Travelling within Greater Kuala Lumpur can be quite tiresome, especially with traffic jams and inconsistent bus schedules. But honestly, it’s fun to be a tourist in your own city sometimes because you’ll never know what you’ll discover. With the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line just over 7 months old, it has made a difference with public transportation and personally, I think the opening of the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line set to launch in July 2022 will help a great deal in connecting public transit system.

Nevertheless, the MRT is a great way to get around in KL, and visit places you may have avoided due to traffic or inaccessibility. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Trendy bars – Semantan Station

Help University is just at the doorstep of the station, making for a convenient and cheap way for students to get to and from classes. Other than that, there are a few bars and restaurants nearby too, such as Jack Rose, O’briens Irish Sandwich Bar, and Debaus, a cigar bar and lounge.

2. Restaurants – Pusat Bandar Damansara Station

Alight here to get to DC Mall, Bangsar Shopping Centre, and Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara. DC Mall plays host to Ben’s Independent Grocer while Bangsar Shopping Centre has Jason’s Food Hall, both of which offer gourmet groceries. If you’re looking for a nice meal, do give the in-house restaurants at Sofitel a try. Nizza offers French/Italian food and Kwee Zeen offers all-day dining with both local and western food on the menu. The mall also have a bunch of bars and restaurants, which you can get to without the hassle of looking for a parking spot and if you’re drinking, the MRT would be a safer ride back home.

3. Food and Groceries – TTDI Station

Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) is bursting with cafes, restaurants, and bars. From cheap hawker food to upscale restaurants, you’ll never go hungry here. You can also “cafe hop” to all the coffee shops and give their lattes and cakes a go. The TTDI Market (Pasar Besar Awam TTDI) is also a must-visit if you’re looking to find fresh local produce, including spices. On some days, there are food and clothes stalls available too. Finding parking here is quite a chore so it’s best to take the MRT.

4. History and Culture – Muzium Negara Station

Learn about the culture and heritage of Malaysia at the National Museum, a short walk away from the station. There are four main galleries at the museum — Early History, The Malay Kingdoms, The Colonial Era, and Malaysia Today. There’s also a walkway connecting the station to KL Sentral, where you can hop onto the LRT, KTM, or Monorail to get around the city centre. Trains to the airport via KLIA Ekspress are also at KL Sentral.

5. Arts and Crafts – Pasar Seni Station

If you’re into art and handicrafts, Central Market is a place for you to visit. It is also accessible via the LRT Kelana Jaya Line. Walk a little further and you’ll come across Petaling Street, home to Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, where you can find bargains for clothes and souvenirs. Here you can also indulge in street food with the array of stalls along the roads and in the alleys.

6. Shopping – Cochrane Station

Predominantly a residential area in Cheras, this new station has now added connectivity to the area as there were no other rail services before this. Other than providing access to residents to get out and about, it is also a stone’s throw away from IKEA Cheras and MyTown Shopping Mall. If you’re willing to walk a little further, Sunway Velocity Mall and AEON Big are also accessible via a pedestrian walkway.

7. Chocolate – Kota Damansara Station

Chocolate lovers, take a trip to the Chocolate Museum located at Selangor Science Park 1, which is accessible via the feeder bus from this station. Open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm, the museum allows visitors a chance to learn more about the sweet treat as well as how it’s made.

8. City Centre – Tun Razak Exchange Station

Did you know that we had a Jade Museum? Accessible via this station, admission into the museum is free, where visitors can learn how its made and the history of jade. If something interests you, you can also purchase the stones as well. The station is also the deepest and largest underground MRT station. Bukit Bintang, Pavilion KL, Starhill Gallery, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Royal Selangor Golf Club are about a 15-minute walk from the station and TREC Kuala Lumpur, a massive entertainment hub, is right opposite the station. TREC is one of the most popular nightlife spots around KL, with a range of bars and restaurants as well as housing Zouk KL.

Here’s a clearer look at some of the shopping centres and healthcare establishments along the MRT line.

Which will be your favourite stop?