The street-side stalls aren’t the only thing to see at Petaling Street

Petaling Street in the heart of KL’s Chinatown is famous for its flea market that is spread out like a cross-section. It’s a very touristy place indeed, but things around the flea market may interest you. I love walking around to discover interesting street art murals by talented artists, hidden speakeasy bars that have unique interiors, and temples of the 4 major religions in Malaysia – Islam, Buddhist, Hindu & Christian.

Dress comfortably as you might get pretty sweaty in the tropical heat. Also, be extra careful of pickpockets. Walk around the old shop lots, and you’ll find some cool hidden cafés and streets for the perfect photo op.

The best time to visit this area will be around 10am after having your local breakfast or around 4pm when the sun is not too strong (provided that you don’t drive there at this hour cause the traffic can be very scary).

One of the four entrances to Petaling Street.

Look out for street art murals along the way – some by local artists, and others by Ernest Zacharevic, who’s well-known for his street art in Penang.

There are also temples that you can explore around Petaling Street. 

You can just walk around the old shops and explore some unique traditional architecture all around this area.