10 Free Kid Friendly Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a large and frenetic city that in many ways is geared toward shopping and business tourism, yet there are still tons of kid-friendly activities on offer. Secondly, Kuala Lumpur can be quite an expensive place to visit which is often exacerbated when travelling as a family – so this quick guide to free kid-friendly things to do in Kuala Lumpur will hopefully make your life a lot easier and cheaper.
- Take a Walk In The Park
The KLCC park is a 50 acre park in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. With its ample seating area, much greenery and open water, it is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur. It’s a place where you can sit and rest next to various water features as well as keep fit with its 1.3km jogging track. It is definitely one of the top free things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
To get there you can take the undercover air-conditioned walkway from Bintang or jump on the metro to KLCC station.
- Admire the Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers used to be the tallest buildings in the world, however it has recently been overtaken by Tapei 101. Going into the tower itself is pretty costly, at around 80 MYR but admiring it from the outside with the thwarts of other tourists taking selfies, is a free experience that is also a great place to sit down with a bubble tea and people watch. The towers are impressive by day, but even better when they are illuminated at night. In terms of getting to Petronas Towers, they are located right next to KLCC Park, which again, is stunning at night due to the free water show on offer.
If you’re looking for a more romantic and more upmarket way to admire the towers (without the kids) going to the Heli Bar (a bar on a helicopter paid with wonderful views of KL) and buying a cocktail to enjoy the Kuala Lumpur skyline, particularly at sunset, is a great way to spend an evening.
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park
Admittedly, this one isn’t free, but it’s such a good family day out it’s worth including. It’s a little way out of the city centre in a suburb called Petaling Jaya, but is worth the journey as it combines a water park, a wildlife park, and a more extreme park with theme park rides. It even has a zoo. In short, this is the place to splash out on with your family – as let’s face it, kids will “put up” with sightseeing but what they really want is a kid friendly adventure.
- Watch The KLCC Lake Symphony Show
In front of the Petronas Towers, and the shopping mall of Suria KLCC, each evening at 7pm the fountains turn to life with colour as they dance to the sound of music. This is a very well choreographed show with a wonderful family friendly atmosphere, with people of all cultures, gathering around on the steps around the lake – just make sure not to stand too close to the edge though, as you might end up getting soaked as the fountains lean toward the crowd.
- Perdana Botanical Gardens
The Perdana Botanical Gardens is a beautiful park of 200 acres, surrounding a lake. This meticulously landscaped area is great for cycling, jogging, or just wandering around. It has a number if WiFI hotspot points and plenty of private areas to sit with your family and enjoy a picnic. One of the best ways to enjoy, yet at the same time, escape the heat is to find a shady spot with a picnic blanket, load up Netflix, and all watch a film together. Within the grounds you’ll find an observatory, a small deer park, botanical gardens, a children’s play area and a bird park.
There are are a number of sheltered areas that make for a great ‘den’ environment when the heavens open and the rain pours down – it’s a great adventure to make a dash for one of these shelters and watch the lightning storm that often ensues with such heavy rain.
In terms of getting there, it’s a 10 minute walk from Chinatown.
- Mosque Masjid Jamek
If you’re looking for a bit more culture, Masjid Jamek Mosque is an important landmark within Kuala Lumpur that has an Indo Saracenic design and is surrounded by palm trees – making it an idea backdrop for photography. There’s an obvious need to dress modestly and to remove your shoes before entering. The mosque is closed to tourists during certain times to allow for prayers – and whilst it is a tourist-friendly religious site, it’s probably not somewhere to take unruly kids.
- Free Walking Tour
The free walking tours in Kuala Lumpur are run by the city council. If you’re interested in doing a city tour, log on to visitkl.gov.my to book your place. The walk covers the main areas of Kuala Lumpur and provides plenty of information about the history of the city – and it’s a great way to meet people of all different cultures.
- Batu Caves
A short train ride out the city and you’ll find yourself at the iconic Batu Caves, which are formed from limestone and home to one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside of India. You’ll find plenty of monkeys, pigeons, and even bats throughout the cave… indeed, you could find yourself surrounded by monkeys intrigued by the snacks you might be enjoying.
Technically, you can enjoy a free and engaging half-day out at the caves without having to pay a penny – but if you want to explore inside the cave proper, you’ll require a guided tour which is perhaps a little pricey for what it is.
- I Love KL
If you’re into social media, then the photo opportunity next to the I Love KL sign is a must. You’ll find this next to the KL City Gallery.
- Canopy Walkway
In the treetops of the KL Forest Eco Park, you’ll find a set of rope bridges that take you along the tree line. It’s not exactly in the jungle… it’s more in a city park, but it’s a great free thing to do with the family that provides an amazing contrast of the nine hectares of natural forest with the skyscraper lined skyline in the distance.
