Not planning on spending long in Kuala Lumpur? Here's how you can get a taste of the city in less than 24 hours.

8.30am

There's no rest for the time compressed … if you want to see sights, the obvious place to begin would be the Petronas Twin Towers. At 452m high they are two of the tallest residential towers in the world. No mean feat considering that they're made of hardened concrete, not steel. It is possible to walk across the Skybridge that sits between the towers, but you have to get there early (around 8.30am) as they only give away a set number of free tickets every day.

10am

The shops open at 10am. If you want Prada, Burberry, Gucci and similar top-end brands, head to the Pavilion in Bukit Bintang. If you've any cash left, there's plenty more shopping at Suria Mall, beneath the Petronas Towers.

If you want a camera, computer or copied DVDs, then Sungei Wang Plaza is a good place to start, while Midvalley Megamall has every high-street brand you can think of from Levis to the Body Shop. However, if you're looking for something typically Malaysian to decorate your home or to give as an interesting gift, head for Central Market at the junction of Jalan Benteng and Lebuh Pasar Besar, which has the best handicrafts in the country.

1pm

Something for the kids? Well, if they are full of energy, the Petrosains display at KLCC is the perfect place to take them. Combining educational information with the opportunity to jump on things and shout a lot, this is nirvana for nippers.

3pm

It's hot, so get out of the sun and enjoy afternoon tea at Carcosa Seri Negara. Be transported back to the 1800s with finger sandwiches, fine Darjeeling and succulent scones.

5pm

Belly full? Let the pampering begin — KL offers a plethora of people willing to prod you until your heart's content. One of the easiest to get to is Ozmosis, a day spa in Bangsar. Lots of expats — men and women — go there, and the treatments are reasonably priced. The talk around the neighbourhood is that Aurora spa offers relaxing and affordable massages to melt your stress away.

7pm

You'll be getting hungry again by now, so find yourself a hawker stall, pull up a plastic stool and get dining. Jalan Alor (adjacent to the famous Changkat Bukit Bintang clubbing strip) is popular for fans of Chinese food with a Malaysian twist and freshly barbecued satay, but it's also a pretty busy road with non-stop cars rather ruining the atmos. An alternative is to head to Kampung Baru which is the oldest Malay settlement in KL. This is where travel crews film scenes of their intrepid reporter trying local food bathed in the evening glow of the Petronas Towers.

Nightlife

For a relaxed evening, head to Bangsar. This is two roads of restaurants and bars — a favourite is TSB on the corner of Telawi Street. There are many restaurants and eateries to choose from, namely The Social, La Bodega, House Frankfurt and many more. Just walk along and you'll find something to suit your tastes. Also, look out for Asia Heritage Row on Jalan Doraisamy, down the side of the Hotel Imperial, and Changkat Bukit Bintang near the Hotel Istana, which are both 'happening' places to see and be seen at night.

Have you tried any of the places on this itinerary? Got any ideas we haven't thought of? Have your say using the comments form below.

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