Country guide · Malaysia
Best places to visit in Malaysia
3 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first trip to Malaysia, start with Kuala Lumpur: Twin towers, temple caves and round-the-clock hawker food. For beaches, look at Langkawi and Penang. Kuala Lumpur is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 3
- Best months overall
- December–March
- Start with
- Kuala Lumpur
- Least expensive here
- Kuala Lumpur
3 places to visit in Malaysia
Best: January–February and June–July · 4 days
Kuala Lumpur
Twin towers, temple caves and round-the-clock hawker food
Best: December–March · 5 days
Langkawi
Duty-free island of rainforest peaks, mangroves and west-coast sunset beaches
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Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves | January–February and June–July | 4 days | $80–$160 |
| Langkawi | SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours | December–March | 5 days | $80–$160 |
| Penang | Hawker food and George Town heritage | December–March | 4 days | $80–$160 |
When to visit Malaysia
Across these destinations the most reliable months are December–March. Timing still varies by place: Kuala Lumpur is best in January–February and June–July; Langkawi is best in December–March; Penang is best in December–March.
Signature dishes across Malaysia
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Nasi lemak | Roti canai and Char kway teow |
| Langkawi | Nasi lemak | Laksa Kedah and Ikan bakar |
| Penang | Char kway teow | Penang asam laksa and Hokkien mee |
Events through the year in Malaysia
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Kuala Lumpur: Thaipusam — devotees carry kavadi up the steps of Batu Caves (January or February); Langkawi: Chinese New Year — family holidays fill hotels (late January or February) |
| February | Langkawi: Chinese New Year (some years); Penang: Chap Goh Meh — oranges thrown into the sea at Gurney Drive (15th day of Chinese New Year) |
| March | Kuala Lumpur: Ramadan bazaars and Hari Raya Aidilfitri — end-of-fast celebrations (dates move about 11 days earlier each year); Penang: Qing Ming tomb-sweeping festival (early April or late March) |
| May | Langkawi: LIMA — Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (usually May in odd-numbered years); Penang: Wesak Day — Buddhist processions and temple ceremonies (usually May) |
| June | Penang: Durian season in Balik Pulau (usually June–August) |
| July | Penang: George Town World Heritage Day celebrations (7 July) |
| August | Kuala Lumpur: Merdeka Day — National Day celebrations and parade (31 August); Langkawi: National Day — Merdeka public holiday (31 August) |
| September | Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Day (16 September); Penang: Mid-Autumn Festival — lanterns and mooncakes (September or early October) |
| October | Kuala Lumpur: Deepavali — festival of lights, celebrated in Brickfields (October or November); Penang: Deepavali — Little India decorated with lights and stalls (October or November) |
| November | Penang: Deepavali celebrations (some years) |
| December | Kuala Lumpur: Christmas displays in the malls of Bukit Bintang and KLCC; Langkawi: Malaysian school holidays (usually December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Langkawi | 414 km |
| Kuala Lumpur | Penang | 294 km |
| Langkawi | Penang | 119 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur grew from a 19th-century tin-mining settlement at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers into Malaysia's capital, where the 452-metre Petronas Twin Towers rise over Malay, Chinese and Indian…
+When is the best time to visit Malaysia?
Generally December–March, though it varies by region.