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Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur

A Guide to Kuala Lumpur

Know Before You Go

• Kuala Lumpur is not as a big as it seems. If you book a hotel in the central area, you'll be within walking distance of all of the top attractions, shopping centres and restaurants.
• Pack light and breathable clothes. Malaysia is located on the Equator, and the temperatures soar to dizzying heights. It's also a good idea to pack a raincoat for the showers that tend to happen in the evenings.
• You won't struggle too much with the language barrier. Many of the locals in Kuala Lumpur speak English as well as Chinese, Malay or Indian dialects.
• Do your research and find out prices for attractions before you arrive. It's a common scam to sell fake tickets to tourists outside popular attractions that have no entrance fee.
• Tipping is not customary in Kuala Lumpur. There is a 15% tourist tax that is added to all restaurant and hotel bills.

Getting Around Kuala Lumpur

Walking about Kuala Lumpur is one of the best ways to explore the city. Most of the tourist attractions are close together, but you'll need to make sure you cross the street correctly as the police are known to give on the spot fines to jaywalkers.

If you want a faster way to get around the city, take the train. The RapidKL LRT and KTM Komuter service over 100 stations and it's an efficient way to avoid Kuala Lumpur's infamous gridlocked traffic.

Taxis should only be used as a last resort. Due to the high volumes of commuters, a trip takes much longer than any of the other transportation options available in the city. If you don't want to haggle with drivers, download the ride-sharing app Grab to request a ride.

Buses are the best option for budget travellers. The fares are cheap, and the city has an extensive network. The only downside is that the coaches quickly fill up and the heavy traffic lengthens commutes.

If you're only in Kuala Lumpur for a few days, buy a ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off bus. It services a route that goes past 22 of the city's best attractions. The bus runs from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and commentary is available in eight different languages.