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Malaysia

Dynamic cities, fabulous food, beautiful beaches, idyllic islands and national parks with wildlife-packed rainforests – all of this can be found in Malaysia.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok
Around 25km north of Sandakan, and covering 40 sq km of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this inspiring, world-famous centre welcomes orphaned and…
Blue Mansion
George Town
The most photographed building in George Town, this magnificent 38-room, 220-window mansion was built in the 1880s and rescued from ruin in the 1990s…
Penang National Park
Penang
At 23 sq km, this is Malaysia's smallest national park, but it's beach-fringed forests are home to silvered leaf monkeys, flying lemurs, leopard cats and…
Tawau Hills Park
Sabah
This small reserve has forested hills rising dramatically from the surrounding plain. If getting into the Maliau Basin or Danum Valley feels like too much…
Agop Batu Tulug
Sabah
This hill, 2km north of the Batuh Putih bridge, features three caves housing the ancestors of local Orang Sungai (People of the River). Because the…
Menara KL
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
Although the Petronas Towers are taller, the 421m Menara KL, rising from the crest of Bukit Nanas, offers the best city views. The bulb at the top…
Stadthuys
Melaka City
This former town hall and governor's residence dates to the 1650s and is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East. It functioned as State…
Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
This graceful, onion-domed mosque, designed by British architect AB Hubback, borrows Mogul and Moorish styles with its brick-and-plaster banded minarets…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

The 15 best things to do in Malaysia: Mountains, marine life, and amazing apes

Curated by Anita Isalska

Boh Sungei Palas Tea Estate
Cameron Highlands
If there's time for only one tea-themed experience in the highlands, make it this spectacularly situated plantation, with its own tea interpretation…
LaZat Malaysian Home Cooking Class
Kuala Lumpur
A market tour is followed by a hands-on cooking class in a traditional Malay home in the leafy northwestern suburb of Sungai Penchala. A different menu is…
Boh Tea Garden
Cameron Highlands
Velvety green views are glorious from this out-of-the-way tea plantation, though it's a long drive to get here (allow 40 minutes from Tanah Rata and use…
Panorama Langkawi
Pulau Langkawi
The highlight of this family-friendly amusement park is SkyCab, a cable car that whisks visitors to the top of Gunung Machinchang (713m). For an extra RM6…
Lorong Baru Hawker Stalls
George Town
Ask locals where their favourite hawker stalls are and most will pick this night-time street extravaganza. It's a great spot for ikan bakar (grilled…
Ramayana Cave
Batu Caves
No cave at Batu is more spectacularly embellished than Ramayana Cave, which boasts psychedelic dioramas of the Indian epic 'Ramayana'. Pass the green, 15m…
China House
George Town
You can't really say you've been out in George Town until you've stepped inside China House. This block-wide amalgamation of shophouses is packed with hip…
Bako National Park
Sarawak
Bako National Park is one of the best places in Sarawak to see rainforest animals in their native habitats. It's notable for its incredible biodiversity,…
Anjung Gurney Night Market
George Town
Penang's most famous hawker complex sits just past the Gurney Plaza mall, cooled by breezes wafting in off the sea. It buzzes with stalls serving Muslim…
Christ Church
Melaka City
Built in 1753 from laterite bricks brought from Zeeland in Holland, this eye-catching cherry-pink church is one of the most photographed and imposing…
Deer Cave & Lang Cave
Gunung Mulu National Park
A 3km walk through the rainforest takes you to these adjacent caverns. Deer Cave – over 2km long and 174m high – is the world’s largest cave passage open…
Royal Belum State Park
Perak
This 1175-sq-km park within Belum-Temenggor Rainforest was gazetted in 2007 to protect a rich menagerie of tigers, tapirs, panthers and the Sumatran rhino…
Sultanate Palace
Melaka City
This wooden replica of the palace of Sultan Mansur Shah, who ruled Melaka from 1456 to 1477, houses an open-air cultural museum and lovely gardens. The…
Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Sepilok
The wonderful BSBCC provides care to rescued sun bears (44 at the time of writing), the world's second-most endangered bear. It's possible to see the…
Kafe Heng Huat
George Town
Outside Kafe Heng Huat you'll find Soon Chuan Choo who, in her trademark red chef's hat, has been turning out some of Penang's best char kway teow (rice…
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok
Around 25km north of Sandakan, and covering 40 sq km of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this inspiring, world-famous centre welcomes orphaned and…
Cameron Valley Tea House 1
Cameron Highlands
Views over the plantation are breathtaking from this easy roadside pullover on the road between Ringlet and Tanah Rata. There are no guided tours, but you…
Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Sepilok
A local palm-plantation owner has created a private proboscis monkey sanctuary, attracting the floppy-conked locals with sugar-free pancakes at 9.30am and…
Dutch Square
Melaka City
The focal point of the Unesco Heritage zone, this attractive and elegant square is surrounded by Dutch-era buildings that have been painted crimson, shady…
Masjid Ubudiah
Perak
With bands of Italian marble and enormous gold domes, Masjid Ubudiah is a contender for the title of Malaysia's prettiest mosque. Commissioned by Perak’s…
Temple Cave
Batu Caves
Centrepiece of the Batu Caves complex and one of Malaysia's most photographed sights, Temple Cave sits atop 272 colourful steps populated by scampering…
Hameediyah
George Town
Hameediyah dates back to 1907 and is supposedly the oldest place serving nasi kandar (curries served over rice) in Penang, though the current restaurant…
Maritime Museum & Naval Museum
Melaka City
Embark on a voyage through Melaka's maritime history at these linked museums, all covered by the one ticket. The most enjoyable of the Maritime Museum's…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Experience the astonishing variety of landscapes, cultures and cuisines of Malaysia with these top things to do.

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Things to Know

From what to pack to social etiquette, here is everything you need to know before visiting Malaysia.

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Transportation

Malaysia is divided between the Malay peninsula and tropical Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo, but getting around is easy with these simple tips.

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Visa Requirements

A great place for impulsive travelers, many nationals can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 90 days.

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Money and Costs

Malaysia should really be better known as a budget travel destination. It's easy to travel around, stay and eat cheaply with these top budget tips.

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Best Road Trips

You can explore Malaysia without stepping inside a car but exploring with your own wheels opens up a tropical world. Here are Malaysia's best road trips.

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