Controversial opinion: Kuala Lumpur might be the best stopover city in Asia. It’s the natural hub if you’re heading to Borneo, and is an underrated jumping off point for Maldives-bound travellers. Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia both call KL home, so flights onward tend to be plentiful and well-priced.
This post may contain affiliate links. Bookings or purchases through these links generate a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Table of Contents
Why Kuala Lumpur is a good stopover city
Kuala Lumpur is so underratedly close to other destinations. I always thought Bangkok and Singapore were better hubs, but KL is so well connected.
For example, Kuala Lumpur has some of the cheapest flights to the Maldives. You might expect it to be India or Sri Lanka, but no. I once saw 300 NZD return flights from KL to Male, in the Maldives. I foolishly didn’t jump on the opportunity, but that’s not the point.
If you’re heading somewhere like Borneo, you’ll almost definitely transit through Kuala Lumpur — so you should make the most of it and leave the airport if you can.
Where is Kuala Lumpur?
KL (Kuala Lumpur) is the capital city of Malaysia in the heart of Southeast Asia. It’s well-connected to the rest of Asia: China, Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan are all just a short flight away.
It’s Asia’s meeting point in more ways than one, where Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures have blended together to create one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the world. Here’s where Kuala Lumpur is on a map and all the direct flight routes connecting it to Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.
Map from Flight Connections
What to do in Kuala Lumpur on a stopover
You definitely won’t run out of activities in this sprawling city. The restaurant scene alone is enough to keep you busy for days. But if you’re considering a stopover, here’s some inspo.
Essentials for any first-time trip to Kuala Lumpur
- Batu Caves: The 250+ rainbow steps and the towering Murugan statue are a must-see, and the cave itself is otherworldly. Watch out for the cheeky monkeys!
- Petronas Twin Towers: Worth doing at least once, ideally at dusk so you get both the daytime cityscape and the lit-up skyline. Book the sky bridge tickets in advance online.
- Merdeka Square: A quick, free stop with real historical weight. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building looks incredible when lit at night. Pair it with a walk to the nearby Masjid Jamek mosque.
- Petaling Street/Chinatown: Good for an evening wander and some cheap food. Touristy, yes, but the atmosphere is genuinely fun. Bargain hard on anything you actually want to buy.
Batu Caves
If you have more time on your layover in KL
- Thean Hou Temple: A six-tiered Chinese temple dedicated to three goddessed and perched neatly on a hill. It’s less crowded than Batu Caves and the city views are the cherry on top.
- Islamic Art Museum of Malaysia: Visit for an incredible collection of textiles, jewellery, and architecture models from across the Islamic world. It’s also air-conditioned bliss for a break from the heat. It’s right next to the Perdana Botanical Gardens and KL Bird Park. You could even fit all three into one morning.
- KL Bird Park: One of the world’s largest free-flight aviaries. Walk through it and have hornbills and peacocks basically at arm’s length. Catch a bird show if the timing works.
- Forest Eco Park Canopy Walk: A small patch of ancient rainforest right in the city centre, just a short walk from the towers. The canopy walkway is fun and it’s a nice 1-hour break from the city chaos.
- Bukit Bintang Food Street: Visit after dark for international food, seafood grills, and cold beer in an energetic setting. It runs until 2 AM if you’re in need of a late night snack.
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
You’ll find budget hostels for around 30 MYR and mid-range hotels for 100 MYR. But it’s a world-class city, so if you’re looking to splash out on some luxe accom, KL’s got you.
- Budget hostel: Mingle Highstreet
- Mid-range hotel: Majestic Suites near KLCC
- Higher-mid-range hotel: Arte by Thomas Chan
- Luxury hotel: Hyatt Regency Midtown
- Coliving: BeLive Co-Living
How long should I stay in Kuala Lumpur?
You can do/see a lot in a few days and the public transport system is pretty good. So even if you have a short 1-to-5-day layover in Kuala Lumpur, you can achieve loads of stuff. But there are also some coliving and coworking spaces for longer stays.
A long list of nationalities get a 90-day Visa on Arrival for Malaysia. So it’s pretty easy to stick around if you want to make it a base for exploring more of Asia and beyond. And if that wasn’t good enough, there’s also tons of affordable accommodation!
Travel essentials for Malaysia
📶 eSIM
Stay connected with internet access from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
💸 TravelSpend
Track your budget easily (ft. a colourful doughnut chart with stats).
✈️ Seats.aero
Find and book flights with your points for Aeroplan, Qantas, Delta & more.
💳 Wise or Revolut
Compare the best multicurrency cards for spending MYR like a local.
Getting to KL with Malaysia Airlines
We flew Malaysia Airlines from Phuket to Kuching, Borneo via Kuala Lumpur and it was great from start to finish.
I don’t think Malaysia Airlines gets the credit it deserves. That said, SkyTrax gives Malaysia Airlines great star ratings across the board and considers it a 4-star airline (of the max 5). It holds a 7-star (of 7) safety rating from AirlineRatings.com. So it’s well-rated, but I feel like no one talks about it.
We had lots of leg room, comfortable seats, decent food, great service, and a whopping 35kgs of baggage allowance. 10/10.
Malaysia Airlines vs competitors
There are tons of airlines you can use to get around Asia, so I can’t compare them all. But here’s a snapshot of what you can expect with Malaysia Airlines compared to Singapore Airlines and popular budget airlines like AirAsia and Scoot.
| Malaysia Airlines | Singapore Airlines | AirAsia / Scoot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checked baggage | 35kg included | 25–30kg included | Usually paid add-on |
| Meals | Included | Included | Paid or not available |
| Legroom | Generous for economy | Generous for economy | Tight but that's budget life |
| Service | Full-service | Full-service | Minimal |
| Base fare | Mid-range | Premium | Low |
While AirAsia is actually one of the better budget airlines out there, I have beef with the whole concept of “budget” airlines. Once you do the math and add bags (unless you’re somehow just going to another country with your purse), select a seat, and buy a gross coffee onboard, the price is basically the same.
Whenever I can, I opt for the real airlines. I had a nightmare experience in Canada with Flair Airlines that took three whole years to get compensation for. Never again.
Singapore is another hotspot for an amazing layover. And I’ve got the perfect itinerary if you’re there for under 24 hours.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →