10 Best Free Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in 2024

Activities: Free Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

1. Free walking tours of Kuala Lumpur

I’m assuming that you being a backpacker would love to explore the city on foot and that is why the best thing to do is to go on a free walking tour of the city run by City Hall of Kuala Lumpur. You can join the tour at any of its key points and enjoy an insightful tour of architecturally rich destinations such as Kampong Baru, Merdeka Square, Brickfields, and more. For more information, visit visitkl.gov.my.

• Dataran Merdeka Walk: 9 AM to 11:30 AM (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday)
• Old KL and Nature Walk: 9 AM to 11:30 AM (Tuesday and Thursday)
• Jalan-Jalan at Kampung Bary: 4:30 PM to 7 PM (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)

• Dataran Merdeka Walk: Starts from Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
• Old KL and Nature Walk: Starts from Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau
• Jalan-Jalan at Kampung Bary: Starts from Kelab Sultan Sulaiman Club

• Traveling in Kuala Lumpur would never be a problem. You can reach any of these places by train, buses or cabs.

• Each of the tours takes around 2.5 hours to complete
• The maximum capacity of every tour is 25 people
• You can either register for one of these tours beforehand or reach half an hour before the tour to register.
• Wear comfortable shoes as you would be walking quite a bit during the tour

2. Visit the Spiritual Places of KL

The visually beautiful mosques of Kuala Lumpur, such as the Jalan-Jalan at Kampung Bary, are architecturally a treat to the eyes. This stunning place is surrounded with tall palm trees on all sides and the spiritual atmosphere inside is worth your time. Similarly, the Guandi temple is striking in its décor and with bright red color paint. Travel 13 km away from the city and you’ll reach the Batu caves. One of the best attractions of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is a must-visit for every traveler regardless of the spirituality preferences. The caves are housed by scenic limestone landforms and surrounded by serenity all around.

• You would have to remove your shoes before entering most of the religious places in Kuala Lumpur
• Dress modestly and avoid wearing clothes like cut-sleeves, short skirts, etc.
• The best time to visit mosques in KL is between 9 AM and 12 PM and 2 PM and 4 PM. Most mosques would be closed for non-Muslims on Fridays.
• If you want to take pictures of the place of worship, ask permission from the authorities before doing so.

Art and Craft

3. Free Art Galleries

Kuala Lumpur has a range of free art galleries that depict the best of Malaysian artists. A visit to the galleries like Bank Negara Museum and Gallery, Galeri Petronas and Wei-Ling Gallery, etc. makes for a perfect day out for art, literature and cultural expedition. Ilham is the newest and the most sought after free art galleries opened in Kuala Lumpur attracting art lovers from all over. Here are some of the best art galleries in Kuala Lumpur that you can visit for free.

• National Art Gallery
• Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery
• Galeri Petronas
• Wei-Ling Gallery
• Art House Gallery Museum of Ethnic Arts
• Ilham Gallery
• Wei-Ling Contemporary
• Artemis Art
• Richard Koh Fine Art
• Vallette Gallery
• Museum and Art Gallery BNM
• TAKSU Kuala Lumpur
• Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
• Illusion 3D Art Museum

• It would be wise to check the official website of these art galleries and museums before you venture out to know their opening and closing timings.
• You can use public transportation or cab to reach any of these galleries. Most of them also offer free parking space, so it would be great to drive down too.

4. Royal Malaysian Police Museum

It is no secret that the Malaysian Police does its job pretty well and keeps the crime rate in the country in check. The Royal Malaysian Police museum is a fascinating place to visit for free as the museum has on display over 8000 rare artifacts and historic uniforms, patrol vehicles, old police boats, and countless weaponry. The topping on the cake are some intriguing items recovered by the police during busting operations, some secret societies and crime outfits as well.

• Timings: Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM
• Location: Jalan Perdana
• How to Reach: The nearest station is KTM Komuter Station, from there the museum is just a 10 minutes walk. If you are driving to the museum, you can access the free parking area at the entrance.

• You would need anywhere around 1-2 hours to explore the place completely
• The staff at the museum are polite and helpful too

5. Learn Craft at the KL Craft Complex

Visit the free Pasar Seni or the central market of Kuala Lumpur. While the malls of the city are world-class, I find this craft complex better than any of them. A market built in the 1800s and full of local vendors and craftsmen depicting unbelievably talented crafting skills. Visit the place to learn and admire their talent that’s rare.

• Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
• Location: Jalan Conlay
• How to Reach:You can either opt from the KL monorail and get down at Raja Chulan Station or go for the RapidKL LTR and get down at the KLCC Station. From here, you can take a cab to reach the place.

• If you want to buy something from the market, do not forget to bargain before purchasing. The maximum discount you would get here is 10%.
• You can easily spend 3-4 hours at the KL Craft Complex, watching the artisans doing their work

Sightseeing: Free Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur

6. National Library of Kuala Lumpur

A world away from the world, the National Library of Kuala Lumpur is one of the best places when you want to just disconnect from everything and get drowned into books. If you too treat books as a companion for life, the National Library of Kuala Lumpur is the place for you, and it’s free.

• Timings: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM to 7 PM & Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM. Monday closed
• Location: Jalan Tun Razak
• How to Reach: You can take the metro, bus, train, cab or a private vehicle to reach the library

• The library is a great place to visit with family. It has a separate kids’ section with media, internet, television and play area facilities.
• The museum also has restrooms and a café where you can grab a bite or a drink
• If you have any problem or want to know more about the exhibit, you can approach a staff. All of them are kind and helpful.

7. Petronas Twin Towers

This wonderful tower is a delight to watch even if you choose not to spend some money in buying the deck tickets (the view from the deck is totally worth every penny you spend, trust me.) The twin skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur are the pride of the city and these 88-floor towers are created with reinforced concrete, glass, and steel facade with an architectural reflection of Islamic religion and Muslim culture.

• As you would not be visiting the observation deck on the Petronas Towers, you can view the buildings anytime during the day or night.
• For the best view of the twin towers, you can visit the restaurants or areas in the nearby areas.
• There is also no restriction for taking pictures of the Petronas Towers.

8. Royal Selangor Visitor’s Centre

The Royal Selangor visitor center is the best place to learn everything about the city’s pewter empire. This complimentary guided tour takes you for a free tour of the factory and tells you everything there is to know about the Royal Selangor brand. For a small amount of 120 ringgits, you can even attend the exciting workshop of ‘The School of Hard Knocks’ to get a first-hand experience of working with pewter.

• Timings: Monday to Sunday: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM
• Location: Setapak Jaya
• How to Reach :The closest LRT stop is Wangsa Maju on Kemana Jaya Line. However, you can also book a free shuttle van pickup arranged by the center itself. You can also choose to drive down to the center. The parking space here is free.

• If you want to see the factories in full action, it would be best to visit during the weekdays. You would miss this part if you are visiting during the weekends and public holidays.
• The place has a great café where you can enjoy local Malaysian delicacies.
• The tour guides and staff at the center are helpful and courteous.

Recreation

9. Find solitude in the Lake Gardens

Thankfully, it still does not cost you to get closer to nature and find peace. The Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur is that place for me. Filled with tropical green trees, some amazing birds, and lush greenery; the park beckons you to rent a bicycle and drive around admiring the natural beauty. To sit in peace and relax choose weekdays as it gets all chaotic and super crowded during weekends.

• Timings: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM
• Location: Jalan Parlimen
• How to Reach:The best way to reach Lake Gardens is to reach the KL Sentral Station and take a cab to the gardens

• The park has a bird park, butterfly park, and a deer park as well. There is an outdoor play area for kids as well.
• You also get the opportunity to go boating on the lake.
• While the entrance to the main park area is free, you would have to pay for the attractions like Bird Park, Hibiscus Park, Butterfly Park, National Planetarium, etc.

10. KL Forest Eco Park Trail

When it comes to the rare forest reserves of the country, the Kuala Lumpur eco forest park that was previously known as Bukit Nanas forest reserve is one of the oldest and most sought after. Experiencing this side of nature in the middle of a bustling metropolis is in itself a thrilling experience. Neatly marked walking trails allow you to carelessly walk across the dense forest area without fear and admiring the flora and fauna around.

• Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM (all 7 days)
• Location: Jalan Sultan Salahuddin
• How to Reach : You can get to KL Eco Park by GoKL City Bus, Train or a taxi. If you are taking the LTY, you can get down at Masjid Jemek Station and walk a few minutes. If you are taking the monorail, the closest stations are Bukit Nanas and Raja Chulan. You can also go for taxis or hop on hop off tour to reach the place.

• The best time to visit the park is between 7 AM to 9 AM when the place is less crowded. Opt for a weekday trip instead of a weekend one if you want to avoid crowds.
• The canopy walk is something you must not miss. Apart from this, there are the herbal garden, nature trails, small hikes, timber product gallery, etc. to explore.

Cheap Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Apart from the free things to do in Kuala Lumpur, there are some amazing things that you can do without spending too much. Here are some of the cheapest things you can do in Kuala Lumpur.

Eat Street Food

Malaysia is known for its amazing food. However, you do not have to spend a huge part of your money at the high end and fine dining restaurants. On the other hand, you can save your money by choosing to eat at street and hawker markets. Not only would you get to eat some amazing and authentic food at a reasonable price, but you also do not have to worry about hygiene. At 10-20 RM, you can have a meal consisting of satay, curry, nasi lemak, and Tiger beer.

Shop for Cheap Designer Goods

Anything that has a designer label cannot be cheap. However, this is not true in Kuala Lumpur, a city where you would find several discount outlet stores. One of them Is NR where you would find off-season clothes of brands like Valentino, Sergio Rossi, McQ by Alexander McQueen. At this store, you would find branded items at 60-80% discount. Similarly, Mitsui Outlet Park and MO Outlet are stores where mid-range and high-end brands are available at great discounts. You can easily refurbish your entire wardrobe, right from clothes to shoes and bags without paying too much money.

Visit the National Planetarium

The National Planetarium is considered to be Malaysia’s best-kept secret. Located in a blue dome building on a hill, this planetarium is educational and informational. It is one of the best things to do if you are traveling to Malaysia with kids. The planetarium has various interactive exhibits and a Space Theatre where you would be able to watch space movies and documentaries. The entry cost for the planetarium is 8RM for children and 12RM for adults.

Conclusion

Kuala Lumpur is a great place to choose for a long layover as well. The hotels near the airport are inexpensive and you can use the time to see the city attractions. For best package deals you can contact the trusted Rayna tours for a super economic deal. Food in Kuala Lumpur is very cheap, especially the street food. The cuisine ranges from Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian predominantly. The city is a delight for non-vegetarians, especially seafood lovers.