Both multicultural and modern, Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s intriguing capital. It’s known for its futuristic skyscrapers, such as the Petronas Twin Towers, and the even taller The Exchange 106, which is 445 metres tall. The city has some of the largest malls in Asia – vast complexes filled with shops, gyms, prayer rooms and food courts – and a cutting-edge contemporary design scene.
In this city, a drive towards modernity sits alongside a reverence for ancient cultures. Kuala Lumpur is full of historical and religious sites, such as Hindu shrines, mosques and Buddhist temples. The gorgeous Islamic Arts Museum has an impressive collection of the world’s most fabulous Islamic textiles, jewellery and scale models of famous buildings.
Then, of course, there’s the food. Kuala Lumpur is bursting at the seams with hawker centres and street food markets. But it also has a huge variety of high-end restaurants, serving both innovative and traditional takes on Malaysian and other Asian cuisines.
