Top 5:
Places to visit in Malaysia
Back in 2023 I traveled Malyasia for more than 2 months. I was writing my thesis and figured I might as well go live somewhere slightly warmer than my home country of Denmark. I based myself in Kuala Lumpur from where I had the perfect hotspot to go travel to all of the locations on my bucket list. Whether taking a quick flight, a night bus or even a train, the infrastructure in Malaysia is incredibly well organized and easy to find your way around with. Especially given that English is one of the main languages in the country, getting around is much easier than some might expect. This is also why I always recommend Malaysia as one of the best countries to start your travels in if you’re a beginner and want to explore a less touristy side of Asia. It’s a safe country where you can easily get around and communicate with locals.
Ever since my own experiences in Malaysia, I have dreamed of going back to continue exploring this beautiful country. In this blog post I will share with you my top 5 places to visit in Malaysia. Hopefully, this can bring you a bit of inspiration if it’s your first time going to Malaysia and you’re unsure of where to start. Without further ado, let’s get straight into it – here are my top destinations to visit in Malaysia:
1. kuala lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, and thus, also a must visit spot in the country. It might be an obvious choice as you can hardly avoid passing by the city when you go to Malaysia. But Kuala Lumpur truly holds a special place in my heart. The city has so much soul while still offering a convenience and vibe similar to Singapore. Slightly less polished, the city holds so much authenticity while being a pot of mixed cultures. To me, Kuala Lumpur would be a top choice of places to live in Souteast Asia. It’s authentic and hasn’t been overrun by tourism, it’s affordable, and it offers a wide variety of delicious foods.
2. Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian islands is probably my top choice for destinations to visit in Malaysia. If you dream of exploring white sandy beaches with incredible snorkeling opportunities that aren’t overrun by packs of tourists, Perhentian islands is the place to go. I would go so far to say these are some of the best beaches and sea life I have experienced – and at a very affordable price. Perhentian Islands are the Maldives of Malaysia. It is a tranquil paradise for people who love a good beach chill and exploring the ocean wildlife.
3. Langkawi Island
Langkawi is an island found on the North West coast of Malaysia right at the border to Thailand. It’s one of the more touristy places of Malaysia, but with good reason. The island offers a range of different things to explore with everything from white sandy beaches to jungles and lagoons. Some of the top activities to do on Langkawi island are visiting the sky bridge with a beautiful view of the island, going for a mangrove walk or boat tour in the Kilim Geoforest Park, and of course chilling at some of the many beaches around the island.
4. Penang Island
If your time in Malaysia is limited, Penang island is the perfect place to go on a trip combined with Kuala Lumpur. It is very close to and accessible to get to from the capital. But you should of course not only go there because it’s easy to get to. Penang island is a place like no other. With it’s unique architecture showcasing the many different cultures present throughout history it really offers a completely different feel to the rest of Malaysia, and even Asia. The one place you have to go on Penang island is George Town which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Primarily due to the living fusion of Eastern and Western traditions you can find in the area caused by centuries of Colonialism and trade in. Penang island is perfect for exploring cute cafes, shopping, relaxing at the beach – and of course – has one of the best and most recognized street food scene in all of Asia.
5. Cameron Highlands
If you’re not a beach person or simply want to explore different parts of the nature Malaysia has to offer, Cameron Highlands is the place to go. Cameron Highlands offers a unique mix of hilly rainforests, montane cloud forests and agricultural tea fields. Being almost 2000 m above sea level you will experience a much cooler climate compared to the beach towns and islands around Malaysia. Cameron Highlands is the perfect place to visit if you want a break from the bustling city or sandy beaches and want to explore nature in a different way. Whether that be hiking through the forests or taking a scenic drive to the many breathtaking viewpoints.
Would I recommend travelling in Malaysia?
Of course! Having done extensive travels in all of Asia, I can say with certainty that Malaysia is one of my all time favorite places to visit. It offers a completely unique and much less touristy side of South East Asia, where you can truly feel that the country is it’s own and not dependent on tourism. Malaysia is an affordable destination with incredible nature, culture and food. If ever you have the chance or you are looking to start your travels in Asia, I would make sure to put Malaysia on the list of destinations to visit.
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