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Visiting Malaysia with kids is a great way to experience big cities, lush rainforests, and native traditions, all in one country.
If you’re looking to stretch your vacation funds, it’s easy to plan a budget family vacation in Malaysia.
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- Where is Malaysia?
- What's the weather like in Malaysia?
- How to Travel to Malaysia with Kids
- Transportation To and From KLIA
- Transportation Around KL
- Kuala Lumpur with Kids
- Best Things to Do in KL with Kids (KLCC Area)
- Kuala Lumpur in One Day
- Kuala Lumpur Itinerary for 2 Days
- Other Things to Do in Malaysia with Kids
- Where to Stay in KL with Kids
- Where to Eat in KL
- The Longest Day Ever
- Until Next Time, Malaysia!
Where is Malaysia?
Malaysia is a great place to visit in Southeast Asia and is split into two parts. Peninsular Malaysia, or West Malaysia, is connected to Thailand, and is just north of Singapore. East Malaysia is located on the island of Borneo, in the South China Sea.
Kuala Lumpur, also known as KL, is the capital of Malaysia, and is on the Malay Peninsula.
When planning your Malaysia vacation, visiting both parts of Malaysia is a must.
What’s the weather like in Malaysia?
Malaysia, whether you’re talking about Peninsular Malaysia or East Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo), sits just north of the equator. As such, the weather year-round doesn’t change much.
Average temperatures range from the mid-70s°F to the low 90s°F. Add to that a steady dose of precipitation, and you can imagine what the weather feels like in Malaysia (read: hot and humid). So, the best time to go to Malaysia is: anytime!!!!!
Plan ahead for purchasing light-weight moisture-wicking clothing. It’s one big way you can be better prepared for the weather in Malaysia. We’ve got some great ideas at our Amazon shop, as well as all your packing needs on our Ultimate Packing List.
How to Travel to Malaysia with Kids
Kuala Lumpur International Airport, or KLIA, is the main gateway into Malaysia. KLIA is a major international airport. From there, you will find many options for air transportation to all other parts of Malaysia, including Borneo.
Flight time between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching (on the island of Borneo) is 1 hour, 45 minutes. Flight time between Singapore and Kuching is 1 hour, 25 minutes. Malaysia Airlines serves a full meal on these flights, with special requests available, such as child meals. Check out our in-flight meal from Singapore to Kuching.
Interesting Note: From Kuching to KL, some people were not eating their meals, and the flight attendants were handing out special bags for carrying the food off the plane. It turns out they were observing the Ramadan fast and were saving their food for later.
There are also various bus, train, and ferry options, from neighboring Singapore and Thailand.
Transportation To and From KLIA
KL proper is a ways away from the airport. One of the fastest ways for getting to and from Kuala Lumpur is to take the KLIA Ekspres (Express) train into the city. KLIA Ekspres considers themselves “the fastest airport transfer into Kuala Lumpur,” at around 28 minutes.
The KLIA Ekspres train will transport you between KLIA (the airport) and the KL Sentral station. KL Sentral is the main hub for transportation all over the greater KL area, as well as into Thailand and Singapore.
Transportation Around KL
KL has a network of train lines that makes it easy for getting around Kuala Lumpur. There is also an extensive network of bus services, but we found that the trains, combined with walking, worked best for our family.
Taxis are available, but ride-sharing is prominent as well, with Grab (think Uber) being the vendor of choice in all parts of Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur with Kids
In preparing for your family trip visiting Malaysia with kids, we’ll first explore visiting Kuala Lumpur with kids.
Our home base in KL was the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, or KLCC, area. KLCC is easily accessible from the KL Sentral station, having it’s own stop on one of the LRT train lines. At KL Sentral, just change trains and head to the KLCC station.
KL is a major metropolitan city with lots to do, and KLCC (including a huge shopping mall) is right in the middle of it all. The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are there, as well as many other attractions that draw adults and kids alike.
You will find it easy to communicate in English. However, at least learning a few phrases in Malay will bring a smile to both you and the recipient. “Selamat pagi” is “good morning,” and “terima kasih” is “thank you.”
Best Things to Do in KL with Kids (KLCC Area)
There are so many things to do in Kuala Lumpur with kids, but our focus here is on the area around KLCC.
Petronas Twin Towers
I’ll go into more detail a little later in this article, but you can’t miss the Petronas Twin Towers when you’re in the vicinity of KLCC. They dominate the skyline.
KLCC Park Playground & Children’s Wading Pool
The KLCC Park playground is the biggest childrens’ playground I have ever seen and is one of the best places for kids in KL. The KLCC Playground is actually more like several playground structures in one area!
Our girls were very active on our trip to Malaysia and Singapore (all of us were!), but they missed playing at playgrounds. So, we went to the huge one at KLCC Park a few times while in KL.
There is also a KLCC water play area, which has a huge kids wading pool/fountain area (a perfect place for the kids the cool off). Per the posted guidelines, the “pool is open to children under the age of 12 years only.” It’s definitely fun for the older kids, too!
Parents and guardians must supervise their children at all times, whether young children or older. However, parents or guardians are not allowed to wear swimsuits.
Also, no footwear is allowed in the pool. We actually saw one dad get busted by a pool monitor for wearing tennies and standing too close to the water area.
These, and the other posted guidelines, are heavily policed by pool monitors.
KLCC Water & Light Show
At night, the KLCC area lights up. The Petronas Twin Towers light up the night sky, while on the ground, a water and light show provides a colorful spectacle.
Lake Symphony is a man-made lake covering 10,000 square meters of KLCC Park.
Aquaria KLCC
Aquaria KLCC is an aquarium that boasts over 5,000 land and sea creatures in its space. Ticket prices are quite affordable at around $12.00 USD for adults and $10.00 USD for children ages 3-12.
Kuala Lumpur in One Day
Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge & Observation Deck
While it’s great to view the Petronas Twin Towers from the ground, it’s even better to go inside and experience the Skybridge and Observation Deck.
Tickets are available for purchase online. However, if your preferred date and time is not available online, you may also purchase tickets at the Petronas Twin Towers Ticketing Counter, on the Concourse Level. This was the case for us. As a result, on the date of our visit, my husband got up early (Thank you!) and was first in line to get tickets for our preferred time slot.
Going inside the towers was one of the activities we were really looking forward to. Each tower is 88 stories high! Once inside and headed up the elevator, however, the first stop is the Skybridge.
The Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge is situated at Levels 41 and 42. When you arrive at the Skybridge, you will be given a short period of time to take in the view from both sides of the Skybridge, and of course, take some pictures!
After visiting the Skybridge, you will get back on an elevator and head up to the Observation Deck on the 86th Floor! There, besides even more breathtaking views, you will find a variety of interactive exhibits, including the history of the towers and even digital games.
Chinatown & Central Market
Take the train to KL’s Chinatown, for a stroll down Petaling Street. Perhaps try your hand at bargaining.
Purchase some local produce from a vendor. Visiting Malaysia with kids can be a great way to try new things!
Have you heard of mangosteen? It is a fruit native to Southeast Asia. The tough outer rind is difficult to cut through, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Have you ever tried mangosteen????? Click To TweetNOTE: Take care when you’re cutting into a mangosteen. Besides the toughness of the rind, it’s coloring can also stain things that you might not want stained!
Once inside, you will find the edible part of the fruit. It is formed into sections, like citrus fruits. Each section may have a seed the size and shape of an almond. And, what does the fruit taste like? It’s mostly sweet, with a bit of zip, also like many citrus fruits.
Keep walking to KL’s Central Market. You will find many options for lunch and dessert (see the “Where to Eat in KL” section below).
Cool Off in the Pool
Given the temperature and humidity in KL, it might be a good idea to go for a swim in the afternoon. The pool at our preferred family accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, Ascott Kuala Lumpur, is located on the 22nd Floor! It’s fabulous and just what the family needed for an afternoon cool off.
Kuala Lumpur Itinerary for 2 Days
Royal Selangor Visitor Centre
Slightly off the beaten path is the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. Conveniently, they have a free shuttle that stops at a variety of hotels in KL. They’ll pick you up, take you to the Visitor Centre, and take you back to your hotel!
What is Royal Selangor, and why would one want to visit their Visitor Centre? Good question!
Royal Selangor is a Malaysian pewter company, known the world over. Once upon a time, Malaysia was the world’s largest producer of tin, which is the main ingredient in the production of pewter. Over time, Royal Selangor has risen to the top in the art of pewter crafting. On a visit to Malaysia in 2005, I purchased several Royal Selangor items, and they are still some of my favorite souvenirs to this day.
The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is a lovely facility. It includes a museum, factory, hands-on pewter activities, store, and cafe.
A scavenger hunt is provided for kids, to help keep them engaged in the docent-led tour. Interactive exhibits, including the “chamber of chimes,” are also fun to experience.
There are a couple workshops available, for an additional fee. We chose to participate in the “School of Hard Knocks,” where we each pounded out our very own pewter dish, also engraved with our initials.
You even get to keep the branded apron! The cost per person was around $16.00 USD, and it was a fun experience for all.
We ate lunch at the café there, and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. While we waited for our food, we practiced the polite way to point in Malaysia. It’s all thumbs!
For as touristy as it could be, my husband and I agree that the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre was really a nice mix of everything & a good experience. Mr. Kwan was our shuttle driver both ways & was the nicest man! We heard a lot of American music from the 80s & 90s in Malaysia. The shuttle rides were no exception…hehe. We also heard a catchy radio commercial for one of Malaysia’s favorite food dishes…chicken rice!
Berjaya Times Square
Upon returning to your lodging, head over to Berjaya Times Square. It is another huge shopping & entertainment complex, with even an indoor theme park. But, we really just went to see the Grand Musical Staircase. It is supposedly the first motion-sensor grand musical staircase.
Other Things to Do in Malaysia with Kids
When you’re looking for the best things to do in Malaysia with kids, there are, of course, many other places to visit in Malaysia with family. One or two days in Kuala Lumpur is just scratching the surface. Here’s a list of options:
- Batu Caves
- Menara KL Tower
- Perhentian Islands
- Penang
- Cameron Highlands
- Johor Bahru (just north of Singapore)
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park (including a water park, water slides, amusement park, wildlife park, scream park, extreme park, and more!)
Borneo
We highly recommend visiting the tropical island of Borneo, where East Malaysia is located. First off, it’s just fun to say you’ve been to Borneo! Beyond that, the people of Kuching are lovely, and exploring a tropical rainforest is fantastic.
Check out these posts about the beautiful island of Borneo:
- 9 Best Things to Do in Kuching Malaysia with Kids
- Top Things to Do in Sarawak Beyond Kuching
- Saloma Villagestay is Authentic Borneo (Day Trip Review)
- Gawai Dayak
- Best Place to Stay in Kuching
Where to Stay in KL with Kids
KL has a ton of lodging options, and we wanted lodging in the middle of it all, which means KLCC.
Family-size accommodations are also important to us, and we found a big winner in KL.
Semi-Budget Option: Ascott Kuala Lumpur
For around $125 USD per night, you can get a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,300 square foot, condo.
The Ascott Kuala Lumpur is an amazing family room hotel just a short walk from KLCC.
This semi-budget option is virtually right across the street from the luxury option, which is…
Luxury Option: Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
For a similarly sized 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment, it will cost you around $375 USD per night at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.
One of my favorite things about the MOKL is their infinity-edge pool that looks out over the treetops of KLCC Park! They also have a fabulous buffet restaurant that you might want to check out for breakfast one day (more on that below).
Where to Eat in KL
Malaysian food has so many ethnic influences that translate to the variety of foods that you can find. Malay, Chinese, Indian, and even…British! Eating in Kuala Lumpur is a culinary treat, with so much delicious food.
Some of our best food favorites are:
- char kway teow
- naan
- kaya toast
- roti
- durian (gotta say you’ve at least tried it!)
- mangosteen
Grocery Shopping at Suria KLCC Mall
Inside the Suria KLCC mall is a large grocery store, Cold Storage. We bought a variety of breakfast cereals, juice, and coffee for one morning, and we ate in the comfort of our spacious (and air-conditioned) hotel room.
Although prices in Malaysia are usually quite reasonable, grocery shopping for at least one meal can definitely save on your food budget, which is, of course, semi-budget travel friendly!
Suria KLCC Food Court
Also inside Suria KLCC mall is a large food court. It will serve you well for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks.
Our general rule when traveling is not to eat at a place where we can eat at home & not to eat our “normal” cuisine. So, even though the Suria KLCC mall has Chili’s, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Nathan’s Hotdogs, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Baskin-Robbins, and Dunkin,’ we went for something different.
After not having kaya toast since we had been in Singapore, my husband walked over to the KLCC Food Court from our hotel and bought breakfast at Old Town White Coffee. He brought it back to our hotel, where we again ate in the comfort of the full dining area in our room.
We also had dinner one evening at the Suria KLCC food court. We arrived at the food court right near sundown. The food lines were long, but we didn’t have to wait too long to get our food.
After that, we began walking around the food court, looking for a place to sit. We walked around endlessly, and there was not one table available in the entire food court. And further, no one seemed to even be close to finishing their meal. In fact, they hadn’t even begun eating their meal.
We happened to be in KL during Ramadan. Consequently, all tables were full, with people waiting for sundown, so they could begin their meal.
After walking around endlessly, looking for a place to sit & eat, we found 2 lonely chairs without a table. With younger daughter on one chair and the food on the other, we made due.
Best Buffet Breakfast in KL
Whether or not you’re staying at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, you can eat at their restaurants. One of said restaurants, Mosaic, has the absolute best buffet breakfast in Kuala Lumpur.
While we didn’t stay at the Mandarin Oriental KL this time, we did have breakfast there on the day we headed back to the U.S. I have never seen a more extensive buffet in all my life!
Check out this video for a sneak peek!
Durian Durian KLCC
A certain kind of rite of passage when visiting Malaysia is to try some durian. It is called the “king of fruits.” It is smelly (so much so that it’s not allowed on public transportation or inside hotels), and it is a revered delicacy in these parts.
Our older daughter had been preparing herself to try durian for weeks leading up to our trip. Surprisingly, she held her nose, took a bite, and eventually let go of her nose & ate some more! And then my husband, who famously will eat just about anything (stinky tofu/chou dofu anyone?), had a little bit of trouble with it.
I have to admit that these “durian crepes” definitely make the fruit more palatable. Durian combined with some sort of sweetened whipped cream and folded into a crepe is the way to go. Even with this preparation, however, I was still tasting durian a couple hours later. But, have I tried durian? YES…yes, I have!
Have you ever tried durian?!?!? Click To Tweet
Kuala Lumpur Central Market
Besides a delicious stir fried dish (not pictured), we completed our lunch with this “ice floss,” a fantastic treat to cool us off.
Gravy Baby
Okay, we ate dinner here twice! It was within walking distance of our hotel. It was a Yelp find…a British meat pie place, right in the heart of KL! So, even though this restaurant didn’t serve SE Asian/local fare, it was still something that we can’t find near where we live.
The steak & ale pie, mash, mushy peas, and beans were just too tasty! And pavlova for dessert!!!!!
The Longest Day Ever
And, just like that, the trip to Malaysia with kids is over. If you’re traveling back to the U.S., you might be in for what I call “the longest day ever known to mankind.”
Why’s this? Because your day will last longer than 24 hours!
Have you ever experienced a day that lasted longer than 24 hours?!?!? Click To TweetOur trip home consisted of flying for more than 15 hours, with a 4+ hour layover in between, and catching a shuttle to our house…all on the same calendar day. That’s what a 15 hour time difference will do. That day we “lost” flying over here? We got it back! And it all happened on a particular Tuesday…the longest Tuesday ever known to mankind!
This timeline started right after we had that amazing buffet breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental KL’s Mosaic Restaurant, so we had already been up for several hours! By the time we made it to Taipei, I had already been up for almost 16 hours! Here’s the detail of our travel time:
- 28 hours & 20 minutes = time between leaving our lodging in KL & pulling into our driveway
- Time from Hotel to Airport, Check-In, & Wait for Flight in KL = 4 hours, 47 minutes
- Flight from KL to Taipei = 4 hours, 17 minutes
- Wait for Flight in Taipei = 4 hours, 43 minutes
- Flight from Taipei to LAX = 11 hours, 15 minutes
- Customs & Waiting = 1 hour, 50 minutes
- Time from Airport to Home = 1 hour, 28 minutes
- TOTAL = 28 hours, 20 minutes
This is what The Amazing Race dreams are made of, people!
Until Next Time, Malaysia!
I don’t often cry when returning home from a trip. Visiting Malaysia was different.
After over a year of planning for the trip, and being thankful to the Lord for keeping us safe the whole time, my emotions kicked in.
Sometimes a trip just gets you in a certain way. Malaysia got me. After getting the kids in bed, I had a good cry. Of course, we did arrive home at exactly 12:01 a.m., after driving from LAX, after a 28 hour and 20 minute travel “day,” so I may also have been tired. But, I digress.
Here are a few other things I learned from traveling to Malaysia with kids:
- Kids are resilient.
- Kids often love to explore and try new things, especially if you are there to encourage them.
- Keeping the whole family hydrated is a must in the heat and humidity. Drink your water!
- Applying bug spray every day is also a must. Here’s a link to the one we use.
And some of the things I realized upon returning home:
- Weather = One of the first things we noticed after arriving back at LAX was how “chilly” (68°F) & un-tropically-humid it was!
- Hair = I did not use hair product on the entire trip! I realized the very first day that my hair would deal better with the humidity by being as dry as possible!
- Here’s a list of many of the useful items we took with us: Items to Pack for SE Asia
- Check out our trip Recap & how our Malaria Meds worked!
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Have you ever been to Malaysia with kids? Please share in the comments below!
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