2-Day Itinerary For A Weekend With Kids In Kuala Lumpur

HOW TO GET TO KUALA LUMPUR:

Most major Asian airlines — from mainstays such as Cathay Pacific to budget airlines such as Air Asia — offer direct flights to Kuala Lumpur. Once you've touched down at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, it's another 40 minutes or so on the train to KLCC station. From there, take the MRT or the light rail into the city, or grab a taxi. Uber and Grab Taxi are also available!

KLCC Station, http://www.klia2.info/rail/rapidkl-lrt/kelana-jaya-line/klcc

Coming from Singapore?  Take one of these luxury buses if you don't want to fly!

WHERE TO STAY WITH KIDS IN KUALA LUMPUR:

One of the big perks of Kuala Lumpur is the affordability of the city! There are loads of luxury hotels that are a fraction of the price of others in the region (including one of the most affordable Ritz Carltons in the world). Little Steps Kuala Lumpur has rested our weary heads, splashed in pools, and enjoyed family-friendly perks to put together our recommendations for the best family-friendly hotels in KL.

Kuala Lumpur Family-Friendly Hotels, Click here!

DAY 1 - MORNING: Feathers and festivities in the City Centre!

• cBreakfast:

Kuala Lumpur has loads of groovy breakfast options!  We are currently loving Breakfast Thieves and Antipodean Cafe. There are plenty more kid-friendly breakfast options here! Or, just keep it easy and eat in your hotel.

• KL Bird Park:

A short drive away from the center of the city, you'll be able to take in the wonders of the natural world at the lush, 21-acre KL Bird Park, home to around 200 species of birds originating from Malaysia and around the world. The park's "free-flight" setup means you'll be able to marvel at peacocks, flamingos, parrots and more as they strut about in their habitats. Kids will love the feeding and photo opportunities.

KL Bird Park, https://www.klbirdpark.com. Open daily from 9am-6pm. Standard admission is RM67 for adults and RM45 for children.

• Central Market:

Backtrack to the city center to visit the nearby Central Market, a restored cultural heritage site that's an Art Deco vision. Built-in 1888 as a wet market, in the 1980's it was transformed into a space where the city's creatives gather to sell handicrafts and souvenirs. Pick up some traditional Malaysian batik textiles and while you're there you can also get a massage, get your fortune told, visit the unique "fish spa" or even get a henna tattoo.

Central, Market, http://www.centralmarket.com.my/

• Lunch:

Located in the old neighborhood of Pudu, VCR Cafe is a deceptively nondescript house in the old-school architecture of the area, but step inside and you'll discover quirky decor, delicious brunch eats and the seductive scent of freshly ground coffee. Expect soft shell crab burgers, house-cured hamachi with eggs and — of course — avocado toast to go along with your flat white. After something sweet? The cafe's extensive cake menu (lemon curd cheesecake, black velvet cake, carrot cake) has got you covered, but their French toast — served with espresso ice cream and raspberry compote — is also a great bet.

VCR Cafe, http://vcr.my. Opens daily from 8:30am-11pm.

Day 1 - AFTERNOON: Soak up some culture

• National Museum of Malaysia:

The National Museum is filled with everything you need to know about Malaysian history. The building itself is also a perfect example of a rumuh gadang, a traditional house of the Minangkabau people. The museum also sits next to the beautiful Perdana Lake Gardens.

National Museum of Malaysia, http://www.muziumnegara.gov.my. Open daily from 9am-6pm. Admission is RM5 for adults, RM2 for children and free of charge for children under 6 years old.

• Islamic Arts Museum:

A short distance away is the Islamic Arts Museum, home to one of the world's largest collections of Islamic decorative arts, including over 7,000 textiles, jewelry, and textiles. The striking decorated building will take your breath away. Don't forget to stop in at the gift shop for a souvenir, too.

Islamic Arts Museum, https://www.iamm.org.my.  Open from 10:30am-5:30pm on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday; from 12pm-8pm on Thursday and Saturday; from 2pm-8pm on Friday and closed on Tuesdays.

• Sri Mahamariamman Temple:

The oldest Hindu temple in the city, this building sits at the edge of the Chinatown neighborhood. Initially, a private shrine for the wealthy Pillai family when it was first founded in 1873, it was opened to the public in the 1920s. Featuring Spanish and Italian tiles, gold, and precious stones, its most striking feature is perhaps the goparum (tower), a fixture of South Indian architecture.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Website. Open daily from 6am to 9pm.

• Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur:

Established in 1909, this colorful, airy mosque designed by British architect AB Hubback was the main mosque in the city until 1965. Located where the Klang and Gombak Rivers meet and built on the first Malay burial ground in the city, it's in a beautiful setting. Make sure to borrow a robe before entering, if need be.

Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur, Website.

• Dinner:

Founded by a Malaysian film producer, Aku Cafe & Gallery is part hipster hangout, part old Chinese teahouse. The wooden furnishings and interesting artworks on the walls create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the cafe's array of teas, coffees, pasta, and local favorites such as chicken rice and prawn sambal.

Old China, https://www.oldchina.com.my/aku.html

DAY 2 - MORNING: A touch of color

• Breakfast:

Get ready for a day of exploring the upscale district of Bukit Bintang with a quiet, cosy breakfast at Feeka Coffee Roasters, which offers up concoctions such as eggs with sweet potato hash and shredded duck confit, French toast with spiced pineapples and orange sauce, and Earl Gray and lavender mille-feuille cake paired with exquisite coffees in a quirky, comfortable setting. Think colorful pendant lighting and exposed concrete walls - cool!

Feeka Coffee Roasters, https://www.facebook.com/feekacoffeeroasters/. Open daily from 8am-11pm.

• Kampung Baru:

Experience Malay village living without leaving the city by visiting this enclave, historically an area that was slated as an agricultural settlement, and a place where residents frequently turn away big property developers to preserve their local culture today. Expect to see plenty of colorful, pastel traditional houses here. If you're not full from breakfast, sample street eats like grilled mackerel sambal and cassava dessert in a banana leaf from the assorted hawker stalls.

DAY 2 - AFTERNOON: Shop and play!

• Petronas Twin Towers:

A visit to the capital isn't complete without goggling at the tallest twin towers in the world that characterize the city skyline. Don't miss the chance to ascend to the top of the towers and take in the sprawling view of the city from the Skybridge or the Observation Deck.

Petronas Twin Towers, https://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/. Open daily from 9am to 9pm. Closed from 1pm-2:30pm on Friday.

• Suria KLCC:

A shopper's paradise, this six-story upscale shopping mall at the foot of the twin towers is full of big brands such as Dior, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Kids will enjoy oceanarium Aquaria KLCC and planetarium Petrosains.

Suria KLCC, https://www.suriaklcc.com.my/main.  Little Steps Guide to Suria KLCC with kids here!

Aquaria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Complex, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 2333 1888, http://aquariaklcc.com

Petrosains Discovery Centre, PETRONAS Twin Towers, Level 4, Suria KLCC, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, +603 2331 8181, www.petrosains.com.my

• KLCC Park:

This picturesque, 50-acre garden is right outside Suria KLCC, and features children's swimming pools, water fountains with spectacular daily water shows, and plenty of footpaths where you can stroll along and enjoy the surrounding greenery and sculptures. Click here to view our video!

KLCC Park, Website

• Lunch:

There's a variety of affordable options at Suria KLCC food court, or you can wander out to KLCC Park for a late afternoon refuel once the food trucks start opening.

• Masjid Asy-Syakirin:

In contrast to the traditional Jamek mosque is the contemporary, futuristic Masjid Asy-Syakirin, located right next to the Petronas-Suria complex. Uzbekistani craftsmen created the building by combining different Asian design elements in 1998.

• Dinner:

If it's pork you're looking for, El Cerdo's got you covered. The nose-to-tail restaurant serves mostly Spanish pork dishes, but European, Caribbean and Mexican are also featuresd on their menu. You'll find some excellent seafood appetizers and sides, too. Enjoy their Iberico baby back ribs or roasted suckling pig paired with a glass of wine in a sophisticated setting.

El Cerca, http://elcerdokl.com/. Open 12pm-2:30pm daily; from 6pm-10:30pm from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday; and from 6:30pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday.