Kuala Lumpur Cultural & Heritage Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is one of the largest and oldest surviving Buddhist temples in Malaysia. Located at the southern end of Jalan Petaling, it is characterized by a typical open courtyard and symmetrical pavilions, and decorated with colourful paintings, woodcarvings and ceramic fixtures. Built between 1897 and 1906, it is quite an elaborate temple: from outside you can see the intricately carved kwang-tung roof, gables and specially-crafted terracotta friezes with monumental Chinese history and mythological scenes. The interior of the main temple has pillars with scenes of gold-painted warriors battling lions, dragons and other mythical creatures.

   15 min

2. At the heart of Kuala Lumpur is an area which never sleeps, and far more colourful and bustling than its bigger and more glamourous neighbours, KLCC & Bukit Bintang. Chinatown, based in Petaling Street, is also known as 'Chee Cheong Kai' (Starch Factory Street), a reference to its roots as a tapioca-producing district. Deeply immersed in Oriental culture, heritage and history, Chinatown is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist spots in Malaysia.

   45 min

3. South of Jalan Hang Lekir, tucked away on Jalan Tun HS Lee, is the extravagantly decorated Sri Mahamariamman Temple. Incorporating Spanish and Italian tiles, precious stones and gold in its design, KL’s main Hindu temple is an incongruous sight situated between two Buddhist temples at the edge of Chinatown.

   15 min

4. Central Market is one of KL’s most familiar landmarks and a popular tourist attraction. Built in 1928, it is a short walk away from Petaling Street, along Jalan Hang Kasturi. Also called Pasar Seni, it used to be a simple wet market but in the early 1980s was revamped into a handicrafts outlet.

   30 min

5. Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, built in 1864 by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, is hailed as the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur. Situated just a three-minute walk away from Petaling Street, the temple also functions as a cultural centre for the city’s Chinese community and is usually filled with devotees during significant occasions such as Chinese New Year. Sin Sze Ya Temple is dedicated to patron deities Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, who played significant roles in Yap Ah Loy's ascension to Kapitan status during the 19th century.

   15 min

6. Masjid Jamek Mosque, also known as Friday Mosque, is recognised as the oldest Islamic place of worship in Kuala Lumpur. Overlooking the Klang River, it offers breathtaking photo opportunities for travellers due to the combination of ancient Moorish, Islam and Mughal architectural styles, verdant surroundings, and distant views of KL’s other iconic landmarks.

   15 min

7. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is among Kuala Lumpur’s earliest Moorish-style buildings. It is set to the east of Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) and the Royal Selangor Club, across from Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. It was built in 1897 and was named after the reigning sultan of Selangor at the time. The distinguished landmark originally served as the secretariat for the colonial British administration. Designed by AC Norman, the architect responsible for Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque), the historically-significant building used to house the superior courts of Malaysia: the Federal Court of Malaysia, the Court of Appeals and the High Court of Malaya, before they moved to Putrajaya.

   15 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Kuala Lumpur

• Its from-price is 71% below the median of the 2009 experiences we list in Kuala Lumpur.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 657 of 2009.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's vibrant capital, where the Petronas Towers soar over Malay, Chinese and Indian neighbourhoods and renowned street food.

The twin Petronas Towers, linked by a skybridge, define the skyline, with a landscaped park and fountains at their feet. The KL Tower offers a different view from its forested hill, and Merdeka Square, where the national flag was raised at independence, is framed by the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Top-ranked sights in Kuala Lumpur: National Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara), Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur Chinatown.

See all 2009 experiences in Kuala Lumpur