If you are in the process of planning your first trip to Malaysia and are unsure where to begin, this article is perfect for you. I have visited Malaysia many times in the past 10 years, hopping from city to city and visiting some of the most impressive places in the country, both on the mainland and Borneo.
I really enjoy my time in Malaysia, and so I decided to compile a list of all my favorite places in Malaysia to help you plan the ultimate trip to Malaysia.
Without further ado, here are the ten best places to visit in Malaysia. First, we begin with the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
1. Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a bustling capital city of Malaysia, and that is where you will likely begin your journey in Malaysia. There are tons of awesome things to do here, from the iconic Petronas Tower to all the bustling markets you can indulge yourself in.
Best of all, Kuala Lumpur is very affordable both in terms of food as well as moving around with its great public transportation. Markets like the one at Jalan Alor Street are all over the city, while you can find all kinds of awesome cafes and restaurants for you to enjoy.
Photos by IQRemix.
No time to read?
Don't worry. You can save this page to Pinterest and come back later.
- Private Tour Kuala Lumpur with Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck & Batu Cave (8 hours)
- Kuala Lumpur City Tour Full Day 8 hours (8 hours)
- Skip the Line: Petronas Twin Towers Ticket With Free Hotel Delivery (1 hour)
It is also a great place to get your bearings when you first arrive in Malaysia. I have visited the city many times, and it always seems to be shifting and changing all the time. So no matter what other people say about Kuala Lumpur, you really have to see it with your own eyes. Trust me, if you like delicious street foods and enjoy a bustling Asian city vibe, Kuala Lumpur will not disappoint.
2. Batu Cave
If you are in Kuala Lumpur, be sure to also make a day trip to Batu Cave, one of the most beautiful cave temples in the country and an extremely popular place to visit for both tourists and locals.
Once you arrive at Batu Cave, you will be welcomed by the sight of a colossal gold-painted statue of a Hindu god, standing over 140 feet (42.7 meters), right at the base of a flight of 272 steps painted in rainbow colors.
Once you walk up to the top, you will find yourself inside a large limestone cavern where you will find several temples on the site. Many people, both locals and tourists, often make a day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Cave by train, which takes only around 40 minutes one way.
Visiting Batu Cave should take no more than half a day, so if you want to see one of the most impressive Hindu temples in the country, be sure to spare some time before leaving Kuala Lumpur.
3. Penang
Penang is an island off the coast of the Malaysian peninsula. Despite the city not being exactly known for its natural beauty, due to its rich multicultural history influenced by Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Europeans, the city exudes a unique charm that you won't find anywhere else but here.
George Town is an amazing place to visit, and there are a bunch of awesome things you can do there, from visiting the old Chew Jetty township, tracking down the beautiful Asian-style street arts that depict the regular lives of the locals, to simply enjoying all the senses at a night market there.
There are also many awesome tourist attractions outside Georgetown as well that are worth a visit, like the massive Kek Lok Si Chinese temple, a hilltop temple complex filled with colorful and intricate decorations you can stroll around in.
There is also a bustling Wednesday night market nearby called Farlim Night Market where you can taste some of the finest street foods in the world at a local price point. I love this night market! I was there, and there was not a single tourist in sight.
There is also the Batu Ferringhi beach to the north that you can visit if you want to spend a few relaxing hours on a not-so-crowded beach. All in all, Penang is definitely not a place to be missed when you are visiting Malaysia.
4. Cameron Highlands
If you are tired of the bustling cities of Malaysia, Cameron Highlands offers a place for you to escape and be surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural spots in the country.
At Cameron Highlands, you can go on a tea plantation tour and learn how they have cultivated the land to create some of the finest teas out there. The tour often includes hiking around one of the many mossy forests as well, which is a great way to get a little active and breathe in some fresh air while you are in Cameron Highlands.
You can also hike independently with more than 14 hiking trails in Cameron Highlands that you can tackle, some of which will take you up a mountain for a stunning view over the area, as well as take you through a tea plantation that you wouldn't otherwise be able to access.
Due to the higher elevation, the weather in Cameron Highlands is also cooler and less humid, which is definitely a welcome change from the extreme humidity one experiences in other places in the country.
From the misty forest to the hilly tea plantations you can hike around in, there is no better place to be than Cameron Highlands, especially if you are into hiking and nature.
5. Melaka
Melaka is a historic port city formerly known as Malacca, where you will be able to explore the diverse culture of the Nyonya and see how colonial powers influenced and shaped the city into what it is today.
There is a lot to see in Melaka. One of the most important landmarks in the city is the iconic Stadthuys Square and Christ Church, where you will find one of the most beautiful churches in the country. It is considered to be the oldest Dutch colonial structure that is still standing today.
Nearby the Stadthuys, there is a walking street called Jonker Street where you can find plenty of restaurants and street food stalls to indulge yourself in. On a weekend at night, the street turns itself into a flea market where you can buy cheap handicrafts, street food, and much more.
There are also many historical ruins to see in Melaka, such as the St. Paul's Church and the A Famosa fort at the top of St. Paul's Hill, where you will be able to get a nice view of the city from the top.
As you can see, there are a ton of things you can do here in Melaka. If you are interested in learning about how this part of the world played a role in world history during the colonial period, there is no better place to be than Melaka.
6. Kuching
Of course, awesome places to visit in Malaysia aren't exclusive to the peninsula. There are many places to visit in Borneo as well, and one of the main cities that you will likely arrive in when you are visiting Borneo is Kuching, the charming capital city of Sarawak.
Borneo is all about nature and its unique tribal culture, and one of the first places you should visit in Kuching is Semenggoh Nature Reserve, one of the few places in the world where you will be able to have close encounters with wild orangutans and other primates.
Seeing orangutans in the wild swinging around trees is definitely the highlight of visiting Kuching. Kuching as a city is also worth a visit in itself with a more relaxed vibe and plenty of things to do such as the beautiful Tua Pek Kong Temple, New Sarawak Parliament, or you can just stroll along the Sarawak River at Kuchin Waterfront.
If you are interested in the history of Sarawak, I highly recommend you visit Sarawak Cultural Village, a cultural village where you can learn more about the rich Sarawak culture and its traditions through their famous longhouse architecture, wooden bridge, and unique dance performances. It was an eye-opening experience, and I learned a lot about Sarawak and its inhabitants.
If you really want to go off the beaten path in Malaysia and see what the other side of what you experience on the Malaysian peninsula is like, Kuching is a great place to start your Borneo journey.
7. Bako National Park
Bako National Park is the oldest park in Sarawak, located not too far from Kuching, at the tip of the peninsula where the Bako and Kuching Rivers begin.
Bako National Park is home to some of the world's endangered primates, such as the funny-looking proboscis monkeys, as well as other rare animals like the long-tailed macaque and Bornean bearded pig.
There is a government-run camp that visitors can book and stay overnight, where they will be sleeping in a dormitory-style room right in the forest, surrounded by these beautiful animals. There is no better place to see the proboscis monkeys up close than here.
There are also many hiking trails you can enjoy that will take you around the park and to some of the best viewpoints in the national park. If you like nature and are looking to see something unique in Borneo, Bako National Park is highly recommended.
8. Gunung Mulu National Park
Mulu National Park is also another national park in Borneo that is worth a visit if you are looking for an adventure. Getting to Mulu National Park is already an adventure in itself due to how remote the place is. For convenience, you can also go there on an organized tour.
There are plenty of adventures to be had in this national park, from going caving to tackling all the hiking trails in the area. Deer, Langs, and Clearwater caves are some of the best caves you can visit at Mulu National Park.
If you like hiking, you can also do a 2-hour hike to the Paku Waterfall or do the Canopy Skywalk. There is also a multi-day trekking trail to the Pinnacles where you will be able to see a series of beautiful jagged rocks protruding from the jungle.
9. Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah, a state located in the northern part of Borneo. It is a great place to launch yourself to all the beautiful islands in the area, as well as to conquer Mount Kinabalu, the highest climbable mountain in Southeast Asia, standing at almost 4,100 meters above sea level.
Be sure you are ready because the moment you arrive in the city center of Kota Kinabalu, you will be bombarded with the aroma of fresh street food being cooked at the food market along the riverfront. There are so many street foods to try; I'm drooling even thinking about it.
At Kota Kinabalu, you can spend your days island-hopping, visiting places like Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, which offers a nice beach and snorkeling spot for you to indulge in.
You can also conquer the highest climbable mountain in Southeast Asia, the mighty Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095 meters above sea level. The hike takes about 2 days to complete, and it can only be done via an organized tour where they will need to get you an official permit, so be sure to plan ahead.
It is one of the best mountains to climb in Southeast Asia, and if you are looking for the ultimate adventure in Malaysia, there are no better things to do than climb Mount Kinabalu. You can find Mount Kinabalu hiking tours here.
10. Semporna Archipelago
Last but not least, if you are looking for the very best island and beach experience in Malaysia, there is no better place to explore than the Semporna Archipelago located on the southeastern tip of Borneo, where you will find some of the most picturesque groups of islands in the country.
Photos by Chem7
Semporna Archipelago is considered the Maldives of Malaysia, and you can go on an island-hopping tour to visit some of the most beautiful islands like Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, and my favorite, Sibuan.
You can also spend a night at one of the many Maldives-style resorts here, such as Sipadan Water Village on Mabul Island, one of the most beautiful resorts out there, located right above the water.
Semporna Archipelago is the island-getaway location you are looking for, and there is no better place to relax by the clear pristine water of Borneon coasts than here.
More Malaysia Activities
That is it for the 10 BEST Places to Visit in Malaysia. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Malaysia! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Malaysia independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Malaysia
Malaysia may often be overlooked by travelers, but the country has so much to offer that you can't get anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
Here is a selection of articles you might want to read about Malaysia:
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Malaysia? 10 Days Itinerary for Malaysia.
- Kuala Lumpur is where you will likely land when you are traveling in Southeast Asia, and from the outside, it may look like your typical Asian city. However, KL is so much more, and at a cheaper price too. Here’s a complete guide on things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
- Not your first time in Kuala Lumpur? How about we go explore the café and the unique Kopitiam culture of Kuala Lumpur with the 8 Best Cafes and Restaurants to try in Kuala Lumpur guide?
- If you are looking for a day trip from Kuala Lumpur or somewhere to stop on your way to/from Singapore, Melaka is a great place to stop and learn a little bit about this ancient port city. Check out my 8 Incredible things to do in Melaka travel guide here.
- Cameron Highlands is a break from the hot, humid weather and the bustling city of KL that you need. Surrounded by mountains and tea plantations, here is a complete travel guide on things to do in Cameron Highlands.
- Cameron Highlands is high up in the mountains, with a cool breeze that makes it the perfect place to go hiking. There are over 14 trails to choose from. Check out my ultimate hiking guide to Cameron Highlands.
- Penang is the food heaven of Malaysia, and it is a must-stop on your way to/from Thailand. Here are 10 Best Things to Do in Penang.
- Want to go off the beaten path in Malaysia? Let's head over to Borneo with a complete travel guide and a 2-week itinerary for Borneo and Brunei.
- Want to know where to go after Malaysia? How about spending 3 days in Singapore or going snorkeling on Koh Lipe, Thailand?
- For all articles about Malaysia, visit my Malaysia Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- I have also compiled all of my favorite photos I took in Southeast Asia into one post. Check out 64 photos of Southeast Asia that will inspire you to travel.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my All Destination Travel Guide page.