Kuala Lumpur (KL), the dizzying, glittering capital of Malaysia, is a city where the old collides with the new, traditional with modern. Travellers taking cheap flights to Kuala Lumpur will get an advance peak of this at the international airport. The hub is ultra modern, but has a section of transplanted rain forest in its satellite building.
KL's architecture is a mix of old colonial buildings, Malay, Asian, Islamic and modern of which the most stunning is the Petronas Towers. The towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world. For a few years in the early 2000s, they were the tallest buildings in the world. To enjoy the view from the Skybridge on the 41st floor (at 170 metres), snap up one of the 1,300 timed free tickets given out each morning. The KL Tower offers fantastic views too, from 276m above ground level.
Down on the ground, KL is a great city for shoppers. The Bukit Bintang area is where most bargain hunters go. Central Market is the destination for souvenir hunters. It's a wonderful, atmospheric starting point for a walk through Chinatown (Petaling Street, home to bustling night markets, is its heart) and Little India, a bustling area of sari stalls and food stands.