips: Kids under 9 must be accompanied by someone who is at least 18 years old.
If you only have a toddler, the Starlight (in the same mall) is a better playpark for them.
16. Try Escape at the Breakout
If you are into puzzles — or fans of the live-action escape room games, try the Breakout in the Avenue K.
As in all escape rooms throught the world, playing Breakout means getting locked in a themed room where you solve mysteries to break free within the allotted time.
This is a Malaysian founded escape outlet. There’s 5 escape rooms to choose from, each with unique puzzles and degree of difficulties.
To make the experience even better, each member of your team will be given a special ability. The ‘Lock Master’ for example, can ask to open one lock while the ‘Time Bender’ can ask an extra five minutes of game time.
You have 45 minutes to use your wits, skills and teamwork to escape. You need at least 2 people to play. Bring more for a better chance of escaping.
17. Enjoy sublime live music at MPO
Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra
If you are a music lover who wonders what to do in the Petronas Towers at night, check out the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra (or MPO).
Prior to the MPO and the establishment of DFP (Dewan Filharmonik Petronas), Malaysia actually did not have a world-class concert hall, nor a resident world-class orchestra.
Made of musicians from over 20 countries, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra’s forte is classical music, but you can still enjoy jazz, pop or rock music at certain times of the year.
Forget the fact that 90% of the musicians are not Malaysian. This is your chance to listen to great music, in a wonderful venue at very reasonable ticket price.
Just take note of the dress code. If you travel light, you might have to buy yourself some dress shoes just to get in.
Ticket starts from RM 50 (half price with a student card).
18. Sample World Cuisines at Suria KLCC’s Food Court
The KLCC area is filled with amazing restaurants. But that doesn’t mean you should skip The Signature Food Court on the 2nd floor of the Suria KLCC.
Here, even the most finicky eaters will find something to eat. As you scan the area, you’ll realize that there’s food from all over the world. You can try Japanese teppanyaki, Thai tom yum, right down to Penang’s nasi kandar in one spot. Miss your burgers? There’s Mcdonalds and Subway too.
In short, no matter what’s your budget or taste, do eat at the food court.
Tips : Drinks here are relatively expensive by the Malaysian food court standard. Get your drinks from the McDonalds instead. And come before 12pm if you want a window seat with the view of the KLCC park.
19. Practise Your Golf Swing
Golf Simulator at Mandarin Oriental
Staying in the heart of KL is not an excuse to let your swing rust. There’s at least 3 places around the KLCC area where you could play golf on a simulator.
Your first option is at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The hotel has 3 excellent indoor golf simulators to spend an hour out of the sun.
Your second alternative is at the Suria KLCC mall’s ISETAN. The Golf Studio on the 3rd floor is equipped with golf simulators as well as golf equipment, apparel, and accessories from Japan for both sexes.
Finally, if you are here with your golfing buddies and want a place dedicated to golf, you can go to the Golf Club KLCC at Novotel Hotel. This is the city’s first fully fledged premium golf lounge.
It opens 7 days a week from 11 am till late night. Don’t worry if you get hungry. There’s sirloin burgers, steak, calamari and more on site.
20. Pamper Yourself at the Mandarin Oriental or Impiana Hotels’ Spas
The KLCC is a great area to sleep, eat and work. And is also a grand place to pamper your body.
Head on to the The Mandarin Oriental Hotel next door and try its Malay massage. You can choose a simple facial treatment or truly spoil yourself with the full body “Urut Melayu” for a unique traditional touch.
Alternatively, there’s the Swasana Spa at the Impiana KLCC Club Tower that specialises in traditional Southeast Asian spa treatments.
Performed by professional therapists, try its Swasana Massage; which is a blend of Malay, Thai and Balinese massages. Your massage comes complete with oil customised to your taste.
The prices for both hotels are high. But the ambient, the expertise and the results will make you come back for more.
