Since my last article on 12 free things to do in Kuala Lumpur, which was in 2011, there have been many other new tourist attractions that have come up over the past few years.
Therefore, here is a list of new tourism attractions in Kuala Lumpur for anyone planning to explore this part of Malaysia.
You should also know that most of these attractions can be easily visited by walking or taking the trains around KL city and most likely in 2021, things will be better in terms of tourism in Malaysia.
I am sure you have covered most popular touristic spots here for those of you who have been to Kuala Lumpur or KL as it is locally called.
Therefore, here is a list of new tourism attractions in Kuala Lumpur for anyone planning to explore this part of Malaysia.
You should also know that most of these attractions can be easily visited by walking or taking the trains around KL city and most likely in 2021, things will be better in terms of tourism in Malaysia.
New Tourism Attractions in Kuala Lumpur
I am sure you have covered most popular touristic spots here for those of you who have been to Kuala Lumpur or KL as it is locally called.
But as time passes, more new tourist attractions have come up around KL, and the next time you drop by Kuala Lumpur, you can always visit some of these new places.
While some may say these are not new, they are in the last few years, and there are still people who have not experienced them. Below is a list of the new tourist attractions around Kuala Lumpur;
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| The Saloma Link Bridge against the Kuala Lumpur skyline. |
1. Saloma Link Bridge
This incredible bridge is only a 10-minute walk from the main KLCC area and is now the most popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur as of February 2020.
It is also best visited in the evenings just after sunset as the entire Saloma Link bridge is lit up with a dazzling display using LED lights.
One of the highlights is that the background from one end of the bridge shows the Petronas Twin Towers among some other skyscrapers, making a picture-perfect moment.
Saloma Link Bridge
Where: 10-minute walk from Petronas Twin Towers
Address: Jalan Saloma, off Jalan Ampang
Time To Spend: At least one to two hours
Walk: Accessible from the main KLCC area.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from anywhere in KL
Train Station: Kampung Bharu LRT Station
This incredible bridge is only a 10-minute walk from the main KLCC area and is now the most popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur as of February 2020.
It is also best visited in the evenings just after sunset as the entire Saloma Link bridge is lit up with a dazzling display using LED lights.
One of the highlights is that the background from one end of the bridge shows the Petronas Twin Towers among some other skyscrapers, making a picture-perfect moment.
Saloma Link Bridge
Where: 10-minute walk from Petronas Twin Towers
Address: Jalan Saloma, off Jalan Ampang
Time To Spend: At least one to two hours
Walk: Accessible from the main KLCC area.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from anywhere in KL
Train Station: Kampung Bharu LRT Station
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| The River of Life at night. |
2. River of Life
A 7-year project by the Malaysia government was initiated to transform the Klang River into a world-class river of life since 2012.
Now, the River of Life's main core area in KL is located near the Confluence of Rivers or near Masjid Jamek, where it is an amazing sight to see.
In the day, it is just another area of Kuala Lumpur, but there are some interesting murals done on the sides of the buildings here plus you can also get information about the River of Life.
At night, just after sunset, this place comes alive with a spectacular free river show. Visitors will gather by the main Lebuh Pasar Besar Bridge to watch the River of Life show.
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| The River of Life seen from the Lebuh Pasar Besar Bridge in the day. |
The night River of Life show may not be functional due to the CMCO in Kuala Lumpur. But on any normal day, a special 30-minute show which is now world-class rated.
The best time to catch this is when the sun goes down, and you can experience a spectacular light and mist show where the mist covers the rivers and best location to see this is from the Lebuh Pasar Bridge.
River of Life
Where: Behind Central Market, Confluence of Rivers or Masjid Jamek KL
Address: Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar
Time To Spend: At least one to two hours, day or night
Walk: Accessible from Old Kuala Lumpur
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from anywhere in KL
Train Station: Masjid Jamek Station
Address: Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar
Time To Spend: At least one to two hours, day or night
Walk: Accessible from Old Kuala Lumpur
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from anywhere in KL
Train Station: Masjid Jamek Station
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| The amazing rainbow staircase at Batu Caves, Selangor |
3. Rainbow Staircase Batu Caves
Since a major revamp and paint job done in August of 2018, one of Kuala Lumpur's top tourist attractions has been reborn, and this time around, they made world headlines too.
Batu Caves is no stranger when it comes to popular tourist spots in Malaysia, and has been for the last thirty years or more.
The 272-steps that lead up to the main cave temple underwent a beautiful rainbow paint job and is now probably one of the most photographed places in Kuala Lumpur.
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| The amazing rainbow stairs at Batu Caves. |
Just take a look at some of the photos here, and you will know why hoards of tourists and even locals are making their way here again.
Not only the staircase was painted, but the entire Batu Caves was also given a beautiful and colourful facelift, which includes the surrounding and even up at the cave temple.
Rainbow Staircase Batu Caves
Where: 20 to 30 minutes drive from KL City
Address: Batu Caves, Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor
Time To Spend: At least one to four hours
Walk: Not advisable to walk from KL.
Drive: Best to take a ride-hailing service from KL
Train Station: Batu Caves Station KC05 (From KL Sentral)
Not only the staircase was painted, but the entire Batu Caves was also given a beautiful and colourful facelift, which includes the surrounding and even up at the cave temple.
Rainbow Staircase Batu Caves
Where: 20 to 30 minutes drive from KL City
Address: Batu Caves, Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor
Time To Spend: At least one to four hours
Walk: Not advisable to walk from KL.
Drive: Best to take a ride-hailing service from KL
Train Station: Batu Caves Station KC05 (From KL Sentral)
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| Prankster Lane or Kwai Chai Hong in KL |
4. Kwai Chai Hong Petaling Street
This unique alley opened in early 2019 and is a part of Petaling street once a dead-end with really nothing much there.
Fortunately, they brought life into this alley for a local independent group by turning it into a beautiful tourist attraction that showcases street art mixed in with the local culture.
If you are in Petaling Street or Chinatown KL area, it is only a short walk from the main market street and takes you about five minutes to walk to Kwai Chai Hong or Prankster Lane.
This unique alley opened in early 2019 and is a part of Petaling street once a dead-end with really nothing much there.
Fortunately, they brought life into this alley for a local independent group by turning it into a beautiful tourist attraction that showcases street art mixed in with the local culture.
If you are in Petaling Street or Chinatown KL area, it is only a short walk from the main market street and takes you about five minutes to walk to Kwai Chai Hong or Prankster Lane.
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| Kwai Chai Hong is one of the latest tourist attractions in KL. |
The access is from the back lane of Lorong Panggung, where you can access from the south end of Jalan Petaling. However, you should know that they open only from 9.00 AM till around midnight.
Around the area here, you can also find some other interesting shop lots selling food and so on and it is recommended to spend an extra hour or more to explore this entire area.
Kwai Chai Hong Petaling Street
Where: Five minutes walk from the main Petaling Street
Address: Lorong Panggung, Kuala Lumpur
Time To Spend: Around 30 to 60 minutes
Walk: Anywhere from the older parts of KL.
Drive: Ride-hailing services or taxis from other parts of KL
Train Station: Pasar Seni MRT (SBK16) and Pasar Seni LRT Station (KJ14)
Kwai Chai Hong Petaling Street
Where: Five minutes walk from the main Petaling Street
Address: Lorong Panggung, Kuala Lumpur
Time To Spend: Around 30 to 60 minutes
Walk: Anywhere from the older parts of KL.
Drive: Ride-hailing services or taxis from other parts of KL
Train Station: Pasar Seni MRT (SBK16) and Pasar Seni LRT Station (KJ14)
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| The Exchange 106 skyscraper almost completed. Photo from APNews. |
5. Exchange 106 TRX Building
The latest skyscraper nicknamed TRX in the Tun Razak Exchange area is a 106-story building that is definitely one of the buildings to visit and take photographs in Kuala Lumpur.
A whopping total of 30 buildings will be built in this 70-acre massive site, including retail shopping, F&B, hotels, and commercial spaces.
Currently, the Exchange 106 Building is already opened, and people have been taking some beautiful photos, especially during sunset.
City lovers will find Exchange 106 an architectural marvel. They will possibly find the best photography angle regardless of whether it is a selfie, wefie or just a beautiful skyscraper shot.
Exchange 106 TRX
Where: Tun Razak Exchange, Jalan Tun Razak
Address: Persiaran TRX, 55188, Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur
Time To Spend: 30 minutes to one hour
Walk 15-minute walk from Bukit Bintang area.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from around KL
Train Station: MRT Tun Razak Exchange Station SBK20
The latest skyscraper nicknamed TRX in the Tun Razak Exchange area is a 106-story building that is definitely one of the buildings to visit and take photographs in Kuala Lumpur.
A whopping total of 30 buildings will be built in this 70-acre massive site, including retail shopping, F&B, hotels, and commercial spaces.
Currently, the Exchange 106 Building is already opened, and people have been taking some beautiful photos, especially during sunset.
City lovers will find Exchange 106 an architectural marvel. They will possibly find the best photography angle regardless of whether it is a selfie, wefie or just a beautiful skyscraper shot.
Exchange 106 TRX
Where: Tun Razak Exchange, Jalan Tun Razak
Address: Persiaran TRX, 55188, Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur
Time To Spend: 30 minutes to one hour
Walk 15-minute walk from Bukit Bintang area.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from around KL
Train Station: MRT Tun Razak Exchange Station SBK20
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| Soon to be Malaysia's tallest building is the Merdeka 118. Photo by TurnerConstruction. |
6. Merdeka 118 or PNB 118 Building
When this massive mega building is completed in 2021, it will be the talk of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and probably the world too.
And why? Because the PNB 118 is a 118-story, 644-meter (2,113 feet) mega skyscraper that will also be the tallest building in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and the fourth-tallest building in the world.
Now, who wouldn't want to visit this megastructure and take photos of this place? Already, people are taking and sharing photos of this architectural marvel of Kuala Lumpur.
When this massive mega building is completed in 2021, it will be the talk of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and probably the world too.
And why? Because the PNB 118 is a 118-story, 644-meter (2,113 feet) mega skyscraper that will also be the tallest building in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and the fourth-tallest building in the world.
Now, who wouldn't want to visit this megastructure and take photos of this place? Already, people are taking and sharing photos of this architectural marvel of Kuala Lumpur.
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| Merdeka 118 is seen from Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur. |
The building is nearing its completion and is scheduled to open somewhere in 2021 with the Park Hyatt Hotel and Resorts being of the main tenants.
Of course, there will be entertainment at the top of the skyscraper, and there will also be a restaurant on the 113th floor.
A multi-level observation deck will be located from the 114th to 117th floors, becoming one of the world's highest observation decks. So, are you excited about this now?
Of course, there will be entertainment at the top of the skyscraper, and there will also be a restaurant on the 113th floor.
A multi-level observation deck will be located from the 114th to 117th floors, becoming one of the world's highest observation decks. So, are you excited about this now?
Merdeka 118
Where: Near Merdeka Stadium around Petaling Street
Address: Cangkat Stadium, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Time To Spend: 30 minutes to one hour
Walk 10-minute walk from Jalan Petaling.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from around KL
Train Station: Merdeka MRT Station (SBK 17)
Where: Near Merdeka Stadium around Petaling Street
Address: Cangkat Stadium, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Time To Spend: 30 minutes to one hour
Walk 10-minute walk from Jalan Petaling.
Drive: Ride-hailing service or taxi from around KL
Train Station: Merdeka MRT Station (SBK 17)
Conclusion
My original list of 12 Free Things to do in Kuala Lumpur was made in 2011, and this is a brand new updated list done in November 2016 which is probably just the right timing for the year 2021.
Perhaps there are some other new attractions in Kuala Lumpur which have recently been introduced in the last couple of months, and if you know of them, please do share it here in the comment form.