10 Things To Do with Kids in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Petronas Towers at night, they just sparkle

Kuala Lumpur is a large city, full of so many wonderful things to do with your family on holidays.  I often think cities can be a bit overwhelming.  We were fortunate enough to stay in Kuala Lumpur and have a little over 2 weeks of our holidays in the capital city of Malaysia, so we're able to really explore and find many places to enjoy. Besides, if you are a traveler from the neighboring country, Singapore. There are tons of way to save on your flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur!

Here are 10 things to do with kids in Kuala Lumpur that we enjoyed best:

Petrosains Discovery Center


Located within the huge KLCC complex, this museum is a home run for kids of all ages.  Lots of hands on exhibits and as long as you can stomach the barrage of oil related information (it was opened by the Petronas oil company) then you parents will also enjoy!


Tip: Eat before you go in as start to finish you will spend 3-4 hours inside and there is very little food.

Aquaria Aquarium


For a beautiful and clean aquarium that is easy to manage and won't zap the whole day or the week's budget head to Aquaria.  Also located within the KLCC complex, this facility was a real jem.  Touchtanks, sea otters, reptiles and, best of all, a huge walk through tunnel where you feel like you are swimming right along with huge manta rays and sharks of all types.


Tip: Take your time in the tunnel, they do not seem to let you go through more than once.  There is a people mover inside to help with traffic flow but you can easily step off to try and enjoy it a bit more.

KLCC park and playground


KLCC park is huge and a downright lovely way to spend a day.  Suria mall, with it's expansive shopping opportunities, is located on the edge of the park along with beautiful fountains.  The park offers running trails, a great playground, wading pools, and all the facilities you could need in a day.  Set with the amazing Petronas towers as a backdrop, there is no shortage of things to keep all ages content.


Tip:  Be sure to stay until it is fully dark.  The Petronas towers are dazzling in the evening all lit up.  There is also a color and water fountain show that goes on and you can share the space with people from all walks of life.  A truly magical place to relax for a bit!

Berjaya Times Square


Times Square is basically a large mall.  Far less upscale then the popular KLCC (like you may actually be able to buy something and not just treat it as a museum) but the real draw, at least for us, was the entertainment value of this mall.

On the upper floors there is an indoor archery range that was very reasonable and the boys loved it.  There is also an amusement park complete with a huge upside down roller coaster that you can watch from the food court.   It seemed to be better for older kids, not worth the money for a child under 5 in my opinion.


Finally there was also a movie theater, large food court, and a 25 lane bowling alley.  Pretty impressive!

Tip: If you hit the amusement park it may be best to eat after the roller coaster:)

Aircraft Museum


For a really inexpensive yet interesting outing, visit the Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum.  The entrance is free and with close to 20 different aircraft on display in which your child can climb in, pretend to fly, and generally explore, this is a great low key option.  We only spent about 1 hour there and really there wasn't much else around but after flying a helicopter, examining missiles on a fighter jet, and being paratroopers we all left having felt like it was more than worth the 20-minute ride from the city center to explore.


Tip: Avoid mid day as it was extremely hot!  Also there are no drinks or snacks on site.  And be sure your taxi waits for you, you won't find another one when you are ready to leave without a long walk.  Alternatively you can take a local bus.

KL Tower

KL tower from below

The tower may not be one of the least expensive things you do while in KL, but it still makes our list because it made for a really  fun day.  Aside from the amazing 360 degree aerial view you have at the top of the tower, the KL tower grounds also include a small zoo, native village showcasing the many different types of homes throughout the country, pony rides, a 4d theater, and a revolving restaurant atop the actual tower.

We spent a good 4 hours there, exploring the grounds and enjoying the views.  Public transport there was somewhat challenging so I suggest taking a taxi.

National Mosque from above

Tip:  Be sure to sit down in the auditorium and watch the short video on the building of the tower.  It was fascinating as well as free!

Batu Cave


Batu Cave, a hindu temple built into a limestone cliff face,  is slightly outside the city but well worth the effort to get to.  The commuter train brings you right to the area entrance with just a short walk to the bottom of the 272 stairs that you'll need to climb to reach the cave entrance.  This is also another free attraction!

The climbing part may be tough for little ones but between the huge statue of Lord Murugan, monkeys running around, and all the intricate caves I think a child of any age would enjoy!  The parent heaving children up the stairs maybe not so much:)


Tip: Beware of your belongings as there are many thieving monkeys afoot!  They can and will swipe something from you faster than you will know it is happening!

National Science Center


This was a last minute addition to our itinerary after the kids saw a leaflet covered in dinosaurs.  Upon researching, I realized it was at the National Science Center and that they had an exhibit going for the month; all about dinosaurs.  As it turns out they often have some sort of extra exhibit to enjoy.  At a cost of only a few dollars, we weren't sure what we would discover when we got there.

To our surprise it was absolutely fabulous!  A beautifully put together hands-on exhibit complete with play scapes, moon walking, and science themed experiments to join in on.  The staff were all very friendly and helpful and we left feeling really glad that we squeezed a trip to the museum in.

Giant hamster wheel

Tip: Be sure to bring cash, they do NOT accept credit cards nor do they have an ATM anywhere near the facility.  We learned this one the hard way!

Bird Park

Hornbill

From the moment we got to KL, my oldest son decided that Bird Park was a must see!  As it was close to $20 per adult to get in, Bird Park was an expense I really wanted to avoid.  I mean how exciting are birds after living in Costa Rica and seeing so many, right?

Well I have to admit, we went and had a great time.  It is the largest free-flight, walk-in aviary in the world and home to more than 3,000 birds including parrots, great  hornbills, and toucans, just to name a few.  We spent more than 3 hours walking the grounds, feeding parrots, and listening to all the different melodies surrounding us on our visit.


Tip: Plan to eat lunch at the Hornbill Cafe.  The air con was most welcome and the food was reasonable and very good.  A nice break in the day to relax a bit!

KL Lake Gardens


As long as you can tolerate the heat of the day in KL, this park is a great spot!  It encompasses the Bird Park (mentioned above), a fabulous fairytale playground, lakes with paddle boats, exercise areas, jogging track, beautifully maintained grounds, a butterfly park, orchid and hibiscus gardens, the national planetarium, and the National Mosque.  You could easily spend days here and not see the entire property, which covers over 90 hectares of land.


Tip:  Bring along extra water or buy a bunch when you see it.  There were many area that had nothing to offer in the way of re hydration.  Also be sure to hop on the tram that goes through the park, it's the easiest way to get around and costs very little.

Bonus tip: During your travels, don't forget to document your adventures! Saving them properly is always important.  It only takes 1 time of losing pics to know back up is essential. Always be sure to store pics in several places.

The Bangi Wonderland theme park is another noteworthy mention for this post. It's a great theme park for families. If you're heading to Kuala Lumpur and thinking about visiting Bangi Wonderland theme park outside of the city, we recommend looking for a place to stay near the National University of Malaysia. 

What are your favorite things to do in Kuala Lumpur?  We'd love to hear in our comments below!