Planning to travel to Malaysia? Or a short getaway from KL? Not sure what places to visit in Malaysia? Over the years we’ve traveled around the country and written quite a bit about tourist spots of Malaysia. Best beaches in Malaysia, coolest city adventures and of course the most child-friendly things to do in Malaysia – we’ve collected them all on this page. More places to uncover in our home turf, KL can be found under the category KL Living.
Best beaches in Malaysia
Perhentian Islands, “the stopover islands” consist of two islands, the small and the big. The big one, Pulau Perhentian Besar, has bigger resorts and is more quiet. Pulau Perhentian Kecil has cheaper accommodation and a slight resemblance to a backpacker party scene.
We have stayed both in a new boutique resort, and simple chalets on the beach – whatever your accommodation the sea is beautiful and turtles can be easily spotted when snorkeling. The islands are no foodie destination, but you didn’t come here for food – read more here.
Kapas Island is a tiny islet right off the Malaysian coast. It’s simple island life here, with no luxuries. We stayed at Kapas Turtle Valley Resort, a homely small resort with lovely home-cooked food, but there are also some very basic budget options on the island. There are several sandy beaches on the island that are accessible by foot or kayaks.
City breaks in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is a great city destination. For an Asian capital it is very green, and has plenty to do for families. It is small enough to make getting around easy, and there are lots of comfortable hotels with swimming pools. Our list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur with kids covers most kid friendly sights and attractions in KL.
Ipoh is a small and friendly town north of Kuala Lumpur, easily accessible by train, a wide highway or bus. There are a few family-friendly attractions including cave temples and Lost World of Tambun: a water and theme park in a beautiful setting.
There are many affordable boutique hotels in town, but we really enjoyed our family stay at the Haven a bit further out of the city.
Kota Kinabalu in Sabah has a few interesting places to see. One of them is the Mari Mari Cultural Centre, a mini-Borneo of sorts.
If you are around on a Sunday don’t miss the Gaya Street market. Anything from trinkets to local herbs can be found along this hot street market.
Kota Kinabalu is often a base for trips into deeper into the island to spot some of the amazing wildlife of Borneo, like the proboscis monkeys.
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is a charming base for exploring Borneo. You can easily visit the nearby orangutang sanctuary, national parks, beaches or the fantastic cultural centre.
Getaways from KL
Our favourite getaways and short trips from KL in two parts: those within three hours’ drive from the capital, and those that take five hours to get to.
Sometimes one needs a break from the city – that’s when these ideas for day trips from KL come in handy