Experiencing the Diversity of Malaysia: A Traveller’s Handbook

Discover Malaysia

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Tourist attractions aren’t as busy, the culture isn’t diluted by mass tourism, and exploring the country makes you feel like you have discovered a hidden gem.

We’ve created this ultimate guide to Malaysia to share with you everything that this unique country has to offer.

Is Malaysia worth visiting?

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No matter what you’re seeking, Malaysia has it all. If your idea of a perfect holiday involves sun-soaked beach days and refreshing dips in crystal-clear waters, head to Langkawi and the Perhentian Islands.

For adventure enthusiasts, the Cameron Highlands and Malaysian Borneo beckon with their majestic mountains, dense jungles, and sprawling tea plantations. And let’s not forget the incredible opportunity to spot Orangutans in Borneo.

Speaking of wildlife, Malaysia’s wonders extend underwater, where a vibrant marine world awaits. Take a deep breath, dive into the depths and be mesmerized by turtles, sharks, colourful coral reefs, and an abundance of fish.

After all of that exploring, you can fill your stomach with some of Malaysia’s diverse cuisine. You’ll find a unique blend of Chinese, Indian and local Malaysian dishes, like Nasi Lemak, Satay and Nasi Goreng.

Is Malaysia safe?

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Malaysia is generally considered a safe country for travellers. The crime rate is relatively low, and violent crimes against tourists are rare. That being said, like with every other country around the world, petty theft and pickpocketing can occur.

It’s important to keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy places like Kuala Lumpur, and practise common sense.

Best destinations in Malaysia

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Top 3 places to visit in Malaysia

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Can’t wait to start planning your trip to Malaysia? Here are our top three places to visit in Malaysia:

Kuala Lumpur — more than just a layover

Most travellers see Kuala Lumpur as a big airport hub, and nothing more than that. If you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, please make sure to venture outside of the airport. The city itself has a lot to offer. 

Unlike other Southeast Asian capital cities, it’s not overwhelmingly busy and the culinary scene is enough to make you never want to leave. Head to Jalan Alor to satisfy all your street food desires! 

Some other things to do include visiting the Petronas Towers, a trip to Batu Caves or ending the day with a firefly boat trip.

If you want to venture out to the countryside, consider taking the 4-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands.

Langkawi — an island you’ll never want to leave

Langkawi is a beach paradise situated 30 km off the coast of northwestern Malaysia. Not only is the island duty-free, meaning you can go wild whilst shopping and not break the bank. It’s also a population holiday destination due to its soft white sand and crystal clear seas. 

If you get bored of the beach (if that’s even possible) then you can take a ride on the cable cars, hunt for waterfalls or even visit a 3D art museum.

Check our page for the best transport options from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi.

Perhentian Islands — Malaysia’s secret paradise islands

The Perhentian Islands are hidden gems that we’d love to keep to ourselves, but that just wouldn’t be fair. Situated off Malaysia’s east coast are two inhabited islands, Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil. 

Perhentian Besar has more luxurious accommodations aimed at families and couples, while Kecil is filled with backpackers making the most of the cheap accommodation. Both islands offer pristine white-sand beaches and incredible diving opportunities due to the great visibility. 

Looking to do your Padi? This is the perfect place to do it. It’s cheap and you’ll be swimming alongside sharks, turtles and manta rays.

Find out how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Perhentian Islands.

When is the best time to visit Malaysia?

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The west and east coasts of Malaysia have opposite weather patterns meaning that at most points throughout the year, you can find somewhere with good weather in Malaysia.

Another bonus is that when large parts of Southeast Asia are experiencing their rainy season, between June and October, you’ll be able to find good weather on the east coast of Malaysia.

West Coast – Langkawi, Penang etc.

The best time to visit these islands is between November and April. During this time, it’s considerably drier, but you may still experience some small showers, which can often be a nice relief from the heat.

East Coast – Tioman Island, Perhentian Islands etc.

The islands situated on the east coast are hot and sunny for most of the year. The only time to avoid is between November and March when the monsoon season hits.

Highlands and Lowlands – Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Cameron Highlands etc.

Rainfall can come at any time in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, but it is worse during the rainy season between April and October. There’s no need to worry about it getting cold, though. Temperatures tend to range between 22-30°C all year long.

The Cameron Highlands experience a slightly different climate to the rest of the peninsula. Due to the elevation, temperatures are much milder and can get down to 15°C during the night. 

Rainfall is heaviest during September and December, so it’s best to avoid Cameron Highlands during this time.

How to get around in Malaysia

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Malaysia has a pretty well-established and efficient transportation network which makes travelling around this country relatively easy. Here are the best ways to get around Malaysia:

By bus 

Malaysia has an extensive and reliable bus network that can get you to most places across the country. It’s a super affordable way to travel, even on the executive coaches that sometimes even offer an onboard meal. 

The cross-country bus services are provided mainly by Transnasional, Plusliner, Aeroline and Super Nice. Once you arrive at your destination, buses are also a great way to explore the city. Places like Kuala Lumpur have an ultra-efficient bus network, whilst the local buses in other cities also do a great job of getting you from A to B.

Buying bus tickets in Malaysia 

Bus tickets can be bought in person at the bus station, but if you would prefer to book online in advance, BusOnlineTicket is a good website to use.

By car

If you like to have as much freedom as possible, then hiring a car may be the best option for you. Malaysia’s highways are big and well-maintained, making them relatively easy to get used to. 

Good roads tend to mean tolls, though, so make sure to carry cash with you to pay for these. As with most Asian cities, the roads get narrower and the drivers crazier. These inner-city roads may take a bit longer to get used to! Car rentals start at around RM120 per day for weekly rentals.

By train 

Malaysia’s train network is operated by a company called KTM. Trains run from the north to the south of the country, with the main stops being Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and Johor Bharu. 

There are two different types of trains available. Express trains are modern and air-conditioned, whereas the local trains tend to vary in quality. 

You’d probably expect the train to be the fastest option over the bus. But on some routes, the bus can actually be a few hours faster, so best to check this!

BusOnlineTicket is an official KTM agent where you can book your tickets online.

By plane 

Flying is often the fastest way to move between places, but it’s important to remember that it’s also the most polluting. 

Therefore we’d recommend flying only when it is completely necessary. For example, if you want to get from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo. The most popular airline operators include Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia.

By taxi 

Malaysia, like other Asian countries, uses the taxi app Grab to order taxis. Uber does operate in some places, but cars tend to be more widely available via Grab. 

Long-distance taxis tend to be at least two to three times the price of an express bus, so unless you’re travelling as a group, taxis may be too expensive.

Entry requirements and visa for Malaysia

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Who doesn’t like easy travel? Well, Malaysia makes it pretty straightforward to travel to when it comes to immigration.

If you’re from Europe, the UK, the United States, Australia and South Africa, then you’ll be able to visit Malaysia for 90 days without having to apply for a visa.

You can see whether your country is included in the 90-day visa-free travel on HandyVisas.

Must-try Malaysian food

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Malaysian cuisine is a delicious fusion of Chinese, Indian and local-Malay flavours, making it an exciting place to eat.

Here are some of our favourite dishes to try:

• Nasi Lemak — Malaysia’s national dish, so you can’t go to Malaysia without trying it. The white rice is soaked in coconut milk and then served with a hot spicy sauce (sambal), hard-boiled egg, cucumber slices, small dried anchovies and roasted peanuts.
• Laksa — is a popular spicy soup in Malaysia that also contains noodles, a form of proteins and other toppings such as bean sprouts or vegetables.
• Satay —  can be found both from street vendors and restaurants. It’s much more than just grilled meat, and once you try it, you’ll agree too. Accompanied by a peanut-dipping sauce, it’s the perfect snack to add to your food tour or accompany another dish.
• Char Kway Teow — a popular street food dish that consists of flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, and egg. The dish is seasoned with a sweet and savoury soy sauce.

Essential travel tips for Malaysia

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Here is a selection of the best tips and pieces of information to make your trip to Malaysia that little bit easier:

Paying with Malaysian Ringgit in Malaysia

Malaysia uses the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).

While card payments are becoming more popular in big cities and popular tourist destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, it’s good to always have some cash on you just in case. You’ll need cash for things like taking the bus, markets and tips.

ATMs

What we all love to hear — most ATMs in Malaysia are fee-free, so they won’t charge you to withdraw cash. There are plenty of ATMs throughout Malaysia, so if one does try to charge you, just remove your card and find another one. 

The ATM withdrawal limit depends on the bank, but the normal limit is around 1500 RM per transaction. 

Buying a sim card in Malaysia

While a lot of cafes, restaurants and hotels offer free Wi-Fi, it’s likely that you’re going to want internet whilst out and about. We recommend getting a local sim card.

The are a number of different mobile providers in Malaysia such as Celcom, Hotlink and U Mobile. You’ll be able to buy a sim card from one of these providers at most international airports in Indonesia or at a mobile provider’s store. 

You’ll need to make sure that your phone is ‘unlocked’ which means that you can put any sim card in your phone, rather than being locked to a specific provider.

Malay language cheat sheet

The official language of Malaysia is Malay.

It’s always good to know a few essential words before travelling to a place, so here are a few to get you started:

• Hello – Hello
• Good morning – Selamat pagi
• How are you – Apa khabar?
• Goodbye – Selamat tinggal
• Thank you – Terima kasih
• You’re welcome – Sama-sama
• Please – Tolong

The perfect packing list for Malaysia

Malaysia’s climate is mainly hot all year round, so bring loose-fitting clothes because you’ll want to stay as cool as possible. If you’re travelling during the rainy season, then a raincoat is a must!

For those heading to Borneo or to the Cameron Highlands, there are some exceptional hiking opportunities that you won’t want to miss out on. Don’t forget to bring suitable shoes to tackle these treks. 

Aside from the essential travel gear, here are some that have become permanent fixtures on our packing list:

• Reusable water bottle – they’re better for the environment and can save you money on water.
• A portable charger – there’s probably going to be a time when your phone’s battery is on red, at a time that you desperately need it.
• An adaptor – A universal travel adaptor is a great buy if you’re travelling between different continents. Malaysia uses plug type G, a plug with 3 rectangular-shaped pins.

Check out our full packing list for Southeast Asia.