12 Most Instagrammable Places in Kuala Lumpur & Selangor

Let’s face it — you’ve clicked on this article most likely because you haven’t posted on Instagram in months. Photographer or not, you’re probably in the mood to explore the city too. Lucky for you, I’m here to help you out. Here are 12 Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to take the prettiest pictures for your social media feed. 

Also read: 18 Gorgeous Airbnbs in Kuala Lumpur You’ll Want to Live In

Must-see Instagrammable spots in KL and Selangor

1. Batu Caves

Located in Gombak, this famed spot has been visited by tourists and locals alike for the giant golden statue of Lord Murugan at the entrance and the 272 steps leading up to the cave temples that await you once you enter. After its grand renovation in 2018, the steps have been repainted into a vibrant array of hues that resemble the colours of the rainbow. No surprise why it’s now one of the top Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur!  

If you want to make the most of your picture-taking experience, come early in the morning (a little after sunrise) to avoid the crowds and the heat. Be careful of the wild monkeys too, and for those with heart problems, take caution when climbing the steps. 

There is also a dress code to be followed: For women, long pants, t-shirts with long skirts and make sure your shoulders are covered. If need be, you can rent sarongs there. As for men, just wear t-shirts and pants. 

Batu Caves is accessible via car, Grab, and KTM (tickets can be purchased at KL Sentral KTM Station, costing RM2.60 [SG$0.82] per ticket). 

2. Thean Hou Temple

Managed by local Hainanese communities, the Thean Hou Temple provides impeccable views of the city and its own smaller attractions within the temple. In its heart, the main prayer hall houses altars where people can pay respects to three Chinese deities: Shui Wei Sheng Niang, Tian Hou, and Guan Yin. 

Children can watch turtles in the turtle ponds within the compound, and Buddhists who cross the Fortune Bridge will get sprinkled with water by monks. You can stop by their medicinal herb garden too!

At Thean Hou, you can take your pictures with the abundance of Chinese lanterns, the temple’s pagodas and the 21 animal statues that represent the Chinese zodiac. Like with Batu Caves, it’s recommended to come early in the morning to savour the peaceful atmosphere. While there is no dress code, do dress appropriately still. 

Thean Hou is best accessible via Grab and by car. 

3. BookXcess, RexKL

For all the bibliophiles and book lovers out there, this one’s for you. If you’ve wanted to visit an aesthetically pleasing bookstore in the city, come to BookXcess in RexKL. BookXcess has always been known for their gorgeous bookstores and interior. But here at RexKL, they take it to a whole new level with their floor-to-ceiling shelves stuffed with (in)finite cubicles of books. 

Converted from Rex Cinema in Kuala Lumpur, the bookstore features a unique design we can’t help but appreciate. With its corners and stairs, the bookstore feels like a maze! Book lovers should be ecstatic to know that 80,000 books are hosted here, with the addition of hidden reading spots and art pieces littered throughout the space. As I said, make every corner your photoshoot! 

RexKL is easily accessible via MRT (Merdeka Station, Pasar Seni) and LRT (Pasar Seni). However, due to limited parking space, I recommend taking a Grab if you want to go there by car. 

4. NuSentral

Among all the Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur, this one is arguably one of the most unique. Connected to KL Sentral, a public transportation hub, NuSentral is an Instagram-worthy mall, but it is not the mall you should be taking pictures at. It’s their famed escalators that makes it a great Instagrammable place. 

You can use this Instagram hotspot as the ultimate urban backdrop. OOTD pictures would look great against the sleek architecture and during the afternoon, plenty of natural light comes through the panels, casting shadows across the floor. You can pose on the escalator, but do be careful and watch your step!

NuSentral is directly accessible via KL Sentral, but if you want the escalators all to yourself while you take your pictures, just come during off-peak hours. Once you’re done, you can check out the mall and shops afterwards!

5. Astaka Morocco (The Moroccan Pavilion)

If you want a piece of Morocco but can’t afford a flight ticket at the moment, come to Astaka Morocco in Putrajaya. It’s located inside Putrajaya Botanical Gardens, and features a lake in the background and beautiful Moroccan architecture. 

Originally built to commemorate the country’s ties to Morocco, the Pavilion’s intricate designs feature the skilled workmanship of Moroccan artists. The place smells of cedarwood, and every gallery here is individually modelled after Morocco’s major cities. You can take pictures underneath the gorgeous archways and afterwards, or explore the rest of the Botanical Gardens (another Instagrammable place) for more pictures. 

The Moroccan Pavilion is accessible via KLIA Transit, but it is recommended to travel there by car instead. In terms of entrance fees, adults may have to pay RM3 (SGD$0.95) or RM1 (SGD$0.32) for students. 

6. Masjid Putra, Putrajaya

In the same area as the Moroccan Pavilion, you can also check out the Putrajaya Mosque for a great photo op. Also known as the Pink Mosque, the Masjid Putra sits on the edge of the lake with its beautiful rose pink exterior. Altogether it’s one of the best places in Selangor for a gorgeous picture. 

As a visitor, you can take many shots of the architecture and peaceful scenery, and stroll around the compound outside of the mosque. It is recommended to come at sunset, so you can get a reflection of the mosque over the lake. While admission is free of charge, non-Muslims are only allowed to visit outside of prayer times, but do be respectful of what you can and cannot do at the mosque. 

Visitors are required to follow a dress code and code of conduct. Female visitors are required to go to the robe counter and don a pink robe with a hood to cover themselves. Shoes can be worn outside of the main prayer hall, but you must take them off upon entering. 

The Masjid Putra is accessible via KL Transit too, but as stated before, it’s better to drive yourself here.

Also read: 26 Attractions in Putrajaya That You Shouldn’t Miss

7. Saloma Link Bridge

When you’re at KLCC taking candids with the Petronas Twin Towers, it’s recommended you stop by the Saloma Link Bridge (or the Pintasan Saloma) for more pictures. The bridge sits right in between Lorong Raja Muda Musa 3 in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur and Jalan Saloma, which is located near KLCC in the same city. It is one of the newest Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur. 

During the day, you get to enjoy views of Petronas Twin Tower here, but at night, the tunnel lights up with the colours of the Malaysian flag splayed across its side, which is a real sight to behold!

The Saloma Link Bridge technically is more crowded at night, but it’s worth the visit regardless. As for the daytime, come early in the morning to have more space to take your pictures. It’s also easily accessible via LRT from both sides: the Kampung Baru LRT Station and KLCC LRT Station (walk past Public Bank and into Jalan Saloma). 

8. KL Forest Eco Park

For the nature lovers out there: if you’ve been meaning to look for a fresh green background for your pictures, then the KL Forest Eco Park is perfect for you. It is located next to the famous KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur and it’s a tropical rainforest smack dab in the middle of the city. 

The Park is also known as one of Malaysia’s oldest forest reserves. Visitors can enjoy miles upon miles of natural greenery, tropical tree species and various flora. A famed spot for pictures is at the suspension bridges within the park, as well as along the trails scattered throughout the area. 

While KL Forest Eco Park might be a picturesque location, visitors need to take caution, as there could be wild monkeys, birds and snakes roaming around. In addition, since there are steep forest trails and a ladder section, visitors should wear casual clothing or sports attire, as well as hiking wear and sports shoes. 

To get to KL Forest Eco Park, you can take a car or you can go by foot via LRT (Dang Wangi station for the Kelana Jaya Line and Masjid Jamek station for the Ampang Line) and Monorail (stop at Bukit Nanas station). 

9. Kwai Chai Hong, KL

When you’re at Kwai Chai Hong, you need to make sure your phones and cameras are fully-charged because you’re going to want to take a lot of pictures while you’re here. It originally started as a restoration project comprising 10 traditional shophouses and a laneway connecting Jalan Petaling and Lorong Panggung in Kuala Lumpur. Nowadays, it’s one of the most Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur!

Here, you can take pictures with the six murals within the laneway. The whole space is a love letter to the 1960s, with the art depicting the day-to-day lives of those who lived in Chinatown during that era as well as important events throughout local history. Visitors can scan the QR codes on the walls for an immersive experience, which includes voice notes connected to each mural. 

To come here, you can travel on foot via the Pasar Seni LRT and the Pasar Seni MRT. Coming early in the morning would be best if you want to avoid the crowd. You can also stop by the plethora of cafes and restaurants within Chinatown for lunch.

Also read: 15 Best Cafes in Kuala Lumpur That Will Light Up Your Socials

10. Elmina Valley Central Park

If the Saloma Link Bridge from before couldn’t fix your cravings for a picture with a cool bridge, then you can come to Elmina Valley Central Park, located at Shah Alam in Selangor. Here, you can feast your eyes on not one, but two iconic Instagrammable spots: the colourful Elmina Rainbow Walkway and the Elmina Iconic Bridge.

When you first enter the park, you can spot the Elmina Iconic Bridge in its sunset-hued glory. This bridge also lights up at night, and many have claimed that the interior resembles the Torii Gates in Kyoto, Japan. As for the Elmina Rainbow Walkway, it’s like a massive rainbow slinky toy that can easily brighten up any photo with its never-ending rainbow gradient. 

But your Instagram adventures don’t stop there — come down to the actual park which has a playground, a fitness station and abundant space catered to all ages. Just kick back, relax at one of the best places Selangor has to offer and enjoy your day away from the chaos of city life. 

As Elmina Valley Central Park is located 25km from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the most convenient way to reach it is by car. 

11. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum & Art Gallery

Do you remember those dramatic scenes in movies where the protagonist is running for their lives down a never-ending staircase? Well here at Bank Negara Malaysia Museum & Art Gallery, you can easily recreate that at this Instagrammable place with the help of their Nautilus Staircase. 

As dramatic as stairs can be, you can take the shot from a high angle to showcase the stairs’ spiral effect and pretend to have fallen. It’s no wonder why it’s a popular Instagrammable spot, especially with its semi-geometrical lines. 

Being a museum and art gallery, visitors can also explore the exhibits here after taking their photos! There are six galleries to discover and even more photo-friendly spots, like the RM1 Million Tunnel, Art Gallery and the Giant Newspaper exhibit! 

12. Perdana Botanical Gardens

If I said the Perdana Botanical Gardens were huge, it would be a massive understatement. This place comes with a lot of lovely sights and outdoor activities. There are tons of ideal locations at this Instagrammable place where you can get your pictures taken. 

A famous Instagrammable spot is Laman Perdana, which sits right in the centre of the main garden. Many people come here for the geometrical canopies that provide shade from the sun, and the candid backdrops that can be found here. There are also gardens aplenty and several playgrounds for you to clear your head and simply enjoy the verdant scenery. 

Not only that, but there are other attractions too: A deer park, a butterfly park, the national planetarium, a national monument and a bird park. While Perdana Botanical Gardens are generally free to visit, the listed attractions all come with their entry fees. There are also rental fees if you want to cycle around the park or use the rowing boats on the lake. 

While you can drive here, it’s better to travel on foot from KL Sentral if you want the full experience. The park is directly connected to Muzium Negara, which is accessible via MRT (Muzium Negara Station), which in turn, is connected to KL Sentral (LRT) and NuSentral. 

Also read: Where to Travel in Malaysia: Top Destinations from Every State in the Country

There are many Instagrammable places in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor that you can pose in front of. It’s only about a matter of time before you hit enough landmarks to build your album. Just don’t forget to bring your camera! 

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Featured image credit: Deva Darshan | Unsplash