Malaysia Travel Guide: What to See and Do

This is a guest post written by Jim from AsiaMarvels.com. If you would like to write a guest post for Expat and the City, send an email to info@expatandthecityblog.com.

Perhaps what distinguishes Malaysia from other destinations in Southeast Asia is the great influence of the colonial era of the British in this country.

Not only does it leave its traits on the architecture, but also on the dynamics of people and delicious food that you may encounter along your journey.

Kuala Lumpur City Centre by Jakub Michankow via Flickr CC.

With a carefully planned trip, you can experience a package of hectic city life, a peaceful ancient town, and refreshing nature – all in one country.

If you’re thinking of traveling to Malaysia, here’s a Malaysia travel guide that will help you plan your itinerary.

When to Visit Malaysia

Malaysia has a tropical rainforest climate which means the temperature is rather hot all year round, with 70% to 90% humidity.

KLCC Park at the Petronas Towers by Conny Sandland via Flickr CC.

You can visit this country whenever you want, but be mindful that during September and October, there would be more rain in the west coast destinations such as Penang and Langkawi.

Also, if you cannot withstand hot weather, it is more ideal to visit Malaysia during the dry season, which is from December to February.

Kuala Lumpur

The capital city represents Malaysia in terms of economic development. You can find all types of service here, as this city is the retail and fashion hub of not only the country but the entire Southeast Asia.

It is recommended that you check out these highly-rated spots:

The Petronas Towers

The twin skyscrapers were once the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004. There is a skybridge connecting the two towers on the 41^st and 42^th floor. Only 1000 tickets are sold to visitors daily so first come, first serve.

Petronas Towers, Malaysia. Photo by Spyderos via Flickr CC

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

This museum owns antiques from the 12^th century onwards, which are showcased beautifully. The book collection is amazing and you could easily spend a few hours here. There’s also a great café. However, it is not opened on a Sunday so you should plan your trip to avoid Sunday as it is worth the whole experience. The museum also houses a lovely gift shop.

Antiques from 12th century by Connie via Flickr CC

Changkat Bukit Bintang Nightlife

You can find Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant clubbing scene here. This is the so-called “party avenue” that is lined with lounges, bars and clubs.

Jalan Alor food street, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur by David McKelvey via Flickr CC.

Cameron Highland

Cameron Highlands by Varun Chatterji via Flickr CC.

Have you ever tried the famous Teh Tarik? It is a hot milk tea beverage that is commonly found in Malaysia. For fans of hot milk tea, you should visit Cameron Highland as tea plantations are all around the area. Remember to check out these places:

Mossy Forest

A must-go destination for travellers who love trekking. Trail with wooden walk boards are suitable for an escape into the woods.

Boh Tea Plantation

Serene, sprawling, heavenly tea plantation – definitely a sight to behold. Here you can find a tea processing plant, a cafe which serves very good Teh Tarik, as well as a tea products shop. Along the hallway is a mini gallery which houses the Boh’s history.

BOH Tea Plantation – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia by Clark & Kim Kays via Flickr CC.

Time Tunnel Museum

This museum has a collection of old things that are very traditional in Malaysia. As a time tunnel, the further you go down the tunnel, the older things starts to show up.

Memorabilia at Time Tunnel Museum by Adam Jones via Flickr CC.

Penang Island

Penang was part of the Malay sultanate of Kedah until 1876. After that, Penang was greatly influenced by the colonial era of the British, which lasted around 160 years. The local community is predominantly Chinese, followed by Malays and Indians. This dynamic in demographics and history make Penang a place where you can see all types of architecture, taste all types of street food, and meet all types of interesting people.

UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site

George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang, was recognized as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2008. The city comprises of a core zone and a buffer zone, with more than 1700 historic buildings in a total of 259.42 hectares of land. It is recommended that you have a look at the online brochure of the heritage site, which can be found on the Penang state government website when planning your trip.

KehLok Si Temple

This temple is known as the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The name KehLok Si literally means “Temple of Ultimate Happiness”. Located on a hill, KehLok Si is very easy to reach by public bus, taxi, or motorbike.

Keh Lok Si by Cecil Lee via Flickr CC.

The architecture and the artworks here are harmoniously influenced by both Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. An added value for visiting this temple is that you can actually have a view of George Town from above.

Penang National Park

A great escape from the hectic life in George Town. This park is a good place for anyone who enjoys hiking and would love to explore the wildlife of this island. You do not need to go too far into this park to see monkeys, lizards, butterflies and so on. Just make sure that you bring water and mosquito repellent.

Macaque by Theo Crazzolara via Flickr CC.

Have you been to Malaysia before? Let me know if you have anything to add to this Malaysia travel guide in the comment section below!

About the Author

Jim Liang is a writer at Asia Marvels. who loves travelling around Asia and sharing stories & travel guidelines with his readers. He encourages people from all over the world to see the beauty of the landscape, people and culture of Asia.

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