Getting bored of staying in during the weekend? How about exploring the great city of Kuala Lumpur through fresh eyes?
Back in April, Rapid KL actually published seven maps and trails that cater to tourists of different tastes, from history buffs to avid shoppers.
The catch? It was only ever published in the MyRapid PULSE app (Android | iOS) and hidden under the Lifestyle tab. Not only that, even browsing it requires a signed-in account!
With all those hurdles and a shocking lack of marketing, we thought it was time to take a look through them and see if there’s any interesting nuggets for the Malaysia staycationer.
Kuala Lumpur Downtown Map
Starting with a general map of Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Rapid KL has done a pretty comprehensive job condensing most of KL’s attractions into a readable and comprehensive map.
From the greatest hits like KLCC, Muzium Negara and Dataran Merdeka to more underrated spots like Urban Museum Kuala Lumpur or REXKL, there’s a good range of attractions right here.
So, let’s say you haven’t found the time to visit our capital’s iconic landmarks or sleeper hits, this map can give you a pretty great atlas for your weekend warrior adventures.
Plus, with all of these trails being accessible through the Masjid Jamek Station, say goodbye to driving and traffic jams!
Heritage Trail
Estimated Time: 32 minutes
Sejarah classes may put you to sleep, but sometimes the best way to learn history is to walk it!
Starting from Masjid Jamek, this trail heads west towards Rumah Tangsi before looping back east, touching upon heritage and historical sites all the way.
Highlights
Dataran Merdeka: Major site in the Malayan Independence movement flanked by the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
Rumah Tangsi (Loke Hall): Cozy little cream and gold-coloured mansion that served as a tycoon’s mansion and later a hotel.
Muzium Telekom: Free-entry museum that explores the history of Malaysian telecommunications in a former Roman-esque switchboard building.
Museum Trail
Estimated Time: 51 minutes
Once you’ve got a taste of heritage, perhaps it’s time to dive deeper into the world of museums with this southwesterly route.
Muzium Negara gets top billing, but there’s plenty of lesser known yet fascinating museums that explore the sprawling story called Kuala Lumpur. In fact, some of them can give UNESCO’s finest museums a run for their money!
Highlights
National Textile Museum: Gallery dedicated to the history and development of Malaysian textiles as well as arts and crafts. housed in a classic Mughal-style building. Located right next to Dataran Merdeka.
Sze Si Ya Temple Pioneers of Kuala Lumpur Museum: A Taoist temple-cum-museum that explores the beginnings of Kuala Lumpur as well as its founding by Yap Ah Loy.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: Museum showcasing a wide range of Islamic art in the form of architectural dioramas, beautifully decorated Qurans as well as various artifacts.
Artsy Trail
Estimated Time: 50 minutes
For some peace and quiet, why not try immersing yourself in some thought-provoking art at our capital’s finest art galleries?
Whether it’s artists’ markets, traditional exhibitions and sensory experiences, anyone can add a little color to their KL staycation canvas.
Highlights
REXKL: A former cinema hall converted into an artsy hangout filled with experimental dining, immersive digital experiences and cool vibes all round. Check out our REXKL post for more details.
UR-MU: Short for Urban Museum Kuala Lumpur, its various branches offer a home for contemporary art with a Malaysian and ASEAN perspective.
GMBB: A one-of-a-kind “community mall” that marries retail space with small stores and arts events.
Divine Trail
Estimated Time: 32 minutes
Ever wondered how the prayer hall of a mosque sounds like? How incense wafting out a Chinese temple smells like? Or what colours adorn the flowers of Hindu temple garlands?
Take a day off to appreciate Malaysia’s truly diverse religious landscape with this path through KL’s holy houses that takes a loop around Masjid Jamek before heading south.
Masjid Jamek: Right outside of the trail’s starting point, this mosque is one of the earliest mosques built within early Kuala Lumpur.
Cathedral of St. John: One of Malaysia’s many beautiful churches, its twin ivory towers have watched over the city almost since its inception.
Gurdwara Sahib Polis: Built to cater to the overwhelming number of Sikhs in the colonial police force, this gurdwara was one of the earliest in the city.
Family Trail
Estimated Time: 75 minutes
Finding a staycation is hard enough, but travelling with the young and elderly can be a monumental challenge.
Thankfully, RapidKL’s got a trail for families that goes from the heights of KL Tower to the Perdana Botanical Gardens in the southwest, with plenty of buses and indoors attractions between to take the edge off of the occasional KL rainstorm.
Perdana Botanical Gardens: These expansive gardens feature lakes, lawns and gardens that’ll wow any hyperactive kiddos. For the adults, there’s also the Tugu Negara Memorial nearby.
Planetarium Negara: Kid-friendly science museum with a focus on space and astronomy.
Nature Trail
Estimated Time: 103 minutes
Despite being a city, Kuala Lumpur is home to a surprising number of green lungs that’ll help you destress from all the hustle and bustle of life.
Chill on a lawn, hike some sweaty trails or simply soak in all that greenery – Kuala Lumpur’s your staycation jungle to enjoy!
Highlights
KL Forest Eco Park: Well-paved trails navigate this little-known refuge for rare species. Make sure to try out their cool canopy walk!
Taman Tugu: Located just behind the famous Tugu Negara, this beginner-friendly park features five kilometers worth of hiking trails.
KL Bird Park: Huge bird park that allows their avian guests free-flight reign over most of its grounds. You’ll find peacocks, storks, hornbills and more here!
Can’t get enough of parks? Check out our our list of Japan’s Coolest National Parks!
Shopping Trail
Estimated Time: 46 minutes
Indulge in shopping sinnery at some of KL’s famous and not-so-famous malls and high streets!
If someone says money can’t buy happiness, then they clearly haven’t picked out a shockingly cheap shirt, eaten some greasy street food or splurged on a bougie bag at one of KL’s many shopping havens.
Highlights
Petaling Street: Shopping streets filled to bursting with hawker stalls offering delicious eats and tons of cheap goods to stretch your ringgit.
Sogo Kuala Lumpur: One of the city’s oldest malls, it’s still got an allure with its suite of high-end and luxury brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Burberry.
Central Market (Pasar Seni): Down-to-earth market with arts, food and handicrafts on offer. Features both permanent indoor stores and temporary weekend markets.
For pop culture fans, the otaku Mecca of Akihabara or the more accessible Klang Valley bundle stores might be more up your alley.
So, once you’re done with KL, where next? How about taking a detour to one of the many walkable cities out there like Chengdu, Vienna and Tokyo!
