Where to Travel Next - Lonely Planet

Welcome to Malaysia

Culture
Food
Nature

Curated by local expert Marco

About
Malaysia

Malaysia is an irresistible cocktail of futuristic cities, jungle-shrouded hills, tropical beaches and more than 50 different ethnic groups, all sprinkled with a dash of British colonial history and spice-trade cultural encounters. Throw in mind-blowingly good street food, a high-end cafe culture and some of the world’s friendliest people, and it’s pretty easy for Malaysia to intoxicate you.

Daily budget
Per Person

Midrange Budget:$52–$76
Midrange hotel room:$15–$30
Restaurant dinner:$5–20
Museum admission:$4–10
Glass of wine:$5–10
Pint of beer:$3–5
Bus fare:$0.50–1

Best time
to visit

Apr–Jun & early Sep, Dec
Fewer international tourists means better deals on accommodation, especially in the cities.

In spring monsoon rains bring some respite to the stifling heat, making nature shimmer at its greenest.

Autumn is a perfect time for religious festivals, especially in Penang (check out the Nine Emperor Gods and the Yu Lan “Hungry Ghost” Festival) and the beaches on the West Coast.

Soak up the culture of Malaysia in 2 weeks

Image by Stocksy

Peninsular West Coast and a taste of Borneo

Spend about 10 days driving yourself from the capital Kuala Lumpur to Penang. Before flying home, hop on a short domestic flight to the eastern Malaysian state of Sarawak, where the capital Kuching offers most of Borneo’s wonders on its doorstep.

Amazing architecture
Local cuisine
Maps

1/5

Explore Marco's Malaysia

Get to know our local expert Marco

I’ve been a writer focused on Asia for the past eight years, and I’ve called Malaysia home since 2009. I’ve scoured pretty much every corner of this cultural riddle of a nation. Along the way, I got my first novel set in Penang banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, earned a PhD focused on Malaysian underground music, and advocated for local ecotourism and nature conservation.

You can’t see all that Malaysia can offer in a short trip — trust me, I am still working on it after 14 years — but if you give yourself two weeks, that will allow you to get well beyond the obvious tourist attractions. Here is my itinerary for exploring Malaysia, which you can take at your own pace.

Kuala Lumpur

City life - Shopping - Nightlife

You’ll most likely land in the capital Kuala Lumpur, shortened by locals to KL. This futuristic metropolis is not my favorite face of Malaysia, but it does have some of the country’s best hotels, great for resting your head after a long flight. Get your first introduction to the country’s diversity by taking a KTM train to KL’s northern edge and climbing the rainbow-colored staircase that leads to the Batu Caves, the city’s most iconic Hindu cave-shrine complex, guarded by a 42.7m (140ft) high statue of Lord Murugan.

KLCC, the heart of the city, harbors the high-tech Petronas Towers — quite a sight when they light up at night — and (if you can’t resist) some of the country’s poshest shopping malls. To me, LINC KL nearby is the most original: it’s art-centric, with rows of chill and trendy cafes for sampling the capital’s bohemian side while you shop.

The best clubs, beats and nightlife are clustered at TREC, an enclave of bars to the east of the city center. Another popular nightlife area, Bukit Bintang packs in even more shopping malls and trendy, high-end rooftop sky bars. Try Fuego at Troika Sky Dining and Italian restaurant Marini’s on 57, where you’ll literally soar above KL’s glittering nightscape. Soak it all up now: the pace is about to change dramatically.