The best things to do in Kuala Lumpur

1.The Petronas Twin Towers

The 88-storey steel towers that were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. You can walk across the Skybridge between them and go up to the observation deck on the 86th floor.

Tip: Tickets come in timed slots and the best ones sell out; book online a few days ahead. It closes on some days, so check the calendar.

2.KLCC Park and the Lake SymphonyFree

A tropical park at the foot of the towers with a jogging track, a children's pool and a lake with a dancing fountain.

Tip: Come after dark for the fountain shows, which run several times each evening, with the towers lit up behind.

3.Aquaria KLCC

An aquarium under the convention centre with a long underwater tunnel of sharks, rays and turtles.

Tip: A good plan for a rainy afternoon; it's linked to Suria KLCC mall by a covered walkway.

4.KL Tower

The telecoms tower on the forested Bukit Nanas hill, with an observation deck and a glass Sky Box at the top, and a view straight across to the Petronas Towers.

Tip: It's the better viewpoint for photos of the Twin Towers themselves. Walk up through the KL Forest Eco Park's canopy walkway.

5.Jalan Alor night food streetFree

A street of hawker stalls and open-air restaurants serving satay, grilled stingray, chilli crab and durian late into the night.

Tip: Changkat Bukit Bintang, a street of bars, is a couple of minutes away for a drink after dinner.

6.Pavilion and the Bukit Bintang mallsFree

KL's shopping street, where Pavilion, Lot 10 and a string of malls line the road, linked by air-conditioned walkways.

Tip: The mall food courts are a cheap, air-conditioned way to try hawker dishes; the elevated walkway to KLCC is shaded and cool.

7.Petaling StreetFree

The covered market street at the centre of Chinatown, full of stalls, old shophouses and food.

Tip: Come for breakfast or dinner rather than the market: the old kopitiams and street stalls nearby are the real draw.

8.Kwai Chai HongFree

A restored back lane of 1960s shophouses with murals of old Chinatown life and a little bridge, lit up in the evening.

9.Sri Mahamariamman TempleFree

KL's oldest Hindu temple, with a tower of brightly painted gods over its gateway, just off Petaling Street.

Tip: Take your shoes off at the entrance; the Taoist Guan Di Temple is across the street.

10.Central MarketFree

An Art Deco market hall turned into a crafts and souvenir market, with batik, songket weaving and food from across Malaysia upstairs.

Tip: Watch batik being painted at the stalls, then walk through Kasturi Walk next door.

11.Merdeka SquareFree

The green where Malaysia's independence was declared in 1957, facing the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building with its copper domes and clock tower.

Tip: The buildings are lit at night; the city gallery on the square has a big model of Kuala Lumpur.

12.Masjid JamekFree

One of the city's oldest mosques, built in 1909 at the confluence of the rivers where KL began.

Tip: Visitors can enter outside prayer times; robes and headscarves are lent free at the entrance. The 'River of Life' light show runs along the riverbanks after dark.

13.Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

One of the best museums of its kind in the world, with Qurans, ceramics, textiles, models of famous mosques and decorated domes inside.

Tip: Allow two hours and save time for the museum shop and the restaurant.

14.National MosqueFree

Masjid Negara's modernist building with a star-shaped roof like a folded umbrella and a 73-metre minaret, set in reflecting pools.

Tip: It's a short walk from the Islamic Arts Museum. Visits are only outside prayer times, and robes are lent at the door.

15.Perdana Botanical Gardens and KL Bird Park

The city's big green lung, with lakes, an orchid garden and a huge walk-in aviary full of hornbills and flamingos.

Tip: Visit the bird park in the morning, when the birds are most active and it's cooler.

16.Brickfields Little IndiaFree

Streets of sari shops, flower-garland sellers and banana-leaf restaurants right next to KL Sentral.

Tip: Order a banana-leaf meal: rice and curries served on a leaf, eaten with your right hand.

17.Thean Hou TempleFree

A three-tiered Chinese temple on a hill south of the centre, hung with hundreds of red lanterns, with a view over the city.

Tip: It's a short taxi ride from KL Sentral; come in the late afternoon and stay for the lanterns at dusk.

18.Batu CavesFree

A limestone hill with a huge Hindu cave temple, reached by 272 rainbow-painted steps beside a giant golden statue of Lord Murugan.

Tip: Take the KTM Komuter train from KL Sentral, about 30 minutes, and go early before the heat. Knees and shoulders must be covered, and watch your bags around the monkeys.