Things to do in Kuala Lumpur: Three-minute guide

WHY

Incense-swathed temples, frenzied hawker markets, towering sky scrapers and more collide in the sultry capital of Malaysia. Shopping and eating are locals' favourite pastimes, but there's more to the city than just satay and retail therapy. Browse an open-air flea market, join the locals exercising in the cool morning air at the lush KL Forest Eco Park (visitkl.gov.my) – the city's last surviving tract of tropical rainforest – and soak up sensational views of KL's skyline from the observation deck of Kuala Lumpur Tower (menarakl.com.my).

VISIT

Kuala Lumpur's landmark Central Market (centralmarket.com.my), formerly a wet market, is worth a mosey, with vendors selling handicrafts, art, clothing and more. The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park (klbirdpark.com) is home to more than 3000 exotic birds including flamingos, peacocks and macaws. Come sundown grab a cocktail at the super hip Marini's on 57 (marinis57.com; reservations recommended), Malaysia's highest rooftop bar, for stellar views of the glittering Petrona Towers.

EAT

If you love hawker food, you've come to the right place. Come dusk, bustling food stalls cram the atmospheric Petaling Jalan (street) area in China Town lined with pre-war shop houses. Try delicious fried noodles, beef noodle soup, roast duck and Portuguese grilled fish. Here you'll also find the charming Old China Cafe (oldchina.com.my/cafe.html), an expat favourite, serving up authentic Peranakan cuisine. You can sample everything from frog's porridge, sizzling satay and more at the city's largest collection of roadside hawker stalls along Jalan Alor (go after 5pm). Gyuniku Signature in Central Market (see above), meanwhile, is renowned for its saute peppered brisket and tendon rice and mixed beef kwai teow soup, served up on enamel crockery.

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