Located in the center of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang is one of Southeast Asia’s premier fashion and entertainment districts, known for its palm-lined sidewalks, luxury shopping, and gastronomical offerings. The metropolitan borough dazzles with towering shopping centers that are home to some of the world’s best-known luxury brands. It’s also famous for its street-food stalls serving Malaysian culinary favorites, including steaming stir-fries and fragrant grilled satay. When the sun sets over this tropical retail mecca, the streets come alive with a thriving nightlife that covers the spectrum from laid-back pubs and karaoke bars to music-pumping clubs and sprawling night markets. The wider city of Kuala Lumpur offers all the trappings of a major metropolitan area, including shopping, cultural, and entertainment options.

Kuala Lumpur’s proximity to the equator means year-round weather conditions in the city remain consistent, with minor variations. The city’s tropical climate experiences hot temperatures and high humidity, with relatively moderate rainfall in the summer. Conversely, the winters bring wetter conditions, roughly doubling the amount of rain compared to the summer, which tapers in spring — ensuring the need for a light waterproof layer no matter what time of year you visit. Thanks to its diverse population, Kuala Lumpur hosts a variety of celebrations, holidays, and religious gatherings throughout the year. The Chinese New Year in February, the Songkran water festival for Thai New Year in April, and the Buddhist Wesak Day in May enliven the city streets with colorful displays and festive gatherings.

Jalan Alor

This iconic thoroughfare in the heart of Bukit Bintang is one of the top spots for street food in all of Malaysia. Locals flock to Jalan Alor for its selection of noodle dishes, satays, and fried sweets representing culinary traditions from across the globe. The endless rows of vendors and huge al fresco seating plazas under strings of red paper lanterns set you up for an unforgettable evening.

Berjaya Times Square

This 48-story shopping complex hosts more than 1,000 retail spaces housing luxury fashion brands and high-end electronics alongside boutiques selling local wares and handcrafted goods. In addition to the shopping, you’ll find more than 60 restaurants and food vendors and an indoor amusement park spanning three floors.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple

As the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the religious center of Malaysia’s Hindi population. Vibrantly painted sculptures and intricate carvings of gods and deities adorn the surface of the temple, constructed in the traditional South Indian Gopuram style. Visitors can explore the tiled interior, where religious followers regularly leave offerings for the goddess of rain to whom the temple is dedicated.