We used to live in Kuala Lumpur for several years, and ever since, we’ve known the city like the back of our hands. In our opinion, KL is an amazing city to explore over a few days. Even travelers who don’t usually enjoy big cities often find KL surprisingly fun and interesting. There’s a great mix of attractions and things to see. Add the easy access to all kinds of delicious food to the mix, and you’re bound to have one of the best city trips ever. One of the coolest ways to experience the city? A bike tour! There have been bike tours around for a while, but the guided tours by MikeBikes really stand out. Seriously, how awesome is it to explore KL by bike?
The Story Behind MikeBikes
MikeBikes started cycling through the coolest streets and alleyways of KL back in 2018. At the time, most people would’ve thought it was crazy — riding a bike in that heat, with all the traffic, and no helmet? But I remember chatting with the Dutch founders back then and feeling immediately excited. I already knew how popular bike tours were in other Asian cities — in Bangkok, for example, we once did the super popular Green Bangkok Bike Tour and loved it.
MikeBikes took a smart approach. They first reached out to Tourism Malaysia, then partnered with KLM to ship over Dutch-style bikes that had been refurbished in the Netherlands. That was necessary because Malaysia isn’t really a cycling country, and local bikes just weren’t up to the task. Together with Cycling KL and DBKL (the city council), they worked on creating safer bike routes — like the “Blue Bicycle Lanes” and other bike-friendly streets in the city center. Many of the bike paths you see today were developed in collaboration with MikeBikes. It’s a win-win: their tours now follow mostly safe, fixed routes, and more and more locals are using bikes too.
Smart Partnerships Make All the Difference
That early collaboration with different partners really helped MikeBikes grow quickly. They work closely with local guides, bike mechanics, and even local restaurants for food stops during the tours. Each bike has a little triangle sign on the front featuring a sponsor, and part of the profits go to local community projects — which is awesome.
When you join a bike tour, you’ll get to see KL from a totally different perspective — one you’d never get from the window of a Grab. Your guide will share fun facts and insights about the city and the places you visit. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of KL’s culture, history, and food. In fact, many of the tours double as food tours, with tasty stops at local restaurants for a snack, drink, or some fresh fruit.
Which Tour Should You Choose?
Honestly? All of them if you can. But most people only stay in KL for a few days, so you’ll probably have to pick just one or two. Each tour has its own theme and covers a different part of the city. The guides are fantastic — super friendly, funny, and full of interesting stories (and yes, they speak excellent English).
We went on two tours ourselves:
1. Sunset and Night Tour
Our first tour was the Sunset and Night Tour, with the amazing guides Barry and Tey. Riding through the city after dark was something special. We passed by some of KL’s most iconic landmarks, stopping at each one while the guide shared stories and history. It’s also the perfect chance to snap some great photos. KL by night is already beautiful, but even more magical from these unique viewpoints.
During this tour, we visited places like Central Market, Petaling Street, Kampung Baru, Chow Kit, Merdeka Square, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, River of Life, and of course, the Petronas Twin Towers. If you’re choosing between this and the daytime version — go with the night tour. You won’t regret it.
2. Best of Kuala Lumpur Classic Tour
We originally planned to do the Green Riverside Experience Tour, which includes a visit to Brickfields and a ride along the Klang River, ending with a delicious banana leaf lunch. But a few weeks before, we were told it wasn’t available on our preferred day, so we chose the Best of KL Classic Tour instead — and we’re so glad we did!
This tour covered some of the same spots as the night tour but also added new experiences. Exploring the Chow Kit market in the early morning was super fun, and some of us even tried durian for the first time. We also visited the beautiful Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Chinatown. The tour ended with a great banana leaf lunch at the historic Royal Selangor Club, right on Merdeka Square.
Other Tours to Check Out
Besides the ones we did, there are several other popular options:
- Kuala Lumpur’s Authentic Experience Tour
- Pitstop Foodie Tour (great if you’re a foodie — it includes a ton of food!)
- Green Riverside Experience Tour (still on our list for next time!)
You can also book private tours, which are guaranteed to run and are perfect for families or bigger groups.
What You Need to Know Beforehand
Honestly, there’s not much you need to prepare. Wear light clothes (it’s hot!), and maybe bring a poncho just in case it rains — an umbrella won’t be very helpful while biking. You’ll get a bottle of water, and there’s always at least one stop to eat or drink. Apply some DEET for mosquitoes, and wear sunscreen. A cap and sunglasses also help for daytime tours. Helmets are optional but available. You’ll be given a bright orange vest to wear.
The bikes come in all sizes — even for kids (24” and 26”), and there are child seats for the little ones. Each bike has a basket for your stuff, and the bright orange color makes them easy to spot.
How to Book a Tour
You can book online via their website. It’s super easy — no prepayment needed. Just enter your details and a phone number. If you use a non-Malaysian number, don’t forget to send them your local one later. You’ll pay just before the tour — by cash, debit, or credit card.
How Much Does It Cost?
MikeBikes tours aren’t the cheapest activity in KL, but they’re worth every ringgit. The experience, the insights, the food — it’s all part of the package.
Here’s a quick price overview (check the website for latest updates):
- Best of KL Classic Tour / Sunset & Night Tour: RM230 (adults), RM190 (kids 7–12), free for kids under 6
- KL Authentic Experience Tour: RM160 (adults), RM135 (kids)
- Pitstop Foodie Tour: RM295 (adults), RM275 (kids) – includes lots of food
- Green Riverside Experience Tour: RM185 (adults), RM165 (kids)
Private tour prices vary depending on group size — just ask via the contact form on the website.
Who Is This For?
Anyone and everyone — young or old! It’s one of the best ways to explore the city, especially if you’re only in KL for a short time. In just a few hours, you’ll see many of the city’s highlights and learn so much along the way.
Even if you’ve been to KL before or already know the city well, it’s still worth doing. For us, even though we’d seen most places before, hearing the guide’s stories and cycling through the city in the evening — especially along Jalan P. Ramlee with the Twin Towers lit up ahead — was an unforgettable experience.
Where’s the Meeting Point?
MikeBikes recently moved to a new permanent location in Kampung Baru, which many of the tours already passed through previously.
New address:
MikeBikes Office
46, Lorong Raja Muda Musa 4
Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
It’s easy to get there by Grab or public transport. Take the Kelana Jaya LRT line (red line) and get off at Kampung Baru station — it’s a 5-minute walk. Or take the Putrajaya Line (yellow line) to Raja Uda station — about a 10-minute walk.
If you’re staying in KLCC and don’t mind a walk, you can also reach it on foot via the Saloma Link Bridge, which crosses over to Kampung Baru. From Suria KLCC, it’s a 15–20 minute walk.
Tips
- The tours start at a fixed time, and there’s no waiting. If you’re unlucky and arrive late, you might miss the tour. But if you’re lucky, there might be an employee who can help you to catch up with the group. Keep in mind that traffic in KL can be really busy and hectic. Kampung Baru is easy to get to, but you still need to take traffic into account. It’s best to arrive at least half an hour early — that way, you’ll have enough time to adjust your bike and get ready.
- If you can only do one tour, you’ll have to choose. We thought the Sunset Tour was the coolest — especially the last part, cycling in the dark, was a real highlight. But if that tour doesn’t work for you, there are plenty of great alternatives. The Morning Tour, which we also did, was just as fun and unique. We’d love to try the other tours too — the two we did definitely left us wanting more.
- If you’ve booked a tour, it will almost always go ahead, even in heavy rain. A shower in KL usually doesn’t last long, and it might even feel refreshing.
- MikeBikes has gotten so popular that there are always people joining the tours. It’s a bit quieter during the low season, though, so it doesn’t hurt to tell fellow travelers that you’ve booked a tour — it’s always nice when more people join in.
- Just to be clear: MikeBikes organizes guided bike tours — it’s not a bike rental company.
- When we did the tours, the meeting point was still at MATIC, in the center of Kuala Lumpur (shortly after they moved locations). That’s the Malaysian Tourism Center — kind of like a tourist info hub. They often host cultural shows there, which are fun to check out. The shows are free, and there’s usually a performance every week from 3 to 4 p.m. Check the agenda on the official MATIC website beforehand. You’ll also find the office of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism there. The Hop-on, Hop-off bus also stops at MATIC.
- The tour is ideal for travelers who are only in KL for a short time — it gives you a great first impression of the city, and you’ll see a lot of the highlights in just a few hours.
- Nothing planned afterward? Kampung Baru is a great area to hang out in. It’s full of authentic local restaurants with amazing food. Depending on which tour you do, you might want to stay in the area a bit longer and explore on your own.
- They also have children’s bikes and baby/child seats (from Yepp) — so everyone can join the bike tours, even with little ones.
- Each tour has its own vibe, and they’re all fun in their own way. If you’re traveling with small kids, a day tour is probably the best pick. If you haven’t tried all the delicious food in the city yet, we recommend the Pitstop Foodie Tour. And if you want to take cool photos in the evening, definitely go for the Sunset and Night Tour.
- MikeBikes is a Dutch initiative, started by two Dutch guys — and they can always use some help spreading the word. Leave a review on Tripadvisor, or let us know what you thought of the tour in the comments below.
- For the ride, it’s best to wear closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops) and long pants.
- You can also find some nice videos on YouTube that give a good impression of what a MikeBikes tour is like.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Kuala Lumpur, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below or join our private Facebook Group Friends of Malaysia.