Kuala Lumpur

One of the "original" KL shopping malls, the upmarket KLCC has remained a shopper favourite for nearly two decades. It's set at the base of the iconic Petronas Towers and, by virtue of location, attracts large amounts of tourist traffic. There are, of course, all the usual mall trappings here, but standouts include the KLCC Garden – a sprawling green park with several dozen species of trees, a jogging track and a public swimming pool for kids – and its Lake Symphony, a fountain show featuring music and lights held here daily at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm (lights only 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm). There's also Aquaria, a world-class oceannarium, and a high-tech scientific discovery centre for kids and adults, Petrosains.

The final piece of KL's mall trifecta is Publika, one most favoured by a younger clientele and with a distinct taste for boutiques rather than international brand stores (although there is, of course, some of that here too). Come on the weekend to hit Publika's weekly Bazaar and Craft Market; BIG (Ben's Independent Grocer) also has a location here – it's near-unanimously agreed upon as the best-stocked grocer in the city.

The historic Central Market dates back to 1888 and occupies a beautifully preserved building. This was originally a wet market, but is now more of a neat destination to shop for souvenirs, arts and crafts, including fashion and accessories. There is also a food court on site.

The Starhill is the place to go if you are looking for luxurious products and designer labels. Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Valentino are some of the top designers you will find here.