Whether you are under a budget or simply plan on not spending a dime, there are various free outdoor activities in Kuala Lumpur for you to explore with your loved ones! In this article, we have rounded up some of the best free things to do and places to visit in Kuala Lumpur so that you can save time planning your KL travel itinerary!
15 Free Outdoor Activities & Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur
1. Climb 272 steps in Batu Caves
If you’re looking for free outdoor activities in KL, you can consider visiting Batu Caves. There are actually three caves in Batu Caves:
- Temple Cave (Cathedral Cave) – This is the main cave, also known as the largest cave going up to 91-meters. It’s also where you have to climb 272 colorful stone steps in order to reach the top.
The caves which don’t require you to climb stairs would be:
- Ramayana Cave – Located on the left side of Batu Caves, you can admire various statues and scenes related to history. The famous Hindu Monkey God, Lord Hanuman, is also situated here.
- Cave Villa – You can find various Hindu statues and paintings here alongside various colorful lights hanging around.
Note: Temple Cave is free, but the Cave Villa costs RM7 and RM15 for Malaysians and Non-Malaysians respectively. The Ramayana Cave has a flat fee of RM5.
Time Required: 2 to 4 hours
Address: Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 7pm
2. Be one with nature at KLCC Park
KLCC Park is one of the best free outdoor activities in KL for jogging or simply walking
around the park with your loved ones. The key highlight if you have kids would be the Kids Play Area where there’s a playground as well as the water park area.
Time Required: 1 to 2 hours
Address: KLCC, Lot No. 241, Level 2, Suria, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 10pm
3. Hike up Ketumbar Hill
Hiking is one of the popular free things to do in KL. Ketumbar Hill is a hill that goes up to 300m. Most people find it easy to hike as it is not sloppy, making it suitable for beginners too.
Another thing to take note of is the wild boars roaming around, though they are known to not be dangerous.
Upon reaching the peak of the hill, you’ll get an overview of Cheras.
Time Required: 2 hours
Address: Jalan 6/95b, Taman Cheras Utama, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 24 hours
4. River of Life at Masjid Jamek Station
The River of Life is a great place to visit to observe the amazing waterfront. The main attraction would be the ‘Dancing Symphony Fountain’ which is a hi-tech water system that follows the rhythm of the music.
It’s also called the ‘Blue Pool’ as the river is filled with blue lighting all around. You can also take a nice walk around and enjoy the mist surrounding the river.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur 50050 Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily, 24 hours
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5. Take in the beauty of art in the National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery is an amazing place to visit in KL if you’re into art! Be amazed by the unique art from all over the world. The exhibitions are always being changed regularly, so you are able to view a wide variety every few months.
Time Required: Around 2 hours
Address: No. 2, Jalan Temerloh, Titiwangsa, 53200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
6. Experience nature at Perdana Botanical Garden
Walking around the park is one of the best free outdoor activities in KL! Perdana Botanical Garden has many different types of sections and gardens to explore. Other than beautiful flowers, you can find breathtaking landscapes and even animals such as Deer Park.
There are information boards all around the park too so you can learn a thing or two while walking.
Time Required: Around 2 hours
Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga, Tasik Perdana, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 8pm
7. Take photos with Street Art at Jalan Alor
If you love to take aesthetic photos, you should consider strolling along Jalan Alor. There is plenty of Street Art painted on the walls such as flora and fauna and unique abstract shapes.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: Jln Alor, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 24 hours
8. Walk around Petaling Street
Petaling Street is known to have shops that sell a bunch of items including clothes and various dishware. If you don’t plan on buying anything and simply window shop, then Petaling Street would be one of the free activities in KL that you’ll enjoy.
Time Required: 1 to 2 hours
Address: Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 8pm
9. Visit the Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou Temple is one of the biggest temples in KL, and due to its unique architecture, it has become one of the best free places to visit in KL for tourists. There are plenty of spots to take scenic photos all around as it is located on a hilltop.
A fun fact about this temple is that many Chinese couples will have their Registration of Marriage (ROM) here.
Time Required: 1 to 2 hours
Address: 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 10pm
10. Learn about pewters at Royal Selangor Visitor Centre
If you’re around KL, it is a highly recommended place to visit as you will learn all about pewter alongside the history of Royal Selangor. You can also head over to their cafe situated in the building where they serve good food and desserts.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 9am to 5pm
11. Brush up your knowledge at National Monument
For those who are looking for things that bring out the inner patriotic side of you, the National Monument would make a great choice! There are plenty of historical statues and sculptures that represent Malaysian history during the war.
You can also find a playground nearby with a man-made pool where you can find various lotus, water lilies, and frogs.
Time Required: 1 to 2 hours
Address: Perdana Botanical Garden, Jln Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am to 6pm
12. Learn more about chocolate at Chocolate Museum Kuala Lumpur
Are you a fan of chocolate? Learn more about the history of chocolate including free tastings at the Chocolate Museum! Despite it being a small museum, it’s still worth the visit especially if you love chocolate.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: 2, Jalan Teknologi 3/5, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 4.30pm
13. Walk around Merdeka Square
Admire the various colonial architecture and take a nice walk around Merdeka Square. Be sure to visit during the evening to get a good view of the sunset. If you’re visiting at night, consider renting the electric scooter so you can cruise around the area.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: Jln Raja, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 24 hours
14. Learn about culture at the National Textile Museum
Be educated about the textile industry at the National Textile Museum! There are about four galleries available with plenty of artifacts and displays. You’ll also learn about traditional clothing such as Batik and Songket.
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: 26, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 9am to 6pm
15. Pay a visit to the National Mosque
The National Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Inside, there are various galleries that showcase different years of Malaysia. If you’re a non-Muslim, you will be required to wear a purple coat which is provided. Be on the lookout for unique geometric patterns too!
Time Required: 1 hour
Address: Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Daily, 6.30am to 7pm
Check out the best beaches in Malaysia here.
Getting Around in Kuala Lumpur
Public Transport
In Kuala Lumpur there are various forms of public transport:
- MRT: MRT is similar to the LRT and is easy to get around the city center.
- LRT: There are various LRT stations around Kuala Lumpur. You can also interchange to KTM through the designated stations.
- KTM: There are various KTM stations but generally it’s not as effective as LRT and MRT.
- Bus: The KL City Bus is a free bus service all around Kuala Lumpur. Besides that, there is the RapidKL which stops by the popular places in Kuala Lumpur.
E-Hailing & Taxi
- E-hailing: There are plenty of e-hailing drivers around Kuala Lumpur so it won’t be difficult to get around. Some of the best e-hailing apps include Grab and InDriver.
- Taxi: There are many taxi drivers around as well.
Rent A Car
If you prefer to drive, you can consider renting a car from Trevo to get around Kuala Lumpur. You can pick your preferred car model and get started on your journey immediately upon booking.
Excited To Visit Kuala Lumpur on a Budget?
Hope you love the free outdoor activities, places to visit, and things to do in Kuala Lumpur listed above. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions, I’m always happy to help out. Enjoy your stay in this beautiful city! If you’re traveling to other states in Malaysia, make sure to check out my best things to do in Melaka and how to spend 3 days in Penang.
