13 Best Photo Spots in Kuala Lumpur That You Can’t Miss

Wondering where are the best photo spots in Kuala Lumpur? You are in the right place! I will help you discover the most beautiful places in Kuala Lumpur and make sure you get some wonderful postcards from your trip.

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most photogenic cities in Malaysia with its modern architecture & skyscrapers, street art, colorful Batu Caves, and Instagrammable cafes. This is why you want to bring your camera and take some epic photos during your trip.

My guide to the best photo spots in Kuala Lumpur is going to ensure that you don’t miss a single photo opportunity! I will share additional photography tips, the best time to see these places without crowds and help you with picking out the right lenses for Kuala Lumpur photography. Let’s get started!

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The overview of the most beautiful places in Kuala Lumpur

• Batu Caves
• Thean Hou Temple
• KLCC Park
• Kuala Lumpur City Gallery
• KL Forest Eco Park
• Kwai Chai Hong KL
• Merdeka Square
• The Federal Territory Mosque
• Perdana Botanical Gardens
• Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection
• Astaka Morocco
• Putra Mosque

Bonus: the best aesthetic cafes in Kuala Lumpur!

Best photo spots in Kuala Lumpur and photography tips

Batu Caves

Undoubtedly, Batu Caves is one of the most Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur. These colorful stairs have been posted all over social media and you don’t want to miss out. And I am here to help you create the best photos and share the best practices.

Considering the popularity of this place, you have to be prepared for crowds. The best way to avoid crowds? Visit Batu Caves during sunrise! You will certainly meet other photographers and some locals around sunrise, but it starts to get really busy around 9 am, so you have plenty of time before.

If you are looking for the right lens, a nice zoom will do magic here. I used a 100 mm lens while my photographer was standing at the edge of the square. You can also use a 50 mm lens if you want to stay down in the square. Also, don’t miss the colorful exterior of the temple, it can be a great spot if you are visiting Batu Caves when it is full of people.

Visiting the stairs is free, but there is a fee to enter the cave. The cave itself is not very picturesque but certainly worth the climb. And you can take even more photos on the stairs.

KLCC Park

Looking for the best view of Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur? Head to KLCC Park. You can combine green space together with massive skyscrapers and create some epic photos from Kuala Lumpur.

You will notice a lot of crowds in a location that is marked as a KLCC photo point, however, I suggest you head to the KLCC Swimming Pool to find the spot that you can see in the photos above. Arch Bridge KLCC is not to be missed as well. While KLCC photo point is the best place if you want to do a long exposure and photograph Petronas Towers at night.

On the other side, you will find the famous fountains with a pretty epic view of Petronas Towers as well. However, it is very crowded and there will be many people trying to sell a phone photoshoot.

The location next to the pool is one of the secret photography spots in Kuala Lumpur, so you won’t find many people there. This can be a great sunset spot where you don’t have to worry about crowds ruining your photos. A wide-angle lens is a must to capture massive towers!

Thean Hou Temple

Thean Hou Temple is another of KL’s top attractions that you have to add to your Kuala Lumpur itinerary. To be honest, this is one of the most beautiful temples that I have seen during my time in Asia and it comes with a lot of photo opportunities.

The main photo spot is right in front of the entrance. You will need some patience and a wide-angle lens. If you are visiting later in the afternoon, this spot is going to get crowded. So as an alternative, you can take the stairs to the upper part of the temple and capture the beauty from the top. You can always photograph some cute details in these colorful temples as well.

This temple is one of the prettiest places in Kuala Lumpur and it can get busy, especially when the tour buses arrive. If you can come here early in the day – great! If not, just follow my photography tip and capture the temple from the top.

Entrance fee: it is free to visit, but keep in mind the dress code when visiting a temple.

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

One of the best-hidden photography spots in Kuala Lumpur is located inside Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. It is a very cool information hub where you can learn more about the city and take some photos on the way.

My personal favorite was this colorful archway, but there are many other epic KL photography spots. Especially if you love modern art and want to create something different.

Inside the City Gallery you will find KLCG Confectionery & Bakery @Dataran Merdeka and their Suprême croissants are to die for. Perfect spot to have breakfast or fuel up after a busy morning of taking pictures of Kuala Lumpur.

Surprisingly, it is free to visit and it is not a very crowded place, so you can come here anytime. It is located next to Merdeka square which is next on the agenda of the most beautiful places in Kuala Lumpur.

Merdeka Square

Sultan Abdul Samad Building is one of the famous landmarks in Kuala Lumpur and it is located in Merdeka Square. This attraction gathers a lot of tourists every day but luckily there are multiple stops for taking photos.

The most popular spot is in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Keep in mind that there is a big and busy road right in front of the building, however, there is basically no traffic on the weekends and that is when you want to go to photograph Merdeka square.

If you have the zoom lens, you can capture some beautiful details of the building that took me back to Venice. Then spend some time strolling around the park behind the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. There you will find Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad and Masjid Jamek Lookout Point @ River of Life, which can be interesting to photograph as well.

There is no fee to visit the square, however, you cannot enter Sultan Abdul Samad Building. So you can simply admire it from the outside and take some epic Kuala Lumpur photography.

KL Forest Eco Park

Inside the KL Forest Eco Park, you find one of the famous Kuala Lumpur Instagram spots. It is another location that you have seen all over Instagram, however, it has changed since then.

In the past, you were able to capture a cool bridge in a jungle look-alike with a Kuala Lumpur skyline in the back. As of 2023, there is a tree that covers the skyline, however, it is still one of the best places to take photos in Kuala Lumpur.

You can combine it with visiting Menara Kuala Lumpur and then head to the entrance which is right in front of KL Upside Down House. Take the path on your right, follow the jungle rails, and then take the stairs down to find the exit.

The rails and the view of Menara are what you want to photograph. If you are traveling with kids, I am sure that they will be perfectly entertained while you snap some photos.

The entrance fee for foreigners is 40 MYR (8.40 EUR) and it takes around 40 minutes to visit the entire park and take photos. Keep in mind that card payments are not accepted, so bring some cash for the tickets.

Kwai Chai Hong KL

Another KL Instagram spot is located in Chinatown. Chinatown itself is very picturesque and offers a lot for street photographers, however, you want to head to Kwai Chai Hong KL.

It is a photogenic alley with interesting street art murals. You can find paintings from street scenes of KL from the 1960s and you will certainly want to photograph this unique form of art. I am not a big fan of street art normally, but I loved Kwai Chai Hong KL.

I would like to say it is one of the hidden photo spots in Kuala Lumpur, however, there are so many tours that take tourists to this place and it becomes very crowded during the day. You can still visit it any time of the day and get some great photos with a bit of patience. No need to wake up for the sunrise as the light between alleys is very poor.

You will need a wide-angle lens to capture most of these places and don’t miss some of the colorful buildings right at the entrance of Kwai Chai Hong KL. Also, there are a lot of aesthetic cafes in the area, so you can hit two birds with one stone.

The Federal Territory Mosque

The Federal Territory Mosque is located further away from the top-rated sights in Kuala Lumpur, however, it is totally worth the ride.

If you are a non-muslim, you will have to visit the mosque with a local volunteer who offers a small tour and introduces you to traditions & history. I have visited many mosques in other countries and this one was the most interesting tour so kudos to that! Also, our guide was very patient and let us take photos.

The main photo spot is right in front of the mosque. You can either capture the entire mosque and use a wide-angle lens or use a 50mm lens to picture the main part. There is a newly built skyscraper behind the mosque so a wide-angle lens certainly won’t cut it, while 50 mm works like a charm.

The tours are available every day from 10 am to 4 pm, except on Fridays – from 10 am to noon and from 2 pm to 4 pm. At the entrance, you will be asked to take off your shoes and wear an appropriate dress and hijab if you are female.

There is no entrance fee, however, I highly recommend making a donation. Especially considering how informative are the tours.

Perdana Botanical Gardens

Perdana Botanical Gardens is hands down one of the most underrated places in Kuala Lumpur for photos. Laman Perdana is the place that you see in the photo and the spot that you don’t want to miss.

But there are other interesting attractions around the park and even more epic KL photography spots. The park is huge and you can literally wander around for hours. If you are not in the mood to walk, you can hop on the tram which covers the most popular places in Perdana Botanical Gardens.

There is no entrance fee to the botanical garden, but there is a small fee for the tram. The prices vary, so just stop it and ask the driver.

Looking for more things to do in the area? Consider visiting KL Bird Park.

Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection

If you are looking for the best views in Kuala Lumpur, head to Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection. Kuala Lumpur has a lot of cool rooftop bars and restaurants, however, this is at the top of my list.

The infinity pool is accessible to customers or hotel guests. The cocktails are delicious and very affordable as well. I didn’t get to try their food, but there are some snacks available. This is hands down one of the best rooftop bars in KL.

If you are staying at the Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, you can access the pool anytime, however, the bar itself opens at 3 pm and it is one of the top places in Kuala Lumpur to take pictures at sunset.

This place hosts private events very often, so maybe give them a call just to confirm the availability before you head to Man Tao Bar.

Want to stay at the Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur? Click here to see availability and book.

Astaka Morocco

Astaka Morocco is one of the lesser-known Kuala Lumpur Instagram spots and technically it is located in Putrajaya. Putrajaya is a popular day trip option from Kuala Lumpur and it is super easy to reach it from Kuala Lumpur.

This Moroccan Pavilion is a breathtaking location where you can instantly dive into Moorish style. Every corner of the pavilion is charming and offers a lot of photo opportunities.

It is surrounded by a botanical garden of Putrajaya and you can easily wander around after visiting Astaka Morocco. There is no entrance fee but it is open from 9 am to 6 pm, so plan accordingly. Also, the best way to reach Putrajaya is by taxi or Grab.

Note! It is under construction as of 2023, however, I will update you once it is over. We saw the Pavilion with works, but we could still take some photos from the outside.

Putra Mosque

Putra Mosque is another famous attraction in Putrajaya. I was way too excited to visit Moroccan Pavilion, so I added Putra Mosque just as a bonus stop, but I ended up loving it!

Just like The Federal Territory Mosque, you will have to wear a cover that is offered at the entrance, however, there is no guide to take you around. You can visit the side of the mosque and wander around. Also, there is a bridge that leads to Putra Mosque and you can find stunning views of the mosque from there.

Together with Astaka Morocco, you can easily spend an entire afternoon in Putrajaya. There are multiple cruises available to complete your trip to Putrajaya.

Recommended gear for photography spots in Kuala Lumpur

• Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR
• Nikon Nikkor AF-S 14-24 mm f/2.8G ED
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G
• Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
• Tamron SP 70 – 200 mm f/2.8 di VC G2

In conclusion…

This is the end of the best photo spots in Kuala Lumpur and I’m sure that after reading this article you are impatient to visit Kuala Lumpur and create some unforgettable postcards.

I believe that these photography tips will help you take epic photos and find the exact locations of the popular Instagram spots in Kuala Lumpur.

I would love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any feedback or additional tips, leave a comment below. Also, check out my Instagram for regular travel videos and travel inspiration. Or explore other destinations on this travel blog.

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