Free things to do · Langkawi · Malaysia
8 free things to do in Langkawi
Langkawi without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RoB, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Langkawi without paying an entry fee: Pantai Cenang beach, Eagle Square (Dataran Lang), Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) and Tanjung Rhu beach are all free. Eat at night markets and local warung, where a full meal costs a fraction of resort prices.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May and September–October
Free sights and experiences
Beach · Pantai Cenang
1.Pantai Cenang beach
Swim at the southern or northern ends away from the jet-ski launch areas, and come back for sunset with a drink from a beach bar.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Landmark · Kuah
2.Eagle Square (Dataran Lang)
Visit in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the statue and the square is cooler.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Pantai Kok
3.Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh)
The upper pools are slippery; wear sandals with grip and keep food hidden from the macaques at the car park.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Beach · Tanjung Rhu
4.Tanjung Rhu beach
Check the tide times: at low tide you can wade out across sandbars towards the islets.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Nature
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Central Langkawi
5.Gunung Raya
Drive up early in the morning for the best chance of hornbills and clear views; the road is steep and narrow, so take it slowly.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Northeast Langkawi
6.Durian Perangin Waterfall
Visit between August and December for the strongest flow.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Tanjung Rhu
7.Black Sand Beach (Pantai Pasir Hitam)
Combine it with Tanjung Rhu on the same drive along the north coast.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
Museum · Pantai Cenang
8.Laman Padi
Go early in the morning or late afternoon, when egrets and other birds feed in the paddies.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- History
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Pantai Cenang | Pantai Cenang beach and Laman Padi | Half a day + 45 minutes |
| Kuah | Eagle Square (Dataran Lang) | 30 minutes |
| Pantai Kok | Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) | 2 hours |
| Tanjung Rhu | Tanjung Rhu beach and Black Sand Beach (Pantai Pasir Hitam) | 2–3 hours + 30 minutes |
| Central Langkawi | Gunung Raya | 2 hours |
| Northeast Langkawi | Durian Perangin Waterfall | 1.5 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Architecture · Pantai Kok
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Check before you go whether the bridge is open; it closes for maintenance and in bad weather even when the cable car runs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Island · Southern islands
Island-hopping boat tour
Bring cash for the lake's pedal-boat and lifejacket rental, and keep bags closed around the monkeys on the jetty path.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
Historic site · Kampung Mawat
Mahsuri's Tomb (Makam Mahsuri)
Combine it with lunch at a local warung on the road to Padang Matsirat.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Kilim
Galeria Perdana
Stop here on the drive back from a morning mangrove tour, when the afternoon heat makes outdoor sightseeing hard.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- History
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Eat at night markets and local warung, where a full meal costs a fraction of resort prices.
- Alcohol, chocolate and cigarettes are duty free on the island, but duty-free limits apply when you leave for the mainland.
- Shared tours from Pantai Cenang are cheaper than private boats; private charters make sense only for groups.
- Hire a car for a day to string together the cable car, waterfalls and north coast rather than paying for several separate taxi rides.
- Avoid Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year if you want lower hotel rates; the monsoon months are the least expensive.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Langkawi expensive to visit?
Langkawi is affordable for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Langkawi?
Pantai Cenang beach: Swim at the southern or northern ends away from the jet-ski launch areas, and come back for sunset with a drink from a beach bar.