Kuala Lumpur Entertainment Guide - For fun, recreation, and relaxation

Kuala Lumpur is overflowing with cosmopolitan activities that appeal to travelers from all walks of life. Whether it's shopping, clubbing, golfing or even exploring the outdoors, this city has something for everyone.

The two prevailing leisure pastimes in Kuala Lumpur are shopping by day and partying by night. The bars, jazz clubs and dance floors of the Golden Triangle and other central districts stay open as late as 02:00 and cater to a variety of tastes.

There are lively festivals staged every month, the best of which are Chinese New Year and the Thaipusam Festival, observed by local Hindus. Families can beat the heat with indoor activities like bowling or riding the roller coaster inside Times Square Shopping Mall.

Batu Caves

The outlying countryside has a few notable outdoor attractions, foremost of which is Batu Caves. Situated just a few miles north of the city center, this is an excellent place to engage in caving and intermediate-level rock climbing. Visit during January to see the Indian community come out for the Thaipusam Festival.

Bowling

This is an outstanding family activity that doubles as an ideal means of escaping the midday heat. Shopping centers across KL have their own bowling alleys, with the best at Mid Valley Megabowl and Pekeliling Bowl.

Chinese New Year

This is arguably the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur, as Chinatown leaps into action with a range of colorful, cultural activities. Locals invite visitors to embrace the coming year with dragon dances, parades, fireworks and plenty of eating. The new year is pegged to the lunar calendar and can fall anywhere from late January to February.

Cosmo's World

Inside the sprawling Berjaya Times Square Shopping Mall, Cosmo's World is the largest indoor theme park in the world. The resident highlight, if only in terms of scale, is the looping roller coaster that careens through the shopping mall. This is an especially attractive diversion for families with children.

Golf

Kuala Lumpur has a few world-class golf courses on hand that cater primarily (but not exclusively) to business travelers. The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club with its two 18-hole courses enjoys the best reputation. It's closed to non-members during holidays and weekends. Otherwise, Saujana Golf and Country Club and Royal Selangor Golf Club are always open to guests and maintain similar standards.

Nightlife

As expected in a city as cosmopolitan as this, Kuala Lumpur plays host to hundreds of bars, clubs and discos. The best place to party is the Golden Triangle, especially along the club-laden side streets of Jalan P Ramlee. Other popular night hangouts include swanky Heritage Row in Tuanku Abdul Rahman district, Bukit Bintang with its relatively tame red-light district and Hartamas with its quieter pubs and jazz clubs.

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