Malaysia's Top 10 Destinations

The Most Popular Places to Visit in Malaysia

Malaysia's most famous tourist destinations are breathtaking, and the country's great infrastructure makes travelling there a breeze.

Although Malaysia is consistently rated among the most visited countries in Asia, China usually takes the spotlight and top spot. Long-term budget travellers frequently avoid Malaysia because it is "too pricey" (mostly because alcohol does cost more than in Thailand). Meanwhile, short-term holidaymakers in Southeast Asia appear to avoid Malaysia due to time constraints.

However, as these enticing top places demonstrate, Malaysia has a lot of beauty, diversity, and adventure to offer.

Kuala Lumpur

When visiting Malaysia, you'll almost certainly fly into Kuala Lumpur, so this is a no-brainer. However, unlike some other major Asian cities where visitors arrive and then go, Kuala Lumpur is a great destination in its own right.

The combination of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences means there will be no shortage of gastronomic adventures in Malaysia's capital city. Kuala Lumpur's attraction stems in large part from its cultural diversity. You may explore the wonders of other civilizations by taking a short walk or hopping on the large train network.

Kuala Lumpur has a plethora of distinct neighbourhoods to discover. Before venturing farther afield in Malaysia, attractions such as the Petronas Towers, the Perdana Botanical Garden, and the Menara KL Tower give lots of delightful distractions.

Langkawi

Langkawi, a chain of 99 islands off Malaysia's northwestern coast, is home to three protected Geoforest parks and many coconut tree-lined coasts that rank among Malaysia's greatest beaches. Some beaches, such as Pantai Cenang beach, are quite popular with tourists, although beaches on the smaller northeastern islands are more private and feature a backdrop of limestone cliffs.

Take the island's cable car to the top of one of the island's tallest mountains for the greatest views of the islands and ocean. Once there, you can take the 125-meter-long Langkawi Sky Bridge, a 660-meter-high pedestrian walkway. The Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, located just a few minutes from the cable car, offer lovely clear pools for swimming as well as a forest walk that runs up two distinct slopes.

The Laman Padi Rice Garden's small museum and rice fields are worth a quick visit, while the 50-acre Legenda Langkawi Park is a great place to learn about the area's heritage and history through manicured gardens, traditional buildings, and sculptures of ogres, mythical creatures, and other Langkawi folkloric figures.

Gunung Mulu National Park

The park, named after Mount Mulu (Gunung Mulu), attracts people from all across Asia for trekking, caving, hot springs, and the natural grandeur that earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Climbers can reach the summit of Mount Mulu (Gunung Mulu) after a 24-kilometer trip that begins at the park headquarters and has a height of 1,200 meters—but for those looking for a more leisurely day out, there are also simpler trails within the park.

The caves and the millions of bats that dwell them are the park's principal attractions. The tunnels, which are set deep into the surrounding rainforest and karst cliffs, set multiple records, including Southeast Asia's longest cave system and the world's largest cave corridor. Sarawak Chamber, at 115 metres high and 600 metres long, is the world's largest cave chamber. It is difficult to access and can only be explored as part of a guided trip.

Popular park activities include kayaking, mountain biking, and walking the 500-meter-long canopy skywalk.

George Town

The oldest part of Malaysia's second-largest city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but George Town is also famous for its culinary. George Town, known as "the culinary capital of Malaysia," offers some of the best street food in Asia, best experienced on oceanfront Gurney Drive and Chulia Street, a famous backpacker's destination and one of the city's oldest streets.

While the port and waterfront area of George Town are popular with tourists, there is much more to see and do here. The city's highest tower houses the U-shaped Rainbow Skywalk, a 68-story-high exterior glass viewing platform. Take the tram up to the top of Penang Hill for a less tense perspective of the city—the cityscape is especially lovely at night.

Less daring visitors may like to visit the Batik Painting Museum Penang before purchasing batik goods from a local market or visiting the colourful 19th-century Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple.

Taman Negara

Taman Negara is the Malay Peninsula's largest national park. Taman Negara simply translates from Malay to English as "National Park." It's a rainforest and wildlife preserve, one of the country's last remaining places outside of Malaysian Borneo. Traveling here is best done along the river, and there are local communities connected by boat where you can stay before embarking on the canopy walks hung high in the trees.

Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands is a steep area with a long history of tea cultivation on the sloping mountainside. The Cameron Highlands are home to lavender and strawberry farms, orchards, herbal gardens and nurseries, and the Mossy Forest boardwalk, an always-foggy tropical evergreen environment with dedicated trails to explore the indigenous flora and wildlife up close.

If you only have time to visit one plantation, BOH Tea Plantation is a fantastic choice—not only is it Malaysia's largest producer of tea, but visitors can also join tours to view the tea-making process up close, visit the gift shop, and explore the land's walkways.

Mardi's Agro Technology Park is an unexpectedly enjoyable site where you can explore the fruit orchards (including a vast area dedicated to the strange jackfruit) and even camp overnight for an inside view into Malaysian agricultural and farming practises.

Visit The Time Tunnel, Malaysia's only memorabilia museum, where you can view reconstructed rooms and shops from the early twentieth century, play ancient board games, and see images from pre-war days.

Batu Caves, Selangor

Batu Caves is a limestone cave system and one of the most prominent Hindu sanctuaries outside of India. It is just 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur in the Gombak district, making it an unmissable day excursion from the capital. The 140-foot-tall Murugan statue, the tallest in the world, is the primary attraction of the Batu Caves.

The limestone hill has three main cave temples, the Museum Cave and Art Gallery Cave, which are located at the base (foot) of the hills and house various Hindu sculptures and paintings. The Cathedral, also known as the Temple Cave, is the largest and most important cave. Other smaller caves include the Ramayana Cave, Hanuman Temple, and Dark Cave.

The Batu Caves have a number of mythologically significant idols. Tourists can also take advantage of an audio tour. There is a diverse range of flora and animals to be found here, including several rare species that can only be found in limestone. Keep your eyes peeled for bats and long-tailed macaques.

Except for the Temple Cave, each cave has an admission cost. You must climb 272 steps to reach the temple cave! The best time to visit Batu Caves is during the Thaipusam holiday, which is celebrated with a three-day procession in late January or early February.

Perhentian Islands

These coral-fringed, remote islands provide kayaking, exploring, snorkelling, and scuba diving options (including the popular site of a sugar hauler wreck), as well as the opportunity to participate with local organisations in green and hawksbill turtle conservation initiatives.

The islands have remained undeveloped, which means there are no large hotels, restaurants, or facilities on the islands. There are a few guesthouses and homestays for individuals who want to stay overnight, but there isn't much else.

Another significant lure is jungle walking, as pathways crisscross through the islands, connecting beaches and cutting through deep forests home to monitor lizards and monkeys. Paved trails also connect Coral Bay to a nearby beach and a charming fishing hamlet.

Malacca

Malacca is one of Malaysia's most historic tourist sites. There is an unusual combination of architecture and culture to explore on the west coast. There are historical Portuguese remains, British-era architecture, and a busy Chinatown, all of which have helped to earn the city UNESCO World Heritage status. Visit the famed Jonker Street to sample local cuisine and see the remarkable 'floating mosque' that sits on stilts in the sea.

Tioman Island

Tioman is the go-to site for people seeking a simpler, rougher beach life — a place where beaches are still undeveloped, there are few roads, and you're likely to share the sand with the occasional macaque or other wildlife as you wander about the island.

Air Batang, or ABC Beach, is popular with budget travellers and has beautiful sunsets, whilst Juara Beach is calm and ideal for swimming. Instead, go to Salang Beach for excellent snorkelling.

Tioman Island is also a fantastic place to start kayaking for non-divers, and it has plenty of jungle trekking chances. Snorkeling tours to Marine Park and Ringgis islands are available, as are special organised cruises to Benut Beach, a turtle preserve.