Kuala Lumpur, or K-L as it is known, is the gateway to Malaysia and may be overlooked by travellers who look to fly in and fly out immediately to avoid a big city. We spent a week in K-L and loved it so much we went back for another 2 nights before leaving Malaysia, and then we are back again for a 4 week stay.

Yes it is a big city, and with that comes the busy hustle and bustle, but there is so much to do for families that we easily filled our time there. If time isn’t your friend to allow a full week in KL we would recommend a minimum of 3 nights in the capital of Malaysia. Here’s our suggesting itinerary for both 3 days and 7 days in Kuala Lumpur with kids. We’ve compiled these itineraries to ensure you have the best time in Kuala Lumpur, rather than wondering where to even start!

For more information such as opening times, costs and full details, head to our page covering the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur with kids or our favourite places to eat in Kuala Lumpur.

Day 1: Enjoy KLCC Park

The Petronas Towers are so iconic to Kuala Lumpur that day 1 has to be spent around here. Head over the KLCC park and enjoy the open green space, allow the kids to play and run in a traffic free area. There’s a running track, playground and the kids favourite - a huge splash pool to cool down in. Parents can enjoy the shade whilst taking all those photos of the towers, knowing the kids are happy.

Grab some lunch or a snack inside Suria Mall - there’s fast food, restaurants and a supermarket if you just want to grab some bits, or even for a picnic in the park.

After re-fuelling, head to Petrosains Science Discovery centre inside Suria Mall. You’ll easily spend 3-4 hours here with all the interactive exhibits, and the kids will learn something to. They cover space, dinosaurs, speed, interactive art installations, technology and loads more!

For dinner, head to Dottys, located underneath Suria Mall next to the Four Seasons hotel - kids even eat free on a weekend.

Day 2: Explore the greenery of Kuala Lumpur

Start your second day at KL Eco Park. The whole family will enjoy the canopy walkways, encounter wild monkeys, and marvel at the last piece of rainforest in Kuala Lumpur. Access the park from the Jalan Alor side, and then you’ll exit at the KL Tower. Pass the world peace gong, take some tower snaps and head to the base of the tower for some much need refreshments - food too if little appetites need it.

When you’ve finished here, jump in a Grab taxi, and head to the Lake Gardens, also known as the Botanical Gardens. There’s so much to see and do here - you can visit the Bird Park, the Butterfly Park, or just enjoy the free walking trails, lake views and massive kids playground. How long you spend here depends what you do!

In the evening, head to Jalan Alor street food market for dinner and don’t forget dessert - the kids will love the chocolate fountains and hand-rolled icecream. Everyone will enjoy the sights, smells, hustle and bustle, and the cheap delicious food.

Day 3: Get your steps in

Your third day in Kuala Lumpur with kids is broken into two halves, with a lot more walking, but plenty of re-fuel stops along the way.

As early as possible, head out to Batu Caves, just 25 minutes in a Grab to the north of the city. Climb the 272 steps to the hindu temples hidden in the limestone caves at the top. There are a lot of monkeys here and be careful with any food, drinks, or even phones - they are very cheeky! A carrier will be needed for small children, but age 4 upwards should manage it ok - especially if going early as you’ll avoid the midday heat.

After the couple of hours at Batu Caves, get a Grab back to the area around China Town, Petaling Street. Head straight there and drop into the Rex Cinema complex. This is a creative hub with the most incredible maze-like book store, vintage shops and a immersive art experience, an art exhibition which last 60 minutes.

When you leave you’ll probably be ready for food and there’s so many options - Petaling Food market, KL Central market or the restaurants dotted along all the narrow lanes - we recommend the Happy Tapir. KL Central market is your stop after lunch for some shopping / browsing, before heading out the ‘art lanes’ end and venturing along the river of life to take in all the street art. The river is also traffic free so easy to navigate with kids and pushchairs.

A 5 minute walk here will take you to Mederka Square with the mosques, their huge flagpole, and a few galleries and museums to drop in if you wish.

If you still have energy, head to Tapak Street Food for dinner, before then walking the 5 minutes to KLCC for the incredible Symphony of the Lake fountain and music show which starts at 8, 9 and 10pm.

If you have more than 3 days in Kuala Lumpur, then you have a few choices - either expand the above 3 days into 4 or 5, or consider these activities for a week in Kuala Lumpur with kids.

Day 4: It’s back to KLCC area

Have a chilled, slower start to the day and head back to KLCC and Into the deep – Aquaria KLCC. Yes, we’ve all been to aquariums around the world, and yes this perhaps isn’t on the ‘budget’ activity list, but Aquaria KL mesmerised our children. The piranha feeding was a real highlight, and we spent a long time in the 90m long living ocean tunnel with sharks and rays swimming overhead and you almost feel you can touch them through the glass.

After the aquarium, you’ll probably be leaving just in time for ‘happy hour’ and conveniently, around a 3 minute walk away, is a great rooftop bar for families. Head to the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel. This is free to enter if you have drinks, and even better if you coincide it with 241 cocktails during happy hour – and that’s cheaper than the £40 entrance fee to go up the Towers but you’ll get a great view of them and KLCC park. The Sky Bar also has an indoor pool which can be enjoyed only if you are a resident.

Day 5: Get your thrills and adrenaline!

Berjaya Times Square has so much entertainment. Good for rainy days, evenings or a full day. If you are seeking air con and family fun, and willing to spend a little for that luxury, there is a full day of entertainment to be had at this indoor theme park. There’s also go karting, a cinema, ninja warrior, soft play, high-rope walks and bowling. There was definitely something for everyone and probably not on the usual tourist trail as most people there were local families.

Day 6: Hit Kidzania

Kidzania is to the west of the city centre, around 30 minutes and £5 in a Grab taxi. There are various Kidzania centres in the world but we hadn’t visited any before this one. The concept is that Kidzania is a city for kids where they can work to earn money, spend their money on experiences or save up their wages to shop at the end of the day. Whether it is being a fire fighter, working for the police, getting your driving license or being a surgeon, it is both fun and educational. We spent 5 hours here, costing us £65 as a family of 4. There’s so much to share, we have done a separate blog page on our top tips when visiting Kidzania. You’ll be done in after a day here, so don’t try and combine it with anything else!!

Day 7: Last dash

If you aren’t worn out yet, then there’s a few more places to visit in Kuala Lumpur with kids. You could head to Little India, an area full of colour, vibrancy, delicious foods and of course shops. The other idea is to head to TRX mall and enjoy the rooftop garden walks, water fun and playground - it’s the best mall playground we found. If the weather isn’t on your side then head to the 3-d museum of illusions, or MINature Kuala Lumpur, both located near Pavillion so you could combine it with exploring the most famous mall in Kuala Lumpur.

Whether it’s 3, 5 or 7 days in this great city, we hope this guide will help you tick off all the key highlights and best places to visit with children in Kuala Lumpur. If you’re lucky to have longer, then still do all the above but slow it down - spend more time in your pool, or venture out the city slightly to Sri Bintang Hill, Putrajaya or the Buddhist Temple - we’ve more to report on those soon.