The old colonial and Chinese heart — Petaling Street market, temples, the Central Market crafts hall and the domes of Merdeka Square all close together, with a wave of hip cafés and boutique stays in the restored shophouses. The most characterful and best-value base, walkable and full of history; a little rough at the edges, in the best way.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€55–110
typical per night in Malaysia
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Kuala Lumpur — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Chinatown & Merdeka and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Perdana Gardens & Bird Park9 min walk766 m
- Islamic Arts Museum10 min walk795 m
- KL Tower (Menara KL)16 min walk1.4 km
- Jalan Alor street food18 min walk1.5 km
- Nasi lemak & Malaysian food21 min walk1.8 km
- Bukit Bintang shopping23 min walk1.9 km
- The Petronas Twin Towers28 min walk2.4 km
- Batu Caves32 min taxi10.6 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 5.Petaling Street (Chinatown) — The frenetic covered market at the heart of Chinatown — stalls of knock-off watches and bags, dried goods and trinkets under red lanterns, with old kopitiam coffee shops and hidden temples all around. Haggle hard, or just soak up the atmosphere and eat: this old quarter has some of the best cheap Chinese-Malaysian food in the city.
- 6.Merdeka Square & colonial core — The grand green where Malaysia declared independence, ringed by the Moorish domes and clock tower of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the mock-Tudor Royal Selangor Club. The elegant heart of colonial KL, with the confluence of rivers and the Masjid Jamek mosque just beside it; lovely in the late-afternoon light and floodlit at night.
- 7.Central Market (Pasar Seni) — A restored art-deco hall that was the old wet market, now the city's best spot for Malaysian crafts, batik, souvenirs and a food court of regional dishes under one cool roof. A calm, air-conditioned browse and a good place to pick up gifts, right beside Chinatown; the annexe has local art, and there's henna and portrait artists too.
- 15.Sri Mahamariamman Temple — The oldest and grandest Hindu temple in KL, right on the edge of Chinatown — a riotously colourful gopuram tower crowded with painted gods, and a serene, incense-scented interior. Free to visit (leave your shoes at the door); it's the starting point of the great Thaipusam procession to Batu Caves, and a vivid dose of Indian Malaysia.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Chinatown & Merdeka; flights via Google Flights.