Asia · 7 cities
Things to Do in Malaysia
Seven Malaysian destinations in one place: how far Borneo really is, which coast closes for the monsoon, and why the public holiday calendar has three religions in it.
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Where to go
Cities of Malaysia
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Malaysia.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
Borneo is a separate flight and a separate trip
Kota Kinabalu is two and a half hours in the air from Kuala Lumpur, across the South China Sea. The orangutans, Mount Kinabalu and the rainforest are there, not on the peninsula. Sabah and Sarawak also run their own immigration — you show a passport on arrival from KL.
The two coasts swap monsoons
The east coast islands — the Perhentians, Tioman, Redang — close almost entirely from November to February. The west coast, Langkawi and Penang, gets more rain from April to October but never shuts. Choose the coast by month.
George Town is the reason many people come
The UNESCO-listed old town on Penang has the best street food in the country, a celebrated street-art trail and the clan jetties. It is a forty-five minute flight from Kuala Lumpur and deserves two full days.
Three calendars set the public holidays
Ramadan and the two Eids move each year against the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year moves too, and Deepavali is a national holiday. Between them they shift opening hours, fill domestic flights and change what is open. Check your dates against all three.
The Petronas skybridge is capped
Tickets to the bridge and observation deck are timed and limited in number, and sell out on the day in season. Booking online in advance is the difference between going up and photographing it from the park below.
Kuala Lumpur is easier than it looks
The rail network reaches most of what a visitor wants and the airport express takes half an hour. The city is very spread out and very hot, so walking between sights that look close on a map is usually a mistake.
When to visit
Malaysia through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
West coast dry
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Langkawi and Penang at their best, Kuala Lumpur comfortable, Borneo diving.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The east coast islands are closed for the monsoon in exactly these months.
Transition
Apr–May
- Best for
- Everywhere open at once, before the west coast rains settle in.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot and humid — the east coast islands reopen from around March.
East coast season
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- The Perhentians and Tioman, which are only accessible now, and Borneo.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Haze from regional burning can affect air quality in some years.
Wetter
Oct–Nov
- Best for
- The lowest prices, green interior, cities unaffected by the rain.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain — city sightseeing is unaffected.
Frequently asked
Malaysia: common questions
How many days do you need in Malaysia?
Three days for Kuala Lumpur with Malacca, two more for Penang. Add four for Borneo if the orangutans and the rainforest are the point — that is really a separate trip stapled to the same holiday.
What does a tour in Malaysia cost?
Malaysia is not in our fifty-city price index, so we avoid quoting a median. It is cheaper than Singapore and broadly comparable with Thailand, with Borneo wildlife lodges the one genuinely expensive category.
When is the best time to visit?
December to March if you are going to Langkawi, Penang or Kuala Lumpur. June to September if you want the east coast islands. Malaysia has no single good season — it has two, on opposite sides of the peninsula.
Is Kuala Lumpur or Penang better?
Kuala Lumpur for the towers, the caves and the transport links. Penang for food, history and atmosphere — most people who visit both prefer George Town, and it is the one they wish they had given more time.
Are tours run in English?
Universally. English is widely spoken across Malaysia and used in business and signage, so there is effectively no barrier in any of the destinations on this page.