10 Interesting Places to Visit in Malaysia
Usually, you will find the same old Top 10 places to visit in Malaysia, done by content writers who sit at desks and have never even been to any of the destinations in Malaysia.
But I personally travel around Malaysia often and am always introduced to new tourism products and places, with a mission to share these with my readers. This updated list includes beaches, rainforests, highlands, old towns, food spots, and more.
Interesting Places to Visit in Malaysia
- Siniawan Old Town, Sarawak
- Ipoh Old Town, Perak
- Perhentian Island, Terengganu
- Sibu, Sarawak
- Sandakan, Sabah
- Langkawi Island, Kedah
- Genting Highlands, Pahang
- Bako National Park, Sarawak
- Bario, Sarawak
- Tawau, Sabah
Best Places to Visit in Malaysia
![]() |
Siniawan Food Street, a hidden gem of Kuching Sarawak |
1. Siniawan Old Town, Kuching Sarawak
A pleasant surprise for first-timers, Siniawan is well known only among the locals, but in recent years, the food street has gained some digital publicity. This unique food street was incorporated in 2010 by the Siniawan people and has been seeing a steady flow of visitors on weekends.
![]() |
The thrill of street dining in a 100 year old town – Siniawan |
I recommend you go on a Friday or Saturday and be here by about 5.30 PM or 6.00 PM. Over 50 street stalls sell all sorts of local food, and customers order what they want and dine on the main street under red lanterns. Does not get any better.
To go to Siniawan Old Town, you can Book a tour from any of the tour desks in Kuching, Sarawak, or any travel and tour agent here.
The total time spent is around one to two hours, and tour prices are around RM80 to RM100 (US$20-$25) per person, including transfers only. Dinner is on your own at the food street. Many will rent a car or book Uber or Grab to get here.
![]() |
Some of the street art around Ipoh City, Perak |
2. Ipoh Old Town, Perak
Usually overlooked, Ipoh was once a thriving city in Malaysia during the tin mining days but is nowadays branded as a retirement city. However, during my last visit here in 2016, Ipoh had changed quite a bit to cater to mass tourism.
Food is still one of the main attractions of Ipoh, but there are quite a few interesting places to explore if you love street tourism and the old colonial charm. Moreover, Lonely Planet listed Ipoh as one of the top cities to visit in 2017.
Concubine Lane in the old town area is a must-visit. This once quiet narrow lane has transformed into a busy alley. Shops and carts occupy both sides of the alley, where souvenirs, food, and local snacks are sold.
A couple of modern-day cafes are also prominent here, and on weekends, they get really crowded with locals. And if you love street art, world-renowned Ernest Zachariah has left his mark in certain spots around the Ipoh Old Town area.
![]() |
Kong Heng Square’s market in Ipoh Old Town |
Another must-visit place in Ipoh is Kong Heng Square, a block of old pre-war colonial buildings which have been beautifully refurbished and renovated to maintain the old world charm.
Here, you will find an assortment of cafes, restaurants, antique shops, and even a boutique hotel. On weekends, a bazaar is held in the vicinity. The best time to explore Ipoh Old Town is also on the weekends.
For family fun, there is the Lost World of Tambun, a family theme and water park 20 minutes from town, and for accommodation, there is The Banjaran, a hot spring luxury resort and also The Haven, an exclusive award-winning hotel, both located about 20 minutes from Ipoh main town.
To go to Ipoh Old Town, I highly recommend taking the Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur, as it only takes two hours one way. You can spend a full day here or overnight and leave the next day. Alternatively, you can rent a car from Kuala Lumpur and drive for two hours.
For more information, Visit Destination Perak (http://destinationperak.travel/), the state tourism board, or read my other article on Places to Visit in Ipoh Perak.
![]() |
Long Beach at Perhentian Island |
3. Perhentian Island, Terengganu
One of the earliest tourist destinations in Malaysia, since the ’60s, when backpackers first landed, is the Perhentian Islands. Nowadays, luxury resorts, family resorts, dive resorts, and guest houses are found on both islands, Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil.
You should also know that Perhentian observes the monsoon season, which means that from October to February, many of these resorts are closed due to heavy rains and strong waves.
One of them, The Barat Perhentian, is open during the monsoon and is highly recommended. Perhentian Island is truly the gem of Terengganu state. Getting there takes only about 40 minutes by boat, and you are in paradise. Generally, two types of visitors come here: family travellers and young travellers.
![]() |
One of the secluded resorts on Perhentian Kecil Island |
Perhentian Kecil (Small) is where the younger, hipster or lifestyle travellers would head to, and Perhentian Besar (Big) is where the mature or family traveller will head too, as it is less active and noisy. However, there are boat taxis that run all over the two islands.
To go to Perhentian Island – The fastest way is to take a flight to Kota Baharu and then take a taxi (60 minutes) down to Kuala Besut Jetty. There are regular 45-minute boat services to the island, which cost around RM 70.00 per person and operate from 8 AM to 5 PM.
For those travelling on a budget, there are also buses from Kuala Lumpur, which take around 6-7 hours to Kuala Besut or Kuala Terengganu.
More Information – Visit Terengganu (http://www.terengganutourism.com/)
![]() |
Probably the largest wet market in Malaysia here in Sibu, Sarawak |
4. Sibu – Sarawak
One of the least visited places in Sabah by the general tourist is Sibu, located in the centre of Sarawak, Malaysia Borneo. Sibu has a strong Chinese and Melanau tribe community and is one of the important trading cities of central Sarawak.
While the city is non-commercial, there is a very interesting Sibu Cultural Centre where you can learn about Sibu’s culture and heritage. If you are a food traveller, Sibu is one of the must-visit places to experience the unique local food here.
Just out of Sibu, you can also find an authentic Melanau village where you can stay at the Lamin Dana Lodge, a traditional Melanau homestay.
![]() |
Life along a traditional Melanau river village at Lamin Dana, Sibu-Mukah |
The entire village is built around a river; you can travel on boats to experience this old village. You can also go all the way to Mukah from this village via boat. For a more detailed guide to Sarawak, I have also written an article on where to go to Sarawak in 2017, and that should give you more information.
To go to Sibu, There are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and Kuching; you can travel overland for about six hours. Alternatively, taking the river ferry from Kuching takes only about four or five hours, but the scenic journey is amazing.
More Information – Visit Sibu Website (http://www.travelsibu.com/)
![]() |
View of Sandakan City, Sabah |
5. Sandakan – Sabah
Undoubtedly, Sandakan is one of the gateways of East Coast Sabah to massive amounts of Ecotourism. The world-famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre are located here.
The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) is also located here. For those wanting to see the proboscis monkeys, head to Labuk Bay, and for nature lovers, the Kinabatangan River is your best destination to see natural wildlife.
Sandakan is also well-famous for its local food, and I reviewed some of the must-eat food in Sandakan during my several visits to Little Hong Kong. Lankayan Island, one of the beautiful islands of Sabah, is also about two hours from Sandakan.
This place is awesome if you want to see turtles come ashore. The best place is Turtle Island or Selingan Island, about an hour from Sandakan.
To go to Sandakan, Many local airlines fly directly into Sandakan, so connectivity is great here. From Kota Kinabalu, some buses take around 6-7 hours. You need to fly in from Kuala Lumpur.
More Information – Sabah Tourism Website.
![]() |
Pantai Cenang in Langkawi |
6. Langkawi Island – Kedah
Once Malaysia’s pride in must-visit places, Langkawi has come a long way since the ’80s, and in the last couple of years, several new hotels and resorts have opened, catering to high-end luxury tourism.
Langkawi Island has always had that certain charm for visitors, not only for their duty-free status but also for their laid-back island lifestyle. Langkawi Island is a place where you need at least 3-4 days to fully experience it. Moving around the island is required, so most visitors to Langkawi rent a scooter or car to explore.
Many tourist attractions cater to different genres. Ecotourism is also one of Langkawi’s strong points, while the most popular place on the island is Pantai Cenang Beach.
To go to Langkawi, there are many direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The cheaper alternative is to take a bus from KL, which takes around five hours, then a ferry to Langkawi, which takes one hour. From Penang Island, there are flights and a ferry service.
More Information – Langkawi Tourism Website (http://naturallylangkawi.my/)
![]() |
The much talked about Genting Premium Outlet – Photo by www.business.simon.com |
7. Genting Premium Outlet – Awana, Genting Pahang
One of the most anticipated places to visit in Malaysia is none other than Genting, as the news of the 20th Century Fox World Theme Park was supposed to open in late 2016. However, the opening has been delayed, and it has been postponed to late 2017 or even early 2018.
However, the Genting Premium Outlet in Awana, or GPO, is set to open sometime in 2017, so this premium factory outlet will be the second official factory outlet in Malaysia after the Johor Premium Outlets, or JPO.
![]() |
At one of the retail outlets at GPO (Genting Premium Outlets) |
The GPO will be the talk of Genting as this format follows the international standards of factory outlets, offering premium brands on sale. Please discard the Factory Outlet Store (FOS) concept, as the Genting Premium Outlet is the real deal here.
With the connectivity of a brand new Genting Cable Car system, the GPO will have direct access to the resort and 20th Century Fox World Theme Park on top of the hill. This means you can easily move up and down as your leisure or kids having fun and parents doing some shopping. Just for your added information, this is also the Visit Pahang Year 2017.
To go to Genting Premium Outlet (GPO) – There are regular taxis and buses from Kuala Lumpur, which will take you around 40 minutes and stop at Awana. You can also rent a car and drive up and back down, which would be easier too.
For flights, you can fly into Kuala Lumpur or Subang SkyPark Terminal and then take a bus, taxi, Uber or Grab up to GPO.
More Information – https://www.premiumoutlets.com.my/genting-highlands-premium-outlets/
![]() |
The unique Sea Stack at the Bako National Park |
8. Bako National Park, Sarawak
When the word national park comes up, most people will find it boring, but here in Sarawak, the Bako National Park is one of the best national parks to visit as it is only about 60 60-minute drive from the city. The experience lets you travel overland and then by boat to the national park, where you can either do a day trip or stay overnight. One of the must-see things at Bako is the Sea Stacks.
Bako National Park is rich in flora and fauna. Visitors can see proboscis monkeys, reptiles, birds, and even the unique bearded pig. Various trails are available for beginners to advanced trekkers, and a night walk is a must-do here. The park facilities are very good as they have a park canteen, dorms and chalets. Additional information is available from one of my previous articles on where to go in Sarawak.
To go to Bako National Park, you can book a tour from any of the travel agents in Kuching City. It is also recommended that you take a full-day or overnight trip for those who want the full experience.
More Information – Sarawak Forestry Website.
![]() |
View of Bario |
9. Bario, Sarawak
Known for their unique culture and isolation from the modern-day world, the Bario Highlands is my recommendation for those wanting to see a different side of Malaysia, namely the highland people of Sarawak Borneo.
If you love an undeveloped place rich with culture and heritage, this is one of the places in Sarawak to visit. Called the Land of a Hundred Handshakes, Bario’s people are so friendly that you will encounter friendly locals everywhere you go.
Bario is also located 1000 meters (3,500 feet) above sea level, which makes it extremely cooling and beautiful in its own natural way.
![]() |
Trekking from Bario to Pa Lungan |
There is modernization here, as everything is as it was decades ago. On what to do here, generally trekking, sampling local cuisine, bird watching, and simply enjoying a laid-back getaway. You can also read about the many things to do in Bario, which I wrote in 2017.
To go to Bario, the best possible way is to take a flight on one of those turboprop planes, which can seat up to 15 passengers and take about 40-50 minutes. Flights depart from Miri City and can only be booked via MASWings Airlines. Alternatively, take an 11-hour overland off-road adventure if you have time to kill.
More Information – Sarawak Tourism Website
![]() |
Tawau is well known for its local and fresh seafood |
10. Tawau, Sabah
One of the least visited places in Sabah Borneo that is filled with originality is Tawau. Located on the east coast of Sabah, Tawau is also the third-largest city, and it is connected by road and air.
Most people know of this city because the Tawau Airport is the main gateway to places like Mabul Island, Sipadan Island, and Maliau Basin. However, if you are a true explorer, Tawau would be one of the new places to discover food and eco-tourism.
Being a classic old type of city, Tawau is well known for their cross food culture with Indonesia and Malaysia, hence you can find some interesting food that has been localized.
![]() |
Tawau’s famous ‘Pisang Cheese and Pisang Chocolate’ from Indo Cafe |
Apart from food, nature lovers will find the Tawau Hills National Park an interesting place to explore. Tawau is also home to the only Cocoa museum in Asia, the Teck Guan Cocoa Museum.
So, the next time you visit this part of Sabah, make it a point to explore Tawau. I have also written an article on things to do in Tawau for those interested. To go to Tawau, there are Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur with the local airlines. From Kota Kinabalu, there are direct flights, or you can take the express bus, which takes around 5-6 hours.
Taxis are available in the popular parts of the city, but it is recommended that you rent a car to move around, as it would be cheaper and easier.
More Information – Sabah Tourism Website.
![]() |
A trek up to Prayer Hill lets you see the magnificent view of Bario |
Share this content:
Post Comment