Bored of the Malls? Check Out These 23 Cheap & Free Places in KL Where You Can Hang Out
20 Feb 2023
Are you bored of the malls and out of wit about where to hang out next? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. From art galleries and museums to parks, there's something for everyone on this list. Here are 23 cheap & free places in KL where you can hang out without burning a hole in your wallet!
On the other hand, if you want to laze around and relax, no problemo buddy! Because there are some scenic parks here, like the Botanical Garden, Saujana Hijau Park and Agriculture Heritage Park. You can even enjoy a picnic with your family and friends by the lake.
Another scenic park in the heart of KL. Perdana Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest parks in Malaysia. This free hang-out place is also a famous wedding photography spot! (soon to be married👰🤵 couples, take note!)
tripsavvy.comThere are a couple of places that you can visit here, such as the 🌺Hibiscus Garden, Sunken Garden and Herbarium. There is also a 🦌Deer Park that you can go to if you are starting to miss the deers in Nara, Japan already. On top of that, The Perdana Botanical Gardens compound is so large that you will need more than 1 day to explore every corner of it.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 7am - 8pm 📍Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga, Tasik Perdana, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Get a better overview of Malaysia's history and culture when you visit the National Museum of Malaysia a.k.a Muzium Negara. The ticket is cheap, only RM2 for adults, so the price should not be an excuse for you to not visit the museum.
izrylwilsonMuzium Negara RASMIThere are many historical artefacts displayed in this cheap hang-out place. Which makes it a must-visit for students to understand better what they what they learned during sejarah class at school. Located next to this museum is an Orang Aslimuseum, don't forget to visit it when you are here alright! (especially if you are bored of the malls in KL)
Admission: Malaysia Citizens Adults - RM2 High School Students Dressed In Uniform - Free
High School Students Not Dressed In Uniform - RM2
Children (12 years old & below) - Free
International Council of Museums Members (ICOM) - Free
Non-Malaysians
Adults - RM5 Children (5 years old & below) - Free Children (6 to 12 years old) - RM2 Adults (18 years old to 60 years old) - RM2 International Council of Museums Members (ICOM) - Free
⏰ Hours: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm (Opens daily except on the first Mon of each month), closed on the first two days of Raya Aidil Fitri and the first day of Raya Aidil Adha 📍Address: Jabatan Muzium Malaysia, Jln Damansara, Perdana Botanical Gardens, 50566 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
4. Central Market
izzsabrina
Previously a wet market, the Art Deco-style building of the Central Market was completed in 1937. However, the wet market itself was founded during the colonial era in 1888. Central Market was then transformed into an art market in the 1980s and classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society.
centralmarketkualalumpursofiiahsharimanMost shops here mainly sell souvenirs like trinkets for tourists to bring home, but if you walk towards the end, you will find artworks and paintings 🎨painted by local artists. You can even get your portrait done by an artist on the spot! If you want to try being an artist instead, there is a batik painting workshop where you can paint your own batik!
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 10am - 8 pm 📍Address: Lot 3.04-3.06, 06, Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Travel back to the 1960s golden era of KL Chinatown here at Kwai Chai Hong. This place will give the older generations a pang of nostalgia and the younger generations a place to 🤳selfie until their phone storages are full! With so many beautiful murals and art installations, you will never run out of backgrounds for a picture-perfect Instagram post! You can also hop from one cafe to another, as there are many hipster cafes around the Chinatown area.
Our national planetarium was built with 🕌Islamic architecture to reflect early Islam’s astronomy achievements. This cheap place provides a good learning experience for adults and kids to learn about 💫🚀space.
Some of the exhibits & experiences available here are the 👩🚀anti-gravity room and the life-in-space exhibits (where you can try to get yourself zipped up in a space sleeping bag). You can also get on a space pod simulator and pretend to fly a 🚀NASA spacecraft, and many more.
The National Science Centre is spacious, and kids will love this place. From the 🐠underwater tunnel to the 🦕🦖dinosaur park to other science exhibits, everything here is so interesting that spending 1 whole day here might not be enough!
This domed building has many interactive exhibits and fun games and tricks to be experimented with (this will surely bring out the inner child of the adults!) This place is a 💎hidden gem because despite so many activities here, the ticket is so cheap!
P.s: The ticket counter closes at 4pm.
Admission: Child (6 years old & below) - Free Child (7 to 12 years old) - RM2 Adult (13 years old & above) - RM3
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm (Fri closed) 📍Address: Persiaran Bukit Kiara Bukit Damansara, Bukit Kiara, 50662 Kuala Lumpur
Many 👲🏻Chinese here already know this place. It is a huge Hainanese temple dedicated to the goddess Mazu. Your religion doesn't matter because everyone is welcome to enter and walk around this temple. This temple boasts some impressive architecture with Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism influences.
The intricate details can be seen mainly on the ceilings, pillars, prayer hall and roofs. As for the outside of the temple, there are equally interesting exhibits. This temple frequently changes its theme each year to reflect the particular year’s zodiac.There are also souvenir shops at the lower ground of the temple that sell Chinese trinkets and other Buddhist statues.
⏰ Hours: 8.00 am - 8.00 pm 📍Address: 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Previously a cinema, it has now transformed into an urban art space. This free admission place is a creative art market/bazaar that comes with a food court on the ground floor. Sometimes there will be local 🎸🎤buskers serenading the crowd with 🎶popular tunes.
hellorexklThis is also a place where you can feast your eyes on homemade bags, vintage books, antique stamp collections and so forth. Overall, RexKL is a nice place to relax and chill with your friends or date.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 8am - 12am (Mon - Thurs), 8am - 10pm (Fri - Sun) 📍Address: 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Also known as the JFKL Library, it is located next to Mid Valley Megamall and is connected by a bridge. Anyone can enter and browse the materials here, but only members can borrow the 📚books back home.
missklsingapore.com
All the materials are related to 🎌Japan and its culture. They are all available in Japanese and English languages. This free-entry library is a good weekend hang-out spot for 📕book lovers and parents who want a peaceful and quiet weekend (without the kids organising a sibling ⚔️war).
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm (Sun & Mon closed) 📍Address:18th Floor, Block B, Northpoint, No. 1, Medan Syed Putra Selatan, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
Another urban art space to hang out at is in The Zhongshan Building is a free entry place where you will find many like-minded people. There are some shops selling merchandises like stationeries and scents. You can also enjoy a cup of ☕coffee with the 🥨🥯pastry of your choice at one of the cafes here.
Admission: Free
📍Address: Jalan Kampung Attap, 80 - 84, Jalan Rotan, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
12. Royal Museum (Muzium Diraja)
*This museum is temporarily closed until the end of 2024.
What if we tell you that you can walk inside a royal palace freely? The Royal Museum was formerly the Agong’s official residence until 2011 when a new palace was constructed and ready to house the royal family. Before it was converted into a royal museum, tourists only got to take 📸photos at the front of the gate with the 🐎horses and 💂♂️guards (something like an episode from Mr Bean but please don't be like Mr Bean).
Catch a glimpse into the private life of the royal family, as you pass by a series of 🛌bedrooms, a dining hall, a study room and other rooms. The annexe building next to the museum boasts a great collection of exhibits, such as royal costumes worn by the King and Queen and some personal belongings & collections.
Admission: Malaysians Children (5 & below) - Free Children (6 to 12 years old) - RM2 Adults - RM5 Senior Citizens - RM3 OKU/Handicapped - RM3 Students - RM2 (in uniform), RM3 (without uniform 13 to 17 years old)
Non-Malaysians Children (5 & below) - Free Children (6 to 12 years old) - RM5
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm 📍Address: Jln Istana, Istana Negara, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
13. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (Muzium Kesenian Islam Malaysia)
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is the first and largest museum in Southeast Asia that is dedicated to 🕌Islamic art. This museum with cheap entry fees focuses mainly on Islamic architecture and ceramics. Exhibits here are well explained in 2 languages, English and Bahasa Malaysia.
There are also miniature dioramas of famous mosques from around the world where you can take a closer look at the details. The manuscripts and jewellery artefacts are among the crowd’s favourites. It is a perfect place to visit if you are bored with the malls and want to understand more about Islam.
Admission: Children (6 years old & below) - Free Adults - *RM14 Students (with ID) - *RM7 Senior Citizens (55 years old & above) - RM7
*Tickets are priced at RM12 and 6 repsectively when special galleries are closed
⏰ Hours: 9.30am - 6.00pm 📍Address: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Jalan Lembah, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Art lovers are going to 😍love this because this gallery is free entry! It showcases contemporary artworks by Malaysian artists.Plus, it's located at a convenient location, just a few minutes walk away from 🚆LRT and 🚌bus stops.Oftentimes, you'll find talks, forums, workshops, cross-disciplinary projects and cultural performances conducted in the KL City Gallery too.
On top of that, if you are a foodie, there is a cafe with mouth-watering pastries and desserts! It's the perfect place to go when you're tired of wandering aimlessly through the endless corridors of the mall.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm (Tue closed) 📍Address: 27, Jln Raja, Dataran Merdeka, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
The Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is a free-entry place where you can learn about the art and craft of pewter-making while indulging in some shiny exhibits. You'll see how pewters are manufactured and crafted, and even try your hand at it! (but this one needs to pay lah).
If all the state-of-art pewters aren't enough for you, there's also a cafe where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some delicious ?food and ☕drinks while reminiscing on the beautiful pewters that you've seen. Best of all, admission to the museum tour is free, making it a budget-friendly option for a fun and educational outing. So if you're tired of the mall, head to the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. Your inner craftsperson will love it.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm 📍Address: 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Experience the beauty and peacefulness of traditional Indian culture while indulging in some mesmerizing architecture and decorations at Shree Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. You can marvel at the ornate carvings and sculptures, and even witness traditional Hindu rituals.
On top of that, there are many beautiful photo spots where you can take 📸pictures but please be respectful because this is a holy place for the Hindus. If you happen to wear a pair of shorts, you can get a dhoti at the entrance to cover up your leg. So to avoid the hassle, please dress appropriately (no revealing clothes please).
⏰ Hours: 8am - 12pm, 4pm - 8pm 📍Address: Lot 68, 69, Jalan Kasipillay, Kampung Kasipillay, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Freeze! 🙌Hands up! Because we are taking you to the Royal Malaysia Police Museum! This museum offers a chance to learn about the history and evolution of law enforcement in Malaysia while indulging in some exhibits and displays. In the museum, you'll have the opportunity to see 👮♀️👮♂️vintage police uniforms and 🔫weapons and learn about the various roles and responsibilities of the 🚔police.
You can even pose for 📸photos with life-sized mannequins of not-so-menacing-looking police officers that look like they are posing like a model on the Vogue magazine cover. This museum is free-entry, so you don't have to spend a single penny on the admission fee. If you're looking to ditch the same old boring malls, we suggest heading to the Royal Malaysia Police Museum.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 9am - 5pm | 10am - 12:30pm, 3pm - 6pm (Fri) | Mon closed 📍Address: 5, Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
If you're in the mood to get creative and are looking for a cheap or free outing in Kuala Lumpur, consider checking out the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex. It is a small gallery with great exhibits where you can experience traditional Malaysian crafts while indulging in creative pursuits.
There are many beautiful Malaysian handicrafts showcased here, especially batik pieces. You'll learn a lot about the work of local artisans and various crafts on display. In addition to the crafts displayed, there is also a shop on site where you can purchase handmade crafts and souvenirs. Best of all, admission to the complex is free, making it a budget-friendly option for a fun and educational outing.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 9am - 6pm 📍Address: Kompleks Kraf, 5, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Ok, this is a little bit of cheating for this list because it is located near a mall, but hey! KLCC Park is not inside the mall, so it should be counted as one of the 23 cheap & free places in KL where you can hang out. This beautiful park offers a chance to relax and unwind while taking in the stunning views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding cityscape. In addition to its picturesque surroundings, the park also features a variety of amenities, including walking and jogging paths, a children's 🛝playground and a pool where you can swim with the KLCC building as a backdrop! How cool! Best of all, admission to the park is free, making it a budget-friendly option for a relaxing and enjoyable outing.
At night you can enjoy the Symphony Lake Water Show where you can watch fountains dancing to beautiful LED lights and traditional local 🎵music. The light & sound water music show starts at 8pm, 9pm & 10pm daily, whereas the light-only water show is 7:30pm, 8:30pm & 9:30pm daily.
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 10am - 10pm 📍Address: KLCC, Lot No. 241, Level 2, Suria, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Located in the heart of the city, this vibrant destination offers a chance to experience the local scene of street mural art. LOL, we really don't know why it's labelled as God bless on google. This street art mural heaven is situated at the back lanes between Jalan Alor and Changkat Bukit Bintang.
carmentannjw
Every little space is covered with hand-painted murals and is 📸Instagrammable too! You can easily spend more than 1 hour (or more) here because there is so much art for you to snap your OOTD pictures. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the local art scene, add The Art Street in Changkat to your list of cheap and free places to visit in KL.
Admission: Free
📍Address: Jln Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 City, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
If you're in the mood for some art and are looking for a budget-friendly outing in Kuala Lumpur, consider checking out the UR-MU art gallery. Ur-Mu stands for Urban Museum. It is a quirky contemporary art museum transformed from a few old low-cost residential units. There are 6 levels (including the ground floor) with 10 themed gallery spaces in this museum. If you are wondering why you've never heard of this museum, we can tell you that it's because this museum just opened its door in 2022.
On the gallery tour, you'll have the opportunity to browse a variety of artworks by Malaysian and other Asian artists. The cheap entry fee makes it a budget-friendly option for a good choice for a cultural outing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the local and Asian art scenes.
Admission: Child (12 years and under) - Free Adult - RM10 Students (with ID) - RM5 Senior Citizens (60 years and above) - RM5 OKU/Handicapped - RM5
⏰ Hours: 10am - 8:30pm (Mon closed) 📍Address: 3, Jalan Bedara, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
If you're in the mood for some peace and tranquillity and are looking for a budget-friendly outing in Kuala Lumpur, consider checking out the Federal Territory Mosque. This stunning mosque offers a chance to experience the beauty and peacefulness of traditional Islamic architecture while indulging in some spiritual contemplation.
This 22-year-old mosque blends the Ottoman and Malay architectural styles with heavy influence from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Its 22 domes are made from glass fibre fabric and epoxy resin composite, making it durable and light. There are also tour guides offering a free tour around the mosque. 🚗Parking is abundant and free too!
⏰ Hours: 10am - 4pm | 10am - 12pm, 3 - 5pm (Fri) 📍Address: Jln Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kompleks Kerajaan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
23. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG)
This unique museum is a perfect place to visit if you want to learn about the history and development of Malaysia's 💵🤑financial system while indulging in some seriously interesting exhibits and displays. On the museum tour, you'll have the opportunity to see vintage currency and coins, learn about the role of the central bank in Malaysia, and have lots of Instagrammable spots.
The BNM MAG has 4 floors and features several art galleries and exhibitions. Best of all, admission to the museum and art galleries is free, making it a budget-friendly option for a fun and educational outing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about Malaysia's financial system!
Admission: Free
⏰ Hours: 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm (Mon closed) 📍Address: Sasana Kijang, 2, Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Seriously, why hang out at the mall when you can hang out at these 23 cheap & free places in KL. Not only can you save your wallet from getting a hole, but you can also elevate your mood by saving ?money! If you like our recommendations, make sure to follow our Facebookand Instagram for more!