Guide to the best things to do in Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur and advice on how to get there and the best places to stay.
Glitzy, vibrant, and busy at any time of the day (or night), Bukit Bintang is KL’s shopping and entertainment hub.
Dotted with shopping malls that cater to every budget, colorful murals hidden in back alleys, mouth-watering street foods, and a vibrant nightlife scene, Bukit Bintang is one of the best places to see in Kuala Lumpur.
I’ve been visiting Bukit Bintang almost every year since 2017 and always make it my base for exploring the city since it has an efficient transportation system providing easy access to all the main tourist attractions.
Plus, the shopping is amazing, the food delicious, and there’s a wide range of accommodations to choose from, so what’s not to like?
Discover all the best Bukit Bintang attractions in this travel guide as well as my top recommendation for the best places to stay and how to get from the airport to Bukit Bintang city center.
Kuala Lumpur Travel Essentials
Top Experiences and Tours in KL:
- Petronas Twin Towers skip-the-Line tickets
- KL Tower + Skybox tickets (discounted)
- Batu Caves guided tour with hotel transfers
- Sunway Lagoon Water Theme Park tickets (discounted)
Best Hotels in KL:
- JW Marriott (luxury)
- Ansa Hotel (mid-range)
- Gold3 Boutique Hotel (budget)
Get to KL city center fast with a discounted airport train ticket or private airport transfer. On a tight budget? Book your bus ticket here.
Stay connected by pre-booking your Malaysia sim card that you can easily pick up at the airport.
***This article may contain affiliate links, meaning each time you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps a lot in keeping this website running. Thank you for your support :)
Read more about Kuala Lumpur:
- 10 Best hotels in Bukit Bintang
- What to do in Kuala Lumpur in 2 days
- Top attractions in Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
- 12 Most Instagrammable spots in KL
- How to travel to Melaka from KL?
- How to get to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore?
- Guide to the best infinity pool hotels in KL
Top Things to do in Bukit Bintang
Bintang Walk
One of the best things to do in Bukit Bintang KL is to take a stroll along Bintang Walk which is the main thoroughfare of Bukit Bintang.
Just like Times Square in New York, this area is always buzzing with activity. Flashing lights and giant digital billboards cover high-rise buildings housing shopping malls and hotels.
Both the monorail and MRT station are conveniently located along Bintang Walk making it easy to get there from any other part of Kuala Lumpur.
It’s my all-time favorite area to stay in KL as all of Bukit Bintang attractions are located within walking distance. It also boasts some of the best hotels from budget to luxury plus you won’t go hungry with the huge selection of restaurants and street food stalls.
Ansa Hotel, WOLO KL, and Gold3 Boutique Hotel are great for budget/mid-range travelers while the 5-star JW Marriott Hotel is more suitable for luxury travelers.
Related post: 20 short trips to take in Malaysia
Jalan Alor Night Market
No visit to Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur would be complete without sampling the local food at Jalan Alor Night Market. Granted it’s very touristy but a rite of passage for any first-time traveler to Kuala Lumpur.
The night market is open every evening from 4/5 p.m until late. You’ll find mostly Thai food restaurants at Jalan Alor but there are also hawker stalls selling other foods like Lok Lok (meat and vegetable skewers boiled or barbequed), satays, and Char Kway Teow among others.
If you’re looking for fresh fruits, there’s a section near the entrance where you can buy rambutan, durian, longan, and mango.
Tip: Eat your way through Jalan Alor and its surroundings with this guided street food tour with a local guide who will tell you all about Malaysian cuisine and culture.
If you think that Jalan Alor is too touristy, I recommend heading to Taman Connaught Night Market instead.
It’s located about 12 km south of Bukit Bintang and is only open on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 to 11.30 p.m. It does feel more authentic as you’ll find mostly locals eating there plus it offers a much wider variety of food.
Shop til you drop
As the main shopping district of Kuala Lumpur, one of the most popular things to do in Bukit Bintang is to go shopping.
The oldest shopping mall in Bukit Bintang is Sungei Wang Plaza where you can buy some of the cheapest clothes and accessories.
Just a few meters away is Plaza Low Yat, your one-stop shop for all tech-related products from the latest smartphones to cameras and accessories. Almost every store sells basically the same thing, so make sure to compare prices and bargain before buying anything.
Berjaya Times Square is also great for budget shoppers and is home to the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia.
If you’re looking for luxury international brands, I recommend Pavilion KL. The mall also features a huge food court where you can buy street food at affordable prices.
Other places to go shopping in Bukit Bintang include Fahrenheit88 and LOT 10. They are mostly aimed at mid-range shoppers but you can sometimes get some pretty good deals if there’s a sale going on.
While you’re at LOT 10, don’t forget to visit the Hutong food court located on the lowest level. Here you’ll find a wide range of restaurants serving Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Japanese food at affordable prices.
Related post: The best 2 week itinerary for Malaysia
Go on a Street Art Hunt
Just a few meters from Jalan Alor night market are several back alleyways with huge colorful murals painted on residential buildings and shops.
These murals are spread out along Changkat, Jalan Berangan, and Jalan Rembia (opposite Jalan Alor Food Street).
You can spend an hour or two hunting for street art and taking photos. Also dotted along these streets are a couple of Instagrammable cafés where you can get both your caffeine and Instagram shots.
Bar Hopping at Changkat Bukit Bintang
If you’re wondering what to do in Bukit Bintang at night, head over to Changkat. The whole street is lined with bars and restaurants where you can listen to live music and party all night long.
The Whisky Bar, Sutraa Kitchen+Bar, and Havana Bar & Grill are some of the most popular ones that you can check out while you’re there.
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions is a fun place to visit especially if you’re traveling with kids. It’s quite small but you can spend about an hour playing around with the optical illusions and taking photos. The staff are very friendly and will help you find the best angle for photos.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS
Best Things to do near Bukit Bintang
Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers are easily accessible from Bukit Bintang thanks to the KLCC – Bukit Bintang Pedestrian Walkway located inside Pavilion Mall.
It should take only about 15 to 20 minutes to walk there which is super convenient especially when it’s raining, which happens quite often in KL.
The entrance ticket to the Twin Towers gives you access to both the skybridge and observation deck. As one of the most popular tourist attractions, I highly recommend visiting in the morning and booking your ticket in advance as they do sell out fast.
The Petronas Twin Towers are open from Tuesdays to Sundays (including public holidays) from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. The last admission is at 5.30 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS
KLCC Park
Take a stroll around KLCC Park to escape from the heat. The park features several walking trails overlooking the Petronas Towers and even has a free swimming pool for kids.
The best time to visit is at nighttime during the lake symphony light and sound water show. You can watch the light and sound show for free every night at 8 p.m, 9 p.m, and 10 p.m.
Note that there’s a different show time for the light show only which is at 7.30 p.m, 8.30 p.m, and 9.30 p.m daily.
Aquaria KLCC
Aquaria KLCC is the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia and houses a massive collection of over 5,000 land and sea creatures.
It’s a great place to visit for families with children as the aquarium features an underwater tunnel where you can get up close and personal with sharks, manta rays, and other fish.
Aquaria KLCC is open daily from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Entrance tickets cost RM 75 (US$ 18.30) for tourists or RM 52 for Malaysians but they are much cheaper if you book them online. Note that tickets cost slightly more during the weekend.
CLICK HERE TO BUY DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR AQUARIA KLCC
KL Tower
A visit to the KL Tower (also known as Menara Tower) is one of the best things to do near Bukit Bintang KL. Standing at a height of 421 meters, it provides a 360-degree view over Kuala Lumpur skyline. And you can even dine in the revolving restaurant while admiring the view.
It’s open daily from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. Again I recommend that you book your tickets online to get a discount.
CLICK HERE TO BUY DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR KL TOWER
If you’re up to it, you can walk there from Bukit Bintang in less than 30 minutes or take a Grab taxi.
KL Forest Eco Park
Located just a few meters from KL Tower, KL Forest Eco Park is the only remaining rainforest in Kuala Lumpur.
Featuring several walking trails and canopy bridges, it’s a great place to visit for nature lovers or those who want to break away from the busy city life.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m and entrance costs RM 40 for tourists or RM 10 for Malaysians.
Chinatown
Another place to visit near Bukit Bintang KL is Chinatown, located about a 20-minute walk or a short train ride away.
The most popular attraction here is Petaling Street Market which sells just about anything you can think of, from fake designer goods to clothes and souvenirs.
Chinatown is also home to many colorful temples including Guan Di Temple, Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
If you love street art, I recommend visiting Kwai Chai Hong, a previously run-down back alley that is now covered with colorful and interactive murals. Other street art can be found at the River of Life waterfront and Old Kuala Lumpur Street Art.
For even more things to do, be sure to read my guide to Chinatown KL here.
Related post: What to do in Chinatown KL?
Where to Stay in Bukit Bintang?
Below are a few suggestions for where to stay in Bukit Bintang:
Budget: Gold3 Boutique Hotel is conveniently located along a little side street just a few minutes walk from Pavilion Mall and LOT 10. It’s great for budget travelers and is always quiet at night. Check latest rates here.
Mid-range: Ansa Hotel offers clean and spacious rooms, some of which overlook the KL Tower. It’s located along Bintang Walk close to the monorail and MRT station. Check latest rates here.
Luxury: Located right across the Pavilion mall, JW Marriott is a luxury hotel featuring over 700 rooms, an award-winning restaurant, gym, and swimming pool. Check latest rates here.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN BUKIT BINTANG
How to get to Bukit Bintang?
If you’re coming from the airport, you can either take the KLIA Ekspress or KLIA Transit. Both cost RM 55 for adults and RM 25 for children and you’ll be dropped off at KL Sentral (Tip: Get a discount by booking your train ticket online).
If you’re on a budget, you can instead take the bus from the airport to KL Sentral for only about RM 15.
From KL Sentral, you’ll then have to take the monorail or MRT or hire a Grab taxi to get to Bukit Bintang.
If you’re traveling with a group, you can pre-book a private airport transfer or hire a Grab taxi for about RM 65 excluding toll fees.
I hope you found this guide to the best things to do in Bukit Bintang helpful. If you have any questions, let me know in the comment section below.
Read more about Malaysia:
- How many days to spend in Singapore and Malaysia
- The best Malaysia 2-week itinerary
- 20 short trips in Malaysia
- Melaka 1 day trip itinerary
- Guide to visiting Jonker Night Market in Malacca
- Melaka street art: Complete guide + map
- Penang Itinerary guide: How many days to spend in Penang
- What to do in Ipoh + suggested itinerary
- 3 days in Langkawi: Complete guide
- How to get to Seven Wells Waterfall in Langkawi