10 of the Best Places To Visit In Malaysia

There’s no end of amazing places to visit in Malaysia. This underrated Southeast Asian country is a melting pot of ethnic cultures, religions and cuisines with stunning geography that is as diverse as it’s history and inhabitants.

From modern cities and charming historic towns, colonial architecture, temples and tribal long houses, to tropical islands with world-class diving, cool highlands and steamy jungles home to orangutans.

Malaysia is a country of fascinating variety and diversity that is worth exploring. It’s also easy to travel with good infrastructure, affordable prices and friendly locals, many of whom speak English.

10 of the Best Places to Visit in Malaysia

It would be hard to see all of Malaysia in one trip so in this post I’ll share my top 10 must-see places in Malaysia to add to your bucket list.

If you need more convincing to visit Malaysia, check out Why I loved Malaysia and why you should visit too! and for help figuring out how to fit it all into one trip check out my Ultimate Malaysia itinerary which includes the highlights of both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo!

Kuala Lumpur

You will probably start your Malaysian adventure in the ultra modern and cosmopolitan capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL) which is well worth exploring for at least a few days.

Make sure to visit the iconic 452 meter high Petronas Twin Towers, formerly the world’s tallest building, and still the iconic landmark for KL.

Other things to do in Kuala Lumpur include exploring the history and multiculturalism through the colonial architecture, many different places of worship and amazing street food.

Immerse yourself in buzzing Chinatown, the heart of old KL, and ignite all your senses in the wet markets and haggle for a bargain in the Petaling Street market. Then ride the mono rail and shop till you drop in classy, ultra modern malls. There’s plenty of places to stay in Kuala Lumpur for all budgets too, including hotels with infinity pools boasting a view of the Petronas Towers.

Another of my favorite places to visit in Malaysia lies just outside Kuala Lumpur. Batu Caves is a Hindu cave complex where you can admire the imposing 42.7 meter high golden statue of Murugan and climb the 272 colourful steps into the limestone caves where many different Hindu shrines are found.

Melaka (Malacca)

UNESCO listed, laid back, historical old town of Malacca or Melaka is only 2 hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur. It makes an easy day trip but is worth spending longer to really soak up the unique heritage and atmosphere.

Take a cruise down and river and meander the quaint streets of this town that exudes an atmosphere only slightly less laid back than that of a tropical beach. Explore the rich and diverse history through the Portuguese forts, colonial buildings, Chinese shop houses, mosques, churches and temples and browse in the antique and curious shops and independent art galleries.

At weekends the famous Jonker Street night market is buzzing with tourists and delicious street food.

Penang

The island of Penang is one of the most popular places to visit in Malaysia and for good reason. As well as beaches and jungles Penang is home to incredible food and diverse culture due to it’s interesting history.

UNESCO listed Georgetown in Penang is a prime example of multicultural Malaysia in all its rich cultural diversity and history. A wander through the atmospheric streets among the amazingly well preserved colonial architecture feels like a walk through multiple countries in one day.

Although Malaysia is officially an Islamic country, people of many different ethnicities and religions bustle through snacking, shopping and praying at Hindu temples, Chinese ancestral worship temples, Muslim mosques, Buddhist temples and Christian churches. In Georgetown you can see all this on one street – Harmony Street!

Perhaps Penang’s greatest draw is that it offers a multicultural feast for the taste buds. From little boutique restaurants in restored colonial buildings to night markets and good honest street food hawker stalls.

Enjoy cheap and delicious Indian curries, Chinese dumplings and dim sum, noddle soups, kebabs, seafood, spicy Thai and Malay curries.

Also make sure to visit the spectacular and fascinating Kek Lok Si temple and ride the funicular up to Penang Hill too and if you have more time you can hike through Penang National Park and relax on Batu Ferringhi beach too. There’s so much to do on this diverse island that you’ll need to plan your itinerary for Penang carefully just to fit all the highlights in!

Langkawi

Langkawi is Malaysia’s most popular island and beach destination but is not overdeveloped like some of Thailand’s islands and still has so much natural beauty to explore.

Langkawi’s 99 islands dot the sea like emerald jewels, while international, but tasteful hotel resorts, offer comfort for tourists.

Make sure you don’t just relax on the beautiful beaches but go out and explore the island’s natural beauty. Don’t miss the boat ride through mangroves of the Kilim Geoforest Park and take a the cable car up to the Langkawi skybridge for panoramic views over the island and beyond.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Opened in 1964 the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center has been rescuing irresistibly cute baby orangutans who have been orphaned often due to loss of habit from logging sites, plantations, deforestation and illegal hunting.

Getting close to these amazing creatures that are so similar to ourselves is an incredible experience. Once the orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild they are released as soon as possible and there are about 60 to 80 orangutans living free in the virgin rainforest of Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

Mount Kinabalu

At over 4,000 meters Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Borneo and in South East Asia with amazing botanical and biological species biodiversity.

Whilst the height isn’t going to break any records the main peak can be climbed easily by the majority of reasonable fit people. It takes 2 days and you will need a guide but not any mountaineering equipment but will leave you will awesome memories, sense of achievement and spectacular views.

Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands is a cool reprieve from humid Malaysia. Enjoy the fresh air of one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations, first developed by the British in the 1920s.

Hike along trails through the rainforest to waterfalls and other tranquil spots. Visit a butterfly or strawberry farm, take a tour around a tea factory, gorge yourself on tea and cakes and take in the amazing views over the pretty, green bushes of the tea plantations.Check out Cooling Off in the Cameron Highlands. 

Sipadan

Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia and is a protected marine park of the coast of Borneo. As such the island, and the diving, is only possible as a day trip, you will need to stay on a nearby island or a live aboard dive ship.

The name of Sipadan is simply a legendary in diving circles and is probably one of the best scuba diving spots in the world.The underwater world beneath the island is simply stunning but it is a very exclusive diving spot (hello high prices!) and diving conditions are better suited to advanced divers because of the depth of diving and strong currents.

Taman Negara

Taman Negara is one of the oldest tropical rain forests in the world. Trek among the massive trees and waterfalls and along the world’s longest canopy walkways or take it all in on the engineering feat of the jungle train. This rainforest is also is a haven for endangered species including tigers, leopards, Asian elephants and rhinos but sightings are unlikely.

Gunung Mulu National Park

This national park in Borneo boasts some of the largest and longest cave systems in the world and is famous for its extraordinary limestone karst formations. The Gunung Mulu National Park is one of the most awe-inspiring natural attractions in all of Southeast Asia.

Trek along the headhunters trail to reach the Pinnacles – a stone forest of gigantic grey, white stones that jut like razor sharp teeth 45 meters out of the jungle and discover the Sarawak Chamber, the world’s largest cave chamber reputed to be big enough to hold 40 Boeing 747 aircraft.

Looking for more places to go in Malaysia?

I hope this blog has given you some inspiration of where to go in Malaysia. With it’s stunning landscapes, incredible diversity and mixing pot of cultures, religions and cuisines exploring Malaysia is a fascinating, whirlwind ride for mind, body and soul.

Remember, this is just a selection of the top 10 best places to visit in Malaysia, but there are many other destinations to explore if you want to get more off the beaten track.