You name it, Malaysia’s probably got it – beaches to lounge on, rain forests to trek and sweat through, exotic wildlife to seek out, unbeatable cuisine, deep-seated traditions, and rich cultural history. From my many visits to this interesting country, here are my favorite places…
1. Langkawi
I fell completely in love with this stunning archipelago! I thought it was a really stunning spot with travel magazine perfect beaches, from the golden sands to the secluded shores, abundance of coconut palms, charming Malay-style buildings, thick rainforests, and dramatic limestone formations. Even though it had a lively tourism scene attracting everyone from honeymooners to backpackers but it still retained its relaxed vibe which I loved.
The archipelago which is a duty-free haven and is home to 99 islands is located around 30km off the northwest coast of Malaysia, part of Kedah state, and has population of around 100,000; historically known for its role in trade, it has become a popular tourist destination with the main island, also called Langkawi, being the largest and most developed, while the smaller surrounding islands are known for their more natural vibe. Wildlife that lives here include monkeys, monitor lizards, flying foxes, eagles, and sea turtles.
I flew into Langkawi International Airport and spent an idyllic week here. I kicked back on the stunning beaches of Pantai Cenang and Tanjung Rhu, rode the Langkawi Sky Bridge and saw breathtaking views, went on a guided hike through the lush rainforests of Gunung Mat Cincang, took the 1,700-meter SkyCab up to Machinchang Mountain, sampled tasty street food at the roaming Langkawi Night Market, took a boat tour through the mangroves of Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, and indulged in duty-free shopping at the local markets!
- Location: Northwest part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to enjoy the beaches and outdoor activities in pleasant weather).
- Activities on offer: Beach activities, cable car rides, skybridge walks, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
- Accommodation: The Datai Langkawi, The Andaman, and budget beachfront guesthouses.
- Map Location and Directions
My personal highlights…
- Discovering my favorite beaches which was the extraordinary Black Sand Beach (which had both black and white sands), the quiet Pantai Tengah, the luxurious resort-filled Datai Bay and Pantai Cenang which attracted the backpackers.
- Exploring the SkyBridge and elevated platforms and watching the clouds roll over the slopes!
Book A Trip!
We can book your trip hopping around Malaysia’s beautiful places through our free, top-rated travel planning service!
2. Pulau Tioman
This is often regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia! I have to agree I thought it was an absolutely stunner with untouched beaches, clear, shallow aquamarine waters, charming village-style buildings, jungle-covered mountains and interesting coral reefs. It had a relaxed, laid-back vibe which combined nature with a dash of adventure!
Located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, in the South China Sea; it became a popular tourist destination after being featured in the 1958 film South Pacific. It has a population of around 3,000 residents, mostly living in small villages.
I took a one hour flight Tioman Airport from Kuala Lumpur and stayed for four days and toured the island on a rented motorbike which was an awesome way to explore. I also relaxed on the quiet beaches of Salang and ABC Beach, went diving and snorkeling to discover the coral reefs, treked through the jungle to see the Asah Waterfall, visited the traditional villages of Tekek and Paya, and took a snorkeling boat trip to Renggis Island and saw stingrays and blacktip reef sharks!
- Location: East coast of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for clear waters and ideal snorkeling and diving conditions).
- Activities on offer: Snorkeling, scuba diving, jungle trekking, and exploring waterfalls.
- Accommodation: Berjaya Tioman Resort, Japamala Resort, and budget chalets.
- Map Location and Directions
3. George Town
I loved the island state Penang which is located off the northwestern coast and thought it was such a unique travel destination. It’s a varied and attractive destination filled with an interesting history, melting pot of different cultures, stunning beaches and a handful of luxurious resorts.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown is capital city of the island and we really enjoyed staying here for a few days. It’s a bustling places filled with shops, markets, restaurants and old colonial buildings.
We also loved exploring and discovering all the former crumbling mansions here as well as the stunning temples such as Kek Lok Si, a very large and important Buddhist temple.
- Location: Northwest part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to explore the cultural and historical sites in cooler weather).
- Activities on offer: Sightseeing, visiting temples, exploring colonial architecture, and enjoying local cuisine.
- Accommodation: Eastern & Oriental Hotel, The Prestige Hotel, and heritage boutique hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
4. Penang
I thought this vibrant state was so unique! blend of pastel-colored colonial-era buildings in George Town, UNESCO-listed architecture, long beaches with soft sands, clear waters, and a backdrop of lush hills. One of my favourite aspects though, was that it was a multiracial melting pot of diverse cultures, religions, and ethnicities which made a superb foodie destination too. It felt lively yet relaxed at the same time but it was definitely very intriguing!
Located on the northwest coast, it was historically known for its strategic role in trade, but now has a population of about 1.8 million; its capital, George Town (which I mentioned above) is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with colonial architecture.
I flew into Penang International Airport and stayed for interesting week. I explored the charming UNESCO-listed George Town with its interesting street art, visited the famous Khoo Kongsi clan house, hiked up Penang Hill and saw panoramic views, relaxed on the Batu Ferringhi beach (although I had to watch up for jellyfish!), tasted delicious street food at Gurney Drive, and hiked the trails in the picturesque Penang National Park.
- Location: Northwest part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to enjoy the food, festivals, and explore the island in pleasant conditions).
- Activities on offer: Beach activities, visiting the Butterfly Farm, taking the funicular train to Penang Hill, and exploring food markets.
- Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort, Lone Pine Hotel, and seafront guesthouses.
- Map Location and Directions
My favorite highlights…
- Visiting the Butterfly Farm, which has a series of masterful, must-see short animated educational films.
- Dining at the Tropical Spice Garden on the island’s northern edge were we dined in the treetops alongside Silver Leaf monkeys swinging amongst the branches.
- Taking the funicular train to the top of the Penang Hill which was a cool (as in temperature) and pretty spot with awesome nature trails
- Trying the local delicacies – I especially loved the very tasty fried Nasi Kandar (a curry), and the very colorful Ais Kacang (“bean ice” a Malaysian dessert).
5. The Petronas Towers
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the chaotic capital, beauty presents itself in an unexpected form.
If you hang around the base of the Petronas Towers between sunset and moonrise, the world’s tallest twin buildings undergo a magical transformation as day turns to night and the office lights, lift shafts, and aircraft warning lights illuminate the 88 stories in a halogen-fuelled twilight haze.
- Visitor Center Address: Petronas Twin Tower, Lower Ground (Concourse) Level, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to make the most of sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur’s iconic spots).
- Activities on offer: Sightseeing, visiting the skybridge, exploring nearby parks, and shopping at the Suria KLCC mall.
- Accommodation: Traders Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, and nearby luxury hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
6. Pangkor Island
This is a dreamy tropical island located off the west coast of the mainland. It’s an unspoilt place filled with pristine white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, varied marine life and lots of opportunities for water activities.
I loved snorkeling here and also hiking the jungle trails to experience the nature close up.
Our favorite beaches on the island inluded Pasir Bogak which has clear shallow waters, the awesome snorkeling spot of Coral Bay, and the exclusive resort of Emerald Bay.
- Location: West coast of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for water sports, snorkeling, and beach relaxation).
- Activities on offer: Snorkeling, beach activities, jungle trekking, and island-hopping.
- Accommodation: Pangkor Laut Resort, budget beachfront chalets, and small boutique hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
7. Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah. Although it might look like a typical city at first glance, with its lines of malls and buildings, you will encounter magnificent stretches of orange-sand coastline and islands when you venture deeper into the city.
One of the most popular attractions is the floating mosque, but there are several other places to visit, like Tanj and Ung Aru Beach. In my opinion, it has one of the most beautiful sunsets. You could also stroll along Likas Bay and enjoy the day playing in the sand or the water.
The five islands here are collectively known as Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a favored spot for snorkeling and relaxing by foreigners and locals alike. Just a few miles from the city, there is also a great jungle.
- Location: North part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for the best beach and hiking weather, and to enjoy the islands nearby).
- Activities on offer: Beach activities, snorkeling, visiting the floating mosque, and hiking in nearby jungles.
- Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort, Gaya Island Resort, and city hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
8. Malacca
Malacca City is an excellent choice if you are looking for a richly endowed with history and culture.
For hundreds of years, Malacca was one of the most strategically significant towns on the Malay Peninsular. Its ownership changed hands between the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, amongst others, as they fought for control of this key trading post.
Fast forward to modern-day Malacca, and you get the impression the place hasn’t changed much.
Many streets are one-way, winding, and cramped, while the rickety buildings are poky and ooze historical character. Like Penang, Malacca is one of the country’s smallest states and proudly possesses UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
If you visit Malacca city, I recommend visiting the famous Jonker Street Night Market, A Famosa Fort, and St. Paul’s Church.
- Location: Southwest part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for exploring historical sites and markets in cooler temperatures).
- Activities on offer: Sightseeing, visiting historical sites, walking tours, and exploring night markets.
- Accommodation: The Majestic Malacca, Casa del Rio, and heritage boutique hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
9. Cameron Highlands
Visitors are attracted to this enchanting region of Pehang to experience the novelty and the respite of a cooler tropical highland climate where temperatures are often in the low 20s.
The rolling hills are populated by tea plantations and flower nurseries, making the area the leading producer of tea and flowers in Malaysia.
It’s wise to check the weather in the monsoon season (November – February) and call ahead or ask your transport operator before traveling, as the heavy rainfall can lead to landslides, which have an inconvenient tendency to block many roads.
- Location: Central part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Summer (to enjoy the cool highland climate and visit tea plantations).
- Activities on offer: Visiting tea plantations, hiking, exploring flower nurseries, and visiting strawberry farms.
- Accommodation: The Cameron Highlands Resort, Strawberry Park Resort, and local guesthouses.
- Map Location and Directions
10. Pulau Pangkor
I loved this stunning gem! A tiny island off the Malay Peninsular with broad, sweeping beaches that match Langkawi, it is only accessible by ferry from the connecting town of Lumut.
Lumut is approximately three hours north of Kuala Lumpur by road, and for those wishing to stick to the tracks, Ipoh (85km away) will sate your train station needs.
- Location: West coast of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for snorkeling, beach activities, and exploring the island).
- Activities on offer: Snorkeling, jungle trekking, beach activities, and wildlife spotting.
- Accommodation: Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort, budget chalets, and beachfront resorts.
- Map Location and Directions
11. Pulau Redang
This picturesque group of islands is a stunning sight. Located along the east coast, they rise from the South China Sea.
Redang sits within protected waters, known as the Terengganu Marine Park, and preserves the crystal clear waters and reef systems, creating a flourishing scuba-tourism industry.
With crystal clear waters, the islands sit within protected waters (the Terengganu Marine Park), so their beauty is maintained at a premium. It has recently become an excellent spot for scuba diving and tourist activities.
The waters are usually too rough for boats to move on during those times, so I suggest researching the best time to visit. As with some central locations such as Cameron Highlands and much of the East Coast, the monsoons dictate when and when not to go.
Between November and February, the waters are often too rough for boats to transport eager sun-seekers to the island; many resorts take a holiday, so it’s always best to phone ahead for availability or plan your travels away from the low season.
- Location: East coast of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for ideal conditions for snorkeling and scuba diving).
- Activities on offer: Scuba diving, snorkeling, beach activities, and marine life viewing.
- Accommodation: The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, Laguna Redang Island Resort, and budget lodges.
- Map Location and Directions
12. Sabah, Borneo
Malaysia seems to be a never-ending source of reverential snorkel and scuba sites, and Sabah doesn’t buck any trends. If you’re interested in latitudes, Sabah ranks as the country’s northernmost state, and people flock to Sabah to enjoy the seas. I had a huge soft spot for this place!
Sabah is superbly beautiful, with long, comprehensive, and sandy beaches. It also has many exotic onshore and offshore species, including civet cats, snakes, clouded leopards, and pygmy elephants.
These are among the 222 mammals (44 endemics), 420 birds (37 endemics), 100 amphibians, and 394 fish (19 endemics) found!
- Location: North part of the country
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to enjoy the beaches, wildlife, and diving opportunities).
- Activities on offer: Beach activities, snorkeling, diving, and wildlife viewing.
- Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort, eco-lodges, and beachfront hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
13. Gunung Mulu National Park
What looks like a stone’s throw away from Brunei on the map, Gunung Mulu represents yet another of this country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It’s a well-documented, visited, and filmed world, as done by the BBC’s Planet Earth team, but with eye-catching, otherworldly features such as the Pinnacles at Mount Api, it’s easy to see why. Gunung Mulu National Park is the largest of Sarawak’s parks.
- Location: North part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for trekking and exploring caves in ideal conditions).
- Activities on offer: Trekking, caving, wildlife viewing, and exploring limestone formations.
- Accommodation: Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa, park lodges, and eco-friendly stays.
- Map Location and Directions
14. Ipoh, Perak
Ipoh, the capital of Perak, is nothing short of magnificent. Nicknamed rightly ‘The City of Bougainvillea,’ I’m a big fan of its vintage beauty!
It is surrounded by rocky limestone hills that add to the city’s complete visual aesthetic centered around its colonial history. The city comprises several Hindu and Buddhist cave temples, and it is quickly becoming one of the top tourist destinations in the world!
It is unimaginable that Ipoh was a sleepy Malay village just a few years ago. Now, it is drawing attention and popularity worldwide, with people wanting to enjoy some of its many beautiful spots.
Like the Ipoh Heritage Walk, which is only 6.5 kilometers long, it is lined with majestic architecture that still harbors a beauty and magnificence that almost sums up the entire Ipoh experience.
Some other great places to visit in Ipoh are Kellie’s castle, which is not for the faint of heart, as there have been several supernatural reports and sightings within this cave, and the Tambun cave, which you would certainly enjoy seeing some of the Neolithic paintings, and the Geological Museum, which is full of all sorts of beautiful and exciting stories and exhibits.
- Location: West part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to explore the colonial architecture and enjoy the nearby cave temples).
- Activities on offer: Sightseeing, exploring cave temples, walking tours, and visiting historical sites.
- Accommodation: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, WEIL Hotel, and boutique hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
15. The Perhentians
Located in the South China Sea, this is a small archipelago off the coast of Terengganu, known as the “Perhentians.” The main islands of the Perhentians are Besar and Kecil (Big and Small), two beautiful coral-covered islands of white sand and crystal-clear shallow water.
You can take up several activities at the Perhentians, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and canoeing. You would have a delightful relaxing day and gaze at the beautiful water as it laps against the shore.
- Location: East coast of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for excellent snorkeling, diving, and beach relaxation).
- Activities on offer: Snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and beach activities.
- Accommodation: Perhentian Island Resort, Coral View Island Resort, and budget chalets.
- Map Location and Directions
16. Danum Valley
Danum Valley in Sabah is the best place to visit for a fantastic jungle experience. The conservation area is located deep inside the 130 million-year-old lowland forest.
It has a good diversity of plants and animals scattered over 438 square kilometers. When you visit the Danum Valley, you might see orangutans, leopards, or even pygmy elephants.
The area is purely wildlife and plant life as there is a lack of human settlement, making the experience and environment even purer. The forest is lush, and you can partake in jungle treks with an experienced guide or even go for a night safari.
- Location: East part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for wildlife viewing and jungle trekking in good weather).
- Activities on offer: Jungle trekking, wildlife viewing, and night safaris.
- Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge and eco-friendly forest lodges.
- Map Location and Directions
17. Alor Setar
Visiting Langkawi is usually the most popular activity for those who visit Kedah. But in my opinion, they are missing out on an unexplored city called Alor Setar.
The city stands just a couple of kilometers to the southeast of Langkawi, and it features some significant buildings like the Royal Hall, the Big Clock Building, the Zahir Mosque, and the Sultan Museum.
You can also visit the imposing 250 million-year-old Gunung Keriang limestone hill. There are also some historic 17th-century ruins you can see at Kuala Kedah.
- Location: Northwest part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (to explore the city’s cultural sites and nearby attractions).
- Activities on offer: Visiting historical sites, exploring limestone hills, and visiting museums.
- Accommodation: Hotel Royale Signature, TH Hotel & Convention Centre, and budget city hotels.
- Map Location and Directions
18. Pulau Sipadan
The island of Pulau Sipadan is located in the state of Sabah and is one of the top diving destinations in the world.
The island stands about 600 meters above the ocean floor and is home to various marine life, including devil rays, hammerhead sharks, dogtooth tuna, and barracudas.
It is a great place for marine enthusiasts and divers because there is so much beauty in and around the water. However, restrictions have been implemented to sustain the balance in the ecosystem, so you will only be allowed day visits.
But if you want to stay overnight, I suggest arranging a place on nearby islands like Mabul, Mataking, or Kapalai.
- Location: Southeast part of the country.
- Best time to visit: Dry season (for the best diving conditions and clear waters).
- Activities on offer: Scuba diving, snorkeling, and marine life viewing.
- Accommodation: Day trips only, with stays on nearby Mabul or Kapalai Islands at Sipadan Water Village Resort or budget lodges.
- Map Location and Directions
Location of Malaysia
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia with the famous countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore and The Philippines.
