Malaysia is my second most favorite country in the world. Living in Bangkok, Thailand, I travel to Malaysia several times a year as it’s less than a two hour plane ride away. Malaysia has many wonderful places to visit, but these top five destinations are my absolute favorites. From Kuala Lumpur to Penang, Melaka (Mallaca) to Cameron Highlands and don’t forget Langkawi – these five Malaysian places are unique, interesting and with something to offer every traveler.
Kuala Lumpur – One of my favorite destinations in South East Asia, Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s crowning jewel. Famous for landmarks like the KL Tower and Petronas Towers, as well as for its huge shopping malls (visit KLCC, the amazing mall at the base of the Petronas Towers or Berjaya Times Square, one of the largest malls I’ve ever seen). Kuala Lumpur also has an excellent zoo, an amazing variety of ethnic foods, friendly people and world-class museums. KL is also interesting for its mix of cultures (Malay, Chinese and Indian) and for the city itself, which is clean, beautiful and easy to get around.
Melaka (also known as Mallaca) – My second favorite place in Malaysia, Melaka is around an hour and a half’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. Melaka is well worth seeing because of the history of the town, The Portuguese were some of the first westerners to settle in Melaka and, still today, you can see the remains of their old churches and forts as well as the influence they had on this region of Malaysia. Also, don’t miss going to Jalan Hang Jebat, also known as Jonker Street. Here, you’ll see lots of antique shops, a little shop selling tiny Chinese shoes for women with bound feet, art galleries, coffee shops, craft stores and some excellent restaurants.
Penang – One of the most popular destinations in Malaysia for Thais and people traveling from Thailand is Penang, as it’s so close. Penang is one of the best places to visit in Malaysia as it’s one of the most popular places for tourists too. A beautiful island, Penang is famous for its beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, botanical gardens, a fun Snake Museum, and its British heritage (it used to be a British colony a couple of centuries ago). Penang is also famous for its many coffee shops and cafes, so don’t miss trying the local ‘Kopi’ while you’re there.
Cameron Highlands – Cameron Highlands is famous for the silk trader, Jim Thompson, who left his home in Thailand for a trip to Malaysia. While staying in the Cameron Highlands, he went for a walk and never returned and, to this day, nobody is really sure what happened to him. Cameron Highlands is also famous for its beautiful scenery, it’s gorgeous tea plantations, a butterfly farm, strawberry farms and its many walking trails. Cameron Highlands is made up of eight different small towns, all pretty and all with something to offer. It’s also popular with tourists as the many small inns and guest houses in Cameron Highlands are fun places to stay. Only two hours from Kuala Lumpur, it’s easy to get there by car or bus.
Langkawi – Malaysia’s beautiful 99 islands. The area known as Langkawi, is actually off the coast of Malaysia and is one of the most popular and best tourist destinations in south east Asia. Known for its gorgeous sandy beaches, beautiful scenery, fun nightlife, amazing seafood (and restaurants!), as well as world-class resort hotels and spas, Langkawi is the best place to visit in Malaysia if you just want to rest and relax. A weekend or a week in Langkawi will leave you feeling like a different person.
These five best places to visit in Malaysia have something to offer for everyone. Big cities, smaller towns, history, culture, nature and the ocean. That’s why they call Malaysia “Truly Asia”.
