Best neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur

6 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — what each one feels like, who it suits, and roughly what it costs.

KLCC ($$) — Petronas Towers, park and mall Best for First-timers. The towers, a proper park, and Suria mall underneath. The prestige address — glassy, convenient, expensive. Getting around: LRT KLCC + walkway to Bukit Bintang
Bukit Bintang ($$) — Shopping strip, street food lanes Best for Food + nightlife. Jalan Alor's hawker stalls and malls in every direction. Loud and commercial; the city's entertainment core. Getting around: MRT Bukit Bintang + monorail
Bangsar ($$) — Expat suburb, good restaurants Best for Dining + calm. Bangsar Village and a night market, away from the crowds. Where established expats and professionals settled. Getting around: LRT Bangsar + ride-hail
Chinatown ($) — Shophouses, temples, old rail station Best for Budget + heritage. Petaling Street, Masjid Jamek and the colonial core on foot. The oldest KL — dense, cheap, being restored around you. Getting around: LRT Pasar Seni + MRT
Brickfields ($) — Little India, transit hub Best for Transit + value. KL Sentral for the airport train, banana-leaf lunches nearby. The city's Indian quarter beside its biggest station. Getting around: KL Sentral: all lines + KLIA Ekspres
Mont Kiara ($$) — Condo towers, international schools Best for Long stays. Family apartments and supermarkets, but you will ride everywhere. Expat family belt — comfortable, and cut off from transit. Getting around: Car or ride-hail