Staying in Kuala Lumpur 

Malaysia's steamy capital is an often underrated Southeast Asian jewel. In many ways, 'KL' as it's affectionately known, is still a city growing into itself. Ultra-modern highrises sit cheek-by-jowl with traditional markets, rowdy street food strips, colonial-era buildings and Chinese-influenced shophouses. Much like the city itself, Kuala Lumpans are similarly diverse and eclectic - Malaysia's history is one of immigration and you'll find echoes of the country's past in Kuala Lumpur's architecture, food and subcultures.

In the districts surrounding the central business district, you'll find many of the city's top attractions including the renowned Petronas Towers and KLCC Park, the National Library, the National Gallery, and the Jalan Alor street food strip.

The world on a plate 

In Kuala Lumpur, you'll find what is probably the best example of the city's famed street food scene, the Jalan Alor food strip. Dining along the strip comes alive at night, so it's best to save your trip for dinner time. Located in Bukit Bintang, here you'll find everything from satay to dumplings and street food favourites from right across Asia. There are, of course, a few dishes you can't miss. Nasi Lemak is considered Malaysia's national dish - fragrant rice cooked in coconut cream and served with either fried fish or a chicken wing, sambal chilli sauce and peanuts, egg and cucumber slices. The Nasi Lemak, at Nasi Lemak Jalan Alor, is considered one of the city's best. Other must-try dishes include the chicken, beef and lamb satay from Restoran Wong Ah Wah, which is cooked to perfection.

KL's green heart

To the west Kuala Lumpur, you'll find KL's thriving green heart, the Perdana Botanical Garden and the KL Bird Park. The garden houses a colourful and mesmerising collection of native plants sectioned off into collections - the Hibiscus Park, the Sunken Garden, Herbarium, and Orchid Garden, just to name a few. You'll also meet some friendly four-legged locals at the onsite Deer Park.

Resting inside the borders of the botanic garden, the KL Bird Park is an eco-friendly fun day out for the whole family. Home to more than 3,000 endemic and overseas birds of approximately 200 different species, the 20-acre park includes a 'free fly' zone where birds wing above visitors.

Hunting for a bargain

Kuala Lumpur has a vibrant and exciting street market scene, and a stay in the city isn’t  complete without a day spent hunting for a bargain. The best street market in Kuala Lumpur for souvenirs and fashion is Petaling Street in Chinatown. It's also a great place to grab some lunch. Chow Kit Market is Kuala Lumpur's largest wet market. It is well worth a visit to take in the bustling atmosphere and to marvel at the wide variety of seafood, vegetables, local tropical fruits and spices on display. Just to the north of  Kuala Lumpur CBD, you'll find the Kampung Baru Sunday Market, a hub for KL's Malay community and an ideal place to pick up traditional Malay fashion such as sarongs, and songkoks. It's also a great place to chow down on delicious local Malay specialities.