With nightlife to spare, shopping which runs the gamut from Gucci and Prada to haggling for a bargain at street markets and a cultural melting pot of food choices, Kuala Lumpur has it all and still manages to mix the traditional with the modern.

The capital of Malaysia, commonly known as "KL", may be a city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it still retains the local colour. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors, night markets and a bustling Little India.

Kuala Lumpur's population is 1.8 million and enjoys hot and humid conditions for most of the year. While there is rain throughout the year, March to April and September to November are the wettest months. The weather is offset by the many festivals celebrating Kuala Lumpur's wide ethnic diversity.

The city's ethnic mix means you can eat Malay food for breakfast, Chinese for lunch and Indian for dinner. Local beers such as Tiger and Anchor hit the spot, as do Malaysia's yummy sweets. Two flavours are the coconut, sugar and noodle concoction cendol and ais kacang - beans and jellies topped with shaved ice syrups and condensed milk.

If the delicious food at the hawker centres doesn't tickle your fancy, then Kuala Lumpur has some top restaurants.

The food boost will give you the stamina to see Kuala Lumpur's attractions. Most of Kuala Lumpur's historic sights are located in the area around Merdeka Square/Jalan Hishamuddin. Many of the gardens, parks and museums are at Lake Gardens.

One highlight is what were the tallest buildings in the world between 1998 and 2004, the Petronas Towers. Even though the Taipei 101 has now surpassed them, the dramatic sky bridge that connects the two towers still thrills. The best way to see the Petronas Towers from the inside is to attend a concert at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, home to the world-class Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Muzium Negara Malaysia (National Museum) and the National Art Gallery are also worth a look. It is important to note, that if you are sightseeing on Mondays, to check the listings to make sure the attractions are open.

After the sights, a touch of shopping should be on the cards. Before you venture out, make sure you are familiar with the various notes and coins of the Malaysian Ringgit - a sure way to get the local retailers on side! Kuala Lumpur is a major shopping destination, rivalling Singapore and Hong Kong. The islands of Labuan and Langkawi are duty-free zones, though cameras, watches, cosmetics and electronics are available duty-free throughout the country. Malaysia specialises in pewter, silver and brass.

Apart from the major shopping malls located in the area around Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail, the best place for Malaysian handicrafts is the huge Central Market on Jalan Benteng. Pasar malam (night markets) are a good way to pass the evening. These are likely to pop up anywhere in the city. Two good bets for catching one is to head to Jalan Haji Taib after dark until 10pm and on Saturday nights at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The Golden Triangle and Bangsar are the places to head for bars and dancing. Remember there is a rough dress code when going out at night. Generally you should wear dressy casual clothing, avoid old jeans, joggers and very revealing outfits.

Be aware that most places must close by 1 or 2am, but with all Kuala Lumpur has to offer you will be more than happy to get some shut-eye by this time!