Rainforests, islands, street food and many cultures
Malaysia combines modern cities, old trading ports, highlands and some of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Peninsular Malaysia has Kuala Lumpur, George Town and Melaka, while Malaysian Borneo offers orangutans, Mount Kinabalu and caves. Its Malay, Chinese and Indian communities give it one of Asia's great food scenes. It suits first time Asia travellers, divers and food lovers.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The twin skyscrapers were the tallest in the world when they opened. A skybridge and observation deck give city views.
A limestone hill with Hindu cave temples reached by 272 painted steps, guarded by a huge golden statue of Murugan. It is the centre of the Thaipusam festival.
Penang's capital has shophouses, clan houses, street art and some of the best street food in Asia. Its core is a UNESCO site with Melaka.
Melaka's old core holds Dutch red buildings, Chinese temples and Peranakan houses. A river walk runs through the centre.
A duty free island with beaches, mangroves and a cable car to a skybridge high above the rainforest. It is a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Southeast Asia's great climbing peak, usually done in two days with a night in a mountain hut. Kinabalu Park has rich plant life.
Cool hills covered in tea plantations, strawberry farms and mossy forest. It is a relief from the lowland heat.
One of the oldest rainforests in the world, with a canopy walkway, river trips and jungle treks. Wildlife is shy but birds are rich.
Two small islands with clear water, coral reefs and simple beach stays. They are popular for cheap diving and snorkelling.
A remote park in Borneo with huge caves, millions of bats and the razor sharp Pinnacles. Most visitors fly in.
Orphaned orangutans are prepared for life in the wild, and visitors watch feeding times from platforms. A sun bear centre is next door.
River cruises here are the best chance to see proboscis monkeys, hornbills and wild orangutans. Lodges sit along the river.
A world famous dive site with turtles, sharks and huge schools of barracuda. Daily permits are limited.
A large museum of Islamic art from across the world, with domed galleries and models of mosques. It is near the National Mosque.
Sarawak's relaxed riverside capital is a base for Bako National Park and Semenggoh orangutans. It has good food and museums.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with food, towers and transport links.
food, gateway · Open the city guideGeorge Town heritage and street food.
food, history · Open the city guideHistoric port town.
history · Guide comingBeaches and nature.
beaches · Guide comingGateway to Sabah and Kinabalu.
gateway, nature · Guide comingGateway to Sarawak parks.
nature, food · Guide comingBase in the Cameron Highlands.
nature · Guide comingBorder city next to Singapore.
gateway · Open the city guideA heritage port city famous for its street food.
food, heritage · Open the city guideA colonial town with great food and caves.
food, history · Guide comingTea country in the cool hills.
tea, hiking · Guide comingHistoric port town.
history · Guide comingCapital and historic west coast.
Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Batu Caves
Islands, hills and Penang food.
George Town, Langkawi, Cameron Highlands
Quiet beaches and islands.
Perhentian Islands, Tioman, Taman Negara
Mountains, wildlife and diving.
Mount Kinabalu, Kinabatangan, Sipadan
Caves, rainforest and longhouse culture.
Mulu, Kuching, Bako
The capital region with towers, caves and shopping.
Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, Putrajaya
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: March to October for the west coast and Borneo. Drier weather suits the islands on the west and most of Borneo.
The east coast islands such as Perhentian and Tioman are best March to October and many resorts close in the November to February monsoon.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
83°F daily high, 76°F average, 8.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Malaysia Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, with increased caution for islands off eastern Sabah.
Good roads, buses, trains and cheap domestic flights connect everything.
Food and transport are very cheap, and hotels offer high value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Rules change, so check the Immigration Department of Malaysia's Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) portal and your own government's travel advice before you book. |
| Plugs | Type A, C, G, M; 240 V |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tipping is not expected; many restaurants add a service charge. |
| Payments | Cards work in cities, but cash is needed at hawker stalls and in rural areas. |
| Emergency | 999 police and ambulance, 994 fire, 112 from a mobile |
| Etiquette | Use your right hand for giving and eating, and remove shoes before entering homes and mosques. Public affection is frowned upon. |
| What to wear | Cover arms and legs in mosques and temples; robes are lent at major mosques. |
| Driving | On the left |
| Between cities | Domestic flights connect the peninsula and Borneo cheaply. ETS trains run along the west coast, and long distance buses go everywhere. Grab is the main ride app. |
| Main airports | KUL, PEN, BKI, KCH, LGK |
| Ride apps | Grab |
Melaka was a powerful sultanate in the 15th century before falling to the Portuguese, then the Dutch. The British controlled the Straits Settlements and Malay states and brought Chinese and Indian workers for tin and rubber. Malaya became independent in 1957 and formed Malaysia with Sabah and Sarawak in 1963. Singapore left in 1965.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.