If you’re planning a trip to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, I’m sure you’re wondering where to stay in Kuala Lumpur? Kuala Lumpur is an interesting city with a mix of modern and traditional, and of course, it’s many cultures of Malay, Chinese and Indian, amongst others. Each neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur reveals something different. After two trips to KL and most recently, spending one month in Kuala Lumpur, we have put together our Kuala Lumpur Accommodation Guide to help you pick the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for you. This includes all of our favourite neighbourhoods and the best hotels in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Contents
Where To Stay In Kuala Lumpur? Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Guide
How Long To Stay In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia?
Booking Accommodation In Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur Accommodation Guides
- Absolute Splurge: The Best Hotels In Kuala Lumpur
- Luxury For Less: The Best Luxury Hotels In Kuala Lumpur
- Hotels In Kuala Lumpur Under $100/night
Where To Stay In KL Video
Where To Stay In Kuala Lumpur? Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Guide
The main areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur include the Golden Triangle, which consists of KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) and Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, the Heritage area and KL Sentral/Little India/Brickfields. All of these neighbourhoods offer something different, from cultures, architecture, transport options and types of accommodation. We will outline each area below, but our favourite picks for where to stay in Kuala Lumpur for a first-time visit would be KLCC or Bukit Bintang.
What Area To Stay In Kuala Lumpur: Bukit Bintang
The streets of Bukit Bintang are bustling with people and there is a lively atmosphere here. Bukit Bintang is the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for shopping, with large shopping malls on every corner. It’s also a great place to stay for food, home to Jalan Alor, a street lined with restaurants and street food, and Lot 10 Hutong food court which pays homage to the nations best dishes. In terms of getting around if you are based in Bukit Bintang, here you have the monorail. You can also walk to KLCC via the undercover footbridge. Bukit Bintang has some great mid-range to luxury hotel options. It’s also the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for nightlife.
What Area To Stay In Kuala Lumpur: KLCC
KLCC, otherwise known as Kuala Lumpur City Centre, is an extremely central area with great transport options, including the LRT and Monorail. Here you will find the stunning Petronas Towers and KLCC Park. You will also be close to KLTower and there is a connected undercover footbridge from KLCC to Bukit Bintang. Here you can get some great food options, sophisticated nightlife spots, luxury accommodation and a great shopping centre, Suria KLCC. KLCC is perhaps the most central area to stay in Kuala Lumpur and our pick for the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for first-time visits. We have personally stayed in this area in a hotel and Airbnb. It’s a great pick for Kuala Lumpur Airbnb options too, as there are many modern apartment buildings with excellent facilities that offer great value. KLCC is also the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur with family.
What Area To Stay In Kuala Lumpur: Chinatown KL
Chinatown is the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur on a budget and therefore one of the best areas to stay in KL for backpackers. The streets are filled with small historic buildings. Here you will find the vibrant Petaling Street night markets, that have a mix of food and clothing, amongst other things. It is still a fairly central area, with a couple of LRT stops to make it easy to get around Kuala Lumpur. Chinatown doesn’t really have any options for luxury accommodation, but it’s one of the best budget picks.
What Area To Stay In Kuala Lumpur: Heritage Area
The Heritage Area of Kuala Lumpur is near Chinatown. Here you will find Merdeka Square, Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Masjid Jamek Mosque (one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur and a beautiful structure) and Sultan Abdul Samad Building (19th-century building on Merdeka Square). Merdeka Square is where Malaysia declared it’s independence in 1957. You can still see British Colonial buildings around this area. This area is a little more spread out, although still central. Here you will find fewer accommodation options when compared to the other areas mentioned, but there are some nice luxury accommodation picks.
What Area To Stay In Kuala Lumpur: KL Sentral/Little India/Brickfields
The Brickfields area, otherwise known as Little India, is one of my favourite areas in Kuala Lumpur. Besides the fact that I’m in love with Indian Food, the culture is so vibrant. It’s also home to the striking Hindu Temple, Sri Kandaswamy Kovil. This area is also near KL Sentral. KL Sentral is the main train station and hub for LRT, so it’s pretty easy to get around from here. Here you will find a modern shopping centre, NU Sentral. Accommodation options range from budget to luxury here.
How Long To Stay In Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur is a city that has many sides. So how long to stay in Kuala Lumpur? We would recommend a minimum of three nights to discover a few areas of Kuala Lumpur. But if you want to explore KL in depth or add on any day trips, e.g. to Batu Caves, we would recommend 4 to 5 nights.
Booking Accommodation In Kuala Lumpur
When booking accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, there are two main websites that we use.
Booking.com
Booking.com has some of the best prices and a large number of accommodation options available, so you will be sure to find all of the best places to stay in Kuala Lumpur. We love using it for our travels.
Airbnb
I love seeing what’s available from Airbnb in Kuala Lumpur, from getting to stay with a local host or having your own place to yourself, there’s something for everyone. On our last trip, we stayed in Airbnb in KL and had a fantastic experience. We were able to stay in a beautiful studio apartment in a modern building with a gym and pool for a reasonable price, so it’s a great option if you want your own place.
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Kuala Lumpur Accommodation Guides
We have put together a guide of our favourite accommodation in Kuala Lumpur from our experience of our time there and research. This includes 5 star Kuala Lumpur hotels and the best luxury hotels in Kuala Lumpur, boutique hotels in Kuala Lumpur, and KL hotels that provide more value for money.
Please note: Prices below were based on peak season, per night and are in Australian Dollars. Prices were correct at the time of publishing this article.
Absolute Splurge: The Best Hotels In Kuala Lumpur
Best Hotels In KLCC
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur | $350 | Check Prices
A 5-star hotel with a stunning design, in a fabulous location in KLCC area.
W Kuala Lumpur | $244 | Check Prices
The W only opened in 2018 and its trendy design and fantastic location make it one of the best hotels in Kuala Lumpur. It also has an outdoor swimming pool with an amazing view of the Petronas Towers.
Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur | $240 | Check Prices
Located right next to KLCC park, Mandarin Oriental is a great 5-star hotel that was recently refurbished. The outdoor swimming pool has stunning views of Kuala Lumpur.
Villa Samadhi Kuala Lumpur – By Samadhi | $247 | Check Prices
One of the best boutique hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Although it’s a little outside KLCC, about a 10-minute drive to KLCC and Bukit Bintang, it will make you feel like you’re in your own little oasis.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | $221 | Check Prices
An excellent location in KLCC, near KLCC Park and the Petronas Towers.
Best Hotels In Bukit Bintang
The Ritz Carlton, Kuala Lumpur | $240 | Check Prices
A 5-star hotel in the Bukit Bintang area, not too far from Pavillion Shopping mall.
Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur | $338 | Check Prices
A new 5-star hotel with massive rooms and a modern design.
Best Hotels In KL Sentral/Brickfields/Little India
The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur | $292 | Check Prices
Beautiful 5-star hotel with a classic design near KL Sentral location and the Lake Gardens.
Luxury For Less: The Best Luxury Hotels in Kuala Lumpur
Best Hotels In The Heritage Area Kuala Lumpur
The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection | $123 | Check Prices
Beautiful hotel with a colonial heritage near Merdeka Square and KL Sentral.
Best Hotels In KLCC
Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur | $150 | Check Prices
Luxury hotel in KLCC area with a popular open-air sky bar.
THE FACE Suites | $124 | Check Prices
Luxury apartments with an outdoor infinity pool with views of Petronas Towers.
Best Hotels In Bukit Bintang
JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur | $192 | Check Prices
A modern 5-star hotel in Bukit Bintang area.
Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree | $176 | Check Prices
A recently opened luxury hotel with direct access to Pavillion shopping mall and outdoor infinity pool.
Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon Serviced Residences | $119 | Check Prices
If you’re after an apartment with a kitchen and space, then Lanson Place near Bukit Bintang might be just what you’re looking for.
Best Hotels In KL Sentral/Brickfields/Little India
Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur | $105 | Check Prices
A recently opened hotel near Little India and KL Sentral, with a beautiful minimal design.
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur | $124 | Check Prices
Modern hotel near KL Sentral station.
Hilton Kuala Lumpur | $120 | Check Prices
Modern hotel with 4 onsite restaurants, located near KL Sentral.
Hotels In Kuala Lumpur under $100/night
Best Hotels In KLCC
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel | $89 | Check Prices
Oasia Suites Kuala Lumpur by Far East Hospitality | $72 | Check Prices
Best Hotels In Bukit Bintang
Mercure Kuala Lumpur Shaw Parade | $65 | Check Prices
MOV Hotel Kuala Lumpur | $55 | Check Prices
Travelodge Bukit Bintang | $55 | Check Prices
We will continually update this post to make sure we’re recommending the best Kuala Lumpur Accommodation, to help you choose where to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Read More:
A Guide To Kuala Lumpur Malaysia: Eat, See, Do, Stay + Essentials
Luxury Bus From Kuala Lumpur To Singapore: How To Get From KL To Singapore
Where To Stay In Penang Malaysia: Our Penang Accommodation Guide
Getting The Train From Penang To Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
What’s your pick of where to stay in Kuala Lumpur? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below…
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