Off-Track Activities – 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant city with lots to offer visiting F1 fans. Here are the best things to do away from the track. The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at Sepang Circuit on October 2-4.

Malaysia F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences / Kuala Lumpur Hotels / Malaysia F1 Facebook Group

• The ‘2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia’ is scheduled from October 2-4
• Learn more about Malaysia’s surprise return to the 2026 F1 calendar here
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Be sure to plan at least a day or two either side of the race to experience the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia with its great shopping, sightseeing and dining. The best place to stay is downtown near the Golden Triangle area, also known as KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre), which is the entertainment hub of the city and home to some of the city’s best known landmarks.

Bukit Bintang

For the best street food, restaurants, cafes and bars in KL, head to the neon strip of Bukit Bintang, a great place to unwind after a long day at the track. Some of the best restaurants are on Chulan Square and Bintang Walk, while Jalan Alor offers the best street food.  Good pubs and clubs are everywhere in Bukit Bintang, as well as nearby Bukit Ceylon and Jalan P. Ramlee such as Havana Bar & Grill and Pisco Bar. There’s also plenty of shopping to be done here with malls such as Pavilion Bukit Bintang and Low Yat Plaza which is a go-to for tech lovers. 

Chinatown

Further afield, visit KL’s Chinatown district, a vibrant area day and night. Go for budget eats and haggle for a bargain at the night market on Petaling Street. Also nearby is the Central Market (Pasar Seni), a beautiful old building best for souvenir shopping and hawker food and the Little India district, which serves the best curries in the city. Admire the beautiful colonial buildings in this historic district of KL and visit Merdeka Square, the site of Malaysian independence in 1957. Stop by REXKL, an arts and culture hub located in a restored cinema building dating back from the late 1940s. For drinks with a great view of the city’s skyline, head to Upper House, a rooftop bar hidden within Petaling Street and Concubine, a fusion bar located in a historical heritage shophouse building for cocktails and a delicious Asian fusion menu. 

Petronas Twin Towers

At 452 metres and 88 stories each, the Petronas Twin Towers jointly held the title of the world’s tallest building between their completion in 1999 and the end of 2003. It used to be difficult to visit the skybridge (170 metres) and observation deck (360 metres) with no prebooking available and a limited number of tickets available each day, which always sold out. Luckily, it’s much easier now as tickets can be bought online up to a year in advance  – the number of tickets is still limited however, so don’t forget to buy your tickets well in advance. General admission ickets for foreigners cost from 127 MYR ($31 USD) for adults and 65 RM for children and can be purchased for visiting times between 9am-10:30pm daily. Click here to buy tickets.

KLCC

The Suria KLCC mall is a massive 6-level shopping centre at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers.  This is the place to go for designer brands and upmarket shopping in KL. You can also find one of the best food courts in the city, offering cuisines from all over the region plus Western fare. If you want to escape the crowds and traffic, the KL City Park is located right next to the Towers. The Aquaria KLCC and KL Convention Centre are also in the area.

Visit Batu Caves 

Located about 13km from Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmarks and an important Hindu pilgrimage site. The limestone hill is home to a series of caves and temples, reached by climbing 272 brightly coloured steps that lead to spectacular views over the surrounding area. At the foot of the staircase stands the golden statue of Lord Murugan, one of the tallest of its kind in the world. Visitors can explore the cave temples and ancient limestone formations of the caves.

More Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur

• Go to the Perdana Botanical Gardens, a 90 hectare park which is home to several attractions including the Butterfly Park, the KL Bird Park and the National Museum
• Visit the National Mosque, which is set in 13 acres of beautiful gardens and has a capacity of 15000 worshipers
• Check out the view from the KL Tower. At 421 metres, it offers a great view of KL.
• A recent addition to the city’s skyline is Merdeka 118, the second tallest skyscraper in the world. Although the observation deck is still unavailable to the public, make sure to stop by the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur on level 75 for amazing views of the city from above the clouds. 
• Spend a relaxing afternoon at The Campus Ampang, a former international school turned into a neighbourhood retail hub to explore some of the best local independent retail brands as well as local bakeries and cafes. 

Extended Holiday Ideas

Malaysia offers a wealth of travel destinations from tropical beach holidays to the rugged natural beauty of Borneo. It’s also an excellent hub from which to explore the fascinating region of South East Asia.

• Make it a double-header and go to the 2027 Singapore Grand Prix, just 300km to the south and one week after the race in Malaysia.
• Visit Penang, an island in the North of the country famous for its rich multicultural history, colonial architecture and wonderful food.
• Spend a week on Langkawi. A tropical archipelago of almost 100 islands just 30km off the coast of northwest Malaysia, Langkawi offers luxurious resorts and great beaches.
• Borneo is a large island which is partly administered by Malaysia and is over 800km to the east of Kuala Lumpur. Known for its unique wildlife and nature, Borneo is a must for those keen to get off the beaten track.
• Make the most of the huge number of regional flights connections from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to visit any number of destinations in the region, including Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.