Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Best Areas for Visitors

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s most versatile city and perfect for a weekend trip. There are endless things to see and do, and millions of tourists visit KL every year. Knowing where to stay in Kuala Lumpur can be challenging, especially if you’ve never been there before. The selection of hotels and hostels is large, and KL is quite spread out, so picking a neighbourhood can be tough.

Both Andy and I have spent time in KL on several occasions, both together and separately and have gotten to know the city quite well. This means we have a few clear favourite areas in KL where we think visitors should stay. By picking accommodation in these neighbourhoods, you’ll have a great home base from where you can explore the city and see and do everything on your itinerary.

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Which Area to Stay in Kuala Lumpur

Picking which area to stay in Kuala Lumpur depends very much on what type of city trip you are looking for. Are you a backpacker wanting to stay at a cheap party hostel? Or do you need a nice hotel with a great view?

The area you stay in will affect how you experience the city, and what might work for one traveller might be another’s worst nightmare. You also need to consider your budget. KL is not the cheapest city to stay in, so pick your hotel wisely. Some neighbourhoods are cheaper than others, and you might have to sacrifice a convenient location for a better price.

In the end, I’d say the most important thing to consider when picking a place to stay in KL is a good public transport connection. If your hotel or Airbnb has an LRT, MRT or Monorail stop close by, you’ll be good to go. Keep in mind that you’ll be more likely to actually go out and see the city if it’s quick and easy for you to get to places. If you’re staying somewhere far away from the city centre and it takes 45 minutes to get anywhere in rush hour, you’ll probably not be very motivated to go out.

Another important thing to consider is safety. I wouldn’t say KL is an unsafe city; however, there are definitely areas you should avoid staying in, especially if you’re travelling alone. In any case, you should avoid walking home alone late at night and use your common sense. You’ll feel a lot safer if you’re staying in a more populated area with lots of other tourists around.

Accommodation in Kuala Lumpur at a Glance

Kuala Lumpur has stays for every budget and style. As a rule of thumb, KLCC is best for skyline views and easy sightseeing, Bukit Bintang for shopping and nightlife, Chinatown for character and value, and KL Tower or Bukit Nanas for condo-style bases between the two. Pick somewhere close to an LRT or MRT stop and the city opens up without the traffic.

Use the map below to zoom into the areas above. I’ve added a mix of hotels and apartments so you can compare prices and locations side by side.

Where Are The Attractions in Kuala Lumpur?

One main thing that is likely to impact which neighbourhood you choose to stay in is what things you want to do in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the attractions are concentrated around Chinatown, Bukit Bintang and KLCC. Here you’ll find the most basic activities, such as the Petronas Towers, KLCC Park, Petaling Street and Jalan Alor.

However, for some attractions such as the Thean Hou Temple, the Batu Caves, Perdana Botanical Gardens, Taman Connaught night market or Brickfields, you’ll have to venture outside these areas. That’s okay, though, you can’t have it all!

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It’s best to set up your home base in the main neighbourhoods close to the city centre so you have the most important attractions within walking distance. That way, you can easily reach anything else you want to see with public transport or Grab.

How to Get Around Kuala Lumpur

By making sure you’re staying somewhere close to public transport, you’ll be able to explore Kuala Lumpur conveniently and on a budget. Even if you don’t plan on taking a bus or train, you should not rely on Grab or taxis exclusively. During rush hours, you could be stuck in traffic for hours, unable to go anywhere. Plan ahead and make sure you can take a train in such a situation without having to walk too far to the next station.

Another important factor in your decision of where to stay in Kuala Lumpur is how you plan to get around. The public transport system in KL is very reliable and cheap. Especially the LRT, MRT or Monorail trains are a great way to get around the city.

While there are many public buses, the most popular option amongst tourists is the GoKL bus system. These buses are free on core routes, with some routes charging RM1 for non-Malaysians. They’ll take you to the most important parts of the city with many attractions on the way.

If you’re not a fan of public transport or you’re travelling in a larger group, you should consider Grab. This is a service similar to Uber and is often far cheaper than a regular taxi. It’s quick and convenient, and a great way to see the city.

By making sure you’re staying somewhere close to public transport, you’ll be able to explore Kuala Lumpur conveniently and on a budget. Even if you don’t plan on taking a bus or train, you should not rely on Grab or taxis exclusively. During rush hours, you could be stuck in traffic for hours, unable to go anywhere. Plan ahead and make sure you can take a train in such a situation without having to walk too far to the next station.

Our Favourite Areas in Kuala Lumpur

The four neighbourhoods below are my absolute favourite places to stay in Kuala Lumpur. They all have their pros and cons, but if you pick one of them, you can’t really go wrong. Prioritise hotels in these four areas, preferably close to a train stop. That way, you’ll make the most of your trip to Kuala Lumpur.

KLCC

KLCC stands for Kuala Lumpur City Centre and is often considered the heart of the city. This is the location of the famous Petronas Towers with the KLCC Park at their feet. KLCC can be considered the financial area of Kuala Lumpur with lots of shiny skyscrapers and fancy hotels. That doesn’t mean that it’s all really expensive, though. There are plenty of Airbnbs around with amazing views and reasonable prices.

You can walk to the Petronas Towers in under 12 minutes and have a great public transport link. I love this corner of the neighbourhood because of its amazing selection of cheap places to eat. Click the link for a complete list of incredibly cheap restaurants and food courts in the area.

KLCC is great because you’ll always be able to find amazing food for low prices, but you have to consider that it is not very close to any nightlife. You’ll have to take a Grab to Chinatown or Bukit Bintang for that, which can be a downside if you’re planning to go out frequently. However, for sightseeing, it’s an amazing home base to explore the city.

BOOK KLCC ACCOMMODATION HERE

KL Tower/Bukit Nanas

This area is not an official neighbourhood and kind of blends into KLCC and Bukit Bintang. But I want to mention it because the area around the KL Tower and Bukit Nanas (also where you’ll find KL Forest Eco Park) has some amazing Airbnb and hotel options. Prices are slightly lower than at KLCC; however, the location is just as good if you stick close to the Bukit Nanas Monorail or Dang Wangi LRT stop. There are loads of high-rise buildings that seem to almost exclusively consist of Airbnb apartments, which is perfect for budget travellers.

You can reach both Bukit Bintang and KLCC on foot in around 15 minutes, which gives you a lot of freedom when exploring the city. The KL Tower area doesn’t have the high price tags that KLCC and Bukit Bintang have, but it still offers a great experience.

BOOK BUKIT NANAS ACCOMMODATION HERE

Make sure you pick a place close to a train stop. If you’re having to walk 15 minutes just to get to the LRT, you’ll be less likely to make the effort. While it’s possible to walk to some bars in Bukit Bintang from here, it will take a while and might not be ideal, especially late at night. You’ll most likely have to take a Grab.

Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is a great area for nightlife and shopping. You’ll find a good selection of Kuala Lumpur’s secret bars here, as well as a crazy amount of shopping malls. There is also Jalan Alor, the popular food street, which comes alive every evening. Close by, you’ll find Changkat with its loud bars and cheap happy hour drinks. Perfect for anyone looking for a good night out.

Bukit Bintang has lots of public transport and is a great place to stay if you want a central location with plenty of sightseeing options nearby. However, its accommodation prices are quite expensive and lower-cost hotels in the area usually have a pretty bad reputation.

Stay in Bukit Bintang if you like to be in the centre of all the action and aren’t too concerned about your budget.

BOOK BUKIT BINTANG ACCOMMODATION

Chinatown

This is the best place to stay as a backpacker. In Chinatown, you’ll find most of Kuala Lumpur’s hostels and great options for nightlife and restaurants, just like Bukit Bintang Chinatown has a great selection of speakeasies and secret bars.

BOOK CHINATOWN ACCOMMODATION

With Petaling Street close by, you’ll be at the centre of all the busy markets and surrounded by lots of other tourists. Accommodation prices are decently low in this area, but you won’t find much luxury. Chinatown is loud and cramped, but you’ll have a lot to see within walking distance. Besides the many markets, you can visit Merdeka Square, multiple museums, the River of Life walk, or a good selection of temples.

Pasar Seni station is right next to Petaling Street. This is a great transport hub to have at your doorstep with connections to almost everywhere in the city, including a direct train to the Batu Caves.

You could stay in Chinatown if you’re travelling on a budget and would like to connect with other travellers.

Choosing where to stay in Kuala Lumpur is about matching your plans to each area. We recommend KLCC for easy sightseeing, Bukit Bintang for shopping and street food, and Chinatown for budget-friendly stays with atmosphere.

Pick somewhere within a short walk of an LRT or MRT station and you’ll make the most of your time.

Which area would you most like to stay in in Kuala Lumpur? Or if you’ve been, which neighbourhood would you recommend as the best base for visitors?

Planning Your Trip to Kuala Lumpur?

Planning your trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia? Here are some of our recommended useful resources to help you have the best time possible.

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