Best Cities to Discover in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Contributed by Jackie and Justin from Life of Doing

KL has an international airport an hour from the city centre. Travellers can transfer by taxi, or train, or hire a Grab (Uber) car.

Kuala Lumpur (also referred to as KL) is one of the most underrated places to visit in Asia. Even though it is Malaysia’s capital, it’s not as crowded as neighbouring Singapore and has many exciting attractions to explore.

We recommend staying at least four days in KL and visiting the tallest buildings, Petronas Towers at 452 meters (1483 feet) and KL Tower at 421 meters (1,381 feet), two of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

There are so many fun and unusual things to do in Kuala Lumpur, and yet we prefer the natural outdoor attractions of Kuala Lumpur.

Forest Eco Park, located next to KL Tower, is a little oasis to yourself with greenery and trees and a walk taking you across the canopy suspension bridges.

Perdana Botanic Gardens’ manicured gardens are a tranquil place to wander around, and a visit to Batu Caves is also a fun day trip. Climb 272 colourful steps to visit Hindu temples inside a vast limestone cave.

Discover Kuala Lumpur’s Food Scene

Kuala Lumpur has great dishes to try. It’s a blend of Malaysian food, Indian, and Chinese cultures and has similar foods to Singapore and Indonesia.

Try nasi lemak, a rice dish with peanuts, fried fish, veggies, meat, char kuay toaw, and stir-fried rice noodles. Visit Chinatown’s Petaling Street and Little India’s Brickfields to try street food at local eateries.

KL has a variety of accommodation options based on the budget. There are affordable rooms for under 50 USD per night for two-person occupancy.

We stayed at the Element by Westin and enjoyed our stay. It’s located near a train station and is a 10-minute walk to the Petronas Towers.

Life of Doing visited in October and commented:

The weather is hot and humid with occasional rainstorms throughout the day with an average temperature between 75-90°F (24-32°C).

Penang

Contributed by Where Angie Wanders

Flight time from Kuala Lumpur to Penang is one hour or 4 hours by road

On the island of Penang, the Unesco heritage site of George Town is the most popular place in Malaysia for tourists, primarily for delicious street food and unique street art.

I ended up in Penang by chance as it was a last-minute booking instead of travelling to Bali. After I told people I was heading to Penang, I got a mixed response – some loved the city, but a lot didn’t – what had I done?

It turns out that Penang was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Gritty, friendly and real. Despite the number of tourists searching for the town’s famous street art (including me), Penang still seemed to retain its true identity, which made me fall in love with it.

Explore the History and Culture of Penang

Of course, Penang has so many things to do besides viewing Penang street art.

Clan temples tell the story of life for Chinese communities in the 19th century using artefacts and pictures, while six different clan jetties allow us a glimpse into local life by the water.

There are other places to go in Penang, and if you want a change of scenery, head to “The Habitat” rainforest on Penang Hill. It is the perfect place to escape the blistering heat of the city.

Or take a morning stroll through Penang’s Botanical gardens in George Town.

There are plenty of places to stay in George Town.

I chose the beautiful 18th-century heritage hotel called The Blue Mansion. The hotel’s interior is designed in an eclectic Chinese style, with the facade painted in a distinctive indigo-blue colour.

I also spent a few nights at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Beach Resort in Batu Ferringhi. A great place to enjoy some sun, sea and sand after the hustle and bustle of George Town.

I visited in February and thought:

It was hot, sticky and dry in George Town (in the 30s) but cooler and more bearable in the coastal area of Batu Ferringhi.

Ipoh

Contributed by Emily from Wander-Lush

Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh by road takes 2 hours

Ipoh is a laid-back city with beautiful architecture, terrific food markets, and a vibrant street art scene; it is my favourite place to visit in Malaysia.

Ipoh is the biggest city in Perak, roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth (the jumping-off point for Penang). It takes around 3 hours to reach Ipoh by fast train from KL or join an organised tour.

Roughly divided into two parts, the old town and the new town, Ipoh is compact and very walkable. The perfect Ipoh itinerary starts with the Ipoh Heritage Trail, a marked walk that takes you past the most iconic landmarks in Ipoh, including the colonial-era Railway Station.

Discover Ipoh’s Street Art

Seek out the street art murals by Ernest Zacharevic (the same artist whose work is in George Town), one of the best things to do in Ipoh, before photographing Mural Arts Lane, decorated in paintings from top to toe.

Ipoh has a wonderful old-school vibe, and you can soak this up at the city’s many cafes. Ipoh White Coffee (sweet iced coffee) was born here and is a must-try, along with delicious custard tarts. Come dinnertime, and visit one of the hawker markets for a bowl of beansprout chicken, another iconic Ipoh dish.

On the outskirts of Ipoh, you’ll find cave temples nestled in thick jungle, limestone rock formations and lakes – the perfect setting for an easy walk.

I recommend staying at Sarang Paloh Heritage Stay, a boutique hotel and event space inside a British colonial building.

Rooms and common areas are decorated in a traditional Malay kampung style; open, leafy courtyards, hardwood floors and large windows. It is one of many chic Ipoh Boutique Hotels.

Emily visited in May and commented:

Port Dickson

Contributed by James and Lee from Travel Scribes

Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson by road takes 90 minutes

While it might not feature at the top of the international traveller’s list, thousands of Malaysian locals can’t be wrong.

Considered one of the best places to escape the hustle and bustle of the country’s concrete jungles, the seaside town of Port Dickson is a favourite haunt for local Malaysian tourists looking to escape for a weekend or two.

About a 90-minute drive from chaotic Kuala Lumpur, this budget-friendly beauty used to be a busy trading post before it developed into a tourist hotspot.

Nowadays, you’ll find several high-end resorts dotting the coastline, including the most famous resort in Malaysia, Lexis Hibiscus Port Douglas, a hotel complex shaped like the national flower of Malaysia – the hibiscus. It also boasts two Guinness World Records for the most swimming pools in a resort (a startling 643) and the most overwater villas in a resort (522).

Exploring Port Dickson

But hanging out in Port Dickson doesn’t need to be within the confines of a luxury hotel. The area is jam-packed with things to do in Port Dickson to suit any travel style.

From crazy upside-down houses and art galleries to a cowboy-themed indoor theme park and an interesting observatory, you can keep the entire family entertained.

If natural pursuits are more your thing, Port Dickson delivers in droves.

You can hang out at the picturesque beach of the Blue Lagoon or spend hours hiking in the thickly forested surroundings of Tanjung Tuan. The 80-hectare nature reserve offers birdwatching, beaches and an incredible lighthouse, the crowning glory of the reserve, which helps to steer ships into the serene Strait of Malacca.

The Travel Scribes visited in early March and commented:

At the time the weather was lovely… if not quite hot.

Melaka

Contributed by Sharon from Dive Into Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur to Melaka by road takes is 2 hours.

If you are looking for the best places to visit in Malaysia, you won’t want to miss out on the vibrant town of Melaka (also spelt Malacca).

Melaka is a port city only about an hour and a half south of Kuala Lumpur and is home to a UNESCO heritage site thanks to cultural heritage.

It’s one of the best places in Malaysia to learn more about the interesting history of this country, with Melaka having periods ruled by the Malay, Dutch, English and Portuguese thanks to its strategic location for trade.

It’s also a great city to explore, with most of the interesting historical attractions within walking distance of each other.

I loved exploring this place on foot, and it’s easy to come across many fascinating religious temples, old forts and museums. I also recommend a Melaka River cruise.