How to manage Kuala lumpur airport layover tour

If you are planning to travel from Europe to Australia or New Zealand, then chances are that you will make a short compulsory stopover in one of the Southeast Asian countries. Over the past years, many airlines preferred to make a stopover in Singapore but things are changing fast. Heavy marketing and PR from tourist and travel agencies in Malaysia in partnership with Tourism Australia are working around the clock to ensure that they place Malaysia as the perfect stopover for travelers who are flying from Europe to New Zealand or Australia. The Malaysian airlines have even gone out of its way to offer special flights for travelers flying from European airports to New Zealand or Australia. Part of that special package includes very affordable overnight accommodation in decent hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur international airport (KLIA) is one of the top airports in Southeast Asia. It has everything that a traveler would need including modern food courts, Movie Theater, shopping stalls among many others. It is a one-stop shop airport meaning that travelers can get almost anything that they want. That explains why this airport has been consistently rated highly by travelers. In fact, many say that it is the airport in Southeast Asia.

In addition to having a modern international airport, Kuala Lumpur is also a diverse and vibrant city. If you visit the central business district (CBD) from the airport, you will enjoy the diverse culture that this vibrant city boost of including Chinatown, Little India, and the Malaysian influence. Although the Kuala Lumpur airport is located 55km from the CBD it has multiple transport networks that can use to get to the city within the shortest time possible.

An overview of Kuala Lumpur international airport

Located 55km from the city center, the Kuala Lumpur international airport is more than the normal airport lounge to wait for your next flight. If you have at least six hours before you jump on to your next flight, then you can use the public transport system that is very efficient to go and explore the beauty of this amazing city. It will take you approximately an hour to get to the city center. As a result, going to the city center is recommended for travelers who have longer layovers (at least 6 hours). This way, you will have ample time to explore this great city.

If you have 6 hours (excluding check in and check outs) before you jump to the next plane, you can take advantage of that precious time to visit the CDB. All that you need to do is leave your luggage that the airports’ special luggage storage counter then take a taxi or KLIA express train. Any of the above transport options will take you to the city center. Once you arrive at the city center, you can visit multiple attraction sites, do your shopping or visit any of your favorite restaurants. If you decide to take the popular hop on, hop off bus to take you around the city, then the entire experience will take roughly 2 hours. Another good option is to book a KL city tour at the KLIA. This way, you will be taken around Kuala Lumpur main attraction sites on a comfortable tour bus for half a day. Today, there are many tour operators in Kuala Lumpur that offer decent KL city tour. If you want to get in touch with a reputable operator, visit Viator.com to view their amazing offers.

Suggestion on things to do in Kuala Lumpur

There are many things to do in Kuala Lumpur. If you have limited time, then you have to choose those that you prefer the most. The fact that you are in Kuala Lumpur for a stopover means that you have limited time. You have to maximize every second that you will spend in this amazing city. Whether you want to shop, dine, view the diverse culture of Malaysian people or you just want to sit and relax and as you admire this city, then you can be sure that you will have the best experience. In this section, we are going to give you amazing suggestions on attraction sites that you can visit in Kuala Lumpur during your stopover.

Shopping malls

If you love shopping, then Kuala Lumpur will not let you down. Kuala Lumpur takes pride in having the best shopping malls in Southeast Asia. The best shopping malls are located around the KLCC area which is easy to get to from the airport. Popular shopping malls in the city include Suria KLCC, Pavilion KL, Lot10, Starhill Gallery, Berjaya Times Square, and Plaza Low Yat. Midvalley The Gardens is another popular mall but is located outside the central business district.

Chinatown

This is also an amazing place to visit. The area also has unique temples. It is also a great place to try Chinese cuisine. Chinatown is also a popular shopping center and has many traders and buyers.

Little India

Little India is located close to Chinatown. Here, you will find many Indian shops that sell unique Indian products. If you like Indian products, then this is a great place to visit. You can also visit the central market that is located near the Chinatown.If you have more time, then you can visit then Thean Hou Buddhist Temple or the Royal Palace which are all located outside the city center.

The Merdeka Square

The Merdeka square is located near the Chinatown. This is also the place where the famous Sultan Abdul Samad building is located.

Lake garden city

Located near the KL Sentral, the Lake Garden city is not only popular among tourist but also among locals. This place is popular for its amazing butterfly garden, KL Bird Park and the Botanic garden.

National monument

The national monument is located just a few meters from the lake gardens. It is a great place to learn about the culture of the Malaysian people.

The Batu Caves

The Batu Caves is just a 10 minute Light Rail Transit journey from the KL Sentral

PETRONAS tower

Any tourists will tell you that a stopover in this amazing city is not complete without touring the PETRONAS twin towers. Daily passes are available that allows you to tour the sky bridge at RM10. You can also purchase the special passes at RM 40 to view the top of the building

Menara KL tower

This is also a must visit tower when you visit Kuala Lumpur. Getting to the top of this building will give you an aerial view of the city. You will also enjoy the amazing view of the famous PETRONAS Towers.

You can visit all the attractions mentioned above by boarding the KL Hop-on Hop-off bus. You can get off from the bus from any place that you feel like and walk to explore the city and once you are done you can board another bus. However, you should not forget to get back to the airport on time to board your next flight. Remember that it will take you at least one hour to get from the city center to the airport. The airline also requires you to arrive at the airport a few hours before you board your flight.

Eco forest park

Do you know that Kuala Lumpur is the only city in the world that has a natural rain forest in the city center? If you want to get some fresh air and view nature, then the Eco forest park is the perfect place for you. Here, you will not only enjoy fresh and cool air but you will also get to view a wide array of plant species. The park also has high-rise walkaways that enable you to walk on the treetops. The park is well maintained and clean. Its walkways are also very strong despite the fact that they are made of wood and rope. The good news is that entry to eco forest park is absolutely free. It is indeed the best place to visit if you are tired of bright light and air-conditioned airport.

If you are super fit, then the entire walk around the eco-forest park will take around 30 minutes or even less. However, an hour is enough time for those who cannot walk really fast. The forest has plenty of shade spots that you can sit to cool down as you enjoy the cool fresh air.

How to get there

You can board the Star shuttle to Chinatown. The entire journey will take around 50 minutes. A walk from the bus terminus to the park will take around 15 minutes. You can also take a taxi from the airport straight to the park’s gate. The entire journey will take around 50 minutes.

Stopover for a few days in Kuala Lumpur

If your stopover in Kuala Lumpur is a bit longer, then you can come up with a good plan on how to visit various places around the city. For instance, you can visit the area around the metropolis. Renting a car is a good option in this case because it will allow you to see many Kuala Lumpur highlights with ease. If you are staying for a few days, then you can visit one of the amazing tropical islands along the east or west coast. You can travel to the islands of Penang or Langkawi with AirAsia that charges a very affordable price. Here, you can stay in a lovely beach hotel once you get to any of the above-mentioned islands. Penang is widely known for its rich culture while Langkawi is widely known for its amazing nature. In addition to that, you can also enjoy delicious local meals on both islands. If you love snorkeling or diving, then you can take a flight to Kula Terengganu or Kota Bharu. Here you will get a chance to visit spectacular tropical islands like the Tenggol, Lang Tengah, Redang or Perhentian.

Why Kuala Lumpur is the perfect starting point

The reason why most travelers from Europe now prefer Kuala Lumpur as their layover is because traveling to this amazing city is very affordable. In addition to that, flying from Kuala Lumpur to other neighboring countries is also very cheap. AirAsia usually charges low rates for travelers flying from Kuala Lumpur to other neighboring countries. This makes Kuala Lumpur a perfect stopover in Southeast Asia because it allows you to connect to other neighboring countries with ease and at a cheaper price. These counties include Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Macao, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brunei, The Maldives, Japan, South Korea and even some destinations in New Zealand and Australia. AirAsia usually flies to all destinations mentioned above on a daily basis. Don’t forget to check prices charged by other airlines operating within Malaysia before buying your ticket. Other airlines as such as Firefly and Malaysian airlines also offer great discounts.

Layover vacation tips

From the above information, you must be excited for your short layover vacation in Kuala Lumpur. If that is the case then you must ensure that you check a few logistical concerns before you finally commit to your trip. First, you must ensure that you have an organized visa. If not, then you will not be allowed to leave the airport. Visa requirements usually change frequently for each nationality. It is therefore very important to first inquire to know details on cost, availability as well as the procedure that you need to follow in order to obtain a transit visa.

You also need to know your next flight check-in time. Don’t forget to double check with the airline that you will be flying with to know the exact time that you need to be at the airport. This will is important because it will help you come with a proper time management plan.

You also need to know the security waiting time at the airport. Some airports have long security waiting time. Knowing how long it will take to pass the security check will help you plan your time accordingly.

Lastly, you need to know what will happen to your luggage. Inquire to know whether your luggage needs to be picked up when connecting your flights or if it is checked through.