Central Market

Central Market (Pasar Seni in Malay) started off as a humble wet market in the heart of the city center back in the 1940s. It has evolved a great deal since then and now it stands firm as the landmark which symbolizes all the culture and heritage of our multi-racial country.

You will immediately notice that the theme of the market is based solely on the various cultures in Malaysia. The shops here are divided based on the groups of races. Representing each of the races in Malaysia are the Straits Chinese, the Lorong Melayu and Lorong India.

There is also a street which represents the Baba and Nyonya community in the state of Malacca. The Central Market is full of stalls which sell handicrafts which are all locally made.

You can purchase batik, songket, wood carvings, souvenirs, accessories and much more here. If you get tired or hungry in the midst of all the shopping, do not fret. There are myriads of eating places where you can dine at and take a rest.

Once you have filled your stomach and taken the much needed rest, you can move on to the second floor. This floor mainly sells garments and has a few souvenir stalls. There are other activities at the Central Market which are usually held at the stage outside the market.

Art and cultural performances are held every now and then to attract visitors as well as to expose them to the uniqueness of our society. The latest addition to the market is the Annexe Gallery which exhibits contemporary works of our local artists. If you are looking for a place to put up for the night after a long day at the Central Market, there are many hotels in Kuala Lumpur. One of the nearest hotels which you can go to is the Ancasa Hotel & Spa Kuala Lumpur.

Getting There

You can always drive to Central Market but it is so crowded there. If you do not mind getting stuck in the jam, you may opt to drive. The better option would be via the LRT. Get on the Kelana Jaya Line and make your way to the Pasar Seni LRT Station. After a few minutes of walking, you will reach Central Market.

Kuala Lumpur is served by Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Airport located around 50 km from the Kuala Lumpur city center. Besides buses and taxis, the Express Rail Link is the latest means of transportation to KLIA from the city centre. The KLIA Express and the KLIA Transit links KLIA to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral - City Air Terminal) and vice-versa.

There are more than 50 airlines operating in KLIA (including charters and seasonals). To name but a few are Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International.

Attractions in Kuala Lumpur