Relax by the water and enjoy the colourful gardens, or wander the tree-lined paths of this spectacular inner-city park.

The 237-acre (96-hectare) Lake Gardens were established by the British colonial government back in the 1880s as a place to stroll and socialize away from the crowds and clamor of the city. The park contains manicured lawns, landscaped gardens, a lake, a playground, water features, sculptures and a butterfly park. It’s one of the city’s principal recreation areas and the perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon.

Wander the grounds and enjoy the wide variety of flora and fauna. There are hundreds of species of trees and flowers that attract countless native and migratory birds. There are many paths winding between landscaped gardens, over bridges and across lawns. There’s also plenty of space for kids to run and explore as well as a playground with slides, swings and seesaws.

Rent a boat and paddle across the lake or buy some lunch and settle down for a waterside picnic. Move on to the Butterfly Park to see thousands of butterflies from more than a hundred species in a greenhouse with thousands of tropical plants. Check out the Deer Park to spot fallow, axis, sambar and mouse deer in 5 acres (2 hectares) of natural habitat.

A stroll through the gardens will take you past a selection of plumeria, a heliconia garden and fernarium — over a hundred native varieties of flowers and plants in all. There’s also a topiary collection, a sunken garden, a hibiscus park and a herb garden. There are boardwalks and sign-posted trails through the various areas.

The gardens are home to the National Monument, a large bronze sculpture dedicated to those who fought in World War II and Malayan Emergency.

The Lake Gardens are located in downtown Kuala Lumpur, not far from KL Sentral Station. They’re open every day of the year. General admission is free, though you’ll have to pay for boat rental and most other attractions.