Shopping

Boasting more than 70 shopping malls and priding itself on being the retail, fashion and electronics hub of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a shopper's paradise and roaming the city's malls is a popular pastime for many visitors, who consider it one of the main attractions of a visit to KL. Be sure you pack lightly and bring an extra large suitcase because you're in for a shopping marathon!

The Golden Triangle is the city's premier shopping area and is the entertainment and commercial centre of the city. Head to Bukit Bintang Street where fashion merchandise, IT goods, designer brands and electronic goods can be picked up at shopping malls such as Low Yat Plaza, Sungai Wang Plaza, Lot 10 and Times Square. The Suria KLCC is one of Malaysia's most popular shopping spots due to its location beneath the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Midvalley's Megamall in the Bangsar and Midvalley area is also a great place to browse for fashionable items.

The Art Deco Kuala Lumpur's Central Market on Jalan Hang Kasturi is a great place to buy arts and crafts, and is a popular stop on most travellers' shopping itineraries, as everything from antiques and paintings to handicrafts, clothing and quirky souvenirs can be found. Best buys include pewter, brass and silver jewellery, wood carvings, and pottery.

After rummaging through the busy Central Market, take a walk across to nearby Chinatown where everything from jewellery, herbal medicines, dried food, designer t-shirts, handbags and wallets can bargained for. Brush up on your haggling skills and don't be afraid to put on your best act when you walk away uninterested from that gorgeous handbag that'll go perfectly with that summer dress of yours.

And if all the usual shopping isn't quite enough to whet your appetite, then plan your trip to Kuala Lumpur between the beginning of July and the end of August when the official Mega Sale Carnival, kick-started by the Ministry of Tourism for Malaysia, takes place in an effort to boost Kuala Lumpur as a leading shopping destination.