Top 10 Places to Visit in Malaysia
Top 10 Places to Visit in Malaysia is a list created in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014. The list is in random order and based on the frequency of promotions done by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia.
As Visit Malaysia Year 2014 has been launched worldwide, there has been an increase in inquiries on where to go in 2014. Though Malaysia has different tourism genres, the most popular ones are general sightseeing at popular places.
However, other popular genres like shopping, ecotourism, sports, and luxury tourism have steadily risen in many states around Malaysia.
- Sabah
- Sarawak
- Langkawi Island
- Penang
- Melaka
- Johor
- Kuala Lumpur
- Perhentian Islands
- Royal Belum Rainforest
- Selangor
The top ten places to visit in Malaysia are listed above, and the detailed information is below.
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| Kota Kinabalu City in Sabah Borneo. |
1. Sabah
Located north of Borneo Island, Sabah is one of the highlights of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 due to the multiple tourism options offered here. Visitors can enjoy beautiful beaches, cooling mountains, and adventurous rainforest experiences in one place.
For outdoor and nature lovers, there are endless choices to select and among them are scuba diving at one of the top dive sites in the world – Sipadan Island, climbing the highest mountain in Southeast Asia – Mount Kinabalu, exploring the beautiful rainforest of Danum Valley and wildlife watching along the Kinabatangan River.
For the quick traveller, the city of Kota Kinabalu offers some fantastic short trips to islands with crystal clear waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, only a 15-minute boat ride from the city of KK. Day trips to snorkel or even dive are easily arranged, too. Further away at Klias, ecotourism tours cruise the river and do some wildlife spotting, finishing with a fireflies tour.
This takes only about 4-5 hours in total. If you are not up to climbing the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, visit Kinabalu Park on foot, which is only a two-hour drive from KK city. The main gateway into KK is via the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which is only 15 minutes from the city.
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| Various ethnic people of Sarawak. |
2. Sarawak
The Ecotourism haven for Malaysia and the most significant state, located on Borneo’s island, is a mecca for wildlife and nature lovers. Over 20 national parks are available here, while jungle trekking is one of the popular activities. Exploring and visiting the ethnic people of Sarawak who stay in the interiors of the rainforest or highlands is another popular activity.
Sarawak is also home to world-class music festivals, such as the Borneo International Jazz Festival 2014, which takes place in Miri in May, and the World Rainforest Music Festival 2014, which takes place at the ‘Living Museum’ of Sarawak Cultural Village in July.
Another popular must-do is exploring Kuching city on foot. Numerous antique and craft dealers are located along the Main Street Bazaar, while other places offer fantastic local Sarawakian food. Visit some old coffee shops for coffee or tea while several fascinating museums are dotted around the main town area.
The Kuching International Airport is the main gateway here, while other smaller airports are throughout the state. Overland transport can take long hours; therefore, you must take a flight if you plan to go to Mulu.
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| Langkawi’s beautiful GEO Park. |
3. Langkawi Island
This is one of the recommended islands in Peninsular Malaysia, as the infrastructure is modern yet laid-back. Located just above Penang and part of the Kedah state, Langkawi offers beautiful beaches and resorts ranging from low to high-end and even luxury resorts like The Datai and The Four Seasons for all types of travellers.
Apart from being an island, the Langkawi GeoPark also offers ecotourism adventures. Ride up the tallest mountain here via a cable car or self-drive yourself around the island.
Langkawi is also accessible via flights, as there is an international airport there. For those coming from Penang or the mainland, there are ferry services to the island. The most popular spot in Langkawi is Pantai Cenang or Cenang Beach, which is the main area. Kuah town is the capital and serves as a general town area. There are no beaches around the main town area, too.
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| View of Penang Island from Bukit Bendera or Penang Hill. |
4. Penang
Pearl of the Orient, this bustling city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, attracts people from all walks of life. Exploring the city on foot or bicycle is one of the main activities as there is much to see and experience. Penang also has one of the most complete heritage buildings in Malaysia.
Street art is one of the main attractions, while many small independent museums are worth exploring in the George Town area. A trip to Penang will only be complete if you try the local Penang hawker food, which can be found all over the island. Chulia Street is one of the famous places for backpackers, too.
In the Batu Feringgi area, beaches, parks, and even theme parks are available for everyone. There are Numerous hotels and resorts, including the famous Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe. It is a 30-minute drive from George Town.
Penang was also recently voted by Lonely Planet as the top food destination in the world. It is accessible via flight and road. A flight from KL takes about 1 hour, while overland travel takes 5 hours. Penang has two bridges connecting it to the mainland.
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| The main entrance to Jonker Street or Jonker Walk in Melaka. |
5. Melaka
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site where Malaysia’s colourful history began in the early 1500s. From the Portuguese and Dutch to the English, each had time to rule, which evolved into a multicultural crossroad for the trading world. The heritage zone houses well-kept colonial buildings from hundreds of years ago, including Dutch, Portuguese and British influences.
Melaka is also best explored on foot, so staying around the core heritage zone is a plus point. While here, remember to savour the local Baba and Peranakan cuisine and Malacca hawker foods. There are also some beautiful heritage hotels around Melaka city, which are mainly boutique-style. Staying at one of these hotels is recommended for a whole Peranakan experience.
Outside the city area are various parks and attractions, including the crocodile, deer and butterfly farm, a mini Malaysia park, and the well-known Melaka zoo. This requires you to take public transport or a taxi as it is not accessible on foot. There are no airports to Melaka.
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| A cruise ship made out of Lego at Legoland Malaysia in Johor. |
6. Johor
One of the new players in aggressive tourism, Johor has recently developed some tourist attractions, making this state one of the must-visit places in Malaysia. International attractions like Legoland Malaysia, Hello Kitty Town, and the Red Box Entertainment Center of Puteri Harbor are a must-see if you are visiting with kids.
The Johor Premium Outlet, or JPO, also caters to shopping tourism and offers loads of discounts for all kinds of items. Other notable places in Johor include Desaru, a coastal beach area that stretches for miles, and some Ecotourism activities at the local national parks.
Otherwise, Johor Baru is also the main gateway into Singapore, with two causeways – one in JB and one over in Senai. Johor has one airport at Senai, while the main highway passes through the state.
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| Petronas Twin Towers at the back of Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur |
7. Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia’s capital, a young city since 1957, boasts the world’s tallest twin towers, famous shopping areas like the BBKLCC area, Chinatown or Petaling Street, and massive lake gardens.
Museums, aquariums, and art galleries are in various areas of Kuala Lumpur, namely Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, and Japan Ampang. Most tourists would always stop here in KL to experience what this multicultural city offers.
For the city lover, there are numerous heritage buildings and museums around town. At the same time, the most photographed place in Malaysia, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, is a must-visit place near the confluence of the rivers where Kuala Lumpur was born.
For nightlife, head to Changkat Bukit Bintang and Jalan P. Ramlee, where restaurants, bars, clubs, and cafes are located. Kuala Lumpur also serves as the central hub for trains and buses throughout the country. This is at Puduraya Bus Terminal, KL Sentral and Duta Bus Terminal. The main airports, KLIA and LCCT, are about one hour from KL.
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| A resort is hidden in the lush greenery at Perhentian Island. |
8. Perhentian Islands
Located about 45 minutes from the coast of Terengganu state, this is one of the most visited islands in Malaysia. Perhentian is divided into two main islands, Perhentian Besar (Big) and Perhentian Kecil (Small), which cater to travellers.
Perhentian Kecil is recommended for the more active traveller, while many resorts, hotels and guesthouses are available here. Snorkelling, scuba diving in crystal clear waters, and spotting turtles and sharks are among the highlights.
Some resorts are also child-friendly, like Bubbles Dive Resort on Perhentian Besar, where you can bring toddlers of all ages. The resort owners have kids living there; therefore, they openly accept travelling parents with infants.
Other resorts include long-stay types, luxurious types and budget resorts. Several dive schools are available on both islands for those wanting to take their scuba diving licenses. Perhentian is only accessible via boats from the mainland. There are no flights to the island. The offseason is from October to March, during which it rains during the monsoon season.
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| Royal Belum Rainforest – Image from WWF Malaysia. |
9. Royal Belum State Park
This is the newly crowned Ecotourism Centre for Malaysia, which was announced by the tourism minister of Malaysia at ITB Berlin 2014. This massive protected national park is home to exciting flora and fauna in Malaysia. Trekking, hiking, and wildlife spotting are the main highlights of the Royal Belum Rainforest in Perak, which borders Pahang.
Royal Belum State Park is recommended for those who love nature and the outdoors and is one of the latest ecotourism attractions in Malaysia. As the country has many national parks, this is the latest to be officially opened to the public. To get to Belum, one needs to engage a tour company.
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| The Batu Caves in Selangor are among the most popular tourist spots in the country. |
10. Selangor
Malaysia’s most prosperous state is where those entering the country set foot at the KLIA, LCCT, or SkyPark Terminal Airports. Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory is actually in the middle of Selangor.
There are many places to visit, such as the Batu Caves, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), and many theme parks and water parks. With famous shopping malls like One Utama and The Curve, Selangor boasts outdoor activities, food, and shopping.
Other places in Selangor include Klang, a royal heritage town, Kuala Selangor for the fireflies watching, and Sepang Gold Coast for the beach and outdoors. Again, Selangor is best known for its theme parks, hiking and shopping malls.
If you have any questions about Malaysia, please do not hesitate to ask me in the comment column, and I will do my best to assist you. I hope you find good information in my Top 10 Places to Visit in Malaysia.
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