Travel Guide Kuala Lumpur & Selangor | PART 1: The Basics
Today, I’m back with another travel guide- Kuala Lumpur (KL) & Selangor edition.
I’ll share some of the things you need to know before you go and cover the basics. As for the list of places you can visit, I will compile them in a separate post.
If you’re heading to both or any of these cities, here is a quick guide you can use for a hassle-free trip.
Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (Malaysia) 101
As you already know, Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country popularly known for its skyscrapers, delicious cuisine, and beautiful islands like Penang or Pangkor. It's one of the most popular destinations in Asia, and it's not hard to see why. Like most Asian countries, they have a lot to offer culture-wise.
As for religion, the majority of the population are Islam practitioners, while the rest are Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians.
Is Kuala Lumpur part of Selangor?
Before we continue, I think it's worth clarifying that Kuala Lumpur is not part of the Selangor State (even though it is geographically within it). Some tourists get confused about this, but there you go.
We learned from our Grab driver that while KL used to be part of Selangor, it was detached in the 1970s and was declared as a Federal Territory (see photo below); this means it's no longer part of any state and is now under the national government's jurisdiction.
Arrival at KLIA 2 & Getting a SIM Card
All foreigners are required to register their details upon arrival for the Malaysian Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). You can do this by scanning the large QR code they have on the screen and completing the form on your phone or going to one of the computers on the side if you’re out of battery.
Immigration Lanes
Those who hold passports from any of the 63 countries below can use the automatic gates on the separate lane to get clearance from immigration.
The following countries are: Austria, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbajian, Australia, Brunei, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, China, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Malta, New Zealand, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, San Marino, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.
The rest have to go to the Immigration counters for an arrival stamp.
Currency and Payment Methods
The official currency of Malaysia is Malaysian Ringgit (RM or MYR).
Most establishments are cashless, but cash is still king, so keep some with you. If you have GCash, Maya, or GoTyme, these can come in handy.
Outfits
As I mentioned, Malaysia is predominantly Muslim, so it would be best to observe proper attire as a way of showing respect for their culture. You can wear sleeveless clothes and shorts if you like, as long as they are not skimpy. Dress in style, but keep it modest.
Transportation and Getting Around
You can buy a physical tourist SIM upon arrival at the airport. We got one from Hotlink and did not have any issues at all. I just turned on the hotspot and connected all three of our mobile devices there. I suggest you do this if you're traveling in twos. It's cost-effective, and the internet is still fast.
Another Option: Use an e-SIM
You can also purchase an e-SIM from Klook, but don't forget to double-check if your phone model is e-SIM ready (not all units are compatible with e-SIMs).
If your phone is compatible with an e-SIM, you can order one from Klook. Many packages are available depending on your preferred data size and length of stay.
As for going around, public transportation is available, but if you want to save time, it is best to use Grab. To those who are not familiar, Grab is a popular multi-app in Southeast Asia where you can book rides, do your groceries online, or get takeout food whenever you wish. It's like Uber.
Mobile Applications
I suggest downloading KKDay or Klook because they have plenty of reasonably-priced activity options. You can also earn points which you can use for future travels.
Save Time with the Hop On and Hop Off (HOHO) Bus
One good way to see the city is by getting on a hop-on, hop-off bus. It's easy and convenient. You can also choose which tour suits your schedule best. Both Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have HOHO buses.
In KL, day and night tours are available.
For the day tour, you can embark and disembark at the designated locations anytime from 9 AM to 6 PM (24-hour or 48-hour passes available).
For the night tour, there is only one schedule, and that is at 8 PM. It's a one-way trip that shows you around the city's well-lit spots, obviously hence its name (City of Lights Tour). If you plan to book this, note that they only stop at the locations for a few minutes.
That would be all for today. You can return in a week for the second part of this travel guide (places to visit in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor). If you’ve reached the end of this post, thank you so much. I appreciate your time.
