Visiting Batu Caves: Complete Guide, Costs & Info 2026
Batu Caves is one of the most-visited places in Kuala Lumpur, and for good reason. The brightly painted colourful staircase leading to a cave temple at the top is simply iconic.
However, we were a little taken by surprise by some aspects of Batu Caves, including the monkeys, pigeons, and just how busy it was. A visit to Batu Caves is quite easy to get wrong. In this guide, we’ll give you all the insider tips to visiting Batu Caves.
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Know Before You Go
- Location – Batu Caves is located on the northern edge of Kuala Lumpur. You can see the exact location by clicking here.
- Opening Hours – 6am to 8pm daily
- Entrance Fee – Batu Caves is completely free to enter!
- Facilities – Facilities are basic, but include public toilets outside the main entrance, souvenir and snack shops.
Batu Caves Overview
Batu Caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Hindu Temple complex. This is a very important Hindu pilgrimage site, and attracts Hindus from across Malaysia.
The main attraction at Batu Caves is the 272 brightly painted stairs leading up to a 400-million year old cave at the top. The concrete stairs were actually only painted in 2018, which transformed them into one of the best Instagram spots in Kuala Lumpur overnight. Now, 5000+ people visit Batu Caves every single day.
At the base of the stairs is a huge golden statue of Lord Murugan, measuring 43m tall. It is incredibly impressive to see. Inside of the main Temple Cave is 2 Hindu Temples, whilst several others are around the bottom of the stairs.
Best Batu Caves Tours
Many people decide to visit Batu Caves on a tour. Whilst this isn’t strictly necessary, it can help you to get a better understanding of the history and religious significance.
If you would like to visit on a tour, here’s our recommendations:
Best Group Tour
This half-day group tour includes pick-up and drop-off from Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur. You will first be taken to a Batik Workshop where you can see the traditional process of creating intricate designs using wax and dye.
You will then head to Batu Caves where an informative guide will tell you all about the history and significance, and answer any questions you might have. The trip will conclude with a scenic drive through local villages.
Best Private Tour
If you’d rather get a more flexible, one-to-one tour, this private Batu Caves tour is perfect for you. You will be picked up directly from your hotel and transported to Batu Caves where you will receive a guided tour. The guides are both knowledgeable and personable, making it feel like you’ve got a local friend taking you around.
Your guide will also be able to assist with taking photos of you, which is an excellent bonus. After visiting Batu Caves, you will take a short visit to the Batik Factory to witness the traditional artform, before being dropped back to your hotel around midday.
How To Get To Batu Caves From Kuala Lumpur
If you’d rather make your own way to Batu Caves, there are a couple of different ways to get there from Kuala Lumpur.
By KTM Komuter Train
The most affordable way to get to Batu Caves is via the KTM Komuter Train. This train leaves from KL Sentral Station and takes around 40 minutes to reach Batu Caves. The station is conveniently located right next to the entrance.
There is no need to buy tickets for the train in advance. You can simply buy it at the station on the lower level before departing for 2.6 MYR per person. It is worth noting that you are not allowed to eat or drink on trains in Kuala Lumpur, and the train does fill up so get there a little before departure to secure a seat.
The train is air-conditioned and very comfortable, making it a great, affordable option to get to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur.
By Grab
Grab is the easiest and most convenient way to get to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur, especially if you’re not staying near KL Sentral or want to visit very early. If you’re not familiar with the app, Grab is like Uber. You enter your destination, press go, and the app wil find a driver to come and pick you up and take you there.
We used Grab to visit Batu Caves as we wanted to get there for sunrise. You’re dropped right at the entrance, and the journey cost us just 17.51 MYR to get there, and 15.45 to get home. Prices vary depending on pick up and drop off location, as well as time of day and demand, but it is still a very affordable and convenient option.
How Long To Spend At Batu Caves
I’m going to be really honest with you. You’re probably not going to need much more than 1-2 hours at Batu Caves itself. Most people simply take a few photos at the bottom, which doesn’t exactly take long, and climbing the stairs won’t take too long either. The temples inside the Temple Cave (at the top of the stairs) are not too impressive so you probably won’t spend long there.
There are also a few other temples at the bottom of the stairs which we would recommend you see. These are bigger than the ones inside the cave and very beautiful.
Batu Caves Dress Code
Batu Caves is a Hindu Temple and as such it is important that you dress respectfully. Both men and women are expected to cover knees and shoulders, and not wear any revealing clothing. We have seen people turned down entry for covering their shoulders with a scarf.
I wore a loose fitting white midi dress, and Nat wore linen trousers and a loose-fitting shirt. It’s important to choose clothes with natural fabrics that are loose fitting as the humidity can be intense in Kuala Lumpur.
Monkeys At Batu Caves
If you’re visiting Batu Caves, it is worth noting that a large family of long-tailed Macaques lives there. Some populations of macaques are known to be aggressive towards humans, and steal belongings, food, and even water bottles.
Important – Macaques can carry diseases harmful to humans, such as rabies. If you are bitten it is important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible, even if you have been vaccinated against rabies.
At the base of the colourful stairs, there is a man selling bananas to feed the monkeys. We would strongly urge you not to buy food and certainly not to feed the monkeys.
Feeding them means they become reliant on humans and habituated to their presence, ultimately increasing the likelihood of an attack. They have plenty of food in the wild and do not need supplementary feeding from humans.
Here’s our tips for staying safe around the monkeys:
- Get there early – the monkeys don’t come out until tourist numbers increase around 8am. If you can get there before then, you may not see them at all.
- Avoid, avoid, avoid – Give the monkeys a wide-bearth wherever possible. Never approach them and certainly never try to touch them.
- Don’t carry food – The monkeys will try to steal your food if they see it. Keep it in a zipped backpack and don’t take it out around the monkeys.
- Don’t carry plastic bags – The monkeys associate plastic bags with food so are likely to try to steal it, even if it doesn’t carry food.
- Don’t wear sunglasses on your head, don’t wear a hat, don’t carry your phone or keys in your hand – These are just targets for the monkeys! Some monkeys have learnt that if they steal something, they will receive food in exchange for getting the item back.
We don’t say this to scare you, we had zero issues with the monkeys at Batu Caves, but it is important to be aware of their presence, the risks, and know how to handle them.
Good news, the monkeys don’t venture into the cave itself so you can always escape them in there for a bit.
Insider Tips For Visiting Batu Caves
Now, as I mentioned earlier, a trip to Batu Caves can be easy to get wrong. Here’s our top tips to get the most out of your experience:
- Arrive early. Huge tour buses start arriving around 8.30am and by 9am you can hardly move. Get there as early as possible to enjoy it at its most serene and beautiful.
- Be prepared for the pigeons. As with the monkeys, there are a lot of pigeons there. Don’t feed them, and maybe have a few tissues on hand just in case.
- Wear loose and light clothing, and remember to cover knees and shoulders.
- Don’t bring plastic bags as this will attract the monkeys.
- Bring plenty of water as it can get pretty hot and humid.
- Avoid weekends if possible. Batu Caves is busiest at the weekend.
- Explore past the main cave. There are lots of other temples around the base of Batu Caves that most people miss out on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a few questions about visiting Batu Caves? We’ve answered the most common questions below.
Is Batu Caves Worth Visiting?
Yes, overall we think Batu Caves is worth visiting, though it’s not our favourite thing to do in Kuala Lumpur. It is an iconic spot and very beautiful, if you arrive before the crowds.
However, it is also pretty dirty, smelly, and incredibly busy. Apart from the colourful steps, we didn’t find it too impressive. We have very conflicting feelings about the place. However, as it is such an iconic spot, and free to visit, we would recommend visiting and coming up with your own opinion.
How Much Does Batu Caves Cost?
Batu Caves is completely free to visit. You will only have to pay for transport to get to and from the caves.
How Long Should I Spend In Kuala Lumpur?
We would recommend spending at least 3 days in Kuala Lumpur, though 5 days will allow you to explore even more. We’ve spent a month in the city and are yet to get bored!
Wrap Up
Batu Caves is the most iconic sites in Malaysia, with its rainbow staircase plastered over social media. Whilst it is incredibly beautiful, visiting Batu Caves isn’t without its challenges. Monkeys roam the site, pigeons swoop overhead, and the crowds can be intense.
However, it is an iconic sight for a reason and we think it’s definitely worth visiting. If you follow the tips in this guide, we’re sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy your visit.
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