Book the Petronas walkway ahead

The skybridge and observation deck of the Petronas Towers sell a fixed number of timed tickets a day and they go early. Book online before you fly, not at the counter. Sunset slots vanish first. For the photograph of the towers themselves, the KLCC park fountains opposite, after dark, beat any deck.

The afternoon downpour is reliable

Equatorial Malaysia runs hot and humid all year, and most days build to a heavy hour of rain in the late afternoon that clears as fast as it came. Plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning, the malls or a long lunch for around three, and carry a small umbrella. The rain is part of the rhythm, not a ruined day.

Eat where three cuisines meet

Malaysia's food is Malay, Chinese and Indian layered together. Laksa, char kway teow, banana-leaf rice, roti canai for breakfast. The hawker stalls and kopitiams beat the hotel restaurants every time. Point at what the queue is eating; the busiest stall is busy for a reason, and a meal rarely runs past a few ringgit.