Kuala Lumpur

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Just four hours drive from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur is a gem just waiting to be explored – complete with the world’s second tallest building

One of the great things about renting a car while you’re in Singapore is that there is so much to see not only on the island itself, but also just across the causeway in Malaysia.
In Malaysia you’ll find one of the most diverse cultures in Asia. People of Malay, Chinese and Indian descent make up most of the population that has been growing for the past 1500 years.

The capital city, Kuala Lumpur, or KL as most know it by, sits midway along the west coast of the Malay Peninsular. It is home to over 1.5 million people and the centre of the Malaysian nation, standing as quite a symbol to the Malay determination to build the country into a true international centre.

To get there from Singapore, all you need to do is cross the Straits of Johor at either the Woodlands Causeway, or the Tuas Second Link bridge. Once on the other side it’s as easy as following the signs on the expressway to Kuala Lumpur.

The journey will take you approximately four hours and keep in mind that you’ll need to watch your speed as the roads are of the "so-smooth-I-didn’t-realise-I-was-speeding-officer" type. And, be warned, you will get stopped as the Malaysian police are always about on this expressway!

Once in KL, the sights to see are all over the place. The city is a lot more sprawling than Singapore but the expressways are generally pretty easy to drive on as long as you don’t get stuck in the peak-hour traffic.

Another thing that makes getting around KL easy is the existence of the world’s tallest buildings – the Petronas Twin Towers. You can see these two monsters from almost everywhere in KL and once you get up to the viewing bridge that links the two, you’ll understand why.

Built in 2001 to a height of 1453-feet high, the towers are known all over the world after their star appearance in the Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones movie, Entrapment. Once you’re up on the viewing deck, take some time to have a giggle about how absurd the idea of Sean and Catherine dangling between the towers in the movie was!

For shopping, underneath the towers is the huge KLCC shopping mall where you can get lost for hours, or head out to Bangsar on weekend evenings where you’ll find a great street market with all sorts of knick-knacks to take home. Another big shopping mall worth a look is Lot 21 at Bukit Bintang.

You can find all the information for attractions at the Malaysia Tourist Information Complex, which is listed below. Other than the Petronas Twin Towers, we recommend Petaling Street, which is the centre of KL’s original Chinatown and the National Museum for a spot of Malaysian history.

KL's best sights:

Petaling Street is the site of KL’s original Chinatown. The street still holds a lot of its traditional atmosphere, especially at night when the street market opens up.

For a spot of history, try the National Museum at Jalan Travers. The Museum is built in the style of a Malay Palace and inside you’ll find a rich past that has survived invasions, colonisations and all the trappings of the modern world.

Even if you have no interest in the world’s tallest buildings, you have no choice but to see the Petronas Twin Towers. Soaring to a height of 1453-feet, you can see these things almost anywhere you go in KL.

KL tourist information:

Make the Malaysian Tourist Information Complex (MATIC) your first stop in the city. Packed with information about every State in Malaysia, you can find everything you need from history lessons to booking services.

Address: 109 Jalan Ampang (near the Petronas Twin Towers), Kuala Lumpur 50450.
Tel: +60 3 2164 3929.
Opening Hours: 9am-6pm daily.

Rent your car:

To rent a car from Avis, visit or call one of the locations listed below. Make sure you mention you are wanting to go to Malaysia.

Call Avis on +65 6737 1668 at the Singapore downtown location, or +65 6542 8855 at the airport. Alternitively, book online by clicking the "Rent your car" link above.