We've hand-picked the best things to do in Malaysia.
More attractions in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi.
55 Attractions in Malaysia:
Penang Modern HistoryFree
George Town UNESCO Heritage Site
A fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and British Colonial architectural styles resulting in an unconventional yet charming urban formation. George Town's rich cultural diversity saw it listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Most recently, a dynamic street art scene has burst into George Town. Some wall murals, like Ernest Zacharevic’s "Boy on Chair", provide interactive settings for visitors to become part of the picture and pose beside painted characters.
Kuala Lumpur Tower$$$$$
KL Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur)
The tallest telecommunication tower in South East Asia providing some of the best views of Kuala Lumpur city from the 276-metre-high viewing deck. Enjoy the views with a drink or snack from the tower’s café or a full meal at revolving restaurant, Atmosphere 360.
Penang Overlook$$$$$
Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)
Tropical rainforest providing cool breeze, relaxing nature vibes, and panoramic views over Penang. Attractions on top of the hill include a mosque, Hindu temple, restaurants, nature trails, monkeys, a treetop canopy walk, landscaped gardens, playgrounds, and accommodation. Reachable via funicular from the Penang Hill office or by hiking or 4x4 drive from the Penang Botanical Gardens.
Kuala Lumpur Wildlife Park$$$$$
KL Bird Park (Taman Burung Kuala Lumpur)
One of the largest covered bird parks in the world and home to over 200 species of birds. Daily opportunities to watch bird feedings and have your photo taken holding friendly parrots and cockatoos. Some birds are contained within cages or enclosures while others wander around the park freely.
Kuala Lumpur DistrictFree
Chinatown (Petaling Street)
No shortage of classic Chinese restaurants, street food, and bargain shopping. Petaling Street is lined with vendors selling imitation designer clothing and handbags, electronics, souvenirs, and every form of knick-knack imaginable.
Penang WaterfrontFree
Weld Quay Clan Jetties
A series of wooden jetties like fingers reaching into the sea. Lined with modest houses, shops, and cafes, the stilted villages provide a glimpse into Penang's Chinese community of yesteryear. Each 100-year-old jetty belongs to a Chinese family or "clan" who originally moved to Penang to construct Weld Quay, a large port required tor the island’s booming economy.
Kuala Lumpur DistrictFree
Little India (Brickfields)
Bursting with color from painted buildings, decorations, and shopping opportunities. You’ll find exquisite Indian fabrics, clothing, and jewelry, restaurants and Indian grocery stores.
Penang Garden$$$$$
Tropical Spice Garden
A tribute to Penang's history on the colonial spice trade route between Europe and India, the Tropical Spice Garden showcases a living collection of fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and spices that naturally grow in Malaysia and made the island of Penang highly coveted during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Kuala Lumpur ParkFree
KLCC Park
A garden oasis in the heart of the busy city center providing a peaceful escape for a picnic, casual stroll, jog or bike ride. Kids love the large playground and water playground but the park’s main attraction is Lake Symphony and its daily water fountain shows. The fountains are spectacular at night when they light up and shoot into the sky in perfect timing with a musical score.
Langkawi Geopark$$$$$
Kilim Karst Geoforest Park
One of 3 main sections of Langkawi's UNESCO-listed geopark, Kilim Geoforest Park is home to some of the island's most exquisite and geologically significant landscapes, with Setul rock formations dating back 490 million years. At 100 sq kms, Kilim Geoforest Park is best explored by boat. Local tour operators ferry tourists to a selection of 14 attractions, covering caves, islands, beaches, eagle spotting, and a floating fish farm.
Penang MarketFree
Batu Ferringhi Night Market
A classic night market selling clothing, souvenirs, and locally handmade items. Don’t pay the first price, vendors expect to be haggled with so but bring your best bargaining skills.
Kuala Lumpur CaveFree
Batu Caves
This national treasure of Malaysia is one of the 10 most holy Hindu sites in the world. Batu Caves comprises a series of natural caves inside an ancient limestone hill. The caves originally served as shelters for Malaysia’s indigenous population before becoming a sacred Hindu site, housing a series of shrines. The main ‘Temple Cave’ (or Cathedral Cave) is located at the hill’s peak, only accessible by climbing 272 steep rainbow-painted steps. Perhaps the bright rainbow colors are intended to distract visitors from the burning climb. Naughty Macaque monkeys accompany climbers along the journey, keenly watching for tasty snacks to steal.
Langkawi Cable Car$$$$$
Langkawi SkyCab
Soar up to the tip of Langkawi’s second tallest mountain, Gunung Mat Cincang on Langkawi SkyCab, the world’s steepest cable car. The 15-minute ride in a standard or glass bottom gondola will have you soaring above the Langkawi’s lush rainforest to see nearby waterfalls, beaches, rock formations, and wildlife from a new perspective.
Penang GardenFree
Penang Botanic Gardens
A garden oasis offering a serene slice of Penang's natural habitat fused with imported plant species in landscaped gardens. Prominent features include Pinang palms (from which Penang island received its name), a cannonball tree, an orchid garden, fern house, cactus house, lily pond, Japanese garden, and herb garden.
Kuala Lumpur Tower$$$$$
Petronas Twin Towers
Iconic twin skyscrapers that were the tallest buildings in the world at the time of their construction. The towers double as an entrance to KLCC park and the Suria KLCC shopping mall. Amazing city views can be admired from the observation deck and connecting sky bridge.
Langkawi BeachFree
Pantai Cenang (Chenang Beach)
Langkawi’s most tourist-friendly beach. This 2km stretch of soft white sand is lined with coconut trees, beach umbrellas, jet ski vendors, and beach bars. By day, sunbathers, swimmers, and watersport enthusiasts dominate the sparkling shoreline. As the sun softly sets, a series of beach bars become the center of attention as beanbags and cocktail menus are brought onto the sand.
Penang ReligiousFree
Kek Lok Si Temple
One of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and the center of Chinese New Year celebrations in Penang, Kek Lok Si temple is an important pilgrimage for Buddhists. The complex contains several buildings and courtyards worth exploring, the most significant being a 36.5-metre (120 feet) high statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin, and 7-story pagoda housing 10,000 Buddha statues. Open hours extend during Chinese New Year, when visitors can view the temple adorned with over 200,000 fairy lights and 20,000 Chinese lanterns.
Penang GardenFree
Avatar Secret Garden
A serene, rocky beach by day that turns into a scene from James Cameron's 2009 movie Avatar by night. A section of Penang's natural rainforest has been decked out in colorful LED and optic fiber lights, creating a mystical setting centered around a large banyan tree bearing an uncanny resemblance to the movie's sacred spirit tree, Eywa.
Kuala Lumpur MarketFree
Central Market
Escape KL's many shopping malls and find locally made Malay, Chinese and Indian handcrafts. Shop for gifts and souvenirs like batik fabrics, wood carvings, stone jewelry, clothing, and natural candles and soaps. The iconic market has been running since the 1940s in the Pasar Seni building, constructed in 1888. Central Market also hosts dozens of food vendors and regular cultural performances.
Langkawi MonumentFree
Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)
Standing at 12-meters high (39.3 feet), this commanding statue is inspired by Langkawi's namesake sea eagle. Poised to take flight, the statue is the focal point of the waterfront Dataran Lang, a star-shaped plaza located on Kuah Bay, and is one of the first sights to greet visitors arriving via ferry or cruise ship.
Kuala Lumpur Wildlife Park$$$$$
Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park
A thriving tropical garden brimming with 120 different species of alluring butterflies. Wander around the garden while over 5,000 butterflies of blue, orange, green, and onyx hues dance among sun-kissed flowers or devour fruit platters scattered throughout the netted enclosure.
Langkawi Bridge$$$$$
Langkawi Sky Bridge
An engineering marvel, this suspended pedestrian bridge swings out over Langkawi’s second highest mountain, Gunung Mat Cincang providing otherwise impossible views of the mountain’s texture and surrounding jungle. The bridge’s wonder lies in the single 82-meter-high pylon from which the 125-meter-long bridge curves out around the mountain, 100 meters above the ground. The Sky Bridge can only be reached by taking Langkawi Sky Cab to the top station and purchasing a separate ticket.
Langkawi Island$$$$$
Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden)
The second-largest island in the Langkawi archipelago, Dayang Bunting is one of 3 main geoforest parks within Langkawi's UNESCO Global Geopark, thanks to its 290-million-year-old marble rock formations. The island is best known for the 4,354-hectare natural lake in its southwest, known as Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. This oval-shaped freshwater lake is steeped in mystical legend and said to boost fertility in women who swim in or drink its waters.
Kuala Lumpur Art$$$$$
Jadi Batek Gallery
Try your hand at fabric painting with a Batik class. Paint your own t-shirt, scarf or sarong or buy pre-made batik sarongs, clothing, and souvenirs.
Kuala Lumpur Shopping MallFree
