What to see in Malaysia? TOP 9 places

First time in Malaysia? Plan your trip wisely!

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, this is great. I present to you a ready list of the most interesting places in this beautiful country. Thanks to this, you can easily plan your trip and find out what to see in Malaysia and how much time you need for each attraction.

1. Penang & George Town

Penang, an island located on the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsula, is often called the Pearl of the Orient. It is a popular destination due to its cultural richness, atmospheric cities, tasty food and fascinating history. Chinese, Malay, Indian and British influences mix here. This combination gives the island a unique, colorful atmosphere that attracts tourists from many corners of the world.

You can easily spend a few days on the island visiting:

• Historic George Town,
• The spectacular Kek Lok Si temple,
• Enchanting beaches (like Batu Ferringhi Beach),
• Penang Botanical Garden,
• Penang National Park,
• Penang Hill

I have described each of these attractions (and some extra ones) in more detail HERE – feel free to take a look, you won’t regret it!

George Town has become my favorite city in Malaysia. The atmosphere of this place is indescribable. The cultural mix delighted me, and probably not only me, because the capital of the island was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to buildings preserved from the colonial era and colorful temples and mosques. In my opinion, a must-see when visiting Malaysia!

In George Town, look out for:

• The old center and historic colonial buildings
• Street Art
• Little India i Little China,
• Chew Jetty
• Padang Kota Lama

I also prepared a separate entry about George Town – go HERE and learn more tips about the capital of the island of Penang.

How much time do I need for Penang & George Town?

To answer this question, you need to determine how much time you really have for traveling in Malaysia. In my opinion, Penang is one of the most interesting places in the country, so it is worth paying a little more attention. I booked 4 nights on the island because my husband and I were under no time pressure. We were halfway through our trip around Asia, and we didn’t have return tickets to Europe yet. If you are under the pressure, you will be able to see a lot even in two days. If you have an extra day, you can spend it in Penang National Park and take a walk in the evening around beautifully lit George Town and taste traditional Laksa. And if, like us, you’re not in a hurry, enjoy the island as much as you want 🙂

If you don’t include a vacation in Langkawi or Perhentian during your trip to Malaysia, don’t forget to relax on the beaches in Penang! They are not spectacular, but still worth attention 🙂

2. Langkawi

Langkawi is an archipelago of islands located off the western coast of Malaysia, in the Andaman Sea. It’s one of the most popular resorts in Malaysia, famous for its beautiful, wide beaches, wild nature and tourist attractions.

If we want to relax after intensive traveling around Malaysia, this destination will definitely be for us. In Langkawi you can:

• Admire the island’s nature (waterfalls, mangroves, limestone cliffs, caves),
• Take a walk on the Sky Bridge, a suspended bridge
• Laze on Cenang Beach,
• Try water sports

How much time do I need on Langkawi?

How much do you want! Langkawi is a resort where tourists come for even two-week stays. And they are not bored at all. It all depends on what you think about when you come to Malaysia – if sunbathing is not your thing, then apart from its natural values, the island may not impress you. It’s one of the most commercial places in Malaysia. If you avoid such places and want to relax, choose the Perhentian archipelago. (You can read about it below).

We skipped Langkawi because we had many opportunities to go to the beach during our trip around Asia. This island wasn’t our priority.

3. Cameron Highlands (Tanah Rata)

The town of Tanah Rata, located in the Cameron Highlands, is worth visiting for several reasons:

• You will see spectacular tea fields located in the hills,
• You’ll take a walk through the mossy forest,
• You’ll feel relief from the cooler temperatures,
• You will go trekking in the mountains,
• You can visit strawberry or cactus farms.

Of course, I consider the first two attractions a must-see. The tea fields look absolutely gorgeous, and I can’t imagine letting go of this attraction while in Cameron Highlands. The same with Mossy Forest, which is magical, straight out of a fantasy movie. You can arrange trips to both of these places on your own, or with the help of a tour agencies.

The town itself is also very pleasant. It reminded me of the Polish city of Zakopane – equally mountainous and jammed 🙂

How much time do I need for Cameron Highlands?

If you go with the intention of seeing the tea fields and the forest, you’ll do it in one day. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of this place a little longer, book 3-4 nights. I know that some people liked the atmosphere of Tanah Rata so much that they stayed for a week or longer. In my opinion, there is no need for this, there are many other places in Malaysia worth recommending.

For some, the Cameron Highlands area was primarily a salvation during the heatwave on the peninsula. Mountainous areas have lower temperatures, so a few days’ break from the heat pouring from the sky is advisable.

4. Ipoh

Ipoh, at first glance, is a non-touristy city, located somewhere in the western part of the Malay Peninsula. Once a tin mining town, it’s now forgotten, due to falling prices and the collapse of the market for this commodity.

What works to the city’s advantage is its picturesque location, among limestone hills covered with green. It’s between these stone mountains we can find most of the attractions, such as:

• Mirror Lake,
• Kek Look Tong Temple
• Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village
• Gua Tempurung

But it’s also worth to take a look to:

• City center, main monuments and street art
• Gunung Lang Recreational Park
• Lost World of Tambun Theme Park.

And that’s not the end. You can read more about these and other attractions in Ipoh HERE.

How much time do I need for Ipoh?

In my opinion, there is no point in staying here for longer than two days. The biggest attractions (City Center, Mirror Lake and Kek Look Tong Temple) you can see in one day. If you are so enchanted by the local nature, spend an additional day visiting Gua Tempurung, a huge limestone cave, and Gunung Lang Recreational Park. In the so-called meantime, find a moment to taste pomelo, a distant relative of grapefruit. Ipoh is famous for growing this fruit. On the outskirts of the cities you can find farms that give tours and offer tourists their harvests.

5. Taman Negara

Taman Negara National Park is my personal favorite if we are talking about places to see in Malaysia. The park covers 4,343 km² and is located in three Malaysian states: Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu. According to current knowledge, it is the oldest rainforest in the world, estimated to be approximately 130 million years old. It delights with its biodiversity and landscape values.

You can explore Taman Negara on your own (only a fragment) or with a guide who will take you to further parts of the jungle. The guided option is paid, but it’s definitely worth investing in a walk in the forest with someone who knows the forest well.

Local tourist offices offer several options for visiting the park:

• One-day trip through the forest (often leading to a waterfall and then by boat to a native village) – our choice
• Two-day trekking with overnight stay in a cave or jungle,
• Night safari,
• Various combinations of the above options, and personalized trips.

How much time do I need for Taman Negara?

If you arrive in the village of Kuala Tahan (which is the gateway to the park) at lunch time, you still have plenty of time to spend your day. During this time, you can go on a self-guided trail, and then take a full-day guided tour the next day. Let me tell you, that was enough for me 😉

I refer you to my entry about my stay in Taman Negara. There I answer the most common questions:

• How much does the stay cost?
• How to pack?
• What to take to the jungle?
• Where to sleep and what to eat?

I also tell my story of what happened during our jungle trek. Let me tell you, it happend a lot.

6. Perhentians

The Perhentiana Islands are a picturesque and exotic place in Malaysia, which is a real paradise for lovers of nature, diving and spending time on the beaches. These two main islands, Perhentian Besar (Greater Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil (Little Perhentian), lie off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the South China Sea. There are no roads, cars or even scooters on them.

A stay in Perhentians guarantees you peace and relaxation. The only way to get to the islands is by water from Kuala Besut. The wildness and difficult access to the islands mean that not everyone decides to stay in such a isolated place. To me it sounds like a real idyll!

How much time do I need for Perhentians?

Unfortunately, our plan didn’t include a stay on the islands (because, as I wrote earlier, we had no plans to rest in Malaysia), but now I regret this decision. Every year, the islands rely more and more on tourism, losing their atmosphere. Just wait until foreign companies develop infrastructure and build large rosorts.

Due to the difficulty of getting to the islands, it’s worth carefully considering the decision to travel to this part of Malaysia. The islands aren’t on the travel route around the country, which means that accommodation and transport prices are relatively high. If I were you, I would include a minimum stay of three days.

7. Kuala Lumpur

Ah, the muddy estuary of Malaysia… That’s what „Kuala Lumpur” means in Malay. How can such a cute name hide such an ugly meaning?!

Kuala Lumpur is another must-see. It’s a dynamic and cosmopolitan city that mix diverse cultures, traditions and influences. One of the most recognizable symbols of Kuala Lumpur are the Petronas Towers, but they are not the only ones worth visiting. In the city you can also:

• Visit Batu Caves, huge caves in the rocks that are the site of Hindu temples and an important pilgrimage place. They are worth visiting for their spiritual significance and for the wonderful views.
• Walk around Chinatown and buy souvenirs,
• Climb to the top of the TV tower and see the city from above,
• Visit the city center and historic buildings and temples,
• Be amazed by nature in Perdana Botanical Garden and its inhabitants (there is also a bird park and a butterfly garden in the park).

How much time do I need for Kuala Lumpur?

There are more attractions in the city than just those listed above. Petronas Towers also has a huge shopping center (with luxury brands), a viewpoint of the city, a very large aquarium, a science museum and a park with fountains. Only in this place you can easily spend half a day discovering more and more attractions.

I won’t hide the fact that I was tired of Kuala Lumpur. One day we spent over three hours looking for a nice cafe where I could work comfortably with my laptop. Ultimately, we ended up in a restaurant on not very comfortable chairs, in a crowd and noise. I felt relieved when we left the city after four days. Of course, there were amazing attractions such as the twin towers, Batu Caves, Chinatown and the botanical garden. You will be able to see these places in two days.

8. Malacca

The Malacca city, also known as Melaka, is located on the west coast of Malaysia, on the Strait of Malacca, which separates the Malay Peninsula from Indonesia’s Sumatra. It’s a historic city that has played an important role in the history of the region and is considered one of the most important places related to the history of Malaysia. It was originally a small fishing village, but in the 15th century it became one of the most important trading ports in the region.

Malacca is a place where different cultures and influences meet. You can find traces of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Chinese heritage here. How can you have a good time there?

• Visiting the Mosque on the Water,
• Walking around the old center and the night market,
• Learning about the history and culture of this place.

How much time do I need for Mallaca?

There are one-day trips organized from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, and you can read more about them, HERE.

The route from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca takes less than two hours, so organizing a trip on your own shouldn’t be very problematic. You will see most of the interesting places in two days.

9. Borneo

The Malaysian part of the Borneo is full of wonders and natural treasures. Most of the key destinations can be found in the Sabah region in the north of the island. If you are considering a visit to Borneo, it’s worth looking for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. In the state of Sabah you can:

• Meet orangutans and Malayan bears,
• Climb the highest peak of the island,
• Explore Kota Kinabalu.

If you don’t want to end there, it’s a great opportunity to also visit the tiny country of Brunei and move further towards the national parks of Serawak state. You can end your visit to Borneo in the modern city of Kuching.

How much time do I need for Borneo?

In my opinion, to see the Malaysian part of Borneo well, you need at least 8 days. Personally, I left this picturesque island for the next time because I would like to connect it with Brunei and the Indonesian part. Borneo is twice the size of Poland, so there are certainly many more attractions.

What to see in Malaysia – summary

The above TOP 9 are not the only places worth discovering on the Malay Peninsula. Nevertheless, these are the most popular locations, and the direction Langkawi – Penang – Ipoh – Cameron Highlands – Taman Negara – Kuala Lumpur – Malacca is one of the most common routes chosen for first time travelers in Malaysia. However, this does not mean that it cannot be modified! Now I know that I would definitely add the Perhentian islands to my travel plan, and I would spend less time in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh. Nature is definitely one of Malaysia’s strongest sides and it was interacting with it that gave me the most pleasure.

Below is a map with my route marked in orange and other places in green.