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Malaysia Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 2, 2023

Malaysia is one of the most underrated destinations in Southeast Asia . While the country does see a fair share of backpackers, it sees only a fraction compared to popular neighbors Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

In my opinion, people are missing out.

From the dense urban jungle of Kuala Lumpur to the pristine beaches of the Perhentian Islands , from the jungles in the interior to the delicious food, Malaysia has a ton to offer travelers.

Explore tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands , trek through the vast national parks of Gunung Mulu and Taman Negara, and admire incredible wildlife, including tigers, elephants, sun bears, and more.

Or head to Borneo to look for wild orangutans, hike through the rainforest, and marvel at the knife-sharp peak of Mount Kinabalu.

All too often, travelers breeze through Malaysia on their way to places like Thailand or Singapore. I’d encourage you not to make that same mistake as there is a ton to see and do here — and it’s all super affordable.

This Malaysia travel guide will give you the best places to visit, help you save money, and ensure you make the most of your time in this incredible destination!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Malaysia

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in malaysia.

1. Visit Kuala Lumpur

Chances are you’ll be spending at least a few nights in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur . Visit the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, see the famous Sri Mahamariamman Temple, explore the Batu Caves, and see the colorful butterfly garden. It’s a great foodie city too.

2. Dive in the Perhentian Islands

These islands are hugely popular with snorkelers and divers because of their reefs and crystalline waters filled with a wide variety of coral, turtles, sharks, and reef-fish. They are getting more popular every year but are a beautiful respite from the tourist-packed islands in Thailand.

3. Visit George Town

George Town is Malaysia’s most enchanting city, with Chinese temples next to mosques and colonial British Raj architecture amongst modern skyscrapers. George Town’s crisscrossing streets teem with bustling shops, historic buildings, and busy cafes.

4. Hike Mount Kinabalu National Park

Mount Kinabalu is Malaysia’s tallest mountain and a popular hiking trek in which you make your way through dense jungle to reach the summit. Admission is 15 MYR, a climbing permit is 200 MYR, and mandatory insurance is 7 MYR. There are only a set amount of permits allowed per day and you must make go with a guide so plan ahead!

5. Tour the tea plantations

Other things to see and do in malaysia, 1. go wildlife spotting.

Malaysia has a rich diversity of wildlife. Orangutans, Malaysian tigers, Monitor Lizards, and Sumatran Rhinos are all indigenous to the country (Borneo and Sumatra and the only places in the world with wild orangutans). Malaysia’s national parks and wildlife reserves are the best places to go to see wildlife, including Taman Negara and Bako National Park. For Orangutans, go to Borneo. Most day tours cost under 500 MYR, while multi-day tours start around 1,500-2,650 MYR.

2. Dive Sipadan Island

Sipadan Island is one of the world’s best dive sites. The famous French explorer Jacques Cousteau declared the island an “untouched piece of art” — and he wasn’t wrong! Barracudas, manta rays, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and greenback and hawksbill turtles fill these crystal waters. Only 176 permits to dive at the island are issued each day, costing 140 MYR per person. The resorts (located on neighboring islands) each get a specific number of permits per day and require divers to stay with them for a few days, diving the surrounding areas, before they can get a Sipadan permit. A 3-dive package at Uncle Chang’s, a budget-friendly dive lodge, costs 550 MYR.

3. Explore Taman Negara National Park

At an estimated 130 million years old, Taman Negara is the oldest rainforest in the world. You can embark on the world’s largest canopy walk, take a 4×4 safari to look for elephants and tigers, go spelunking, or visit some Orang Asli villages (belonging to the country’s Indigenous peoples). Admission is 1 MYR, and 5 MYR if you want to take photos within the park.

4. Relax at Pulau Langkawi

Featured in thousands of different magazines, websites, and articles, Pulau Langkawi is a picturesque retreat on an archipelago of more than 100 islands made up of white sandy beaches and endless sunshine. Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach area, especially for its strip of restaurants, bars, and shops. For something slower, visit some of the area’s traditional villages, go snorkeling at Payar Island, or check out the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls on the northwest side of the island. This is one of the best places in the country to relax, soak up the sun, and enjoy a slower pace of life.

5. Go whitewater rafting

Outside of diving, Malaysia is also known for its challenging whitewater rafting conditions. You can find all grades of rafting on the rivers here, and prices start around 200 MYR for a half-day excursion. Kuala Kubu Bharu River and Ulu Slim River are two popular options.

6. Understand Malaysia’s colonial roots

Malaysia has a tumultuous colonial past. The country was annexed by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British before finally gaining independence. For a deeper understanding of this history, visit Malacca (Melaka). Located just two hours from Kuala Lumpur, the city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 and the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum offers an in-depth overview of Malaysia’s colonial past. Admission to the museum is 16 MYR.

7. Tour Borneo

Just to the east of Malaysia is Borneo, the third-largest island in the world and home to some of the most diverse rainforests on the planet. Pair that with unlimited wildlife viewing opportunities (including endangered orangutans and proboscis monkeys), and rich Indigenous culture, and you’ve got the makings of a once-in-a-lifetime trip. If you’re an experienced climber, you can also climb Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia at 4,095 meters (13,400 feet) high.

8. Visit the temples

Malaysia has countless beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered all around the country. Some of the most impressive temples include the Batu Caves (Kuala Lumpur), Sri Mahamariamman (Kuala Lumpur), Thean Hou (Kuala Lumpur), Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani (George Town), and Sam Poh Tong (Ipoh). As most temples are still practicing centers of worship, appropriate dress is required to enter. Admission is always free.

9. Dine on street food

Malaysia’s mix of cultures means that there’s an incredible variety of delicious and cheap street food to enjoy here. Markets and roadside stalls are great places to pick up hawker food and dine on a budget. Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor, Little India, and Chinatown all have tons of inexpensive food stalls with prices starting at 2-4 MYR. You can also take a street food tour to dive in-depth into food culture and history for around 260 MYR.

10. Celebrate Deepavali

Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights and is one of the biggest Hindu celebrations in Malaysia. Also known as Diwali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights, it’s celebrated in October or November for five days. Traditionally, people host open houses, light candles, have fireworks displays, and serve Indian delicacies. In Kuala Lumpur, the biggest celebrations are in Brickfields (Little India).

11. Go jungle trekking

Don’t miss out on exploring Malaysia’s lush landscapes and dense forests while you’re here. The Cameron Highlands are a great place to go trekking, with 14 trekking routes heading out from the main town of Tanah Rata. Most of the hikes lead to waterfalls and scenic views, but if you want a more challenging trek, you’re required to hire a guide and obtain a permit. Eco Cameron Tours offers 4-hour group tours for 80 MYR per person, including a visit to the famous Mossy Forest (a lush forest with ferns, moss, orchids, and a pedestrian boardwalk).

12. Shop at the markets

Indoor and outdoor markets, operating both morning and night, are everywhere in Malaysia. You can get everything at the markets, from prepared food and produce to clothing and souvenirs. They’re also a great way to experience local culture. Don’t be afraid to barter and haggle – it’s what the locals do! If you don’t want to shop, come here to people-watch and take in the local pace of life.

13. Visit Masjid Negara

Malaysia’s national mosque, this huge house of worship in Kuala Lumpur has the capacity to hold 15,000 people. Opened in 1965, its bright blue star-shaped dome represents the 13 states of Malaysia and the five pillars of Islam (over 60% of Malaysia is Muslim). Non-Muslims are welcome to visit the National Mosque outside of prayer time. Be sure to dress modestly, although there are robes available to put over your clothing as well. It’s free to enter.

14. Help the sea turtles

Malaysia’s islands are great places to see turtles, either by diving, snorkeling, or volunteering. In the Perhentian Islands, the Perhentian Turtle Project accepts volunteers for multi-week stays from April to September. A two-week volunteer program costs 3,621 MYR, with food and accommodation. All money raised goes toward helping the turtles, who face extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, and pollution.

  For more information on specific cities in Malaysia, check out these guides:

• Cameron Highlands Travel Guide
• Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide
• Perhentian Islands Travel Guide

Malaysia Travel Costs

Accommodation – A bed in a 4-6-bed hostel dorm costs 35-70 MYR per night. A bed in a room with 10 or more beds can cost as little as 20 MYR per night. Popular destinations like the Cameron Highlands and Perhentian Islands are on the higher end of the spectrum. A private hostel room costs around 105-130 MYR per night. Free Wi-Fi and free breakfast are common, though most hostels do not have kitchens if you want to cook your own food.

Camping is popular in places like Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands as a way to save on accommodation costs. Expect to pay around 10-35 MYR per night for a basic plot without electricity.

Budget hotels with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and free breakfast start around 75-90 MYR per night. For a three-star hotel with more amenities (such as a swimming pool), expect to pay closer to 200-300 MYR per night.

Airbnb is available throughout the country, mainly offering entire homes and apartments catering specifically to travelers. These start at 100-160 MYR per night.

Food – Malaysian cuisine, like the country itself, features a mix of cultures. China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore have all influenced the country’s dishes. Rice or noodles are the basis of most dishes, and seafood and fish feature prominently, especially on the islands and coastal areas. As a Muslim-majority country, chicken and beef are common and are usually halal. Popular vegetables include cabbage, bean sprouts, lotus root, sweet potatoes, taro, and long beans.

The unofficial national dish is nasi lemak , fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, flavored with pandan leaf, and accompanied by different sides, usually served for breakfast. Other popular Malaysian dishes include roti canai (a sweet or savory flatbread), ikan bakar laksa (spicy noodle soup), and many different regional fried noodle and fried rice dishes.

Steamboat (known in other countries as hot pot), a method of dining in which you cook meat and vegetables in a boiling pot, is popular as well.

Street food (like stuffed pancakes, skewers, and bowls of noodle soup) is the cheapest and most delicious way to eat in Malaysia. Each dish costs only 5 MYR-15 MYR. Snacks like skewers cost 2-6 MYR.

You can expect to pay 10-20 MYR for a meal in a Malaysian restaurant, including food like nasi lemak and rojak (chopped fruit and dough). Simple dishes like fried noodles or a bowl of soup are no more than 13-17 MYR each.

Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 14 MYR for a combo meal, but other western meals can be double or triple that. Pizza, burgers, or pasta can cost up to 50 MYR.

A beer costs 13-17 MYR and a glass of wine is 20-27 MYR. Cocktails are pretty expensive at 20-45 MYR so I’d skip them if you can. A cappuccino is 8-12 MYR.

A week’s worth of groceries costs between 90-150 MYR for basic staples like rice, noodles, seasonal produce, and some meat or fish. Stick to local food items, as western specialties like wine and cheese will destroy your grocery budget.

Backpacking Malaysia Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Malaysia, my suggested budget is 115 MYR per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, eating street food, taking public transit to get around, skipping alcohol, and sticking to mostly free activities like walking tours, hiking, and relaxing on the beach.

A mid-range budget of 295 MYR per day covers a private Airbnb or private hostel room, drinking more, taking the occasional taxi to get around, eating street food and the occasional sit-down meal, and doing more paid activities like museum visits, food tours, and diving.

On a “luxury” budget of 520 MYR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel with a pool, eat at restaurants for all your meals, have more drinks, visit the islands, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in MYR.

Malaysia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

A little goes a long way in Malaysia, but it’s still easy to wreck your budget here if you splash out on fancy meals and tours. Here are some ways you can save money in Malaysia:

• Barter with your taxi driver – Taxis aren’t usually metered in Malaysia (even though it’s required in bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur), so make sure to agree on the fare before you set off. Ask your hotel/hostel staff what you should pay so you don’t get ripped off.
• Camp – It’s possible to camp in places like Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands to save on accommodation. Expect to pay around 10-35 MYR per night for a basic plot.
• Eat the street food – Street stalls are the place to go for delicious hawker food and meals that cost just a few bucks. The street food is the best food in the country — and the cheapest!
• Don’t drink – As Malaysia is a Muslim country, drinking is frowned upon, but it does happen. However, to restrict it, the authorities have made drinking very, very expensive so skip the booze.
• Take a free walking tour – A free walking tour is a great way to explore Kuala Lumpur on a budget. You’ll not only get to see the sights, but you’ll connect with a local guide who can share their insider tips and advice.
• Travel in the off-season – Traveling during the monsoon season (late November to mid-February) is an easy way to save money on flights and accommodation. With significantly fewer visitors, everything is cheaper. To avoid the worst of the rains, skip the east coast.
• Use Grab – Grab is like Uber and often cheaper than both taxis and tuk-tuks, especially if you’re getting a ride from the airport in Kuala Lumpur. Just download the app and go!
• Escape the city – Much of the popular areas in Kuala Lumpur are designed for tourists and can be expensive. Skip the crowds and head to somewhere like Pataling Jaya, a smaller nearby city that has all the perks of KL with none of the downsides.
• Pack a water bottle – The tap water here isn’t always safe so bring a water bottle with a filter with you to avoid buying single-use plastic. My preferred bottle is LifeStraw , which has built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Malaysia

Looking for budget-friendly places to stay? Here are my suggested places to stay in Malaysia:

• Kitez Hotel & Bunks (Kuala lumpur)
• Sunshine Bedz Kuala Lumpur (Kuala lumpur)
• Birdnest Collective Cafe & Guesthouse (Kuala lumpur)
• The Bed Klcc (Kuala lumpur)
• Ryokan Muntri Boutique Hostel (Penang)
• Traveller Bunker Hostel (Cameron Highlands)
• Westwood Highland (Cameron Highlands)
• De’Native Guest House (Cameron Highlands)
• Hikers Sleep Port (Cameron Highlands)
• Anis View Perhentian (Perhentian Islands)
• Senja Bay Resort (Perhentian Islands)
• Besut Guesthouse (Perhentian Islands)
• Akinabalu Youth Hostel (Kota Kinabalu)

How to Get Around Malaysia

Public transportation – Most cities in Malaysia have excellent public transport, especially Kuala Lumpur with its buses, light rail, commuter rail, and monorail that all connect every part of the city. A ride costs between 1-15 MYR. If you plan on mostly using public transit, pick up a Touch ‘n Go (TnG) card to use on all modes of public transportation, saving 20% per ride. You can also load unlimited transit passes onto this card.

In Kuala Lumpur, try to use the free GO KL City Bus. It’s a free service that covers most of the tourist hotspots, like Bukit Bintang and Chinatown.

Other cities, like George Town (Penang), are full of city buses that run all over the island. The KOMTAR complex and the Weld Quay jetty are the two primary bus stations. You’ll have to tell your driver where you’re headed, but a typical one-way fare is 2-7 MYR. There are also free buses that go to significant sites in the city, just look for buses labeled “Free CAT Bus.”

Bus – Buses are an easy and efficient way to get around Malaysia. Expect to pay around 5-15 MYR per hour for a bus trip. The main bus companies include:

• Transnasional

Aeroline and Super Nice are high-end services that come with air-conditioning and sometimes even meal service, but they’re still affordable. The 5-hour bus from Penang to Kuala Lumpur costs around 35-45 MYR, while the 3-hour bus from Kuala Lumpur to the Cameron Highlands costs about 44 MYR.

Train – Mainland Malaysia has 1,849 kilometers (1,149 miles) of rail, with the main line connecting Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Thailand.

There are two types of service: express trains, which are air-conditioned and have three different classes; and local trains, which usually only have economy class and are much slower than the express trains. All are operated by Keratapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), the national railway service.

You can use the KTMB.com.my website to look up schedules and to book tickets. Reservations open 30 days in advance.

A train from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (where you’d catch the ferry to Penang) costs 66 MYR, while the 2.5-hour journey from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur is 30-45 MYR.

In East Malaysia, there is a round-trip sightseeing train that runs from Kota Kinabalu to Papar, with a stop in Kinarut. The North Borneo Railway runs the entire trip, and it takes four hours. The cost is 345 MYR, which includes breakfast and lunch.

Flying – The two leading domestic airlines in Malaysia are Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. Kuala Lumpur’s airports receive the most flight traffic, followed by Kota Kinabalu and Penang. There are several smaller airports around the country as well.

A flight from Penang to Kuala Lumpur can be found for as little as 100 MYR, while a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok ranges between 220-600 MYR. Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu cost around 225-300 MYR.

Hitchhike – It is common for people to hitchhike in Malaysia, and the locals are eager to pick up travelers. HitchWiki has additional information on hitchhiking in Malaysia.

When to Go to Malaysia

Malaysia’s two peak seasons occur from the start of December to the end of January, and then from June to mid-September. The first tourist peak season occurs during Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al-Fitr), which celebrates the end of Ramadan. Check ahead to see when this occurs as the dates vary every year. Malaysia’s Muslim population celebrates by taking the week off so your travels could be disrupted if businesses are closed.

Late November to mid-February brings the arrival of the northeast monsoon, affecting much of the east coast with heavy rainfall. September and October are the wettest months on the west coast, with downpours sometimes going on for hours. This is also true in mountainous areas like the Cameron Highlands.

Overall, the best time to visit is from March to early November when it’s drier and less humid. Visiting just after the rainy season isn’t a bad idea either, as it’s still warm, the countryside is lush and full of waterfalls, and tourism is still not overly busy.

Temperatures do not fluctuate much across the country. The daily average is 22-32°C (73-90°F), while in the hills the temperature averages 21°C (67°F). Humidity is high year-round.

How to Stay Safe in Malaysia

Malaysia is safe place to backpack and travel — even for solo travelers and solo female travelers. Violent attacks against foreigners are rare.

Petty theft (including bag snatching) is the most common type of crime in Malaysia. When out and about, always keep your valuables secure and out of reach just to be safe. This is especially important in crowded tourist areas and on busy public transportation. Don’t leave anything valuable unattended at the beach either.

Solo female travelers should feel comfortable here, though walking alone a night should be avoided just to be safe.

There are some common scams here, especially in Kuala Lumpur, such as taxi drivers trying to rip off passengers. Make sure the meter is on or negotiate your fare before getting in a taxi (or take a Grab to avoid this altogether).

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you are eating out, keep your backpack on your lap or place your foot or a chair leg through your strap. That will prevent would-be thieves from snatching your bag quickly while you’re busy eating.

When out in nature, don’t feed the monkeys! They get aggressive and are not afraid of people. Do not approach monkeys quickly or give them treats, as they grab anything within reach.

If you experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

Additionally, avoid tap water unless you have a water bottle with a filter. Travelers should also note that Malaysia is a modest country, so revealing outfits attract more attention. To be safe and blend in, dress conservatively.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Malaysia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Malaysia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Asia travel and continue planning your trip:

The 5 Best Hotels in Singapore

The 7 Best Hotels in Bangkok

The 4 Best Hostels in Singapore

Where to Stay in Singapore: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 13 Best Things to See and Do in Taipei

The 23 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Cost of Travel in Malaysia: My 2024 Budget Breakdown

Malaysia might be one of the most pleasant travel surprises I’ve come across. 

It was the second country in my year of travelling throughout Asia as a digital nomad and it was always my intention throughout this year to go with the flow. Of course, I had some top countries in mind that I knew I wanted to get to, but when and how, I left up to fate. 

So when I was searching for flights out of Guilin (China), Kuala Lumpur was one of the few destinations that didn’t require a long, expensive flight. So I thought to myself, “I guess Malaysia is my next stop!” And well, that stop turned into traveling throughout Malaysia for six weeks, because I just kept wanting to explore and enjoy it more. 

I think because I traveled there with no expectations and just excitement for the unknown, my experience was similar to the feeling of going to an amusement park for the first time as a kid — Malaysia evoked a sense of childlike wonder and play. 

Whether it was the energy of the locals, the diverse food, the street art, the beautiful nature, I was continuously pulled in by this country. Not to mention, it felt easy to stay there. Your money goes a long way, English is commonly spoken, and the infrastructure is very established.

I loved my time there so much that even after I’d left, I found my mind kept wandering back to my time in Penang or the Cameron Highlands. A few weeks ago, I again found myself in Asia with no set plans, and again there a cheap flight to KL showed up in my search. Well, you can guess what happened!

I was thrilled to find that things really haven’t changed a lot since the pandemic. Sure, accommodation prices have gone up a bit like they have everywhere, but they’re still super-affordable, and everything else like food, drink, and transport is still cheap and accessible even to those on a budget.

It seems that Malaysia is often overlooked by people traveling through the region, but after experiencing the many extraordinary layers of this country, I don’t understand why! One thing is for sure—anytime I talk about it with another traveler, we’re both in agreement on how great of a destination it is. 

If you have the chance to go, or even find yourself in nearby Singapore with a few days to spare, then I’d highly recommend making the trip. Have no expectations and get ready to be blown away by this wonderful country. 

What’s Included in This Post 

This budget breakdown covers how much I spent on accommodation, transportation, activities, and food while I travelled around the country.

I’ve not included my flights into and out of Malaysia, since this is going to vary significantly based on where you’ll be arriving from.

The amounts in this guide are listed in U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are from the U.S. I also included some prices in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR or RM), as this is the local currency and what you will use day to day around the country. 

Now let’s talk about expenses!

How to Save Money on Accommodation in Malaysia

As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.

Housesitting  is a great option for  free  accommodation. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.

If you  do  have that freedom, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. I have friends who have housesat in castles before! For free!  Trusted Housesitters  is the best site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings.

The Cost of Accommodation in Malaysia 

I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.

The first of these are  hostels . In Malaysia, you’ll find hostels all over the country, from tiny islands to large cities and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.

And, of course, there are always hotels, which will usually come in at around  $30-$70 a night  for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use  Booking , as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices.

That being said, if hostels aren’t your jam, you can still find a number of amazing hotel and homestay options for a great price. You might be looking at anywhere from $50-$100 a night for these places, depending on their location in the city. 

Here’s a list of my favourite accommodation options in Malaysia:

Kuala Lumpur — Star KLCC ($55 a night): Kuala Lumpur is one of those capital cities that’s more than just a stopover. I’d recommend spending at least 3 days before onwards travel through Malaysia; and there’s no better place to stay than Star KLCC. Right in the heart of the city, with amazing views and an easy walk to lovely KLCC park and the famous Petronas Towers, I really couldn’t have asked for a better location to explore KL from. My room was super clean and spacious, I loved having access to the pool to cool off after a long day walking around the city, and there was even a gym so I could try and work off some of those delicious curries I’d been eating!

George Town — Ren I Tang Heritage Inn ($58 a night) : Penang, and specifically George Town has my heart. I stayed at Ren I Tang for a week and I don’t think I could have chosen a better short-term home. It’s in a lovely old building from the 1800s that’s been fully restored but kept so many of the original features, from timber floors to a rope pulley to take luggage up to the top levels! Each room is a little different, adding to the charm. The breakfast is great, with Western and several local options each day., Malay, and the location can’t be beat: right in the heart of Little India, only a couple of blocks from Love Lane and all the murals and street art that Penang is famous for.

Langkawi — The Smith House ($65 a night): For an affordable but luxurious island stay, look no further than The Smith House. The rooms are super-spacious, clean, well-decorated, and include a smart TV for chilling in the evening. I felt that I was staying in a hotel that is much more expensive than it is, with such lovely rooms and wonderful staff. They always made me feel right at home with their friendliness and assistance: whatever I wanted to do on the island, they could easily help arrange it. That’s assuming you can drag yourself away from the gorgeous, sunny rooftop pool, of course!

Cameron Highlands — Fathers Guesthouse ($31 a night): Located in a peaceful spot but with easy access to the small town of Tanah Rata, Fathers Guesthouse is the perfect place to stay during your time in the Cameron Highlands. After a day of meandering through the famous tea plantations, forests, and lavender farms, I loved returning to the friendly staff, clean room, and relaxed atmosphere here. I had a bit of a personal issue while I was there and wasn’t able to go out for dinner one evening: one of the lovely staff members offered to go out and pick something up for me instead! Now that’s good service!

Malacca — Old Town Guesthouse ($32 a night): While visiting the historical city of Malacca, I’d highly recommend staying at the Old Town Guesthouse. It’s nice and close to the major attractions in the city like Christ Church and the Jonker Street night market, with lively, colorful decor that makes the place really come alive, but it’s the friendliness of the owner that really made the difference for me. Chatty and happy to share his recommendations on the best food and attractions in Malacca and the rest of the country, he really helped me make the most of my time in this lovely part of Malaysia.

Ipoh — Ipoh Bali Hotel ($65 a night): I’m so glad I made a short stop in the quaint city of Ipoh. It’s a great place to visit on your way to or from the Cameron Highlands and it has a lot of the charm that I loved about George Town—only with less crowds! Staying at the cozy Ipoh Bali Hotel meant that all the best parts of town were just a short Grab/taxi ride away, although honestly my room was so lovely, it was tempting just to stay inside and chill instead! It was great to have breakfast included (you choose what you’d like the day before, and get a call in the morning when it’s ready), and I loved being able to have a bath for a change: most hotels in Malaysia are shower-only, but not this one!

The Cost of Transportation in Malaysia  

I found transportation around Malaysia to be quite affordable. I mostly just used it between cities, since most of the accommodation I stayed in was close enough to the main attractions that I just walked wherever I needed to go. On the odd occasion when I needed to go further, though, Grab (the Southeast Asia Uber equivalent) really came in handy and again, didn’t cost much.

Buses —For long distance travel between cities, buses are the way to go. They leave very frequently from major bus stations and I found them to be pretty punctual and comfortable. There are over 100 bus companies to choose from in Malaysia; I can personally would recommend travelling with any of the below because of their good value and reputation. I mostly travelled with Plusliner and Transnasional and have no complaints!

• Super Nice 
• Plusliner 
• Transnasional  

A one-way bus ticket will cost you around $4-$11 (RM 15-RM 50) depending on the time and route. You can also book bus tickets and compare prices of companies on 12Go Asia , this was a super easy way for me to book intercity travel during my time in Malaysia 

Motorbike — If you or a travel partner is comfortable, I’d recommend renting a scooter or motorbike for daily excursions, specifically in Penang, Langkawi and the Cameron Highlands. It’s a cheap, fun, and easy way to get around in places where local public transport isn’t as frequent or widespread. You’re looking at anywhere from $4-$8 a day (RM 20-RM 40) , depending on the age and model of bike and how long you’re renting for. That doesn’t include gas which only costs around RM 10 / $2 for a gallon. 

Grab Taxi — I loved the convenience of Grab, specifically during my time in Kuala Lumpur. Grab isn’t in demand outside of major cities (this is when renting a motorbike comes in handy), but it’s a cheap and easy way to get around if you need to go a little further out or are short on time. I just looked through a bunch of my Grab receipts, and my cheapest one-way fare was 85 cents (RM 4) and my most expensive one was $5.50 (RM 25) . Not bad at all!

Flight — When I was travelling to Langkawi, my ferry got cancelled due to rough seas, so I ended up taking a last minute flight with AirAsia . In general, I wouldn’t recommend travelling by plane for the most part just because buses are so easy and cheap, but if you have to, then definitely go with AirAsia. My flight ended up costing me $30 (RM 143) . 

Ferry — Since the pandemic, the ferry between Penang and Langkawi sadly no longer operates: you now need to travel from either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis further up the coast. Getting there is a bit of a hassle, so most tourists now fly that route instead. If you did want to take the ferry, though, it leaves twice a day in both directions and costs RM27-34.50 ($6-7.50) each way . 

The Cost of Food in Malaysia 

Wow. What can I say about Malaysian food that will do it justice? I can easily say that out of all the places I’ve been, Malaysia has to be in my top three for food. The fusion of Indian, Chinese, and local Malay flavors result in a huge variety of dishes and specialties that will create a party in your belly. 

When it comes to Malaysian food, it’s hard to go wrong, but these are some of my favorite dishes that you absolutely have to try while you’re there:

• Char kuay teow (stir-fry noodles)
• Nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk with a spicy chili sauce)
• Banana leaf (a banana leaf plate with rice and a variety of curries)
• Laksa (spicy noodle soup)
• Cendol (a dessert made with shaved ice, coconut milk, jelly and palm sugar) 

Because of the delicious tastes and affordable costs, I pretty much always ate out during my travels in Malaysia. Penang and Kuala Lumpur are specifically foodie hotspots, with several street food markets and stalls and a near-endless range of great restaurants. Compared to many other countries, eating out is easy, delicious, and cheap!

The only real exception is alcohol: it’s only allowed to be sold to non-Muslims, and has the third-highest tax rate in the world. For that reason, you may find yourself drinking less booze than usual while you’re here! If you do want a beer to help wash down that spicy laksa, you’ll pay around $2 (RM 9-10) for a can of Tiger from a convenience store, or RM 15 in a restaurant.

You can expect to pay around $2-$6.50 (RM 10-RM30) for street food dishes like the ones I mentioned above. I’d recommend getting a couple of smaller dishes paired with a water or soft drink; it’ll only cost you around $6-7 for your meal. It doesn’t cost much more in small local restaurants either, especially away from the tourist areas.

Because a simple breakfast is included at most hostels, if I only ate at local restaurants and street food stands for lunch and dinner, I’d typically spend around $15 (RM 72) per day on food.  

The other thing worth noting about Malaysia is that there’s an incredible coffee culture scene. I typically worked from a different coffee shop everyday, and found the coffee and food scene there to be both high-quality and reasonably priced.

A good latte will set you back around $3 (RM 15) , so if you’re like me and have a huge affinity for cute cafes, then add on another $5 – $10 per day (RM 24 – RM 48) . When you’re in Penang, you have to have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake at ChinaHouse. I can highly recommend the tiramisu!

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Malaysia   

Of all the things I loved about travel in Malaysia, being able to have an amazing time without spending much on tourist activities was right near the top. My favorite memories mostly involve me exploring the myriad of street art, architecture, and stunning natural attractions, and of course, eating all the food. 

George Town and Kuala Lumpur are shining stars for this. I got so much joy from simply spending my days on a treasure hunt for all the famous street murals in George Town, while in Kuala Lumpur, the exquisite temples and bustling street life of Chinatown and Little India left me energised every time I left my hotel!

Of all the places I went and things I did, seeing the Batu Caves (on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur) was absolutely one of the stand-out attractions. You might be familiar with the caves if you follow a lot of travel influencers, as it’s become a pretty popular spot. It’s not hard to understand why, given all of the colorful, rainbow-painted steps surrounded by gorgeous limestone cliffs. I’d never seen anything like it in my life.

This is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India, and once you climb to the top and meander through the series of cave temples, you’ll definitely understand why. Just make sure you don’t have any exposed food, or else those pesky monkeys will be all over you. 

Elsewhere in Malaysia, I still had an absolute blast. A friend recommended that I sign up for a cycling tour in Penang, and I wasn’t disappointed. This was a great way to see another side of the island up close and through the eyes of someone who has lived there his whole life. 

Here’s a breakdown of some my favourite attractions in Malaysia and their respective costs: 

• Batu Caves: FREE to enter. You can also take an inexpensive day tour to the caves, which makes getting there and back much easier.
• Petronas Towers: $21 (RM 98) . Skip-the-line e-tickets are also available for a few dollars more.
• KL Forest Eco Park: $8.50 (RM 40)
• Parasailing (Langkawi) : $44 (RM 210)  
• Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang): FREE 
• Boh Tea Plantations (Cameron Highlands): FREE  
• Penang Hill: $6.50 (RM 30)
• Penang Countryside Cycling Tour : $31 (RM 145)

The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Malaysia

A local SIM card:  I don’t know about you, but one of my least favourite aspects of arriving in a new country is having to figure out how to get connected. Specifically: buying a local SIM card so that I have data to use while I’m in the country.

There’s locating a store that will sell you one, language barriers to deal with, various forms of ID you might need to bring, scams to navigate, and… well, it’s a headache.

This year, I started using  Airalo , which sells local e-SIM cards for travellers. What that means is that you can buy your SIM card online  before  you arrive in Malaysia, and then as soon as you land in the country, you can switch on your data and start using it. It’s worked flawlessly for me and now I’ll never go back to physical SIM cards. You’ll pay  $4.50 for 1 GB of data  or $25 for 10 GB for Malaysia and can also top-up through the Airalo app.

(Ensure you have an e-SIM compatible phone before buying — all recent iPhones and many Androids are).

Travel insurance : If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Malaysia. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Malaysia? 

It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs!

• Accommodation: $51 per day for two people in double/twin rooms ($25.50 each)
• Transportation: $15 per day
• Food: $18 per day
• Activities/Entrance Fees: $10 per day

Average amount spent in Malaysia: $68.50 a day!

Related Articles on Malaysia 🇲🇾 Where to Eat in Kota Kinabalu 🪲 Catching Fireflies on the Kawa Kawa River 🚍 How to Get from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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• Travel Planning Guide

Malaysia Travel Budget - Visit Malaysia on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Malaysia Costs

• Is Malaysia Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Malaysia cost?
• Malaysia On-Your-Own Itineraries
• Johor Bahru
• Kota Kinabalu
• Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia Hotel Prices
• Malaysia Cities: Hotel Prices by City
• Best Party Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Beach Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Luxury Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Hotels for One Night in Malaysia
• Best Cheap Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Malaysia
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Malaysia
• Best Hotels for One Week in Malaysia
• Best Adults Only Hotels in Malaysia
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Malaysia
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Malaysia
• Best Business Hotels in Malaysia
• Where Do Backpackers Go in Malaysia? A Review of Hostels and Guesthouses.
• Hostel Prices & Reviews
• Malaysia Tour Prices
• The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia
• The Best Wildlife Tours to Malaysia
• The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Historical Tours in Malaysia
• The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia
• The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia
• The Best 3-Week Tours in Malaysia
• Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia
• The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Coach Bus Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia
• The Best Eco Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Sightseeing Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Cultural Tours in Malaysia
• The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malaysia
• The Best Safaris in Malaysia
• The Best Budget Safaris in Malaysia
• The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia
• The Best Budget Tours to Malaysia
• The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia
• The Best Contiki Tours to Malaysia
• The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia
• How much does it cost to travel to Malaysia? (Average Daily Cost)
• Malaysia trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

How much do package tours cost in Malaysia?

Is malaysia expensive to visit.

• How much do I need for a trip to Malaysia?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Malaysia?

You should plan to spend around $81 (RM387) per day on your vacation in Malaysia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $18 (RM87) on meals
• $12 (RM56) on local transportation
• $86 (RM411) on hotels

A one week trip to Malaysia for two people costs, on average, $1,137 (RM5,424) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 81 RM 387
• One Week Per person $ 569 RM 2,712
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 1,137 RM 5,424
• One Month Per person $ 2,437 RM 11,624
• One Week For a couple $ 1,137 RM 5,424
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 2,274 RM 10,849
• One Month For a couple $ 4,873 RM 23,247

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Malaysia cost?

A one week trip to Malaysia usually costs around $569 (RM2,712) for one person and $1,137 (RM5,424) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Malaysia on average costs around $1,137 (RM5,424) for one person and $2,274 (RM10,849) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Malaysia will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Malaysia on average costs around $2,437 (RM11,624) for one person and $4,873 (RM23,247) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Malaysia is $246 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• Malaysia and Singapore Highlights (8 Days) 8 Days - 5 Destinations $ 1,068
• Tailor-Made Private Malaysia Holiday Package, Daily Departure 10 Days - 5 Destinations $ 3,563

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Malaysia is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability . If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Asia, Malaysia is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to China or Thailand.

For more details, see Is Malaysia Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Malaysia?

The average Malaysia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Malaysia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Malaysia

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Malaysia is $43 (RM205). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Malaysia is $86 (RM411). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 43 RM 205
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 86 RM 411

Hotel Prices in Malaysia

Looking for a hotel in Malaysia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in Malaysia based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $29. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• International House Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 18
• Resorts World Genting - Crockfords Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 315

Local Transportation Budget in Malaysia

The cost of a taxi ride in Malaysia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $12 (RM56) per person, per day, on local transportation in Malaysia.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 12 RM 56

Recommended Services

• Kuala Lumpur Airport Transfer Viator $ 25
• Kuala Lumpur Hotels Private Transfer to Kuala Lumpur Airport Viator $ 43

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in Malaysia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in Malaysia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Bus From Airport to George Town RM 2.70
• Bicycle Rental (One Day) RM 10
• Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam RM 12
• Motorbike Rental (One Day) RM 30
• Taxi From Airport to George Town RM 46
• Bus Ride RM 1.50
• Bus from Airport RM 8.00
• Island Ferry RM 2.40

Food Budget in Malaysia

While meal prices in Malaysia can vary, the average cost of food in Malaysia is $18 (RM87) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Malaysia should cost around $7.29 (RM35) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Malaysia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 18 RM 87

Recommended

• Food Tour at Penang - Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a… Viator $ 120
• Silver Leaf Monkeys and Firefly Tour with Boat Ride and Seafood Dinner Viator $ 181

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Malaysia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Malaysia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Taiwanese Noodle Soup RM 5.00
• Asam Pedas (Fish Curry) RM 6.00
• Casual Lunch (for Two) RM 19
• Sitdown Dinner (for Two) RM 32
• Italian Lunch (for Two) RM 48
• Street Stall Food RM 2.80
• Lassy Juice RM 7.00
• Dinner for 2 RM 15

Entertainment Budget in Malaysia

Entertainment and activities in Malaysia typically cost an average of $26 (RM123) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 26 RM 123

Recommended Activities

• Night Froggy Adventure at Kubah National Park Viator $ 52
• Half-Day Geopark Mangrove Kayaking Adventure Viator $ 56

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Malaysia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in Malaysia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Fort Cornwallis Entrance RM 2.00
• Low Cost Kite RM 3.00
• Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve RM 5.00
• Melaka Zoo Entrance RM 7.00
• Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance RM 10
• Melaka River Cruise (One Hour) RM 10
• Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Entrance RM 10
• Trishaw Tour (One Hour) RM 30

Tips and Handouts Budget in Malaysia

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Malaysia is $2.19 (RM10) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Malaysia is 5% - 15% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 2.19 RM 10

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Malaysia

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Malaysia is $36 (RM171), as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 36 RM 171

Alcohol Budget in Malaysia

The average person spends about $11 (RM51) on alcoholic beverages in Malaysia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 11 RM 51

What did other people spend on Alcohol?

Typical prices for Alcohol in Malaysia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Alcohol prices in Malaysia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Beer RM 8.00
• Bottle of Wine RM 45

Water Budget in Malaysia

On average, people spend $0.93 (RM4.45) on bottled water in Malaysia per day. The public water in Malaysia is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 0.93 RM 4.45

Related Articles

Malaysia on a budget.

At A Glance

• There are many discount airlines that fly into and out of Malaysia and throughout all of the Southeast Asia. In particular, if you're booking a flight, look into Air Asia, Air Asia X, and Malaysia Airlines, all of which are well known to have frequent flights with good deals.
• The cheapest way to get around this country is by bus. Almost every town, whatever the size, will have a bus terminal. The bus schedule is usually posted. Generally, the buses are a high quality and are quite reliable, particularly when compared to elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
• Although the official language of the country is Malay, which is somewhat similar to Indonesian, English is compulsory in all schools so most residents have at least a basic understanding of the language.
• Off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia you will find some of the most popular diving spots in the country. The diving season is limited in this area to the months between April and September, so if you are planning to do any diving you must take this into account.
• Drug offenses are taken very seriously in this country. It is best not to find yourself in a situation where you must defend your actions. If traces of illicit drugs are found in your system, even if they were taken in another country, you will be charged.

Top Tourist Attractions

Popular foods, more related articles.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Malaysia Travel Budget: How Much Does A Trip To Malaysia Cost

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2022

Categories Malaysia

Malaysia is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia that consists of Peninsular Malaysia and part of Borneo.

Known for its multicultural population (Malay, Chinese, Indian, and many other nationalities) as well as for its beautiful beaches, interesting cities, and delicious food, Malaysia is a great destination for all types of travelers.

Malaysia is also a great place for budget travelers, from cheap accommodation to €0.20 nasi lemak, your money can go a long way in Malaysia!

Curious about our Malaysia travel budget? Keep reading for all the nitty-gritty details…

Malaysia travel budget

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Malaysia daily budget infographic

In the infographic below you can find a detailed budget breakdown of our Malaysia trip to give you a quick overview of how much (or actually how little) you can spend during your trip in Malaysia.

Of course, the amount you'll spend depends on your style of travel, the length of your trip, and the type of accommodation you choose.

However, compared to countries such as Japan , New Zealand , Canada , and Europe , Malaysia is a very affordable destination.

Generally speaking, you can travel around Malaysia on a budget of $30-$60 per day (per person). As you can see in the infographic, we spent $67 per day as a couple.

This Malaysia travel cost post includes all the expenses during our 12-day trip to Malaysia , as well as a breakdown per category (accommodation, transport, food, and activities).

Malaysia on a budget: essential facts and figures

• I traveled to Malaysia with my husband, all expenses are for the two of us together.
• We spent 12 days in Malaysia and I recorded our Malaysia expenses meticulously. We entered the country via Johor Bahru in the South and exited via the Thai-Malaysian border just above Changlung.
• In this Malaysia budget post, I quote prices in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) as well as Euros (€) and US Dollars ($). When we were traveling in Malaysia, €1 was approximately 4MYR and $1 around 3,5MYR . Check the current exchange rate here .
• In total, we spent 2796MYR (€696/$804) in the 12 days we were in Malaysia. This comes down to an average of 233MYR (€58/$67) a day and includes all expenses in Malaysia plus transportation costs to the Thai Border.

Important note: the only costs I did not include in our Malaysia trip budget are the costs for diving at Tioman . Why are these costs not included? Diving is expensive and including these costs would inflate our Malaysia daily expenses and not give an accurate representation of how much money in Malaysia you need on an average day. Most people won't go diving and therefore won't incur these expenses, which is why I left them out of our budget for Malaysia.

How to save money when planning a trip to Malaysia

The good news is: traveling to Malaysia on a tight budget is definitely possible!

That being said, it's important to plan carefully, look for discounts, and be flexible with your itinerary to make the most of your travel budget for Malaysia.

Avoid peak season (travel during the low season instead)

Start by researching the best time of year to visit Malaysia as flight costs and hotel prices can vary throughout the year. Malaysia actually has two high seasons:

• December until February
• June until August

During these months accommodation prices are at their highest. So if you have the option to be flexible with your travel dates and able to travel during shoulder season (from March to June), this is a great way to save money on your Malaysia trip.

Save money on flights

You can look for cheap flights to Malaysia on websites like Kiwi.com . Try different travel dates and see how this affects the price of your flight.

Generally, the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Airlines often offer discounted fares on these days, so it's worth checking the booking sites and comparing prices on different days of the week.

You’ll get a better deal by booking your flight in advance. For domestic flights 1-3 months before your trip is ideal.

Although we got lucky and landed a great deal on last-minute tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. Reputable low-cost airlines in Malaysia are JetStar, Malindo Air, and Air Asia.

For international flights, it’s best to book 2-8 months in advance. Tickets to Kuala Lumpur are pretty much always the cheapest option.

That being said, you can also choose to fly into Singapore and s pend a couple of days exploring the city before traveling to Malaysia overland.

Lastly, you may be able to find cheaper flights if you're willing to be flexible with your departure and arrival times.

Sure, it’s not ideal to arrive in the middle of the night, but if it saves you hundreds of dollars it’s worth losing one night of good sleep.

✈️ Click here to find the best ticket deals

Book your accommodation in advance

Once you've got your flights booked, it’s time to research budget accommodation. I always use Agoda and Booking to find the best value-for-money accommodation for our trips.

I recommend checking both platforms before you book to make sure you get the best deals on hotel rooms.

Please note that Agoda includes taxes in their price whereas Booking doesn't always include this. Make sure to check this before finalizing your booking.

Also, if you're in a country with hefty ATM fees or a limit on how much cash you can withdraw per transaction it can be better to book with Agoda as you can often pay online with your credit card (thereby reducing your need for cash).

Plan your Southeast Asia trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Book your transport tickets (train, bus, ferry, minivan, and more) via 12Go.Asia ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours with Klook and Get Your Guide . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Cost of travel in Malaysia

Now that you know some great ways to save money in the planning phase of your Malaysia trip, it's time for a deep dive into our Malaysia travel expenses. Our daily expenses can be divided into four categories:

• Accommodation costs : 39% of our daily travel costs
• Transportation costs : 22% of our daily travel costs
• Cost of food and drinks : 33% of our daily travel costs
• Activity costs : 6% of our daily travel costs

Malaysia budget travel

1. cost of accommodation in malaysia.

We stayed at six different hotels during our 12-day trip, spending 91MYR / €23 / $26  on an average day. This adds up to a total of 1092MYR (€276/$312) spent on accommodation.

We stayed in a private room or bungalow with ensuite bathrooms. In the table below you can find the budget accommodations in Malaysia where we stayed during our trip (only the ones I recommend and could find online).

Note: Prices for these hotels depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Use ‘click here' to see the latest prices on Agoda and Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

Budget hotels we stayed at in Malaysia

• Bamboo Hill (Tioman Island): these beautiful wooden bungalows are built against a rock and surrounded by trees. It's a very popular accommodation and often fully booked. Book here .
• The Lantern Hotel (Kuala Lumpur): rooms are small, but comfortable and clean. WiFi is good and great coffee is served in the communal area on the first floor. Book here .
• NR Langkawi Motel  (Langkawi): a lovely family-run hotel just outside of Pantai Cenang. The room is large, clean, and comfortable, and has a little porch where you can relax. Book here .

2. Cost of transport in Malaysia

Let’s take a closer look at public transportation in Malaysia. There are many ways to travel around the country, such as trains, local buses, taxis, and minivans.

A budget-friendly way to travel in Malaysia is by catching a bus. Bus services are available in all of the major cities and most of the smaller towns as well.

The easiest way to get from A to B in Malaysia is by booking your transportation ticket via 12Go Asia . This is an online platform where you can book tickets for trains, buses, ferries, minivans, and private transfers all around Southeast Asia.

I've used 12Go Asia several times and had great experiences with both the ease of booking on the platform itself as well as their fast and friendly customer service when I needed to amend our booking.

For example, you can use 12Go Asia to book tickets from:

• A bus ticket from Johor Bahru to Mersing ( check availability here )
• A ferry ticket from Mersing to Tioman Island ( check availability here )
• A bus ticket from Mersing to Kuala Lumpur ( check availability here )

How much did we spend on transportation in Malaysia?

Traveling in Malaysia was easy and cheap. Our transportation costs were 51MYR / €12,50 / $14,50  on an average day, bringing the total costs for transport in 12 days to 612MYR (€150/$174).

3. Cost of food and drinks in Malaysia

Malaysia is a food lover's paradise! A visit to Malaysia would not be complete without trying some of the country's famous dishes. Some of the must-try dishes include:

• Char Kway Teow
• Nasi Kandar

All of these dishes are packed with flavor and are sure to have your taste buds dancing. And there's more good news: the food in Malaysia is not only really tasty, but it’s also very cheap!

That is if you eat local food at local restaurants. Eating Western Food always triples the price of dinner when traveling around Southeast Asia.

Also, while food in Malaysia is very affordable, alcohol is pretty expensive. Because over 60% of the population is Muslim, alcohol isn’t served in most restaurants.

So when it comes to food and drinks, skip that beer (or glass of wine), explore the local markets to find inexpensive meals, and try delicious street food whenever you have the chance.

How much did we spend on food and drinks in Malaysia?

On an average day, we spent 78RYM / €19,50 / $22,50) on food and drinks. Total costs for food and drinks: 936MYR (€234/$270).

The great food is definitely one of the reasons I would love to go back to Malaysia. Because of its history and diverse population, the cuisine is really varied too.

You can have Indian paratha for breakfast, Malaysian laksa for lunch, and Chinese chicken rice for dinner. There are many options for vegetarians and vegans as well, especially in KL .

4. Activities in Malaysia

When you’re in Malaysia, make sure to take advantage of all the free activities the country has to offer, like exploring temples, historic cities, night markets, National Parks, and beautiful beaches.

Doing so will help you make the most of your vacation while still sticking to your budget.

When planning your Malaysia trip, it's also worth looking into tour companies that offer (discounted) activities that can help you save money while still getting the best experience.

Klook is the largest tour operator in Southeast Asia, but Get Your Guide has been working really hard on growing their SEA offers as well so be sure to check out those websites as well when you're planning your Malaysia activities.

Some of the most worthwhile tours in Malaysia are:

• Malacca UNESCO day tour (from Kuala Lumpur) : Explore the historical city of Malacca during this full-day private guided tour. Visit key landmarks that hark back to the Portuguese, Dutch, and English colonial periods and learn about the rich history of this old trading port. Check availability .
• Perhentian Islands snorkel tour : the best way to enjoy the crystal clear water, the beautiful underwater world and the dazzling marine life of Pulau Perhentian is to join a snorkeling tour. Check availability .
• Batu Caves tour in Kuala Lumpur : leave the busy city behind to explore Kuala Lumpur's beautiful countryside. Visit the rural Malay villages, discover the famous Batu Caves, and enjoy stunning views of Kuala Lumpur's skyline. Check availability .
• Penang street food tour : indulge your taste buds and eat like a local on this 4-hour street food tour in George Town. Step off the beaten track and mingle with the locals buying fresh snacks from food hawkers. Check availability .
• Cameron Highlands and Mossy Forest tour : be amazed by the unforgettable view of 2032 meters above sea level and have a fascinating nature experience on a half-day tour at Cameron Highlands. Check availability .

How much did we spend on activities in Malaysia?

We did a lot of sightseeing in Malaysia, both paid activities (such as renting a scooter on Langkawi ) as well as free ones (exploring Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur).

The average costs per day were 13MYR / €3 / $4  bringing the total costs for activities to a mere 156MYR (€36/$48).

5. How much does it cost to go scuba diving in Malaysia?

As mentioned, I excluded the costs for diving into the budget breakdown. For those interested in diving at Tioman: we paid 100MYR per dive per person with B&J divers .

Considering the excellent dive school and dive instructors and the amazing underwater world this was excellent value for money.

6. Travel insurance costs

I didn't include the cost of travel insurance in our Malaysia budget breakdown because we use our travel insurance for all our trips, not just for our Malaysia itinerary.

However, that doesn't take away the fact that making sure you have proper travel insurance is super important .

It helps protect you and your belongings in the event of a mishap during your travels. Furthermore, it provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost or stolen items, and more.

Also, having good travel insurance will provide you peace of mind, knowing that if something goes wrong, you have a safety net in place.

With so much to consider when planning a trip, having the right travel insurance can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey without stressing out about things that can go wrong.

How much does it cost to travel to Malaysia: in conclusion

These are the most important costs to take into account when you are traveling in Malaysia. As you can see it's pretty easy to make a Malaysia budget trip!

Below you can download the budget infographic. If you have any questions about this post, leave a comment below or send me a message .

Looking for more Malaysia travel inspiration? Also read my Perhentian Islands travel guide .

This post was updated in December 2022.

Wednesday 12th of December 2018

Beautifully described about my favorite place: Malaysia. Very informative blog about the cost, food and everything. Thanks for the blog!

Thank you Mia!

Thursday 9th of August 2018

Cost may vary person to person but you gave a wonderful idea about the travel guide and destination.

Thank you Sing Dong:-)

Saturday 24th of March 2018

Thanks for your precious information and easy representation, it made me more eager to travel. Thank you very much!

Wednesday 28th of March 2018

I'm happy to hear that! Have a great trip:-)

Saturday 11th of February 2017

Hi! I'm off to Malaysia this month! We will be mainly staying in Kuala Lumpur. I love the breakdown you have here. I would love to hear about any of the must eat places you found in Kuala Lumpur if you don't mind? Thank you so much!

Hi Daphnee, thanks for your kind comment! I'm happy to hear you find the breakdown useful:-). About places to eat in KL, we ate mostly street food (falafel wraps, nasi lemak, nasi pattaya and usually paratha for lunch). Breakfast was included in our KL hotel (the Lantern Hotel, you can find it in my 'Hotels in Malaysia' post) but there are plenty of options for that too. So not really must-eat places, but must-eat dishes;-). I hope this helps a little. Have a wonderful trip to Malaysia!

Ankit Suhane

Monday 5th of December 2016

Very good infographics and nice way to categories it. Most probably i am travelling to Malaysia then Singapore from there. This article is really going to help me. Can you please tell me the best way to go to Singapore from Malaysia? How we should plan it? Thanks in advance!

Hi Ankit, thank you, I'm happy to hear you find the infographic useful for planning your trip. If you check my Malaysia itinerary post (https://www.phenomenalglobe.com/12-days-in-malaysia-complete-itinerary-for-tioman-kuala-lumpur-and-langkawi/) you can find a detailed step-by-step information how to get from Singapore to Malaysia. Let me know if you have any further questions. Enjoy your trip!

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Malaysia travel budget: how much does a trip here cost.

Looks like you might be thinking of travelling to Malaysia?

Wanting to do it on a budget?

Well you’re in the right place!

I travelled Malaysia on a shoestring and am delighted to say that not only is this totally possible, but it’s very easy too.

And you don’t have to scrimp much on the places you go or things you do either!

Which is brilliant news, because the diversity of Malaysia means this country has a LOT to offer the excited traveller!

So, if you want to soak up the best of this fantastic southeast Asian nation, but don’t want to exhaust your small pockets, no problem!

Just read on to learn all the details of my Malaysia travel budget as I breakdown exactly how much a trip here will cost you…

Related Posts

• Complete Southeast Asia Packing List
• Top 21 Things To Do in Malaysia
• 15 Things To Know Before You Travel Malaysia

This budget is based on the trip I made to Malaysia, with all prices and currency conversions correct at this time.

This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.

Intro to this Malaysia Travel Budget

This budget is based exactly on my travels in this amazing country in May 2019, so you can trust it’s entirely authentic.

But let’s be clear about something – this budget involves travelling in Malaysia as a backpacker i.e. eating in cheap, local restaurants and staying at cheap, local hostels.

It involves using local public transport and keeps entrances fee, tours and guides services to a minimum.

This is because, as a budget travel blogger, I’m looking to do things as cost-effectively as possible while still having a good time and the odd treat!

That said, if you want to live it up in Malaysia too, you certainly can – boutique hotel stays (especially in the cities), organised tours, private guides and drivers, as well as top restaurants are all available, but don’t expect your budget to be the same as mine!

And with that out the way, the next to know is that this article is broken down into different travel categories, including accommodation, transport, food, tours etc, so that if you have a bit more / less cash, you can do your own workings about how much your trip to Malaysia is likely to set you back.

The pricings are based exactly on my trip and actually follow my 2 week Malaysia itinerary , so you can replicate it exactly!

And I make this even easier at the end of the post, where I conclude with overall costs of what my 2 week trip to Malaysia set me back.

This budget won’t include the cost of any visas (although for Malaysia you probably won’t need one), nor the cost of international flights, (I always use Skyscanner to find the best deals) so don’t forget to factor those in as well.

The budget also doesn’t include prepping any gear you might need for your trip or taking out travel insurance.

Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

And finally (!) I just want to point out that because this is an expenses guide for budget travellers, and it covers just 2 weeks in the country, I don’t really factor in travelling to Malaysian Borneo.

Instead, like many budget travellers, I stick solely to exploring Peninsular Malaysia to help save time and money!

And with that preamble out the way, let’s get on with bringing you my Malaysia travel budget…

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#1 Accommodation

With Malaysia now well and truly on the traveller map, there really is every bracket of accommodation available here – from dorm beds in huge hostels to ritzy luxury hotels, especially in the capital Kuala Lumpur and nearby popular tourist destination – Malacca .

And as a budget traveller however, there’s no prizes for guessing which end of the scale I inhabited!

Yup, I’m delighted to report that if your pockets are small too, that there are plenty of great dorm beds and private rooms in hostels you can find across the country.

But they aren’t super cheap.

If you’re hoping for a $3 bed for the night, then you might be out of luck, with tourist accommodation in Malaysia, even at the budget end, a little more expensive than I anticipated.

In fact, accommodation accounted for over 40% of my total spend in the country (and yes I use a very geeky, but helpful app called Travel Spend to track this stuff!)

To be fair, most of that was in private rooms (coz y’know I’m over 30 now!) but these were still largely in independent hostels, so hardly to be considered luxury!

What really pushed the budget up when it came to accommodation in Malaysia, was the time I spent in the islands, where a lack of competition can mean a hefty price tag for not much.

As an example, I paid $17 USD for a private hostel room in the Cameron Highlands , but more than double that for a private room in a budget beachside spot in the Perhentian Islands .

Penang , where I stayed in a private room in a hostel in Georgetown was similarly priced to the Cameron Highlands, but both of these included shared bathrooms.

To enjoy a private room with a private bathroom in a hostel, I paid around $25 USD in Kuala Lumpur.

In general, hostel prices do include breakfast, so that’s one less meal and coffee to have to factor in!

Standards also tend to be very good in Malaysia, and almost all the backpacker hostels I stayed in were extremely clean with good wifi and relaxing communal areas.

They also often include kitchens in Malaysia, which makes grabbing street food to enjoy back at the hostel or market goods for lunch, super easy.

Across the whole country, you can benchmark a dorm bed at between $5-15 USD and a budget private room at $15-$30 USD.

To work out your overall accommodation costs therefore, you simply multiply one of the figures above by the number of nights you plan to spend in Malaysia and you’ve got your rough accommodation budget mapped out!

#2 Transport

The thing we have to remember about transport, especially when we’re talking in terms of a Malaysia travel budget, is how big this country is!

And, as discussed, I’m not even covering Malaysian Borneo here, simply the Peninsula part of the country.

But even getting around here, especially if you move from the north to the south and the west coast to the east coast as I did, can take a long time.

It goes without saying, therefore, that the cheapest option for longer distance travel i.e. between cities, are night buses.

These will save you the cost of a night’s accommodation too and they run across the country between all major destinations.

They are clean, safe and very comfortable – just make sure you take a good travel pillow, like this one , and a nice eye mask, like this one , so you can get some sleep!

I also find my Sholdit travel wrap very handy on night buses, as I can slip all my important documents into the security pocket and rest with peace of mind that they are safe.

Otherwise, if you’d rather not travel at night, or you’re not going huge distances, day buses are also available.

Either way, the good news for your Malaysia travel budget is that buses in this country are extremely cheap.

Especially when you consider how nice they generally are.

As an example, a night bus from Kuala Besut (the mainland port where ferries depart to the Perhentian Islands) to Kuala Lumpur only cost me $10 USD.

The day bus I took from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca cost me just $4 USD (takes a couple hours) and another one I took from Georgetown in Penang to the Cameron Highlands (all day journey) cost me just $14 USD.

So yes, cheap!

Buses can be booked online in advance in Malaysia – in fact, I highly recommend this and always use the excellent website 12Go to compare services and prices.

You can also use Bookaway who offer some of the best deals going.

Bus stations in Malaysia are clean, centralised and easy to navigate.

To get between them and your accommodation (or any short distance in Southeast Asia) I always use Grab – an amazing and cheap rideshare app that is really common in Malaysia.

Check out Grab here or learn more about why I think ridesharing apps are great for travellers here .

In Kuala Lumpur, there’s also an incredibly affordable metro you can use, as well as a free shuttle bus.

Domestic flights can also be used to travel between most major cities in Malaysia.

Taking a flight will bump up your budget, with the cheapest options usually coming care of budget airline Air Asia.

Domestic flights will also bump up your carbon footprint and aren’t really necessary in my opinion, but if you do want to check out rates, I advice using Skyscanner who list budget airlines within their flight options, so normally get you the best fares.

As I didn’t use flights and walked around a lot in cities, transport accounted for under 13% of my total budget in Malaysia.

#3 Tours & Activities

As always, it’s tours and activities that can be the make or break of your budget when it comes to travel, and Malaysia is no different.

So my suggestion, if you want to keep the costs of travelling in this country down, is limit the amount of tour and activities you do.

Honestly, there’s so much free stuff to check out in this country and the cities are so amazing to wander around AND you don’t really need to take tours because the tourism infrastructure is so good, that pre-organised trips just aren’t really necessary.

Outside of some diving and snorkelling, I didn’t really get involved in any – there just wasn’t any need to.

However, if you would rather travel with the safety of a tour, then check out these good options which all get rave reviews:

• Cameron Highlands Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur
• Off the Beaten Track Kuala Lumpur Street Food Tour

#4 Entrance Fees & Guides

Like tours and activities, entrance fees and guides accounted for a very small amount of my budget.

Because there are so many free attractions, food markets and street art in Malaysia, plus so much life happening on the street in this country, paying for entrance fees just isn’t really necessary.

The exceptions I make would be for the…

• Skip-the-Line Petronas Towers Tickets

Both of these are situated in or near to Kuala Lumpur.

#5 Food & Drink

For those not in the know, I’ve got good news!

Malaysia is a foodie paradise and eating all the local goodness here is a huge part of your travel experience to come!

And likely, your expenses too!

I’m not a massive foodie and I’m a vegetarian, but I just couldn’t help getting heavily involved in all the amazing food on offer in this country, especially in Penang, where I had some of the most delicious Indian food in my life!

As such, and perhaps not surprisingly, food accounted for a large section of my Malaysia travel budget.

In fact, it was only second behind accommodation in terms of expenses and, if you include all the coffees and groceries in my food budget, it amounted to over 35% of my total spend.

If you eat locally in Malaysia, especially from night markets, which you definitely should, then food here is very affordable.

It’s just the quantity you’re likely to eat, because it’s so delicious!

That’s where prices start going up!

It’s also very probable that at least a few times you’ll want to treat yourself at a nicer restaurant, of which there are many to choose from and of course this will push up your budget too.

And yes, ok, I spend a lot of coffee, because I’m worth it!

In fact, I spent an average of over $4 a day on coffee in Malaysia and between $10-$20 on food!

And yes, vegetarians are catered for well in this country, especially in Indian restaurants.

As a country with a large Muslim population, drinking alcohol is not as common in Malaysia as it is in some other Southeast Asian countries.

Personally, I drunk very little when I was here (maybe nothing outside of a couple beers in Kuala Lumpur if I remember correctly!) which helped keep my budget low.

If you do plan on enjoying a few drinks however, then you may be interested to know Malaysia has the third highest tax on alcohol in the world – around 15% – so drinking a lot of the stuff here is highly likely to send your spending soaring.

There’s also bottles of drinking water to factor into your Malaysia travel costs as tap water isn’t generally potable.

Although if you take a Lifestraw Go Water Filter Bottle as I did – this will reduce this cost to zero, thanks to the handy technology it employs that allows you to drink the tap water safely no matter where in the world you are.

A winner for the environment and your wallet.

#6 Other Expenses

And finally when it comes to Malaysia travel costs, you’ve got to factor in all those other incidental expenses like laundry (once a week should do it) and possibly a SIM and data package too.

Luckily, both these things are very cheap and readily available!

An average laundry load cost me around $4 USD and getting a tourist SIM with loads of data is possible for around $8 USD.

And don’t forget a bit of extra money for souvenir buying or discount mall shopping.

This is Southeast Asia after all!

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Malaysia?

And with all that in mind, there’s no question Malaysia comes in as a pretty cheap country to visit, especially if you avoid domestic flights and keep trips and tours to a minimum.

Similar to what I spent in Thailand and Laos, my daily budget in Malaysia was under $50 USD per day.

And it could have been a lot cheaper.

Especially If I’d slept in dorms rooms instead of private hostel rooms, I could probably have reduced this to under $40 USD a day.

To explain more, I wanted to give an example budget based on my suggested 2 week Malaysia itinerary , which I think allows you to see some of the best parts of this huge country in a limited time frame.

Here’s what a 2 week example budget might look like…

• Total Accommodation in Private Hostel Room x 14 nights = $320 USD
• Total Transport Spend = $60 USD inc. taxi rides & long distance bus rides
• Total Tours and Activities = $40 USD
• Total Entrance Fees & Guides = $10 USD
• Total Food and Drink = $220 USD
• Other Expenses = $40 USD

The rough amount you can therefore expect to spend in Malaysia over a fortnight is around $690 USD.

This is roughly $49 USD per day, which is in the region of £40 GBP or €45 per day .

Please remember this is based on a budget traveller and will vary wildly depending how many activities you do, whether you stay in dorms or private rooms and how much you eat and drink!

You could cut this further by avoiding all tours and shopping … although whether you’ll want to is another matter!  

Travel Money in Malaysia

When it comes to paying for things in Malaysia, you want to ensure you’re not being charged overseas transaction fees or getting poor exchange rates when using your card abroad, which is why I always take my Wise card away with me wherever I travel.

The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card here… and it links easily with Google and Apple pay – sold! Grab yours here .

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

And there it is folks, the full breakdown of my Malaysia travel budget and what it really costs to enjoy a trip in this country.

Do you think the I amount I spent is cheap or a lot?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below…

Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

Malaysia Budget Travel – When and Where to Go and How Much It Will Cost

More tourists are visiting Malaysia each year from the Western backpackers to wealthy visitors from the Middle East. But, despite the level of tourism, Malaysia budget travel isn’t as easy as in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Many tourists often travel to Malaysia for shopping in Kuala Lumpur at places like KLCC Shopping Mall, Midvalley Mega Mall and Pavillion. And those who do want to travel around the country often find it to be more expensive than they expect.

Is it possible to travel in Malaysia on a low budget?

Let’s start by addressing: is Malaysia expensive to visit? The answer is that it’s possible to visit Malaysia on the cheap if you plan your trip carefully.

Staying in the central areas such as near Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station and KLCC in Kuala Lumpur can be expensive. Budget hotels are around KL Sentral in Brickfields neighbourhood. Hostels and guesthouses are usually in Bukit Bintang, Chow Kit or Chinatown where you can find a bed for as low as $4 per night in a hostel. If you’re looking to find a budget hotel, you can expect to pay more. The prices are similar, if not higher, in other parts of the country in the non-touristy destinations.

When eating out, the places most recommend for tourists are often overpriced. For example, Jalan Alor, a street lined with hawkers serving local food tend to have prices up to 50% higher than elsewhere. Few Malaysians come here to eat. If you want to reduce your daily cost in Malaysia for food, consider visiting one of the food courts, especially those away from central areas. Whenever you eat, always ask for a menu and make a mental note of what you ordered as some restaurants do overcharge tourists, both intentional and not.

If you want to eat at one of the self-service Indian restaurants, always double check the bill. Not everyone calculates the order correctly, and many of the waiters work by memory. Ask for a receipt and double check the amount you need to pay.

Is it expensive in Malaysia to drink alcohol?

Alcohol isn’t as readily available as neighbouring countries in SEA. You can only find reasonably priced beer in some of the Chinese restaurants and at the food courts, which tend to be three small cans for around RM 12 ($2.90) or higher depending on the brand. Larger 660ml bottles are sometimes on sale here too. If you visit the bars, expect to pay much higher for a can or a bottle of beer and top-shelf liquors are very expensive.

If you're staying near KL Sentral, some of the Indian-owned convenience stores sell cans and bottles of beer for as low as RM 5.50 for a 500ml can ($1.30). Alcohol prices in Malaysia are high compared to neighbouring SEA countries and buying from the convenience stores are the cheapest option. Don't expect alcohol in halal restaurants such as the Indian Muslim or Malay ones.

Budget travel in Malaysia: independently or on a packaged tour?

Most Western tourists backpacking Malaysia will do so independently. Other nationalities, such as the Chinese tourists, almost always come as part of a packaged tours.

The pros and cons of independent travel to Malaysia

• You can plan and stick to a budget.
• Getting around the country is easy giving tourists more flexibility.
• Endless amounts of delicious food are available at meager prices if you know where to eat.
• Malaysia has a lot of public holidays such as Chinese New year and Eid taking place over a long weekend. Bus tickets sell out fast and there are lots of traffic jams.
• Admission fees in Malaysia are often dual priced. Foreigners always pay more. The attractions advertise as MyKad holders and non-MyKad holder prices. All Malaysian citizens hold a MyKad.
• Foreigners now have to pay a tourist tax of RM 10 ($2.40) per person, per night at hotels in Malaysia. This can add the costs up significantly if you’re travelling on a budget.

The pros and cons of a packaged tour to Malaysia

• A tour company will meet you at the airport and takes care of logistics. All you need to do is enjoy the tour.
• Guides take you to the destinations and offer a backstory and facts to help you understand what you’re seeing.
• All admission fees and tourist taxes are included so you won’t be faced with any unexpected costs.
• Tours are expensive.
• You have limited time and less flexibility.
• Some tours are overpriced. You should be able to make the same trip for less independently.
• You may end up in a big group where it’s difficult to ask your tour guide questions.

Top budget itineraries

There are lots of affordable places to visit and inexpensive accommodation if you know where to go. Most tourists visit Kuala Lumpur and Penang, which tend to cost more than Tanah Rata, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. More rural and off-the-beaten-path destinations have fewer hotels making the price higher.

You can take a coach from Kuala Lumpur to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands for between RM 35 to RM 40 ($8.40 to $9.60) one-way. The journey takes between three and a half to four hours depending on the season and traffic. It's difficult to get around in Cameron Highlands unless you rent a car or join a tour. Taxis are available but relying on them all the time becomes expensive. Budget accommodation is available in Tanah Rata as the area gets a large number of domestic tourists.

Malacca and Johor

The historical city of Malacca and Johor are to the south of Kuala Lumpur by bus. Expect to pay between RM 10 to RM 15 ($2.50 to $3.60) to get to Malacca (two hours) and up to RM 40 ($9.60) for Johor (five hours). Always check if there’s an upcoming public holiday as ticket prices increase and sell out quickly. Malacca was a former Portuguese colonial port and has quite a few historic buildings remaining. Johor is a great place to base yourself for a cheap trip to Singapore.

Domestic flights travel to both Sabah and Sarawak from various places in West Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’s capital, stretches along the coast. A short ferry ride can take tourists to the nearby islands with Manukan Island being the most popular. Mount Kinabalu, in Kundasang Ranau, is two and a half hours from the city. The food in Sabah is inexpensive and very cheap by western standards. Expect a dish to cost from 6 RM ($1.40) and upwards. The prices in Sabah are similar to those in Kuala Lumpur.

The best free attractions in Sabah include the Signal Hill Observation Deck, which gives a great view of Kota Kinabalu. Tourists also like exploring Gaya Street where an open market held on Sundays. The Waterfront is a pleasant place to take a stroll and get some photographs of the sea too.

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, and Miri, the second city, are the two most popular destinations. Sarawak is famous for national parks and caves. Food is cheaper than both Kuala Lumpur and Sabah with a plate of local noodles costing just RM 4 to RM 5 ($1). Free activities include exploring Kuching’s Waterfront and walking along Indian Street. You can also search for and photograph the cat statues in the city centre too. Sarawak is one of the most affordable cities and is often included in the top budget itineraries in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur and Penang

If you decide to spend most of your time in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, check out the following free attractions. KLCC Park, Perdana Botanical Gardens, Merdeka Square and Central Market are the best places to visit in Kuala Lumpur. You can also check out Penang’s temples, beaches and street art for free.

Best cheap hostels/hotels in Malaysia

The best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur if you're travelling on a low budget include Brickfields (near KL Sentral Main Station), Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street. Knowing the best low-key places to stay can save the savvy traveller a considerable amount that could be better spend on other activities.

The best accommodation (prices based on one traveller and stated in USD):

• PODs The Backpackers Home & Café in Brickfields Kuala Lumpur. From $7 to $8 for a bed in a dorm or $16 for a single room with a shared bathroom.
• M & M Hotel. Basic rooms start at $18 per night. Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
• RL Budget Accomodation. Some of the cheapest accommodation with rates as low as $4 for a dorm bed or $12 private room with fan in Pantai Cenang, Langkawi.
• Cas Idaman Motel. Expect at least $29 per night for a private room in Pantai Cenang, Langkawi.
• The Frame Guesthouse. Beds cost between $9 and $11 for a bed in a dormitory in Georgetown, Penang.
• Lagenda House, $21 per night for a double bed with a private bathroom in Georgetown, Penang.
• SKYPOD Boutique Hostel. Starts prices from $7 for a bed in a dorm in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
• Monaco Boutique Hotel. From $21 per night for a double room in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
• Check In Lodge. A bed in a dorm starts at $6 per night or $20 for a private room in Kuching, Sarawak.
• Padungan Hotel. A double room with en-suite costs between $18 and $21 in Kuching, Sarawak.

Top tips for budget travel in Malaysia

If you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, check out the following less-obvious travel tips to help you save more money.

Join a free walking tour in Kuala Lumpur. The local city government offers free weekly tours to take tourists around Kuala Lumpur with a knowledgeable, English speaking guide. Tours often last two and a half hours and are tip-based, which means you give as much or as little as you can afford. If you’re interested in joining, visit the Free Dataran Merdeka Heritage Guided Tour’s website for times and the meeting point.

Be savvy with public transport Use the public transportation such as LRT and Monorail in Kuala Lumpur. But, in other major cities around Malaysia where mass transport doesn’t exist, rely on GrabCar and Uber rather than taxis. When you arrive at KLIA, use the Airport coach rather than the Express railway.

Local street food You’ll find street food around Malaysia with hawkers selling snacks on the streets to noodles inside restaurants. The food is cheap and costs a few ringgits for a decent meal. Eating here will save a considerable amount compared to the restaurants aimed at tourists.

Drinking Alcohol Expect the price of alcohol to be quite high by local standards, especially in the bars and pubs. A top money saving tip is to find a local non-Halal convenience store and buy reasonably priced beer from there.

Be smart about accommodation Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Malaysia, and the cost of buying bottled water from the shop adds up quickly. Find a guesthouse that offers filtered water or allows you to boil water in your room. Buying bottles each day will be expensive over a couple of weeks.

Shopping in Malaysia Many tourists come to Malaysia for shopping. You’ll find bargains in Chinatown and Little India for clothes, souvenirs and food.

Visit the free places Almost every city in the country has free places to visit such as Perdana Botanical Garden and Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur. Buddhist temples in Penang are also free to enter.

Use the bus to travel long distances Buses are often cheaper than flying. Several buses depart daily between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, Johor, Cameron Highlands and Penang. If you want to visit East Malaysia, monitor the airlines, such as Malindo or Malaysian Airlines, for one of their regular ticket promotions.

Take advantage of Couchsurfing Couchsurfing is popular in Malaysia, and you can stay for free with a local host. This not only gives you the chance to save on accommodation but you also meet and make friends with a local Malaysian.

Get a SIM card with a data plan (internet package). Data plans are inexpensive in Malaysia, and you can easily buy a SIM card from the airport or phone shops. Data plan costs as low as $3 for 7 days or $10 for 30 days. Having your own internet saves costs on sitting in cafes and gives you the flexibility to be connected whenever you want.

Conclusion:

Malaysia is an affordable travel destination if you plan your trip carefully. Don’t expect the same prices as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, but the food is cheap and accommodation is inexpensive if you know the right places to go.

Malaysia Travel Guide: Tips for the Ultimate Itinerary

Malaysia, a country of incredible landscapes, colonial towns, delicious food, tropical islands, and friendly people. Because of its rich cultural history, Malaysia is now famous for its cuisine, a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian traditions. As a holiday destination, Malaysia is still under the radar compared to its neighbors Singapore and Thailand. Its infrastructure is well-developed, which makes for an effortless travel experience. Here’s the complete 2-Week Malaysia Travel Guide.

A 2-week Malaysia itinerary

Two weeks is an ideal length for getting to know West Malaysia. Here’s a day-to-day Malaysia Route Guide.

Note: this travel guide only covers West Malaysia and not Borneo.

Here’s our two-week route map of Malaysia. Discover the route’s highlights and what locations you will be visiting in the country if you follow this travel guide.

Day 1 – 2: Kuala Lumpur

Touchdown in the majestic, buzzing capital of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is a cultural mix of people of Chinese, Indian , and Malay descent. As a result, English is a commonly spoken language throughout the entire country.

Read: 15 Things To Do in Kuala Lumpur

Visit the Batu Caves and the stunning Chinese Thean Hou Temple during the first two days of your Malaysia travel itinerary. 

See availability and tickets for a tour of Batu Caves

Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur

Bukit Bintang and Brickfields are the two main areas to find a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. They are close to the city center, connected to the metro, and some sights are doable on foot. 

Hotels in Kuala Lumpur 😴

Ritz Carlton is right in the middle of the city, next to the shopping mall. It offers multiple pools, a spa, a gym, comfortable beds, and a delicious buffet.

Day 3 – 4: Malacca

The charming riverside city of Malacca is a mix of colorful buildings, street art, and architecture of historical significance. The very walkable city center of Malacca is an official UNESCO Heritage site, and although a bit off the usual Malaysia travel route, it is well worth the detour. 

Read: Two days in Malacca, things to do

Kuala Lumpur to Malacca Leave from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca on the morning of day 3. You will arrive before lunch which gives you 1.5 days to explore this small city.

Purchase your bus tickets here

Where to Stay in Malacca

It’s best to situate yourself centrally so as to be within walking distance from all the attractions. There is a nice atmosphere by the river, and plenty of hostels and guesthouses are situated here.

Hotels in Malacca 😴

Guesthouses in Melaka are very reasonably priced and of good quality. However, there are more upmarket hotel options that sit a little further out of the center.

Day 5 – 6: Cameron Highlands

Make your way up into the highlands of Malaysia. The cooler, wetter climate, and fertile ground make this an area ideal for tea plantations. The Cameron Highlands is, therefore, famous for its never-ending tea plantations and stunning hiking trails.

Here’s how to spend your days in the Cameron Highlands

Malacca to Cameron Highlands From Malacca to Cameron Highlands is a long, but straightforward, 5-hour drive. To break up the long journey, stop at the Genting Highlands to see the Chin Swee Caves Temple. However, we would only recommend this if you travel by car. Rent a car here .

Or purchase your bus tickets

The Genting Highlands

The Genting Highlands is popular on the weekends with Malaysians for the gigantic malls, casinos, and hotels. Avoid these parts and, instead, take the cable car up the mountain to the Chin Swee Temple. This colorful tiered pagoda stands tall at the summit, providing beautiful views of the thick, green forest beneath the Titiwangsa Mountains. 

We recommend to rent a car in Malaysia through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

How to get to Chin Swee Cave Temple 

The gondola leaves from the Awana car park , every day from 7 AM until midnight. Thrillseekers can choose to travel in the glass-bottomed gondola for the price of RM 50 per person. The normal gondola costs a much cheaper RM8 per person.

Where to Stay in the Cameron Highlands

The 3 main towns that make up the Cameron Highlands are Tanah Rata, Brinchang, and Ringlet. A variety of low-range- mid-range accommodation is available in each of the three.

Choose your location based on the sights you would most like to see. For example, Ringlet is closest to the BOH tea plantation, whereas most of the waterfalls are situated closer to Tanah Rata.

Hotels in Cameron Highlands 😴

The true Cameron Highlands experience can be found at the Cameron Highlands Resort , a colonial-style mansion with beautiful interiors in keeping with the history of the area.

Day 7: Ipoh – An undiscovered Malaysia travel spot

Go off the beaten path and visit Georgetown’s little brother, Ipoh. Wander down the colonial streets of Ipoh old town, where art and street food dominate the scene. Follow this with a visit to one of the temples carved into the limestone. 

Read more: Ipoh – Things to do

Cameron Highlands to Ipoh From Cameron Highlands to Ipoh takes 2 hours. Take the bus or car to Ipoh in the afternoon of day 6 so you have the 7th day to explore the highlights of Ipoh.

Get your bus tickets in advance

Where to Stay in Ipoh

There is a diverse range of budget hostels to luxury resorts within Ipoh, set within the town’s bustling center or set amongst the serene nature.

Hotels in Ipoh 😴

As a recommended stay in Ipoh is around 2 days, it’s best to situate yourself in one of the many good quality guest houses within the old town as a base to explore.

Day 8 – 10: Georgetown, Penang

Georgetown is a beautiful city located on Penang , an island just off the coast of Malaysia. World-famous for its street art trail, it has rightly become one of the must-visit places in Malaysia.

Take to the streets for incredible murals, beautiful temples, and a mouth-watering street food scene! And when you’re done with the city, visit some of the small white-sand beaches or the national park. 

Everything about Georgetown, Penang

Ipoh to Georgetown To get from Ipoh to Georgetown, you can take a direct bus to the center of town. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so there is no need to catch a boat.

Get your bus tickets

Alternatively, go for a more fun experience by taking a 2-hour train to Butterworth and catching the ferry to Penang from there.

Where to Stay in Georgetown

A hotel or guesthouse in Georgetown is best to find within the old town if you’d like to be close to all the top things to do.

Hotels in Georgetown 😴

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a beautiful hotel to stay in and conveniently located within walking distance of the street art trail and other iconic sites.

Day 11 – 14: Langkawi

The final part of your time in Malaysia is absolute paradise! Visit the 99 islands of the Langkawi archipelago. Discover stunning beaches, take boat trips amongst the limestone islands or through the mangrove, visit waterfalls, and take the world’s steepest cable car.

Find out about all the things to do in Langkawi

Georgetown to Langkawi Before, there used to be a super-fast ferry between Penang Island and Langkawi. However, nowadays, the only way to get there is to hop on a quick plane ride to the archipelago.

Where to Stay in Langkawi

Langkawi is a large island and offers many options for accommodation.

Hotels in Langkawi 😴

Stay close to Cenang Beach so you’re close to all the restaurants or at the north coast to have a more secluded experience away from the crowd.

Alternative Malaysia route options

Is your time in Malaysia limited? Remove Ipoh and/or Malacca from the itinerary to cut down your trip to 10 days.

Costs of traveling in Malaysia

Traveling around Malaysia is, in general, very affordable. The price depends largely on your choice of accommodation, transport, and tours. Expect to travel on a budget of 15 – 30 USD per person and 35 – 75 USD for a bit more comfort.

Costs of Traveling in Malaysia

Travel on a budget in Malaysia, from $180 − $320 USD weekly per person, mid-range $530 − $1650 USD, and high-end from $1650 − $2550 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $30 − $200 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $7 − $20 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $5 − $15 USD Book public transport
• Car Rental: $50 − $100 USD Book a rental car
• Food: $5 − $20 USD
• Activities: $5 − $35 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

How to get around in Malaysia

The infrastructure of Malaysia is well-developed and makes getting from A to B a piece of cake!

By public transport

There are train and public bus connections between all major tourist destinations. When you’re in need of help, it’s good to know that the majority of Malaysians speak a bit of English.

Book your buses and trains here

Getting around by car is also a great option since the roads are well-maintained. It also gives you greater flexibility and freedom to explore some lesser-known spots.

Best time to visit Malaysia

Malaysia has a warm and humid climate of 25 – 32 degrees throughout the entire year. The best time to visit West Malaysia is between December and March.

You can escape the heat by going into the highlands, where temperatures range from 15 – 25 degrees. Try to avoid the wet season from April to October. * Please note that this does not apply to Borneo. 

Do I need a Visa to travel to Malaysia?

Most nationalities do not have to apply for a Malaysian Visa. There are a few countries that need to apply for an e-Visa, which is an easy process.

Check here if you need a visa for Malaysia

Safety in Malaysia

Malaysia is a safe country to travel to. Crime is low, as is the number of pickpockets, and you should feel safe to roam around and walk freely. The people are friendly and will help you as much as they can.

Here’s how to:   find the right travel insurance

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to Malaysia via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

9 Best Things To Do in Ipoh, Malaysia

Best things to do in cameron highlands, malaysia, 8 things to do in melaka, malaysia (2-day travel guide).

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

Hello ☺️ how did you move around Malaysia? A mix of train, bus and rental car? I am a bit scared of driving there but also would love to visit so many places… Thanks!

Hey! Yes, a mix of all, however, I think you can get to all of the places in this guide with public transport!

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Malaysia budget travel – Get the Most Bang for Your Ringgit in Malaysia

Nov 10, 2023 | Malaysia | 0 comments

Are you looking for a unique yet affordable destination to travel to? Look no further than Malaysia! With its exciting cities, stunning beaches, delicious cuisine and vibrant culture, Malaysia is the perfect place to explore on a budget.

Whether a solo traveller or with family and friends, many ways exist to experience Malaysian life without breaking the bank. From finding cheaper accommodation options and cost-effective transportation methods to discovering hidden gems off the beaten track – this blog post will provide insider tips that make travelling in Malaysia hassle-free and, most importantly – fun!

So, if you’re ready for adventure but may be working with limited finances – read on as we uncover everything you need to know about planning your next Malaysian getaway.

Travelling in Malaysia on a Budget is all about maximising your savings. Click here to see the best transportation options in Malaysia by plane, train or bus!

Malaysia budget travel – Get the Most Bang for Your Ringgit in Malaysia.

Understand the Basics of Budget Travel in Malaysia 

Travelling to Malaysia can be an affordable and memorable experience if you know how to budget appropriately. Understanding the basics of budget travel in Malaysia can help you save money while exploring everything this diverse country offers.

Regarding accommodation, hostels and guesthouses offer cheap and comfortable alternatives to expensive hotels. Additionally, street food is a must-try for those on a budget, as it’s delicious and affordable.

Some of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations, such as the Batu Caves or Taman Negara National Park, have free or low-cost entry. With some research and planning, budget travel in Malaysia can open up a world of possibilities during your Asian travel experience.

Discover the Best Places to Stay in Malaysia on a Budget 

Malaysia is known for its stunning landscapes, multicultural heritage, and delicious cuisine, making it a fantastic destination for any traveller. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry – there are plenty of affordable accommodations!

From cozy guesthouses to trendy hostels, Malaysia has a diverse range of lodging options that won’t break the bank. Some of the best places to stay on a budget include the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, with its lively night markets and towering skyscrapers, and the idyllic island of Langkawi, with breathtaking beaches and serene countryside.

You can find the perfect budget-friendly accommodation for your Malaysian adventure with some research!

Click here to find Malaysia’s best hotels or hostel options and save a few ringgit. 

The spacious living area of the Airbnb apartment in Kuala Lumpur is an option for a Malaysia budget travel on your vacation.

Find Affordable Transportation Around Malaysia 

Exploring all that Malaysia has to offer can be a thrilling experience. However, finding affordable transportation can be a challenge. Luckily, there are various options available that won’t break the bank.

Consider hopping on a local bus or using a ride-sharing service for shorter distances. If you plan to travel across the country, taking a train may be a more cost-effective solution. Alternatively, renting a car can allow you to go wherever you please and split the costs with friends or family.

Rest assured that Malaysia offers affordable transportation options wherever your adventures take you, and you can click here to find the best chances of transportation through the country.

Explore Malaysian Cuisine Without Breaking Your Budget 

Are you a food enthusiast looking to try something new? You may be on a tight budget but still want to explore the world of Malaysian cuisine. Lucky for you, there are plenty of affordable options available!

Malaysian cuisine is known for its flavorful spices, rich curries, and diverse dishes. From the well-known Nasi Lemak to the scrumptious Roti Canai, Malaysian cuisine has something for every palate. Many Malaysian restaurants offer affordable lunch specials or combo meals that won’t break the bank.

In addition, food trucks and outdoor markets are a great way to find delicious Malaysian street food that won’t hurt your wallet. So why take a culinary adventure and try something new today? Your taste buds will thank you!

Lots of skewers are prepared at Jalan Alor Night Street Food Market.

Experience Unique Attractions in Malaysia on a Budget 

Malaysia is a beautiful country that boasts an array of unique attractions , all of which can be experienced on a budget. From the towering Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur to the picturesque beaches of Langkawi, there is something for everyone.

For those looking for an adventure, head to the Batu Caves and prepare to be amazed by the towering limestone formations. Or, for a cultural experience, visit the historic city of Malacca and explore the stunning architecture and diverse cuisine.

And if you’re an animal lover, don’t miss the opportunity to see the endangered orangutans at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre. Whatever your interests, a trip to Malaysia will surely leave you with unforgettable memories without breaking the bank.

Click here to enjoy a day tour in KL with a Batu Caves and Petronas Twin Towers Experience!

Enjoy Nature in Malaysia Without Spending Much Money 

Nature lovers and budget-conscious travellers rejoice! Malaysia has plenty of natural wonders to explore without breaking the bank. Take a hike in the lush rainforests, where you can spot exotic flora and fauna, or visit one of the many national parks that offer stunning rivers, waterfalls, and caves.

The beaches are also a must-see, with crystal-clear waters and white sand that rivals any expensive resort. Camping and picnicking are popular activities that allow you to soak in the beautiful scenery without spending a dime. 

Enjoy the feeling of the waterfall coming over you.

Take Advantage of Free or Low-Cost Activities in Malaysia

Malaysia is filled with culture, history, and many fun activities. Luckily, many of these activities are free or come at a low cost. From visiting the beautiful Batu Caves to exploring the vibrant streets of Kuala Lumpur, there is always something to do without putting a dent in your wallet.

If you want something adventurous, hike in the lush rainforests or swim in the crystal-clear waterfalls. Many who enjoy exploring museums offer free entry or a small fee. Plus, with the convenience of public transportation, getting to these activities is easy and affordable.

Don’t let the misconception that travel has to break the bank prevent you from enjoying all Malaysia offers. Take advantage of the free and low-cost activities available and make unforgettable memories on a budget.

Determine your Travel Budget in Malaysia with a daily spending limit.

Malaysia is rich in culture, stunning beaches, and delicious food. When planning your travels, it’s essential to establish a budget that suits your lifestyle. Before embarking on your journey, consider creating a daily spending limit to ensure that you stay on track financially.

Consider your accommodations, meal expenses, transportation costs, and any activities you plan to participate in. Doing so lets you fully immerse yourself in Malaysia’s beauty without worrying about overspending. Proper planning enables you to make the most of your stay in Malaysia and create unforgettable memories within your budget.

A Recap on Your Tips For a Malaysia budget travel and saving your Ringgit!

With all these tips, you can easily explore Malaysia on a budget. There is something for everyone, from the delicious food to the unique attractions, national parks, and activities. By adequately planning, you can save money and have a great experience.

However, remember that no matter how careful you are with budgeting, overspending is still a possibility. Make sure to create a daily spending limit so that you know exactly how much you can afford during your stay in Malaysia.

Ultimately, you won’t have to worry about going over budget if done right! So kick off your shoes and prepare for an incredible experience with a fantastic country; Malaysia awaits!

The Lord Murugan Statue at Batu Caves is a convenient way to travel to an attraction in KL for free.

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Home » Southeast Asia » Malaysia Travel Tips for a Budget Adventure!

Malaysia Travel Tips for a Budget Adventure!

Despite being a celebrated, exotic, and altogether awesome travel destination, Malaysia can still be successfully travelled on even a broke backpackers budget. With some thrifty planning and the right travel tips for Malaysia, travelling it on a budget isn’t too difficult.

Malaysia is often compared to its famous neighbour Thailand and whilst there are some similarities, Malaysia is far more chilled out. There are no crazy full moon parties here and Malaysia attracts a more mature backpacking crowd.

However, despite the lack of crazy parties, Malaysia still has plenty to offer both in terms of natural beauty and the exciting things to do. If you want to travel this awesome country whilst successfully managing your cash, then read on to discover our top Malaysia travel tips for discovering this beautiful and varied country on the cheap!

Top Ten Malaysia Budget Travel Tips

Summing up the ten best malaysia travel tips.

Coming in hot and fast from my brain to your plate! Tips to keep your Malaysia budget low so you got more cash to spend on street food and 7/11 slushies.

What? Culture and breathtaking natural splendour? Yup, that’s part of a  backpacking adventure in Malaysia too!

1. Travel During Monsoon

While the regular traveller might be intimidated by visiting Southeast Asia during the monsoon season, true budget conscious adventurers visit during this season by choice. Why? Well, because of the seasonal nature of the travel industry, prices will decrease significantly and you will manage to save money on flights, accommodation, and activities.

If you really don’t want to get wet, then make sure to avoid travelling Malaysia’s east coast as this is where the monsoon rains hit hardest. Even if you are on the east coast, the abundant rainfall turns the landscapes a lush green so the stunning scenery will take your breath away.

During monsoon, the waterfalls are gushing, the green of the forests becomes incredibly deep and the crowds are much thinner.  It’s a win-win, right? The monsoon season in Malaysia lasts between November and March and this is very much the country’s quiet period.

2. Use local transport

If you arrive in Malaysia by plane, you will most likely land in Kuala Lumpur at one of the two airport terminals. If you’ve booked into accommodation in Kuala Lumpur , then you have quite a few options for getting around depending on how much you want to spend.

Many backpackers will choose cabs or tuk-tuks which can be found lined up outside the airport buildings and these are fine if you are feeling flush or are just desperate to get to your accommodation for a shower and a jetlagged nap. Personally, we recommend you download the Grab app instead – it’s cheaper and more reliable than taxis.

The KLIA Express train is perhaps the fastest, but not the cheapest option to reach the city centre so our recommendation is to take the bus. It will only cost you 10 Ringgit (approximately $2.5 USD) and although travelling during peak hours might cause you some delays, this option is better if you are travelling on a tight budget. We advise you to pay with your credit card at the kiosk – don’t pay cash at the counter, as the prices per ticket will be 50 Ringgit higher!

Tip: Visa requirements differ on a country by country basis. You may need a visa before you arrive, do some research online and investigate with a reliable Malaysia Visa operator before you land.

3. Pick your accommodation wisely

The top budget tip for travelling Malaysia is the same as anywhere: hostels should be your go-to accommodation option. While the quality of the rooms may vary drastically from hostel to hostel, there are generally decent and cheap places to stay throughout Malaysia .

In Kuala Lumpur , backpackers have two preferred spots: the Changkat in Bukit Bintang and the Chinatown near the Pasar Seni LRT station. The former is located near some of the hottest and trendiest clubs, while the latter offers easy access to the public transportation system. You can generally pick up a bed for between 20 and 50 ringgit.

4. Eat like the locals

Every foodie’s delight, Petaling Street in Chinatown is filled with hungry tourists at any hour of any given day. Due to this, you may find inflated prices which the locals would never stomach (pun intended). However, if you travel during the monsoon season, the merchants here will most likely implement friendlier prices and maybe even spoon you larger portions.

The Malaysian street food is some of the best in the world . It’s an extraordinary culinary blend; the intricate spices and flavours make the food that you’ll find here utterly unique. The street is crammed with both street food kiosks and also nice restaurants for the backpacker that has some extra cash to spare.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

5. Avoid The Beaten Track

Within Kuala Lumpur, our advice is to avoid the popular tourist attractions and areas specifically developed for tourists, ( especially those developed for family tourists ) as these are by far the most expensive places to hang out. Instead, I suggest you take a day trip to visit the Petaling Jaya area. Petaling Jaya is a large satellite city of Kuala Lumpur and the area is far less busy with tourists.

Visiting Petaling Jaya can offer you quite some unique experiences without the bustling hordes and tacky entertainments commonplace in the more mainstream neighbourhoods. With a hip, established youth culture, this area will offer the perfect opportunity to hang with the locals and learn about the local scene all whilst spending significantly less money than you would back in Kuala Lumpur!

You will find better and far cheaper food here than you would have in the big city, and the delicacies and fresh produce that you can find at the Pasar Malam night market are infinitely more authentic than the food in the city.

You’ll also find plenty of movie theatres, and if you pick your day carefully, you will spend no more than 12 Ringgit for a ticket (Wednesdays are the cheapest).

6. Escape to Nature

If you want to enjoy some of the natural beauty of Malaysia, then be sure to visit the Broga Hill and Chilling Falls ; these two spots are very popular amongst the natives with good reason.

Around Kuala Lumpur city, there are plenty of climbing and hiking spots all within a very short distance from the city sprawl. Of course, because fresh air is free, this will make for a very cheap day out!

Be sure to check out Malaysia’s national parks for a unique and epic adventure.

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

7. Free Malaysian Festivals

Owing to Malaysia’s rich religious, ethnic and cultural diversity, there are also plenty of local celebrations that you can attend and have a bit of good old fun with the natives.

These include Chinese New Year and Deepawali ( Malaysia’s answer to Diwali ) amongst too many other cultural Malaysian celebrations to even mention here. Then of course, as with all of Asia, there are countless temples and mosques that are amazing to visit and can usually be entered for free.

8. Scope the Architecture

Kuala Lumpur’s architecture is quite a sight in itself. It’s an intriguing blend of Islamic, Asian and modern influences which juxtapose against one another magnificently.

These styles collide to create a multicultural cityscape which whispers tales of the countless empires, dynasties, and peoples who have resided here over the millennia. The best bit is that you get to enjoy and take in the architecture for the low-low price of $0: they’re all free-to-see highlights on a Kuala Lumpur itinerary .

9. Stay Dry

Our last little bit of advice is to avoid drinking as much as possible!

Why? Well, whilst Malaysia is on the whole affordable, the prices for a bottle of beer are similar to those in Europe and the US. Therefore, avoiding drinking will spare both your liver and your wallet!

10. Use Your Tricks-of-the-Trade Broke Backpacker Secrets

The last Malaysia travel tip for serious budget reduction is to utilise the one-size-fits-all patented budget backpacking secrets.

Check the above-linked post if you’re new to the game, but there are some good options for saving some dough in Malaysia:

• Sleep out – Maybe you’re a tough nut to crack, but generally packing some solid outdoor backpacking gear is better (and cheaper) than getting woken up at 3 A.M. by dorm-room douche-canoes.
• Dumpster Diving – Yeah, it works. Malaysia isn’t at the top end of the spectrum for developed, but it is clean and safe. I’ve tablesurfed and dumpster-dived while travelling to great avail here.
• Hitchhiking – Yep, it’s known here and doable. Backpacking and hitchhiking is an excellent way to save on transport costs and you won’t have to deal with as much crap as in India (figuratively and literally).

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Bonus Malaysia Travel Tip: Get Insured!

The initial cost of travel insurance can’t exactly be considered ‘ budget ‘ but when both your legs have been broken by the orangutan mafia (watch those crafty devils), you’ll see the payoff. We have written a whole post about Malaysia travel insurance which you may find helpful.

As a wise man once said, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you shouldn’t be travelling – so be sure to get your backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure! Travelling without insurance would be fucking stupid. We – at The Broke Backpacker – highly recommend World Nomads.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Go forth, my vagrants! Go explore Malaysia with your cunning and frugal ways!

Yeah, Malaysia travel is not so expensive but it’s also not strictly cheap either… depending on how you play it. It’s definitely a country where you need to play your cards right to save dough.

That said, it is highly developed in terms of infrastructure, used to tourists (and ex-pats), and clean! It’s a good trade – the cost of entry for what you’re getting. There are countless awesome reasons to travel to Malaysia .

Either way, who cares! I just loaded you up with the best Malaysia travel tips for exploring the country on the cheap. You’re gonna be just fine. Go do your thang and go see something pretty!

And don’t forget to food coma on cheap donuts and slushies!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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Nice post! Love it. I love travel During Monsoon, Architecture places. But some people frustrated about Malaysia visa. I know a website Keymalaysia that provide good service for Malaysia visa! Thanks for awesome content!

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Budget Travel to Malaysia – Easy Ways to Save While Travelling

Nov 8, 2023 | Malaysia Travel Features

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and it’s incredible how much we can save by making even the most minor changes. I know from experience that travelling in Malaysia on a budget can be simple and easy. With some simple planning ahead of time, there are plenty of ways to save money!

In this blog post, I’ll outline strategies for travelling around Malaysia without breaking the bank. From exploring unique food options to taking advantage of local transportation options, these tips will help make your financial dreams come true while giving you an unforgettable travel experience!

Click here to find cheap fares to travel within Malaysia, whether by bus, plane or train. 

Budget Travel to Malaysia – Easy Ways to Save While Travelling.

Research online to find the best deals on flights to Malaysia.

As someone who loves to travel but is always on a tight budget, I know how important it is to find the best deals possible. And when it comes to flights to Malaysia, there are some great deals if you know where to look.

That’s why I took the time to research online, and I was pleasantly surprised to find various options that fit my budget. From budget airlines to discounted fares, I found plenty of ways to save on my trip to Malaysia without sacrificing quality or comfort.

So, if you want to explore this beautiful country without breaking the bank, do a little online research, and you’ll be amazed at the deals you can find.

Click here to find cheap fares to travel within or to Malaysia by plane!

Choose accommodation that is close to attractions and public transportation.

As a travel enthusiast, I always make it a point to choose accommodation that is not only comfortable and cozy but also conveniently located near major attractions and public transportation.

Being close to the city’s heart and having easy access to transportation options can make a huge difference in my overall travel experience.

Not only does it save me time and money, but it also allows me to immerse myself in the local culture and vibe fully. Whether by foot, train, or bus, it’s always a delight to explore a new city and its attractions without worrying about transportation logistics.

So, the next time you plan your trip, make sure to factor in proximity when choosing your accommodation in Malaysia.

Click here to find the best hotels, resorts or hostels in Malaysia!

Pack light and bring only essential items.

As someone who loves to travel and explore new places, I’ve learned to become a budget-savvy adventurer, especially regarding trips to Malaysia. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to fellow travellers is to pack light and bring only essential items.

Not only does this make your travel experience more manageable, but it’s also an excellent way to save money. With fewer items, you can avoid paying extra baggage fees, and you won’t have to rely on expensive taxis to transport your luggage.

Packing light allows you to be more free-spirited and experience all Malaysia offers without worrying about a heavy load on your back. Trust me, this is the best way to make the most of your budget travel to Malaysia.

Pack light in Malaysia; it gets hot in there.

Shop at local markets for cheaper groceries

As someone who is always on the lookout for ways to save money, I’ve discovered the beauty of shopping at local markets for cheaper groceries. Not only do these markets offer fresh produce and unique items you won’t find in typical grocery stores, but they also tend to be more affordable.

I love supporting local businesses while saving a few bucks on my grocery bill. Plus, shopping at these markets often allows me to connect with community members and learn about where my food comes from. If you want to save money and add adventure to your shopping routine, check out your local markets.

Opt for street food over expensive restaurants, and Malaysia is Known For Epic Street food.

Regarding budget travel, I always try to find ways to save on expenses without compromising on experiences. That’s why Malaysia is the perfect destination for travellers like me who want to indulge in epic street food without breaking the bank.

From savoury satay to spicy laksa, Malaysia is known for its mouth-watering street food options that are both delicious and affordable. Instead of splurging on pricey restaurants, I target local food stalls and markets to sample various traditional dishes and soak up the lively atmosphere.

It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and try new, exciting foods that you may not have even heard of before. So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly adventure full of flavour, head to Malaysia and explore the bustling street food scene.

Enjoy the best street food in Malaysia and enjoy an affordable meal.

Take advantage of free activities like visiting the beach, Gardens or parks.

When planning my budget travel to Malaysia, I knew I needed to find free activities to enjoy. Thankfully, Malaysia has plenty of natural beauty to indulge in! For example, visiting the beach and taking a refreshing dip in the sea is a must.

Not only is it completely free, but it’s also something you’ll never forget. Malaysian beaches are known for their crystal-clear waters and white sands, so don’t forget to bring your camera! Another option is exploring one of Malaysia’s many gardens or parks.

It’s the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs, breathe in some fresh air, and enjoy the lush greenery that surrounds you. Plus, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Overall, Malaysia has plenty of excellent free activities to take advantage of, so why not make them a top priority on your next visit?

Walk around the Cities of Malaysia instead of taking taxis, Grab or Public Transport.

Regarding budget travel to Malaysia, one of the best ways to save money is by walking around the cities instead of relying on taxis, Grab, or public transport. Not only will you save some cash, but you’ll also get a chance to immerse yourself in the rich culture and bustling environment of Malaysia’s cities.

Strolling through the streets, you’ll encounter authentic flavours, vibrant markets, and incredible street art that you might not have seen otherwise. Walking also provides an excellent opportunity to exercise and burn off those extra calories from all the fantastic food you’ll be eating.

So why not lace up your comfortable shoes and start exploring? You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll discover and experience on foot.

Choose hostels or Airbnb over hotels. Although a Hotel Can Be a Bargain to Stay in Malaysia

When planning my trip to Malaysia, I knew I wanted to stick to a budget. I didn’t want to miss out on any fantastic experiences, but I also didn’t want to break the bank. I chose to stay in hostels and Airbnb accommodations rather than hotels.

Not only were they more affordable, but they also gave me a chance to meet other travellers and locals. I loved sharing stories and learning about the culture from a more grassroots perspective. Plus, who can argue with complimentary breakfast and some community events?

Sure, there were times when I missed having total privacy and a bit more space, but I genuinely believe my unique and memorable adventure was worth the trade-offs. Why spend money on an expensive hotel room when you can have an authentic travel experience on a budget?

Click here for the best hostel in Malaysia to save on accommodation!

Look for deals and discounts when booking tours or activities.

With so many things to see and do, I knew I had to plan to make the most of my trip without breaking the bank. That’s why I turned to budget travel tips and tricks to help me save money.

From finding cheap flights to staying in budget accommodations , every little bit helps. But the secret to stretching my budget was looking for deals and discounts on tours and activities. I scoured different websites to compare prices and even waited for special promotions before deciding.

And let me tell you, it was all worth it – my trip to Malaysia was filled with incredible experiences that didn’t leave me penniless. So, if you’re planning a budget travel to Malaysia, don’t forget to search for deals and discounts to make your adventure savings-savvy.

Click here for the best tours and activities in Kuala Lumpur!

Find the cheapest tours and attractions to save money in Malaysia.

Look for group rates when travelling in a large group. It’s always cheaper in bulk.

Whenever I plan a trip with my family or friends, I always look for group rates. It makes the entire travel experience more enjoyable when we can all stick together without breaking the bank. Plus, group rates often include perks like discounted tickets or exclusive activities.

It’s like getting a little extra treat for travelling together. So, whether we’re road-tripping to a nearby city or flying to a far-off destination, I constantly research and find the best group rates. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Utilize public transportation instead of renting a car or taking taxis.

Travelling can be expensive, especially when it comes to transportation. I choose public transportation instead of renting a car or taking taxis. Not only is it more cost-effective, but it also allows me to embrace the local culture and immerse myself in the city.

Taking a bus or train will enable me to see the city through the eyes of its residents and truly experience the local atmosphere. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce my carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

So, the next time you plan a trip, consider taking public transportation – you might be surprised at the adventure that awaits.

Avoid peak season travel times to save money on flights, Tours and accommodation.

As someone who loves to travel, I’m always looking for ways to make my adventures more affordable. One of the best tricks I’ve learned is to avoid peak season travel times.

Trust me, not only will you save money on your flights and accommodations, but you’ll also be able to enjoy more authentic experiences without all the crowds. I’ve been able to explore some incredible destinations during their off-seasons and haven’t once regretted my decision.

These are the months when tourism is at its highest, and prices tend to rise accordingly. However, if you’re willing to brave the crowds, there are plenty of reasons to visit Malaysia during its peak seasons. From stunning festivals to breathtaking scenery, it’s hard not to fall in love with this vibrant and diverse country.

So, if you want to make the most of your budget travel to Malaysia, consider the peak times as part of your planning process.

Visit Free Attractions in Malaysia when Sightseeing is on the Agenda

Malaysia is an excellent destination for me, especially when it comes to sightseeing. While the city boasts beautiful landscapes and incredible landmarks such as the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, I have also discovered a plethora of free attractions worth visiting.

These range from parks, museums, and art galleries to cultural events that showcase the traditions and customs of Malaysia. With all these options, I can say that I’ve never felt bored in Malaysia, and I’ve been able to witness its beauty without spending a fortune.

So, if you’re like me and love to explore new cultures and sights without breaking the bank, make sure to visit these free attractions in Malaysia, and you won’t regret it.

The Batu Caves is on everyone’s list in Kuala Lumpur.

Skip buying souvenirs – take pictures of Malaysia instead!

When I travel, I always want to bring home a piece of the culture with me, but I’ve found that buying souvenirs often leads to clutter and unnecessary spending. So, instead, I’ve started taking pictures as my main form of “souvenir collecting.”

It not only saves me money and luggage space, but it also captures the true essence of the place I’m visiting. From snapping shots of the local food to taking selfies with the famous landmarks, these photos bring back all the memories and emotions associated with the trip.

Plus, I can easily share them with family and friends, giving them a taste of my adventure. So next time you’re tempted to buy a trinket, consider taking a picture instead – trust me, your wallet (and your shelf space) will thank you.

Consider buying a local SIM card – It is always cheaper than roaming data.

Whenever I travel to a new country, one of the first things I do is consider getting a local SIM card for my phone. It has saved me so much money compared to relying on roaming data. Plus, it’s always a relief to have a reliable data connection while exploring a new place.

It’s easy to find local phone stores in the most popular travel destinations, and they usually offer affordable bundle deals that include data, minutes, and texting. I recommend this tip to any fellow travellers out there looking to save some cash while still staying connected on the go.

To save money on a handy SIM Card, purchase your local SIM and save. 

Use cash whenever possible – it’s easier to keep track of spending this way.

Using cash whenever possible is the easiest way to keep track of my spending. When I use my debit or credit card, it’s easy to lose track of how much I have spent and end up overspending. But with cash, I have a tangible amount that I can physically count and see, making it much easier to stay within my budget.

Plus, it gives me a sense of control over my finances that I don’t feel when using plastic. Overall, using cash has been a game-changer for me in managing my spending.

Take advantage of free Wi-Fi hotspots – There are Plenty All Over Malaysia.

As a frequent traveller, one thing that always comes to my mind is Internet connectivity. Luckily, Malaysia has no shortage of free Wi-Fi hotspots! Whether in a bustling city or a quaint suburb, I can connect to the internet without paying extra data charges.

Accessing emails, social media, or even just browsing the web is easy when there are so many hotspots available. I am fortunate to take advantage of this beautiful technology in Malaysia. So, embrace the convenience of free wifi – your online adventures await!

Sign up for loyalty programs with airlines, hotels, etc., to get discounts and perks! A Good Travel Discount Whenever Exploring

I don’t know about you, but I always look for a good deal when I travel. I sign up for loyalty programs with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies. These programs not only offer discounts, but they also provide perks like free upgrades, early check-in and late check-out, and even free meals.

Plus, earning points or miles for every dollar spent can lead to free flights or hotel stays. It may take a little extra time to sign up for these programs, but the benefits are worth it in the end. So, next time you’re booking a trip, make sure to sign up for those loyalty programs and get ready to enjoy some extra perks!

A Recap on Budget Travel to Malaysia

I remember my budget travel to Malaysia like it was yesterday. It was an adventure of a lifetime! Before I packed my bags, I spent weeks researching and mapping out my travel plan to ensure that I saw all of the must-see sights within my budget.

I quickly learned that packing lightly was essential, and it made exploring the local markets and shops that much easier. Learning about the local customs and traditions opened my eyes to the beauty and diversity of the culture. And let’s not forget about the food. Oh my goodness, the food!

The flavours were incredible and nothing as I had ever tasted before. Overall, my budget travel to Malaysia was an unforgettable experience that I will always cherish. If you’re considering a trip to Malaysia, I highly recommend it. Just do your research, budget wisely, and be open-minded.

Related Content to Explore Malaysia Now!

• Spur-of-the-moment trips in Malaysia You Can’t Ignore!
• What to do in KL at night – Experience Kuala Lumpur’s Exciting Nightlife Scene
• Incredible places to visit in Penang – Malaysia

Budget travel to Malaysia can include the Borneo Side, like the city of Kuching.

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All Destinations , Asia , Budget Travel , Malaysia

Malaysia travel budget for one week.

What is a Malaysia travel budget for one week?

Short answer: not much at all.

Long answer: My short trip to Malaysia was a means to an end. I visited because I couldn’t stay in Bali for as long as I wanted on one visa, so I had to do the traveller’s favourite: a visa run.

I strongly despise flying, and I would have hated to just visit a country for 24 hours or less, so I decided to spend a week in Malaysia, booking my flights for the cheapest dates (hint: try looking at AirAsia directly rather than just using Skyscanner when travelling around Asia. They’re often way cheaper).

I didn’t see all of Malaysia, far from it – and once again, I ended up leaving the country feeling like I had more to see than when I entered it, gah. Wanderlust is a terrible thing, don’t ever travel (joking).

But what I did see, I loved. Temple after temple in Kuala Lumpur, wandering the cobbled streets of George Town and exploring Penang’s jungle… And I know that there’s so much more to explore when I return.

Malaysia on a Budget

Due to my incessant road tripping around Australia, I’m pretty much constantly strapped for cash. No dramas – I think being constantly broke helps me appreciate things more. But henceforth, I was exploring Malaysia on a budget. Malaysia is quite developed, but it’s still one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia . So don’t worry, visiting Malaysia won’t make a huge dent in your South East Asia travel budget – and it’s well worth the trip.

And I thought I’d keep detailed notes about exactly what I spent so you can see exactly how much my Malaysia travel budget was. I’m nice like that ;).

In the interests of full transparency, Paper Plane Hostel in Kuala Lumpur offered me a stay, free of charge. You can read my review here, and as always, all opinions are my own. I was told by a primary school teacher that I’d get just socks for Christmas if I lied, and I still kind of believe her.

Anyway, I digress.

Malaysia Travel Budget

Train from Kuala Lumpur Airport to KL Sentral: 55 RN (I later learnt that I could have got a bus for 14 RN. Live and ya learn.)

Taxi from Kuala Lumpur Airport to Paper Plane Hostel: 80-100 RM

Monorail IF you don’t miss the last one : 2.60 RN

Taxi from KL Sentral to Paper Plane Hostel if you do : 8 RN

Note: Grab and Uber are also popular in Malaysia

Return ticket to the Batu Caves : 4 RM + 5.20 RM monorail ticket

Transport to TFL (monorail) : 2.60 RM

Coach to George Town : 40 RM

Rapid Penang bus around Penang Island : 4 RM per day

Coach back to airport : 14 RM

Total in transport – 112.80 RM

Accommodation  

Paper Plane Hostel Kuala Lumpur : free, nights start at 58 RM per night or 124 RM for three nights

My Hostel Muntri : (note – I would NOT recommend staying here. I’ve stayed in a lot of hostels and this was the worst I’ve ever stayed at. It’s like someone read a book called ‘how to run a good hostel and did exactly the opposite.) 20 RM for 2 nights cost me 40 RM.

Dreamcatcher Traveller’s Refuge : 29 RM per night for for 2 nights cost me 58 RM

Total for accommodation: 98 RM

I would recommend staying in Paper Plane and Dreamcatcher and avoiding My Hostel Muntri like the plauge. Your total costs will be 240 RM.

Food  

Breakfasts : (Dreamcatcher had a breakfast included) 10-12RN – 77 RN total

Lunches : (always street food with one subway thrown in) ranged from 3 RN to 15 RN – average 7 RN per day/ 49 RN total

Dinner : (a mix of street food and cheaper restaurants) 5-6 RN for street food, 15-20 RN for cheap restaurants. 90 RN total.

Snacks and drinks : Water was on average 2 RN. Coke was 2-3 RN. Sweet bread could be bought for 3 RN. Buying one of these per day give a 49 RN total.

Total costs 260 RM

Activities  

Wonderfully, a lot of Malaysia’s activities are completely free; so if you’re just spending 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur and a few days in Penang, you won’t need to spend too much on attractions. The many temples don’t cost a dime to explore, George Town’s street art is free to amble around and the island can be explored at your leisure, completely gratis.

I enjoyed this and more, without charge:

Kuala Lumpur

Masjid negara (the national mosque).

Visitors to the National Mosque can enjoy learning all about Islam in Malaysia in the largest place of worship in the country. The architecture is incredible, and at certain times volunteers are around to detail the history of the mosque and answer any questions about Islam. As it is a very religious place of worship, it is only possible to visit the mosque at certain times. These are.

Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque)

Similarly to Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek is a great spot to visit to both learn about Islam and admire the unique architecture. Masjid Jamek is considered to be the most beautiful mosque in Kuala Lumpur; it is also on the site of the founding place of the city. Kuala Lumpur literally means ‘muddy place where two rivers meet’ – which is exactly where Masjid Jamek stands!

Sri Mariamman Temple

I love a chat, and I met a great man in the Sri Mariamman Temple who I was chatting to about Hinduism and the spirituality behind it for over an hour. He’s retired and spends most of his time in the temple talking to visitors to try and help them understand Hinduism a bit better so they actually know what they are looking at. I also was invited to watch them pray, which was a lovely event. The temple is gorgeous, with ornate carvings and colourful décor. But I really would recommend seeking out this man if you’re there, he was a fascinating wealth of information about Hinduism – sadly I didn’t get his name, but he’ll probably either be talking to some other tourists or will approach you and ask if you want to learn about his religion.

Central Markets

Central Markets are your go-to if you’re wanting to shop while you’re in South East Asia. There’s all sorts of items, from shoes to laptop cases, at cheap prices. But if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s still enjoyable to browse the Central Markets and see what you can find!

Petronas Towers (from outside)

The Petronas Towers are used as offices so you can’t go inside, but the view from outside is the best, and of course, absolutely free. It’s best to go at night, when they’re lit up and you can really enjoy the distinct architectural style.

It costs a little to get there on a train, but the Batu Caves are a fantastic free attraction in Kuala Lumpur . Visit the caves to learn about the tropical cavernous climate and all the flora and fauna that it is home to, climb the 272 steps to reach the top cave and enjoy the Hindu culture and spirituality of the area. If you’re visiting Kuala Lumpur with kids , the Batu Caves are a great attraction to enjoy!

George Town Street Art

Possible George Town’s most notable attraction, its street art takes many forms. From murals of children on swings to a painting of an old man relaxing in a trishaw, the street art is fascinating and tourists young and old love to explore it. Best of all, it’s completely free to walk around!

Visitors to the local mosque will be shown around by a friendly guide and are invited to browse the visitors’ centre for information on Islam.

Smaller than Kuala Lumpur’s counterpart, the Sri Mariamman Temple is a pleasant stop over and is ideal if you spoke to my mate at the Kuala Lumpur temple – to see some of what he discusses being put into action!

Chinese Temple

The beautiful Chinese temple invites visitors to burn incense and wander around the spiritual place.

Yep, there’s a Christian church in Penang too – it actually sits on harmony street amongst all of the other places of worship. Malaysians are very proud of their cultural harmony, and I had a great chat with a church volunteer about it. There’s always someone in the church to tell you about its history and Christianity in Malaysia.

The town itself – it has a distinct charm!

Just walking the cobbled streets of George Town is an awesome experience. There’s steel artworks around the city detailing different parts of its culture and history, and the colonial buildings are undoubtedly awe-inspiringly beautiful. Love Lane is the popular backpacker hangout, where coffee shops, bars and restuarants are aplenty.

Little India

Effervescent Little India is the kind of place where there’s always something going on. There’s Bollywood-style music blasting on every street corner, jazzy shops selling all sorts of Indian memorabilia, and of course the most mouthwatering smells coming from restaurants lining every street.

Kek Lok Si Temple

A little out of George Town – a rapid Penang bus must be taken to reach it – is Kek Lok Si Temple. This huge sprawling complex will take a couple of hours to explore, and it demonstates some of the finest Chinese architecture in Malaysia.

Bukit Pilau

The other side of the island is the sleepy village of Bukit Pilau. It’s a great spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the city (not that there’s much hustle and bustle in George Town!) and enjoy a different side of Penang life. We hiked through a rural area, wandered down to the fishing village, and explored the nearby town’s attractions in a day.

Paid for attractions in Malaysia

I didn’t pay for that many attractions while in Malaysia – as you can see, my work was pretty cut out with all the free things to do that I found! But my top paid-for spot in KL and Penang would be:

Kuala Lumpur – National Museum (5 RN)

I’m not even sure if this warrants being called a paid for attraction at this price, but the National Museum is more than worth the money. It’s split into four sections – so you can browse the areas you are most interested in at your leisure. There’s all sorts of historical information there, from natural history of the country to its social and political climate today. It’s a must visit for anyone wanting to get to know this Asian country on a deeper level.

Penang – Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (17 RN)

I took a guided tour around Cheong Fatt Tze’s Mansion and absolutely loved it. The Blue Mansion was built by Cheong Fatt Tze, who shipped artisans from China and closely followed the traditional Chinese style. It served as his home until his death, and a guided tour details some of the interesting tales that went on in the mansion. It’s a one of a kind type of architecture that’s really unique in the city.

Total for attractions – 22 RM

Total travel budget for Malaysia for a week – 634.80 RM = 119 GBP = 156.95 USD = 211.47 AUD.

Malaysia’s a country that really doesn’t cost much to explore – but it must be noted that there are lots of other places to visit while you’re there. A great Malaysia itinerary would include Melaka, the Cameron Highlands, the Perenthian Islands and Langkawi as well. I just simply did not have the time during my week in Malaysia – but I cannot wait to return!

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5 thoughts on “ Malaysia Travel Budget for One Week ”

Thanks for the info. I am heading to Penang tomorrow and this will come in handy.

Malaysia is such an incredible country, had the opportunity to visit all these fabulous places last year and I even went diving in the Lankayan Island, had the time of my life exploring Coral Garden, Mosquito Wreck and many other cool dive spots!

Such a great resource you have here. Thank you so much for the detailed post. So excited for my next Malaysia trip as all this info will sure come handy! Cheers!

How many days

This is for 7 days 🙂

Comments are closed.

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Everything you need to know before visiting Malaysia

Feb 3, 2024 • 7 min read

Malaysia is a beautifully diverse country with tons to see and do – here's what you should know before you go © ibnjaafar / Getty Images

Dynamic, multi-cultural, and hugely underrated, Malaysia is Southeast Asia's unsung tropical hero. Marrying tradition, nature and modernity, it's a country of space-age cityscapes, Islamic minarets and gilded Chinese shrines. It's a world where South Indian temples back onto million-year-old rainforests, and this mish-mash can confuse first-timers.

From what to pack to navigating the nation's ethnic and religious tapestry, these are the top things to know before you embark on a trip to Malaysia – an experience that can often feel like being in several countries at once.

1. Malaysia is a dazzlingly diverse country

Be prepared for many types of culture shock. In multi-ethnic yet predominantly Islamic Peninsular Malaysia, a 69.8% majority of Malay Muslims share the land with ethnic Chinese, Tamil Indians and a dozen aboriginal groups categorized as orang asli (original peoples). This means that red lantern-studded Chinese temples sit next to Hindu gopurams (temple gates) and the onion-shaped domes of intricate, modern mosques. Prayers go up to the sky in three main languages – Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Tamil – and to three main religions: Islam, Chinese Taoism and Hinduism.

A short flight away across the South China Sea, the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo feel like another world. The former has some 26 different ethnic groups, most of whom are Christian or Protestant, while Sabah is home to another 33 who communicate in over 50 languages and 80 dialects .

2. Pack for an eternal summer – but carry a light jacket

Tropical Malaysia enjoys steamy temperatures hovering around 86°F (30°C) year-round. All you really need to pack are light, loose-fitting cotton clothes to best cope with heat and humidity, and a pair of sneakers and flip-flops. If you forget anything, you can pick it up here. Also pack a hoodie or light jacket to prepare for the Malaysian habit of keeping air conditioning to frosty levels, especially inside shopping malls, buses and trains.

3. Technology is widely available… 

Kuala Lumpur must be one of the world's most futuristic cities, with ever-expanding highways, towers and skyscrapers eternally contending for space. Beyond the capital, there's excellent 4G mobile network coverage and fast wifi at most hotels and guest houses across the nation. Celcom is the best operator when traveling the Peninsula's jungly interior and Borneo. 

4. …but carry cash in the interior

ATMS (cashpoints) are widely available but thin out in the countryside, and they are often hard to find outside of Borneo's main cities. Stock up on the local currency, the Malaysian ringgit, if planning to go off the grid. 

5. The food is something to write home about

The delightfully spicy intricacies of Malaysian food (a concoction of curries, southern Chinese cuisines and pan-Indian dishes that never stop intermarrying) are best consumed fresh off the street, served without embellishments by local "uncles" – slang for older person – on plastic plates. 

The alternative is to sit and rub elbows with locals at a food court, or "hawker center" – large open areas, usually covered by a rooftop, packed with simple food stalls squeezed one against the other.

6. Partying is a bit more expensive

Compared to its backpacker-centric Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam , Malaysia is a more expensive party destination because of heavy taxes on alcohol, which is forbidden to Muslims. The rest of the population is free to drink but forced to pay a higher price.

Alcohol is widely available in major tourist cities like Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Ipoh , Melaka and Johor Bahru,  while in smaller towns, beer is most often available at Chinese-run businesses. The best antidote to steep drinks and cigarette prices is a visit to the tax-free islands of Langkawi and Tioman .

7. Dress casual but modest

Due to the constant heat, Malaysia's dress code is very casual. Wearing short pants, sandals, flip-flops and t-shirts is the accepted norm everywhere but is considered rude when visiting public offices, where long slacks, close-toed shoes and collared shirts are expected. In Malaysia's many kampung (villages), avoid revealing outfits to comply with local religious sensibilities. 

Modesty is also essential when choosing your beachwear. Bikinis and speedos are fine at big hotels, resorts and the tourist islands off the East Coast, such as Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang. But it's best to wear one-piece bathing suits and knee-length swimming trunks on any other beach, where the locals dip fully clothed.

8. It's OK to speak in English if you don't know Malay

Picking up some survival Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language), the national lingo, is pretty straightforward – with its Roman alphabet and absence of tones, it's one of the easiest Asian languages to learn. But it's fine to speak English, especially with Malaysian Chinese and Indians, whose mother tongues are not Malay. Blame it on the British colonization, but practically everyone can communicate in English, and most prefer to do so when talking to foreigners.

9. You might be unknowingly rude

When pointing at someone or something, use the thumb and not the index finger, which is considered rude in Malaysia. Always keep your voice down, for raising the tone is an absolute no-no – like asking direct questions, which many Malaysians may take as "losing face" or an invasion of their personal space.

When shaking hands, always remember to use your right hand, for the left is considered "toilet hand" in any Islamic culture. The only dining etiquette that matters in Malaysia is to never use the left hand when trying to eat with fingers like many locals do.

10. Respect nature, and its spirits 

When a bunch of foreign tourists bared their bottoms on top of Mount Kinabalu in 2015, enraged Kadazan-Dusun locals blamed their act for the consequent magnitude 5.9 earthquake that killed at least 16 and snapped one of the sacred mountain top's two iconic "Donkey Ear" outcrops. 

The animist beliefs that predate the arrival of Islam to the Malay Peninsula have helped foster a highly regarded supernatural world in which nature plays a crucial role. For example, it's common to "ask for permission" before urinating in the jungle, from where locals never bring anything back for fear of piggybacking a curse into their own homes. 

Whenever a group enters a forest, it's best to give out nicknames or not call out each other at all – spirits are always listening. The orang bunian (invisible forest-dwelling creatures comparable to elves) can trick hikers and campers into following them deep into the jungle to never be seen again.

11. Call 999 for any emergency

A single three-digit number, 999, connects to the police, the fire department, the ministry of health, the maritime enforcement agency and the Department of Civil Defence. Dial 999 112 if calling from a mobile phone. 

12. Boil the tap water

Because of increasing pollution of water sources and aging buildings fitted with rusted pipes, it's always best to boil tap water before drinking, or buy mineral water. Most hotels allow guests to refill their water containers. Carrying a water filtration system or purifying tablets can come in handy when striking out on multi-day hikes. 

13. Vaccines are recommended

It is advisable to travel to Malaysia after being inoculated against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. Malaria is generally not an issue in cities and most forested areas, so a prophylaxis is not strictly necessary. Dengue fever occurs sporadically in cities, but as there are no vaccines for it, the best strategy is to not get bitten by mosquitoes – use heavy-duty insect repellent.

Malaysia is one of Asia's top medical tourism destinations and boasts private hospitals equipped with excellent facilities. Make sure to have proper health insurance coverage, or be ready to pay for the premium.

14. Beware of snatch thieves

Traveling in Malaysia is generally a pretty safe experience for travelers of both sexes, but whether they travel solo or in groups, female travelers should pay attention when walking along the busiest roads of capital Kuala Lumpur – keep your bags away from the roadside, for motorbike snatch thieves are well-known to target women, and some attacks have resulted in a victim's death. 

15. How to travel safely for LGBTQI+ travelers 

While a 2021 court ruling suggests change may be afoot, same-sex relationships are not only taboo in Malaysia, they're banned by federal law. For the LGBTQI+ communities here, the golden rule is to avoid publicizing relationships. In fact, public displays of affection are frowned upon in Malaysia in general, no matter your sexual orientation.  

16. Drug offenses can get you to the gallows

Stay away from drugs in Malaysia, where 200g of cannabis, 15g of morphine or heroin, and 40g of cocaine mean a death sentence. Offenders are shaken down extremely hard or jailed even for carrying much less.

This article was first published February 2022 and updated February 2024

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Budget Malaysia: prices and costs of travel and backpacking in Malaysia

Budget malaysia.

The answer to the question of whether Malaysia is an expensive country to visit depends on the type of traveller you are, how much money you have to spend, the activities you want to undertake and the travel time. But we can of course make a comparison with other countries we have visited, discuss the price level in Malaysia with you and show how much money we spent in Malaysia. Then you can decide for yourself whether Malaysia will be your next destination or whether you should first win the lottery!

Is Malaysia a budget destination?

Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia that is much more modern than neighbouring countries Thailand or Indonesia, is not expensive. The price level is much lower than, for example, in Europe or America. Because hotels are not extremely cheap and activities in Malaysia are often even pricey. Although backpacking is perfectly doable, keep in mind that price levels are higher than in Thailand or Vietnam. On the other hand, travelling by public transport in Malaysia is easy and pleasant and the food can be very cheap.

What to budget for three weeks of backpacking in Malaysia?

A realistic daily budget for backpacking through Malaysia is 40 euros per person . So if you travel through Malaysia for three weeks , keep in mind a budget of approximately €840 per person . For this you also travel through Malaysian Borneo, which is slightly more expensive than the mainland, you usually sleep in private rooms and there is room for an occasional beer or cocktail!

How much money did we spend in Malaysia?

First, a disclaimer : Everyone travels in his or her own way and has other priorities. That’s completely fine, but keep this in mind when you read our costs. It can always be more expensive or cheaper.

During this trip, we had collaborations that gave us a discount on accommodation or activities. These discounts have not been included in the calculation below to provide a representative representation of the actual prices of such a trip through Malaysia.

Our costs for backpacking in Malaysia!

Number of days: 34 Total spend: RM 14,508.19 / € 3,068.56 / $ 3,355.95 Average spendings per day: RM 426.73 / € 90.25 / $ 98.70 Average spend per person per day: RM / € 45.12 / $ Our budget: RM 425.54 / € 90 / $ 98.43 Within budget: No, almost!

How expensive are hotels in Malaysia? – 32.3% of total budget Malaysia

Total spend: RM 4,687.62 / € 991.43 / $ 1,084.29 Number of nights: 33 Average overnight stay for 2 people: RM 142.03 / € 30.04 / $ 32.85

Accommodation in Malaysia doesn’t have to be expensive at all. You already sleep in a dormitory from 5 euros per night per person. Something more luxurious is also possible, we generally stayed in private rooms but with a shared bathroom. For that kind of hostel rooms, you pay around 20 euros per night in Malaysia.

Only in Kuala Lumpur and Tip of Borneo did we stay in luxury hotels and boy what were they good! Especially in Tip of Borneo, we were in a very special place. Read more about that here.

How expensive is transportation in Malaysia? – 19.2% of total budget Malaysia

Total spend: RM 2,789.97 / € 590.08 / $ 645.33 Taxi : RM 476.55 / € 100.79 / $ 110.23 Flights: RM 1,350.78 / € 285.69 / $ 312.44 Bus rides: RM 310.77 / € 65.73 / $ 71.88 Car rental 4 days: RM 387.32 / € 81.92 / $ 89.59 Gasoline : RM 94.71 / € 20.03 / $ 21.91 Scooter rental 5 days: RM 169.84 / € 35.92 / $ 39.28

Transport in Malaysia is relatively inexpensive. Taxis, for example, are affordable. Travelling by bus is very pleasant and inexpensive and domestic flights to Borneo, for example, were not too expensive. We flew a total of four times with an average flight costing €35 per person.

On Borneo we rented a car for four days, which was also very affordable, €20 euros per day. Renting a scooter on Langkawi cost about €7.50 a day. What surprised us was the gasoline prices! With €0.25 per litre of petrol, these prices are really very low in Malaysia.

Are you planning your Malaysia trip? Check out our Malaysia itinerary for three weeks travel!

How expensive is food and eating out in Malaysia? – 19.3% of total budget Malaysia

Total spend: RM 2,806.11 / € 593.46 / $ 649.05 Of which from food and drinks: RM 1,910.53 / € 404.06 / $ 441.92 Of which groceries: RM 895.55 / € 189.4 / $ 207.15 Average expenditure per person per day on food in Malaysia: RM 41.23 / € 8.72 / $ 9.54

We found shopping in Malaysia not so cheap at all. Local fruit and vegetables, of course, but products such as yoghurt, cruesli, bread or Western products were sometimes more expensive than in Europe.

Vegetarian food in Malaysia

I don’t eat meat myself and that was occasionally quite difficult in Malaysia. Malaysian cuisine contains a lot of meat. The solution to easy vegetarian food in Malaysia? Diverting to Indian cuisine. Since more than 7% of the population of Malaysia has Indian roots, there is an Indian restaurant in every city. Here, I could indulge myself in delicious vegetarian dishes!

What is expensive in Malaysia: Alcohol!

Read our extensive Langkawi travel guide with useful tips here.

How expensive are activities in Malaysia? – 26.6% of total budget Malaysia

Total spend: RM 3,864.63 / € 817.29 / $ 893.90 Danum Valley (Borneo): RM 3,205.98 / € 678 / $ 741.55 Other: RM 658.61 / € 139.29 / $ 152.35

Click here for the travel guide of Kuala Lumpur with eight cool free activities!

Budget tip: do you want to save money on activities in Malaysia? Take a look at the website of Klook . Here you will find a lot of discount promotions so you sometimes get up to 70% discount on activity in Malaysia!

Danum Valley on Borneo: a great sight!

If you want to know more about orangutans in Danum Valley on Borneo, read our blog!

Other expenses in Malaysia – 0.25% of total budget Malaysia

Total spend: RM 360.77 / € 76.30 / $ 83.45 SIM Card : RM 102.13 / € 21.60 / $ 23.62

Our other spendings include a few gifts (Ries’s birthday in Malaysia), prepaid credit and laundry.

Especially a Malaysian SIM card with data is indispensable for me. To wish friends a happy birthday, to post photos on Instagram, to publish blogs and for Google Maps!

We bought a SIM card from Maxis (Hotlink) with a tourist bundle of data. I’m not sure anymore but I think we had 30 GB for 90 RM (€ 19). This credit was valid for 30 days, for the other days we bought a few extra GB.

Food and general expenses in Malaysia

What are the prices of food, food and petrol in Malaysia? Below we show the price level of products that we used in backpacking in Malaysia.

• Kilo of apples: RM 10 / € 2.11 / $ 2.31
• 1000 ml olive oil: RM 22.10 / € 4.67 / $ 5.11
• Bag of chips: RM3 / € 0.63 / $ 0.69
• Kilos of bananas: RM 5.90 / € 1.25 / $ 1.36
• Yoghurt (500ML) : RM 7.50 / € 1.59 / $ 1.73
• Bread: RM 5 / € 1.06 / $ 1.16
• Avocado: RM 7.99 / € 1.69 / $ 1.85
• Milk (1L): RM 6 / € 1.27 / $ 1.39
• Bottle of Coke (1.5L): RM 3.97 / € 0.84 / $ 0.92
• Water (1.5L): RM 1.8 / € 0.38 / $ 0.42
• Wine in supermarket: RM70 / € 14.81 / $ 16.19
• Beer in the supermarket: RM 7 / € 1.48 / $ 1.62
• Shampoo: RM 8 / € 1.69 / $ 1.85
• Cappuccino : RM 6 / € 1.27 / $ 1.39
• Glass of wine in restaurant: RM 22 / € 4.65 / $ 5.09
• Beer in a restaurant: RM 13 / € 2.75 / $ 3.01
• Simple lunch (1 person): RM 15 / € 3.17 / $ 3.47
• Liter of gasoline: RM 1.25 / € 0.26 / $ 0.29

Read our guide on 3 days in George Town with 15 fun activities.

What is a realistic daily budget for Malaysia?

Well, a daily budget is, of course, different for every traveler. Below are two average budgets, if you travel through Malaysia as a backpacker or flashpacker.

Daily budget for backpacking in Malaysia

Daily budget for flashpacking in malaysia.

Do you travel a bit more luxurious through Malaysia, do you find comfort in hotels important and are you not averse to a luxurious dinner and glass of wine now and then? Then take into account a daily budget of about 60 euros per person. For this, you sleep in luxury hotels, do cool activities and eat in a nice restaurant every now and then.

Click here for all my blogs about Malaysia .

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More blogs about Malaysia

Melaka trip: the eight best things to do in melaka, malaysia, itinerary malaysian borneo: 2 and 3 weeks of traveling through sabah & sarawak, visit danum valley in borneo: bornean orangutans and a primary rainforest, george town, penang in 3 days: the best activities in this vibrant city in malaysia, langkawi: all you need to know about this beautiful island in malaysia, cameron highlands: three days at the teaplantations of malaysia, kuala lumpur: eight awesome free activities in the capital city of malaysia, malaysia itinerary: the ultimate itinerary for 3 weeks of backpacking in malaysia, leave a reply cancel reply.

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Malaysia travel blog — The fullest Malaysia travel guide for a budget trip for the first-timers

A tropical paradise located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a fascinating and attractive country all visitors over the world by its harmonious combination of ethnic groups and cultural beliefs. The country of Malaysia is divided into two regions including Malaysia Peninsula and Malaysia Island separated by the South China Sea. Peninsula Malaysia is extremely prosperous region with skyscrapers in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, while the Malaysia island region owns rubber forests and mystical beauty beaches that attracts the adventurous travelers. Let’s check out our Malaysia travel blog (Malaysia blog) — The fullest Malaysia travel guide for a budget trip to Malaysia for the first-timers that will help you prepare for the perfect trip to the beautiful country with many interesting things below.

• Melaka food blog — Experience Melaka delicacies, arrived at by Trishaw
• Penang travel tips — Some best tips for traveling and dining in Penang Island, Malaysia
• Best areas to stay in Penang — Top 5 best places to stay in Penang for the first-timers
• Penang food blog — 10 best street food in Penang & best places to find them
• Penang itinerary — How to spend 3 days in Penang?

Malaysia travel blog: When is the best time to visit Malaysia?

You can travel to Malaysia at any time of the year because this is a country with humid tropical climate, ecosystems are rich and diverse. The weather in Malaysia is divided into two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season.

From April to August, September every year: It is the dry season in Malaysia, sunny but not too hot. Average daily temperatures range from 29 to 35 degrees Celsius, suitable for moving and enjoying outdoor activities without fear of weather.

From October to March of the next year: The rainy season of Malaysia, the weather will be much cooler. You may encounter a heavy rain but stop fast, so do not worry about the weather will affect your trip!

According to our Malaysia travel guide, from June to August is the best time to visit Malaysia because it is less rainy and sunny in this time. In addition, at this time, many shopping malls in Malaysia will have the biggest promotions of the year can be up to 70%. You will definitely be satisfied to buy a lot of bargains at this time.

Malaysia travel blog: Malaysia travel cost

Cost of transportation.

Like other developed countries in Southeast Asia, the main means of transportation in Malaysia include public transport (buses, trains, MRT) and personal vehicles such as cars, motorbikes. Depending on your budget and the travel distance you can choose the appropriate means of transportation.

Normally, the bus will cost you about RM5-11 per trip. Other vehicles such as MRT, LRT, … are only popular in big cities like Kuala Lumpur . Taxis are quite expensive, costing about RM3 / mile and will be four times more expensive if you can not find one to go with.

Cost of accommodation

Malaysia is one of the most visited destinations in Southeast Asia and Asia, so you will easy to find motels, hotels, resorts and homestays. The areas that attract most visitors are Kuala Lumpur , Penang and Langkawi . Single bed in dormitory room from RM30-55 per night, private room at RM75 per night, RM100 per night for a double room. The hotel rates range from RM80 per night to several times higher, depending on the “number of stars” and location of the hotel.

With hotels in Kuala Lumpur you should rent near the KL Sentral area or Bukit Bintang area because it is easy to moving around and reasonable price. You can find, check rates, availability & booking for Kuala Lumpur on Agoda.com or Booking.com which is very easy.

Read more:  Where to stay in KL? — Top 8 best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for the first-timers .

Cost of eating out

Food is also one of the attractions for visitors to Malaysia. From satay grilled, or Malaysian traditional dish – nasi lemak with rice, scented cake and coconut milk flavor. If you just want to taste the food, you will have to pay about RM4-11 for each street food dish. And it will cost RM7-20 for each dish you call in the restaurant. Or simply, you can join the gastronomic tours of Kuala Lumpur and Penang – famous cities for gourmets.

The cost of self-sufficient playing

Malaysia has the three most popular tourist areas: Kuala Lumpur , Penang Old Town and Langkawi . Each region will have a different kind of activity, but the price is quite cheap compared to other places in Southeast Asia. With city tours like Hop on hop off Kuala Lumpur, the fare is about RM38-75 per trip (24 hours or 48 hours). Other activities such as trekking in the forest are about RM35-75. If you want to go to the sea and playing on the islands, then you can choose to dive. The price for a snorkeling trip will be RM245-300 and the diving course will be only RM830-1325.

Malaysia travel blog: Some tips to save money when traveling to Malaysia

Pre-booking tickets, services, tours.

For those who already have self-sufficiency travel experience, reservation of air tickets for travel Malaysia is probably should not discussed. However, if you are new to self-sufficiency traveling, the “hunt” for cheap tickets is one of the top priority. With Malaysia destination, AirAsia is a good option to find cheap tickets because it is headquartered in Malaysia and often has promotions.

Beside airline tickets, pre-booking services, tours, tickets will also help you save more cost and time. In many cases, you will save up to 30- 40% more than buying tickets directly, especially at the famous amusement parks such as Sunway Lagoon, The Lost World of Tampon or national parks. Or when you traveling go with a large group of people, buying tickets in advance will also help you to plan your leisure and entertainment more appropriately.

Moving by public transport

To save the best cost when traveling Malaysia self-sufficient, you should choose the public transport. This system is especially popular in Kuala Lumpur with buses and MRT, LRT, KLIA Express, KTM Commuter, … The price per trip is usually not more than RM50 and you can buy Touch-n-go card and MyRapid card to reduce the cost of the trip. For example, with a MyRapid card the price for a bus trip is about RM0.8 (compared to direct buy is RM1). In addition, if you go in large groups, you can take a taxi but need to bargaining before getting up the car.

Limit drink wine and alcoholic beverages

Malaysia’s religion is Islamic so the rules on drinking are very strict. Although visitors are not prohibited from drinking, but the costs of beer, wine, cocktails and alcoholic beverages are often expensive. Therefore, you should limit yourself to a certain amount of money for beverages is one of the best ways to save money.

Enjoy street food

Similar Thailand, you can find for yourself all kinds of street food, full flavors and variety price on the streets of Malaysia. Not only delicious, these dishes are quite cheap, the prices range from a few to a few dozen ringgit (RM). The only thing you have to keep in mind is choosing the right place for quality and clean. The secret is to choose places where there are many local people dining, this assures you both of price and quality.

Malaysia blog: How to get to Malaysia?

From Vietnam you can fly to Malaysia from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City by airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar and AirAsia. These airlines have direct flights to Malaysia with the price ranging from RM800 to RM1250 for a round-trip ticket. One thing to note is that AirAsia often has the most discounted rates for this route flight.

By road, railway

From Singapore: From the island you can take the bus to Johor Bahru, from here you continue to travel by bus to Melaka and Putrajaya and finish the journey by train to the capital of Malaysia.

From Thailand: From Thailand’s Hat Yai tourist destination, you can either take a bus or train to Kuala Lumpur directly.

Malaysia travel guide: How to get from Kuala Lumpur Airport to city?

When you arrival at the airport in Kuala Lumpur , it is about 50km from the city center, so you can moving into the center by a shuttle bus for around RM10. You can also easily buy bus tickets at the ticket counter at the airport hall. This bus operates on average about 30 minutes per trip.

Malaysia travel blog: How to getting around Malaysia?

To travel around in Malaysia you have many ways such as plane, bus, train … You should remember the railway stations, the main bus stations and the main public transports here.

Main railway stations, major bus stations in Malaysia

KL Sentral: This is the largest traffic hub in the capital of Kuala Lumpur , which is also the stopping point for most public transports in the city. You can easily find useful information about tourist attractions and local tours in Malaysia.

Pudu Station (or Puduraya): This is a bus station located in the center of the city and just 100 meters from China Town, 50 meters from the subway station and 300 meters from the Central Market.

Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBSBTS): This is the last stop of the bus routes from the South, at this stop you can choose services of RapidKL LRT, KLIA Transit and taxi.

The main means of transportation in Malaysia

LRT: LRT (Light Rail Transit) is a type of tram in Kuala Lumpur, with two main lines: LRT Kelana Jaya and LRT Ampang Line. Read more:  Guide to LRT Kuala Lumpur — LRT Kuala Lumpur route, timetable & fare .

KL Monorail: This type of high tram is quite popular in Malaysia, including the important stations are Bukit Bintang, Tuah Cave (transit point), Maharajalela (near China Town).

KTM Komuter: This type of train operates with two main routes: Tanjung Malim – Sungai Gadut and Batu Caves – Pelabuhan Klang. It connects most of the outskirts towns of the city such as Rawang, Sungai Gadut, Seremban, Pelabuhan Klang, Tanjung Malim.

Bus: This type of public transport popular in Malaysia has six specific routes: KV1 runs in the city center, KV2 runs in the North City, KV3 runs in the East City, KV4 runs in the South East, KV5 runs in the South and KV6 runs in the West.

Taxi: Taxi here is quite expensive and according to the Malaysia travel experience you should only choose this vehicle if you do not choose alternative vehicles. The opening price is about RM3, approximately ~$1, nearly double in Vietnam.

Malaysia travel blog: Best places to visit and top things to do in Malaysia

West coast of the malay peninsula, kuala lumpur.

Bustling, prosperous and full of fun, Kuala Lumpur is a great place for you to joining in fun games, shopping, or simply enjoy Kuala Lumpur cuisine in the small streets. Combination of Malaysian, Indian and Chinese culture, the capital of Kuala Lumpur is full of entertainment activities for all visitors.

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s most important destination, is also the capital of Malaysia, with its symbol is the Petronas Twin Towers. Inside the tower is the famous shopping area Suria KLCC. Some of the British colonial buildings left include the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Merdeka Square, and the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. In the city center there is Chinatown with many Chinese shops and eateries. The green of the city is concentrated in Lake Garden Park. It is not far from is the National Mosque of Malaysia, architecture is influenced by Islam. If you prefer shopping, go to the famous shopping district of Bukit Bintang, visit BB Plaza or Berjaya Times Square. Other attractions include Southeast Asia’s largest Islamic Art Museum IAMM, Muzium Negara National Museum, Zoo Negara National Zoo, Istana Budaya National Theater, and north of Kuala Lumpur is Batu Caves, where located of the Hindu Lord Murugan statue. From Kuala Lumpur, it is possible to ride to the resort on the Genting Highlands plateau, another important destination of Malaysian tourism.

Read more: 

• Kuala Lumpur blog (KL blog) — The fullest guide for a budget trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
• Kuala Lumpur 1 day itinerary — How to spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur ?
• Where to stay in KL? — Top 8 best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for the first-timers .
• 5 cool Kuala Lumpur souvenir shops you should visit .

Putrajaya located 30km from the south of Kuala Lumpur, is Malaysia’s federal administrative center, formerly known as Prang Besar. There are magnificent buildings such as Perdana Putra, Putra Mosque, Seri Perdana, Taman Putra Perdana, Millennium Monument and Jambatan Seri Wawasan Bridge. Do not miss this place on your journey in Malaysia.

The big island of western Malaysia, is also a state name of Malaysia, includes Penang Island and part of the land adjacent to it. Penang is the central point of Malaysia tourism thanks to its rich cultural and ethnic diversity and rich culinary life. Some of the popular attractions are Penang Hill / Bukit Bendera, Penang Botanic Gardens, Kek Lok Si Temple, combined style of Khmer, Thai and Chinese, Penang Butterfly Farm, Snake Temple and War Museum. Some notable cities of Penang state are Georgetown, Butterworth and Nibong Tebal.

• Penang travel blog — The fullaest guide for a budget trip to Penang of Malaysia .
• Best areas to stay in Penang — Top 5 best places to stay in Penang for the first-timers .
• Penang travel tips — Some best tips for traveling and dining in Penang Island, Malaysia .
• Exploring Penang – Things to do & what to see in The Pearl of the Orient of Malaysia .
• Penang Malaysia things to do — 9 awesome things to do in Penang from cooking curries to zip-lining .
• Penang food blog — 10 best street food in Penang & best places to find them .
• 4 reasons why you should visit Penang .
• Penang street art — Wonderful street art painting in George Town of Penang .

Georgetown is the capital of Penang state, is also one of the most attractive destinations in Malaysia. Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combining the influence of Chinese culture and Islamic culture with the remains of British colonialists. Some best places to visit are Cheong Fatt Tze Building on Leith Street, Pulau Pinang City Council Building, Cornwallis Citadel on Light Street, Little India, Armenian Heritage Street with many colonial buildings, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Queen Victoria Clock Tower, Wat Chaiyamangalaram Temple, Dhammikarama Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Hainan Temple on Munri Road, Kuan Yin Teng Ancient House, St. George’s Church and Church of the Assumption. Georgetown is also considered one of Malaysia’s best places to eat. Explore the Indian, Chinese, Malay and Western cuisines on the streets of this city.

Melaka / Malacca

Another Malaysia’s heritage is recognized by UNESCO, with the history and culture influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and British under colonial period. Melaka contributes to the Malaysia’s tourism outstanding attractions such as the Baba Museum and Nyonya Peranakan located in an old Peranakan house, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Christ Church Protestant, Dutch Square with Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, Jonker Street, Heeren Road and adjacent streets – the old center of Malacca next to the Malacca River, the Masjid Kampung Hulu Mosque, the Porta de Santiago, the Stadthuys Dutch architectural building, Bukit China cemetery, Hang Li Po Well (King’s Well), Poh San Teng Temple and Geok Hu Keng Temple.

• Where to eat in Melaka? — Best restaurants in Melaka & best places to eat in Melaka .
• Melaka food blog — Experience Melaka delicacies, arrived at by Trishaw .
• Malacca travel blog — The fullest guide to discover Malacca, Malaysia .

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Where to go in Malaysia for a short trip: KL Getaways

Looking for budget weekend getaways in Malaysia that can be taken from KL? This guide will show you exactly where to go in Malaysia for a short trip!

Malaysia is an incredibly diverse country with so much to offer to any type of traveler. While Peninsular Malaysia is known for its bustling cities, historical towns and pristine beaches, Malaysia Borneo is known for its diverse wildlife, lush rainforest and spectacular mountain peaks. 

Although I’ve traveled to Malaysia on multiple occasions, I still have a lot more to explore. That’s why I’ve asked some of the best travel bloggers to share their top recommendations for the best places to visit in Malaysia for a short trip. 

So here’s a list of 20 weekend getaways in Malaysia (that can easily be taken from Kuala Lumpur) to help you plan a short but relaxing vacation in Malaysia! 

Check out these other Malaysia travel guides:

• How to spend 4-12 days in Singapore and Malaysia?
• Ultimate 2-week Malaysia itinerary on a budget

*** This article may contain affiliate links, meaning each time you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps a lot in keeping this website running. Thank you for your support :)

Table of Contents

Getting around Malaysia 

Being well connected with other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Thailand, traveling to and within Malaysia is very cheap and easy. 

I recommend using either Easybook or  12go.asia  to book your transportation so you can easily compare the price of train and bus tickets and hence get the best deal. 

Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend hours on the bus or train during your short Malaysia getaway, AirAsia offers very cheap flights and usually has some pretty awesome deals if you book well in advance. 

Another option is to book a private transfer from KL to any destination in Malaysia.

Weekend Getaways in Peninsular Malaysia

Penang .

Penang Island is located in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. With a diverse cultural heritage that can be seen through its temples and mosques, historical buildings, interactive street art and world-class street food, Penang, also known as the food capital of Malaysia, is the perfect place to spend the weekend in Malaysia for foodies and history buff. 

The cheapest way to get to Penang  is by bus. There are also direct flights available from Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Singapore. The best time to visit Penang is between December and April. 

One of the top things to do in Penang is to go on a self-guided street art tour. The city of Georgetown is covered with an abundance of quirky and interactive murals that make for really fun photo backdrops!  

You can also take a tour of the Blue Mansion , visit Penang Hill ,  Penang Habitat , Kek Lok Si Temple, 3D Trick Art Museum or spend the evening on Chulia Street to feast on some tasty Malaysian food. 

Other   things to do include taking a dip in Batu Ferringhi beach, hiking Penang National Park or visiting the Botanical Gardens. 

Where to stay in Penang : The  Blue Mansion  is perfect for those who want to stay in a traditional Peranakan home. The hotel is located in the heart of Georgetown and includes free breakfast. 

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Related post: How to spend 3 days in Georgetown Penang?

Melaka 

If you’re looking for a short Malaysia getaway from Kuala Lumpur that’s rich in history and culture, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Melaka (also spelled Malacca) is right up your alley! 

Melaka, sometimes referred to as the Amsterdam of Asia, is famous for its colonial architecture with Dutch, Portuguese and British influences, colorful river canals, a majestic floating mosque and night markets.

Although most people visit  Melaka as a day trip , there’s quite a lot to do to fill in a weekend, plus you can easily take the bus from KL to Malacca . Explore the Dutch Square to see all the major attractions such as the Christ Church, Saint Paul’s Hill, Stadthuys and A’Famosa Fort.  

You can also take a river cruise , hunt for street art in Melaka , visit the Maritime Naval Museum, take in the view from The Shore Sky Tower , watch the sunset at the Melaka Straits Mosque, have an adventure-filled day at the Skytrex Adventure and more! 

To sample some of the tastiest local dishes, make sure to visit the famous  Jonker Street night market which takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A GUIDED MELAKA DAY TOUR FROM KL

Where to stay in Melaka : If you want to stay in a quiet neighborhood not too far from the main attractions,  Hotel Arissa  is perfect for you. They provide clean and comfy rooms with a large double bed and a private bathroom. 

Related post: 15 awesome things you must do in Melaka

Situated in the state of Perak, Ipoh is one of the most underrated getaways in Malaysia! While exploring Ipoh, you’ll come across colorful and interactive murals, cute alleyways and beautiful cave temples etched into the limestone cliffs. 

You can easily  get to Ipoh from KL  or other major cities in Malaysia by either bus or train. For the best weather condition, plan your visit between December and April but avoid Chinese New Year if you don’t want to get stuck in traffic on your way to Ipoh! 

Start your trip by heading to Mural’s Art Lane which is covered with dozens of colorful street art before making your way to the Old Town, the center of all Ipoh attractions . 

In the Old Town, you’ll find Concubine Lane, a little alley flanked by cute cafes and shops selling souvenirs, clothes and delicious food.  Market Lane is also not to be missed with its colorful hanging umbrellas and interactive murals. 

If you have time, make sure to visit at least one cave temple. There are over 30 of them dotting every corner of Ipoh, some providing the most scenic views. Three of my favorite temples are Perak Tong, Kek Lok Tong and Sam Poh Tong. 

Finally, you can’t say you’ve been to Ipoh without sampling some delicious egg tarts accompanied by a cup of Ipoh white coffee! Follow the locals to either Nam Heong White Coffee or Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong and you’ll be in for a treat! 

Where to stay in Ipoh : If you want to stay in the Old Town, I recommend Dé Cafe & Rest House . Alternatively,  Grayhaus Soho Ipoh  in the New Town offers budget single or double rooms, inclusive of breakfast. 

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Related post: 14+ best things to do in Ipoh in 3 days

Kuala Lumpur 

Featuring the world’s tallest twin towers, bustling neighborhoods, impressive temples and mosques and an omnipresent food scene, Kuala Lumpur or KL is the perfect place to visit for a short vacation in Malaysia. 

The city is found about 50 minutes from the airport and can be reached by bus, train or Grab taxi.  

The starting point for exploring Kuala Lumpur is Bukit Bintang  where you can do some cheap shopping and eat to your heart’s content at the famous Jalan Alor Night Market. 

From Bukit Bintang, take the air-conditioned walkway that leads to the Petronas Twin Towers. I recommend visiting at night to see the towers light up just in time for the lake symphony show. 

You can also visit the KL Tower and KL Forest Eco Park (one of KL’s top Instagram spots ) where you can walk along a canopy bridge surrounded by the only remaining rainforest in KL city center. Aquaria KLCC , Chinatown KL , Little India and the  Batu Caves  are also not to be missed on any Kuala Lumpur itinerary as well as a visit to the impressive Thean Hou Temple. 

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur : There are lots of options for infinity pool hotels in KL but if you’re on a tight budget, I recommend Gold 3 Boutique Hotel . It features stylish and modern rooms and is a cheap place to stay in Bukit Bintang. 

Related post: Top things to do in Kuala Lumpur in 48 hours

Sekinchan 

Anyone visiting Malaysia is likely to stop by Kuala Lumpur. While the city is amazing, it can feel too busy for some. Luckily for visitors looking for a relaxing weekend getaway in Malaysia, there’s the small fishing village of  Sekinchan , located only two hours away. 

Sekinchan is considered the hidden gem of Malaysia. It wasn’t until recently that it started to receive an influx of tourists due to the popular TVB drama “Outbound Love”.  

What’s so special about this peaceful fishing village is the rice fields that lie on its perimeter. Acres of stunning and lush rice fields cover the eastern outskirts of town, stretching beyond the eye’s reach. When admiring these rice paddies, an unknowing traveler might even think that he or she is in Bali ! 

Just remember to visit when the rice paddies are in full bloom, or else you might not see anything at all. March to May and September to November are considered the best time to visit. 

Many visitors do a  Sekinchan day trip , enjoying the rice paddies during the day, relaxing on the Redang beach at sunset, and enjoying some fresh seafood before heading home. However, I would advise staying for a whole weekend to relax and enjoy some of the attractions of the neighboring town such as the  fireflies tour  and  Sky Mirror  in Kuala Selangor.

Where to stay in Sekinchan : If you’re spending the weekend in Sekinchan, make sure to book a stay at  Villa Chee for the best rice field view! 

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Recommended by Sean from Living Out Lau 

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands is the perfect place to escape for a couple of days and enjoy some time in the mountains. It’s well known for its endless beautiful tea fields that cover the rolling hills and valleys.  

The local busses are a cheap and easy way to get to Cameron Highlands  and run regularly from major hubs such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang. 

You can visit all year round but January and February are the months with the least rainfall, so you may want to visit then. The best thing to do in  Cameron Highlands  is to explore the local tea fields.  

There are several hikes in the area or you can visit some of the tea plantations. BOH Plantation  is one of the most popular due to the beautiful scenery surrounding the tasting room. 

The region is also known for growing lavender, strawberries and other fresh produce with lots of markets and shops selling local goods, making it the perfect place to go for a short trip in Malaysia!

Where to stay in Cameron Highlands : A great option for those staying on a budget is The Cave Guesthouse which is a 10-minute walk from the town center. 

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Recommended by Luke from The Coastal Campaign 

Port Dickson

Port Dickson is probably one of the best weekend getaway destinations due to its close proximity to cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. It’s also a region that’s well-known for its picturesque beaches, quaint colonial architecture, and breathtaking natural attractions. 

Within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, most tourists and locals get to Port Dickson by private transport . However, public transportation from Singapore is more straightforward with the availability of direct coaches such as the Golden Coach Express or KKKL Express. It’s also easy to arrange a transfer from Kuala Lumpur airport . 

January and February are the best months to  visit Port Dickson if you want to avoid the wet season. As this is the peak season, it’s best to visit in early March and perhaps to take note of the auspicious dates of the Lunar New Year as this is when locals from Singapore, Malaysia and other neighboring Asian countries would be on holiday. 

Aside from lying on one of the beaches across Port Dickson’s 18-km coastline, one of the best things to do is to pay a visit to the oldest lighthouse in Tanjung Tuan and use this location as a starting point for a hike through a verdant jungle trail. Once you’ve reached the peak, do not turn back. Instead, follow the descending trail that leads you to a secret bay with granite formations amid gleaming blue waters. 

Other things to do in Port Dickson include taking a boat tour and visiting the Alive 3D Art Gallery .

Where to stay in Port Dickson : Port Dickson has a variety of accommodations that suit all types of travelers. For those looking for a luxurious break, the Grand Lexis Dickson with its sea chalets and swimming pools is highly recommended. A cheaper option would be the Glory Beach Resort with its serviced apartments, pool, and private beach. 

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Recommended by Karolina  Klesta  from Lazy Travel Blog.  

Johor Bahru  

Johor Bahru is located in the southernmost point of Malaysia – just on the border with Singapore and is great for a short getaway in Malaysia with kids.

The city has excellent shopping and restaurants and everything is much less expensive compared with Singapore . 

If you’re traveling as a family, Johor Bahru is the perfect place! Your kids will be spoiled for choice of fun – LEGOLAND Malaysia  or Hello Kitty Town. We spent the whole day in LEGOLAND enjoying the rides and other activities, and guess what was the best – no queues! You can fully enjoy the rides instead of waiting for them.

If this isn’t enough, you can always go from  Johor Bahru to Singapore , the trip takes max 45 minutes (by local bus), and Singapore has everything you can imagine! 

Where to stay in Johor Bahru : If you travel as a family to Johor Bahru, you should stay in the LEGOLAND Malaysia Hotel . Alternatively, if you’re traveling as a couple, the brand-new Z Hotel is a great choice! It’s conveniently located in the heart of Johor Bahru close to shopping malls and restaurants with mouthwatering food – especially at “Flowers in the Window” restaurant. 

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Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins 

Island Getaways in Malaysia

Langkawi .

Located off the west coast of Malaysia, Langkawi is a stunning archipelago of 104 islands with waterfalls, gorgeous white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and lush rainforest. 

Langkawi is a great destination all year round but the best time to visit is between November and March during the dry season when the days are beautifully sunny.  

You can reach Langkawi either by air or by ferry – there are  direct flights from Kuala Lumpur , Singapore and Penang, or you can reach Langkawi by ferry from Penang Island or from Kuala Perlis on the mainland.  

There are heaps of fun  things to do on Langkawi’s main island  and it’s perfect for a short Malaysia getaway. Take a ride on one of the world’s steepest cable cars to get amazing panoramic views of the islands from the  magnificent Skybridge . After you’re done, make your way to Seven Wells Waterfall which is found within walking distance of the Skybridge or head over to Skytrek Adventure Langkawi for an adventure-filled day. 

Related post: Guide to visiting the Seven Wells Waterfalls

The  Kilim Karst Geoforest Park is a beautiful UNESCO heritage site and home to mangroves, macaque monkeys and eagles. 

If you like water sports, head to one of Langkawi’s many beaches to go parasailing or jet boating or jump on an  island hopping tour  to enjoy some diving or snorkeling. The island is also duty-free and there are lots of shopping centers selling bargain clothing and alcohol. 

Where to stay in Langkawi : There are accommodation options to suit all budgets here. Check out the mid-range priced Berjaya Resort – spacious chalets situated on the beach on the edge of the rainforest with restaurants, bars and an outdoor pool. For a more budget option, there’s  Chenang Inn  found only a few minutes from Cenang beach. 

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Recommended by Caroline from CK Travels

Related post: What to do in Langkawi for 3 days?

Tioman Island 

Just off the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia lies the beautiful island Tioman, ideal for a short vacation in Malaysia! This wonderful speck in the ocean offers amazing beaches, tropical forests and laidback villages.  

Note that Tioman can only be visited between March and October, the island is closed off to tourists during monsoon season (November to February).  

Getting to Tioman invariably involves a boat trip as there’s no airport (anymore) on the island. There are two jumping-off points for Tioman Island: Mersing and Tanjung Gemok. Ferry departures depend on the tide and weather conditions.  

Tioman is a great place for scuba diving as well as snorkeling as the ocean around it is marked as a marine reserve. It’s an excellent place to get your PADI as dive prices are very reasonable and you’ll see plenty of colorful fish and corals while learning how to dive.  

Other things to do in Tioman include relaxing on one of the pretty beaches, hiking through the jungle and watching the monitor lizards and monkeys roam around the tiny towns.  

Where to stay in Tioman : A good place to stay in Salang (my favorite village on Tioman) is Ella’s Place, a simple but lovely budget accommodation on the north side of town. There are small bungalows with fan or aircon, no hot water but with the tropical Tioman temperatures this isn’t really necessary.

Recommended by Lotte Eschbach from Phenomenal Globe.  

Redang Island 

Redang Island is a gorgeous destination located off the east coast of Malaysia near Kuala Terengganu.  It’s located in a protected marine park and is perfect for people wanting to explore nature with its jungle-filled interior, fantastic coastline and coral surrounded exterior. 

There’s no bridge to Redang and only charter flights operate here which means you need to catch a ferry across from Kuala Terengganu or  Merang . Ferries are quick and easy and this is part of the fun of visiting Redang. Once on the island, you’ll generally get around by foot, kayak or boat since there aren’t many roads. 

Redang has two seasons – dry and monsoon. You should avoid the monsoon season as ferry rides to the island stop and the island basically shuts down. For this reason, visit Redang from late March to October. 

Most of Redang’s things to do center around nature. You can dive, snorkel, kayak, swim, explore the island by boat or trek across, play volleyball and other land and water sports.  

During the turtle hatching season from April to October, you can even release baby turtles. Of course, you can also relax on one of the gorgeous beaches. 

Where to stay in Redang : Note that Redang isn’t a budget destination and it’ll cost you more than the mainland. A good option for bargain seekers is  Redang De’ Rimba  as long as you don’t mind not having direct beach access. You can find more information about visiting Redang  here .

Recommended by Sharon from Dive Into Malaysia

Pangkor Island 

If you’re wondering where to go in Malaysia for a short trip, make sure to visit Pangkor Island, Malaysia’s little local paradise. It’s the ideal island getaway since it’s situated only a few hours from Kuala Lumpur. Yet it’s still very overlooked by tourists. Pangkor Island is for those who seek quiet beach life and fun scooter adventures. 

It’s easy to get to Pangkor – from Kuala Lumpur, it’s a 4-hour bus ride to Lumut  where the ferry leaves for the island every half hour. You can visit Pangkor Island all year round, but you might want to steer clear of the rainy season from October to December. The island is also very popular among local tourists, so avoid the busy holiday season. 

The west side of the island has beautiful beaches and often accommodates the few tourists who visit, whereas the right side has more of a local feel. 

There are many things to do on Pangkor Island apart from relaxing on the beach. You can rent a kayak, go jungle trekking, visit the local fishermen’s village or simply go explore on a scooter. On the island, you can find a Hindu temple, a Chinese temple, and a floating mosque which are worth a visit.  

Where to stay on Pangkor Island : Pangkor Waterfall Beach Resort is a budget-friendly option for those who want to stay close to Coral Beach, good restaurants and wildlife. 

Recommended by Cecilie from Worldwide Walkers  

Perhentian Islands 

The Perhentian Islands are located on the quiet east coast of Malaysia. Perfect for a short vacation in Malaysia, the islands are famous as a haven for snorkeling and scuba diving .

The Perhentian Islands are split into two inhabited islands known as  Perhentian Besar  (the big island) and Perhentian Kecil (the small island). Both offer different vantage points to explore the abundant marine and wildlife in the region.  

For travel to and from the islands, it’s easy to find boats leaving from Besut  and make sure to book in advance as accommodation is limited and somewhat exclusive on the island. It’s also best to visit during the dry season (April to September). 

One of the best spots has to be Teluk Pauh Beach where the coral reefs run right up to the sands, with ridiculously diverse marine life! Just a short swim out, you’ll find “turtle point” which is a famous snorkeling spot in Malaysia to swim with sea turtles.  

The beaches as well are pristine with golden sand, the interiors of the island are dense with forest and the wildlife, such as silvered leaf-langurs, mingle on the shores.  

Where to stay on Perhentian Islands : A great place to stay is the  Perhentian Islands Resort on Teluk Pauh Beach which has its own jetty for arrivals from the mainland.  

Recommended by Allan from Live Less Ordinary 

Kapas Island 

Kapas Island is one of the best places you could visit for a weekend in Malaysia. It’s a stunning island located off the east coast and due to its hidden nature, it remains empty most of the year. Because of this, the coral reefs remain intact unlike many contrasting locations in Malaysia such as the Perhentian Islands. 

Kapas Island is best visited from March to October as storms can hit in the other months. It’s a short flight or 7-hour bus ride into  Kuala Terengganu from Kuala Lumpur . Afterward, take a taxi to Marang Jetty and a 15-minute boat journey to the island itself. Alternatively, buses are available in Kuala Terengganu from all major locations in Malaysia. 

One of the best things to do is to take a snorkel and swim on the colorful reefs. Alternatively, boat tours are available to further locations. If you’d prefer to dive, it’s very cheap costing less than US$ 300 for your PADI open water. If you prefer dry land, there’s a hike through the jungle to the beaches on the opposite side of the island. 

Where to stay on Kapas Island : There are many beautiful places to stay, but I have to recommend Qimi’s Chalet. It has a private beach where it hosts candlelit barbeque dinners in the evening. The rooms are like treehouses and have a rustic feel. But if you prefer something more modern, do consider Turtle Valley Resort. 

By Hannah from Hannah’s Happy Adventures  

Rawa Island 

Rawa Island, translated in the local dialect as ‘white doves’ is the very definition of peace. This picture-perfect tropical island resort within the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park off the east coast of Malaysia is perfect for a short relaxing getaway.  

The white sand, verdant groves and warm, clear waters feel like a world away from the stress of modern life. And yet this idyllic haven is just a 30-minute speedboat ride from Mersing in the province of Johor. Rawa Island is hugely appealing between February and October for a family break or romantic paradise getaway.  

Rawa’s main attraction is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings, to kick back and unwind on its soft-sand beaches under the never-ending sun. For those rare moments of activity, take a short stroll along its coastal walkways or snorkel its coral reef.  

If this isn’t enough, there’s always the resort spa for indulgent pampering as you gaze across the calming ocean beyond.  

At the end of each day, Rawa will reward you not only with a fabulous feast from the restaurants but also a splendid sunset. Ideal to enjoy with a glass or two of something cold and refreshing, Rawa will no doubt leave many wonderful memories.

Recommended by Paul from The Two That Do 

Short Getaways in Malaysia Borneo

Kuching .

An easy getaway from Kuala Lumpur is Kuching, one of the most charming and action-packed towns in Sarawak and a perfect place to start a  Borneo itinerary . 

The only feasible way is  flying from Kuala Lumpur  or Penang with the cheap AirAsia flights. You can come to Kuching pretty much any time of the year, but avoid the period between November and February when the rainy seasons make the task of exploring the surrounding jungles a wet mess. Also, in July it’s the time for the iconic Rainforest World Music Festival — this is a fantastic music event, but also a time when Kuching is packed, and accommodation prices skyrocket. 

Kuching itself has plenty of charming lanes packed with bars and a beautiful waterfront set next to the Sarawak River. Take the bridge across to Fort Margherita, where an excellent gallery resumes the history of the Brookes, the White Rajahs of Sarawak.

In half an hour from Kuching is Semenggoh’s Orangutan sanctuary , a must-visit place to get close and personal with one of the world’s most endangered primates. 

There are also many national parks around Kuching: Bako National Park , set on a rugged promontory is ideal for a 2 days/1 night trip to properly explore its many hiking trails.  

If you come at the right time, the Gunung Gading National Park near Lundu is a perfect place to spot Rafflesia, the world’s biggest (and foulest-smelling) flower. If you still have time, a trip to Mount Santubong or the endlessly empty beaches of Tanjung Datu National Park will bring you off the grid in an already pretty offbeat Malaysian destination. 

Recommended by Marco Ferrarese from Monkey Rock World

Sandakan might not be on everybody’s bucket list, but after visiting a couple of years ago, it now ranks really high on our list of recommendations!  

It’s easily accessible with  direct flights from Kuala Lumpur , as well as other Malaysian cities such as Kota Kinabalu.

The best time of year for visit is between May and August, but traveling in the shoulder months of April or even March means fewer crowds, cheaper prices and less rain. 

Not only is Sandakan a beautiful and peaceful little city with great food and friendly people, but it also serves as a perfect place to base yourself for a bunch of really exciting activities! 

Not to be missed is a visit to Turtle Island National Park , where you get to experience all of the important conservation efforts going on there while also enjoying an almost off-grid retreat on the paradise island! 

Alternatively, just south of Sandakan is Kinabatangan River , with a couple of nights’ stay at an incredible river-side lodge, a few wildlife river cruises, all of your meals and a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Center often included in the tour!  

Where to stay in Sandakan : We chose to stay at Sandakan Central Hotel as we were wanting somewhere affordable but still in a desirable location, and we were pleasantly surprised by it! 

Recommended by Alex and Harmony from By The Compass

Bako National Park 

Bako National Park is situated in the Sarawak region of Borneo and features some of the most unique wildlife and natural rock formations. 

The closest city to Bako National Park is Kuching. It’s easy to get from Kuching to Bako National Park as there are buses that go there directly. Take the number one red public bus that departs from the Kuching Waterfront area, opposite the Riverside Shopping Complex. 

It’s best to visit Bako National Park in the dry season from March to September. Keep in mind that it tends to get very hot in July, so make sure to stay hydrated. 

There are many hiking trails to explore, ranging from easy to more strenuous hikes. In addition to the hiking trails, wildlife is abundant, and visitors are guaranteed to see some animals. If you’re lucky enough you may even spot a proboscis monkey! 

Depending on the hike you choose, you may need to pay to catch a boat back to the entrance. The boat trip back is amazing though, as you get to sail past the Serpent Rock. 

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TOUR OF BAKO NATIONAL PARK

Where to stay : There aren’t many accommodations close to Bako National Park, so if you’re on a budget, plan to stay in Kuching – Imperial Riverbank Hote l is a great mid-range option. Kuching is a great place to stay as there are amazing food options to refuel after a day on the trails. 

Recommended by Beth from Frugal Female Abroad 

Mulu National Park 

Mulu National Park is difficult to get to, but a world away from regular Malaysia and well worth the trip. There are stunning caves, hiking trails, ecotourism activities and extreme adventures. Plan ahead with the National Park guides to include canopy experiences, a visit to the Deer or Clearwater caves and definitely arrange to be there for the dusk exodus of the bats from the caves.  

The night walk with rangers is definitely recommended! One of the joys of visiting Mulu is that the sheer numbers of bats mean that there are no mosquitoes!  

There’s no specific best time to visit although July to September is the dry season and will be hotter, so is best avoided if you’re planning on doing strenuous hikes – this is also the peak season to visit and will be busiest. 

There are three ways to get to  Mulu National Park   the riverboat trip (only in the wet season), hiking the several days’ long Headhunters Trail or the more practical way for a weekend getaway in Malaysia, by flying in from Miri.  The airstrip is walkable to virtually all accommodation and there are transport options also available at the airstrip.  

Where to stay : You can choose to stay inside the National Park in the park accommodation, which you can book directly through the Park offices  here  but this can be limited. A recommended homestay option that you can pre-book is Mulu Village . 

Recommended by Sarah from ASocialNomad 

Kota Kinabalu 

The State of Sabah in Malaysia is famous for its beaches, forests, wildlife and water activities. Kota Kinabalu , the capital city of Sabah, reflects the beauty of the state.  

Kota Kinabalu is a heady combination of art, history, shopping, beaches and parties. From experience, we can say it’s one of the most tourist-friendly cities we’ve visited. If you’re looking for a short break, a visit to Kota Kinabalu could be a rejuvenating experience. 

You can get to Kota Kinabalu from KL  by taking a 2.5-hour flight. Cabs are the best way to get around the city. The weather is moderate throughout the year with regular showers keeping the heat at bay.

Things to see and do include Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, the City Mosque. Surrounded by water, the Mosque is a beautiful example of modern Islamic architecture.  

Another attraction is the Sabah Museum. They have several displays of history, art, textiles, ethnography, archaeology and even a heritage village. You can also visit Tanjung Aru Beach late afternoon for the most beautiful sunset, providing a gorgeous assortment of colors.  

There are many cool cafes and bars and The Waterfront is the most popular hangout zone for locals and tourists. If you’re in the mood for shopping, Imago Mall has a variety of stores. 

Where to stay : One of the best places to stay in Kota Kinabalu is Hotel Avangio  which is moderately priced with comfortable rooms with enough facilities, including a pool. 

Pro-tip : There are some amazing trekking, water sports and diving destinations around Kota Kinabalu. 

Recommended by Sundeep and Bedabrata from Delhi Fun Dos 

I hope this guide gave you some ideas for your short getaway in Malaysia. Let me know in the comments below which location you’re planning to visit first for your short trip in Malaysia!

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Steph is an outdoor enthusiast who’s always down for adventure. When she's not traveling abroad, you’ll either find her exploring her own backyard or researching her next trip. She writes adventure travel guides featuring waterfalls, mountains, and beaches and shares her tips on how to travel on a budget without compromising on comfort and experience.

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Travel money guide: Malaysia

Learn the tips that will help you get your travel money in order for your trip to malaysia..

In this guide

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

These are your options for spending money in malaysia, compare travel credit cards, currency exchange, how much should i budget to travel in malaysia, find the ideal insurance policy for your travel to malaysia, frequently asked questions.

Travel money type

Compare more cards

Top picks of 2024

Whether you’re snapping a skyline photo of Kuala Lumpur or relaxing with the Langkawi beaches and rainforest in view, make sure you carry a mix of your debit or credit card and plenty of Malaysian Ringgit to travel around. Both Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the country, and if you want to shop like a true local, pay with your digital wallet.

You can use a travel credit card that doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. However, the further away from major cities and shopping centers you go, the more you’ll want to keep the local currency in hand.

Our picks for traveling to Malaysia

50+ currencies supported

• 4.33% APY on USD balances
• $0 signup or subscription fees
• Withdraw $100 per month for free from ATMs worldwide
• Send, spend and withdraw 50+ currencies at the live rate
• Freeze and unfreeze your card instantly

Join to save up to 10% on hotels

• 0.50% APY on checking balance
• Up to 4.60% APY on savings
• $0 account or overdraft fees
• Get a $300 bonus with direct deposits of $5,000 or more

Travel rewards with no annual fee

• 20,000 miles (equal to $200 in travel) after spending $500 in the first 3 months
• Earn unlimited 1.25x miles on all purchases
• Low intro rates on purchases and balance transfers

You’ll need cash to experience some of the best parts of Malaysian food and culture. Most travelers visiting Malaysia opt for a combination of debit, credit and travel cards. Debit and travel cards are a good way to pay for your everyday spending, while credit cards can be used for deposits, big purchases and emergency situations.

If you do plan on using your credit card in Malaysia, make sure you tell your card provider about your travel plans first so that your credit card is not blocked.

It’s important to know how you plan on spending and where you plan on visiting to find the right travel money combination. Cards are widely accepted, but there are times when you’ll need cash.

There’s no limit to the amount of foreign currency you can take into the country, and it’s not going to be hard to exchange cash. That being said, when looking at credit cards and debit cards, ATM withdrawal fees and foreign transaction fees should be at the top of your list of perks.

Using a credit card

Since credit cards are widely accepted in Malaysia, you won’t have a problem spending at shopping centers, restaurants or hotels. Look for a travel rewards credit card that waives foreign transaction fees and offers complimentary travel perks, like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees ).

Be sure to avoid cash advances with your credit card unless it is necessary, as they come with hefty fees and attract interest immediately.

• Tip: Credit card perks could include anything from complimentary travel insurance when you book your return ticket with the card to reward points and interest-free days.
• Widely accepted in Malaysia
• Convenience
• Complimentary travel insurance
• Rewards and signup bonus points
• Average currency conversion fee of 3%
• Cash advance fees apply
• Most cards have an annual fee

Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

• Credit cards

Using a debit card

Debit cards and transaction accounts are usually free to open but look for an account that will save you on unnecessary fees. For example, using the Betterment Checking will waive international ATM fees and foreign transaction fees, the ideal for keeping your pockets padded while you spend abroad.

When spending with your debit card in Malaysia, the exchange rate is set in place by your credit card lender, and it is likely close to the interbank rate – giving you a good deal.

• Tip: Local ATM fees are charged by the ATM operator, but you can avoid this fee in some countries by using an ATM within your bank’s ATM network – Citibank has an ATM alliance in Malaysia.
• Usually no charge to open an account
• Currency conversion fee may apply

Using a prepaid travel card

These cards have some advantages, but make sure you dig a little into the fees section in order to find the travel money card that will cost you less to use overseas. Using a travel card in Malaysia will be subject to a currency conversion fee as you can’t load ringgit onto the card.

What’s great about these cards is that you’re spending your own money, so it’s easy to keep track of your expenses. You can also lock in your exchange rate when you load money onto the card and can easily withdraw cash from ATMs. And just in case you lose your first card, you can use the backup card that was issued to you.

• Can load multiple currencies
• Comes with a backup card
• There are currently no prepaid cards in the US that supports Malaysian ringgit
• May be subject to currency conversion fees in Malaysia

Using traveler’s checks

Fewer and fewer places are cashing traveler’s checks in Malaysia as the digital economy grows. They lend some peace of mind because they’re secure and need ID to cash, but they fall short in acceptance and fees. You’ll pay a commission to cash the check, but if you avoid hotels and go to a bank or a foreign exchange office, you’ll get a better rate.

• Secure as your ID is needed to cash checks
• Commission is paid to cash check
• Handling fee applies

You’re going to need Malaysian ringgits when you visit Malaysia. Exchanging dollars to ringgits is straightforward and you can bring as much as you’d like – although you’ll have to declare large sums of money at customs. Don’t get your money changed before you get to Malaysia; you’ll get a better rate buying ringgits once you arrive.

Banks and foreign exchange offices can be found in major tourist centers. There is no fee to exchange cash – just different rates between exchange offices. Shop around to find the best rate, and make sure you check you’ve been given the right amount of cash before you walk away from the teller.

Refreshing in: 60s | Sun, Apr 28, 10:09PM GMT

Malaysian banknotes

Malaysians sometimes refer to Malaysian ringgits as dollars, and some prices use the prefix dollar sign. All prices are in ringgits, even if you hear the vendor saying dollars.

Banknotes are divided into the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100.

The main banks in Malaysia are:

• Public Bank Berhad
• Hong Leong Bank
• AmBank Group
• United Overseas Bank (Malaysia)
• Bank Rakyat
• OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
• HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad

ATMs in Malaysia

You’ll find ATMs aplenty around the major cities in Malaysia, including in main shopping centers and streets, inside banks and at gas stations. You can locate the most well-known Maybank ATMs by looking for their unique black and yellow color.

Using the travel-friendly Betterment Checking debit card can ease your cash woes by returning any foreign transaction and ATM fees that you might get charged.

The Malaysian ringgit (MYR) is Malaysia’s local currency. 100 sen makes up 1 ringgit, and you’ll need to use this currency to pay in cash on your vacation. You can easily get your cash exchanged for the local currency at Malaysian money changers, which are located throughout the country.

Here’s an idea of how much a few things cost. All prices are in US dollars.

Prices are approximate and are subject to change.

Make sure you have travel insurance for your trip to Malaysia, so you are not left paying out of pocket for hefty medical costs if you get sick or injured. These policies can also help you replace stolen personal items like luggage and cameras.

Common items and events covered by travel insurance policies can include:

• Emergency medical and dental assistance
• Lost luggage
• Missed flights and cancellations

What safety tips should I know for handling money in Malaysia?

Common sense is the best approach to money safety in Malaysia. Avoid carrying excessive amounts of cash and don’t make it obvious if you are holding a lot of banknotes. Use reputable ATMs inside of banks or near banks with security and cover your hand when you’re entering your PIN.

Do I pay more because I’m not Malaysian?

In some places, you may pay more because you’re a tourist. This foreigner tax is not unique to Malaysia. If you feel the price is unreasonably inflated, all you can do is walk away.

How much should I tip?

Tipping is not expected in Malaysia, although a service fee may be included in the bill at some restaurants. A tip is always appreciated, so you can leave change for wait staff if you feel the service justifies something extra.

Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan is SEO manager at Forbes Advisor and a former editor and content strategist at Finder. He has written for the USA Today network and Relix magazine, among other publications. He holds a BA in journalism and media from Rutgers University.

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KUALA LUMPUR ON A BUDGET: Travel Guide & Itinerary

When I think of Malaysia, the catchphrase “Truly Asia” always follows. And as if on cue, the Petronas Twin Towers will regally rise into the spotlight, like a beauty contestant, greeting my thoughts with: “This is Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia!” But there’s more to Malaysia than its tourism slogan and skyscrapers. Its capital Kuala Lumpur alone has plenty to offer.

Last month, we visited this city for the fifth time! So when one of our readers asked if we already have a Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide, we were confident we had one. Imagine our surprise when we realized we don’t! All these years, we thought we had it covered. LOL. So here it is now, correcting this injustice.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

Understanding Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy composed of 13 states and three federal territories. Kuala Lumpur is one of those three federal territories. It is Malaysia’s largest city, as well as its national capital. Although not as old as Melaka and George Town, the city showcases seamless yet distinct coexistence of old and new, where preservation of structures will let you have a glimpse of what made this city what it is now.

What we’ve always loved about it is that it is a melting pot of cultures — a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and even European, due to its colonial past.

Essential Information:

• Language : The official language is Malay (a.k.a. Malaysian). English language is widely spoken.
• Currency : Malaysian Ringgit (MYR, RM). USD 1 is around MYR 4.29; MYR 1 is around PHP 11.71; EUR 1 is around MYR 4.8 (as of June 2017)
• Modes of Payment : Local stores and restaurants only accept Ringgit, but certain foreign currencies and major credit cards (Visa and Master Card) are accepted by most hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and souvenir shops.
• Electricity Info : Most establishments have 3-pin square plugs and sockets at 220 – 240 V AC and 50 Hz.

How to Get to Kuala Lumpur

If you’re holding a Philippine passport, you don’t have to get a visa to enter Malaysia.

Two airports serve Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Selangor and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Skypark) in Subang. At present, the latter mainly functions for turboprop and chartered flights while KLIA, which is 45 minutes away from KL city center, is the main terminal and is also the main hub for its flag carrier Malaysia Airlines and the budget airline Air Asia.

If you’re coming from Manila, know that Philippine Airlines has returned to Kuala Lumpur, offering daily flights. Although you will find “cheaper” flights, note that every PAL Economy booking already comes with 30 kilos baggage allowance for FREE, something that you will have to pay for separately with low-cost carriers.

The sample schedule above is also aligned with the usual hotel check-in and check-out times!

By Bus (From Singapore and Thailand)

Many people initially go to Singapore , then cross the border to Malaysia via land transfer. There are 3 main bus companies serving this route: KKKL, Transnasional, and Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES). A bus ticket is around RM50/USD12.53/PHP623 (one way) and travel time is 5 hours.

For those who are coming from Thailand (Hat Yai), there are a couple of bus companies offering this route: Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (KBES) and Alisan Golden Coach Express. Bus fare is around RM55/USD13.78/PHP685 (one way) and travel duration is 7 hours.

By Train (From Singapore and Thailand)

Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTPM) is the primary rail operator in (Peninsular) Malaysia. KL Sentral railway station is the main hub for KTM’s intercity and international trains. They have day and overnight train services which also include Singapore-Malaysia and Thailand-Malaysia routes.

How to Get from the Airport to Kuala Lumpur City Center

You can choose among these modes of transportation: by train, by bus, or by taxi. Well, a taxi would be the last resort or not an option at all (unless you arrive past 1 AM). Note that “KL Sentral” is the main transit hub in Kuala Lumpur.

The Fastest Option: Kuala Lumpur International Airport Trains (ERL). There are two types — KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit. KLIA Ekspres travels (non-stop) between KLIA and KL Sentral in 28 minutes for RM55/USD13.78/PHP685 (one way). Operation hour is from 5:00 AM to 1:03 AM.

If you don’t want to queue for KLIA Ekspres ticket, Klook is offering a fast and efficient way at a discounted price. All you need to do is to get to KLIA Express barrier gate and have your voucher barcode scanned and you are good to go.

Get Your Ticket Here

KLIA Transit (stopping at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, and Bandar Tasik Selatan) completes the journey in 36 minutes for RM55/USD13.78/PHP685 (one way). Operation hour is from 4:33 AM to 1:03 AM.

These trains also connect KLIA and KLIA2 in 3 minutes for only RM2/USD.50/PHP25.

The Cheapest Option: By bus. Airport Coach has express buses running between KLIA and KL Sentral in 1 hour for RM11/USD2.76/PHP137 (one way). Operation hour is from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Star Shuttle buses journey from KLIA to Kota Raya and Pudu Raya (and vice versa) near Chinatown in 1-2 hours for RM12.50/USD3.13/PHP155 (one way). If you are coming from KLIA2 (for low-cost carriers), they offer to take you directly to your hotel, given that your hotel is within KL district for RM15.

How to Stay Connected in Kuala Lumpur

Traveling is made convenient by various mobile applications that usually work with an internet connection, thus it’s important to stay connected. You can either buy a 4G SIM Card or rent a pocket WiFi device.

For pocket WiFi rental:

Reserve Here

For 4G Local SIM:

Reserve Now

——————  

Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur

Being one of the most visited cities in the world, Kuala Lumpur danced to the rhythm and adjusted well to the growing need for accommodations, hence the presence of not only popular international hotel chains but also local ones. Whatever budget you have for your accommodations, from luxury (Malaysia has some of the cheapest 5-star hotels) to hostels, Kuala Lumpur got you “covered”. If you want to give the 5-star hotels a try, you might want to check Hotel Istana located at No. 73, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

To help you further, here are some of the top budget hotels and hostels according to online users.

Top Budget Hotels Under USD50

Top kuala lumpur hostels, search for more: kuala lumpur hotels.

———

How to Get Around Kuala Lumpur

The traffic condition in Kuala Lumpur, especially during weekdays and rush hour, is reminiscent of Metro Manila. But you can ease your way through the jam when you learn to travel smart in Kuala Lumpur. You may combine monorail-taxi mode of transportation instead of just taking the bus.

You can also explore Kuala Lumpur on foot! You may tour around Chinatown area heading toward Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower area. You may also enjoy nature in one of KL’s numerous parks such as the Lake Gardens. If you are into history, arts, and culture, you can marvel at one of the museums like its National Museum. However you want to discover Kuala Lumpur, the city offers plenty of options for you.

• RapidKL Monorail & MRT/LRT : This transportation service has 5 lines — Sri Petaling Line, Ampang line, the Kelana Jaya line, the Monorail line and the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line. Take this train if you plan to go to Bukit Bintang, KL Tower, Twin Towers, Chinatown, and Little India. Fare starts from RM1/USD.25/PHP12.
• KTM Komuter : If you’re going to Batu Caves and outside the city center, you may take this train service. It has 2 lines heading to the suburbs from the city center and vice versa.
• ERL : As mentioned previously, the two lines (Ekspres and Transit) run between KL Sentral and KLIA.
• RapidKL Bus : These buses are divided into three routes: Bandar (B) buses shuttle passengers within the city center; Utama (U) buses runs toward the suburbs; Tempatan (T) buses are train station services. Fare starts at RM1/USD.25/PHP12.
• KL Hop-on Hop-off : If you want hassle-free city tour, you may avail yourself of this double-decker bus service. Free WiFi on board. Free ride for children below 5 years old. Ride-all-you can until ticket validity expires.
• Go KL : This bus service is FOR FREE! It has four routes: Purple Line travels between Pasar Seni to Bukit Bintang; Green Line runs within KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center) area and links with Purple Line at Bukit Bintang; Red Line connects KL Central to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman; and the Blue Line shuttles between Medan Mara (where it also meets with Red Line) and Bukit Bintang.

If you must ride a taxi, it’s important to note that they have two types of taxis: the normal taxi and the executive taxi. Normal taxis have red and white colors and flag down rate is RM3/USD.75/PHP37 (first 1km, then RM1 per succeeding kilometer). Executive taxis are the ones in bright blue and flag down rate is RM6/USD1.5/PHP75 (first 1km, then RM2/USD.50/PHP25 per succeeding kilometer). Another option is using the ride-sharing apps like GrabTaxi and Uber.

  ——————

Places to Visit in and around Kuala Lumpur

Here are some of the popular tourist attractions in and around the city. We also included tourist spots outside but not too far from KL.

We provided directions on how to get there for those of you who want to pull a DIY. But if you’re after convenience, you can also join a group tour offered by Klook. This includes hotel pickup and guide fee, but not entrance fees. The tour makes a stop at the following:

• Petronas Twin Tower (photo stop)
• King’s Palace (photo stop)
• National Monument
• National Museum (excludes entrance fee of RM5 per person)
• Handicraft Centre
• Cocoa Boutique
• National Mosque (photo stop)

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Book this tour.

If it’s your first time to book with Klook and you’re based in the Philippines, use the promo code KLOOKTPT to get a P200 discount on your first booking! Valid until December 31, 2017 only.

——-

Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Twin Towers became one of the most famous icon in Malaysia. It currently holds the title of being the world’s tallest twin structure.   Admission Fee : Adult, RM85/USD21.30/PHP1060; Children, RM35/USD8.77/PHP436; Senior Citizen, RM45/USD11.27/PHP560; Infant, FREE Operation Hours : 9 AM to 9 PM (Tuesday to Sunday); closed from 1 PM to 2:30 PM on Fridays Nearest Station : KLCC Station (KJ10; LRT)

Tickets are issued on “first come, first served” basis, but with Klook, you can skip the lines with guaranteed tickets PLUS one-way transfer.

Istana Negara (National Palace)

Istana Negara became the official residence of the King of Malaysia in 2011. A yellow flag indicates the presence of the king inside the palace. If you don’t see a yellow flag, it means the king is not present in the palace.   Admission Fee : Free Admission (Palace Gate/Facade area only) Operation Hours : 9 AM to 1 PM/3:30 PM to 9 PM (Daily) Nearest Station : KL Sentral (But it’s very hard to go there on foot; there’s no pedestrian path. Just take a cab or join a group city tour)

——————

Built in 1897, the building stand majestically with its breathtaking architecture. One of its notable feature is the clock tower. Across the building is the Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square) heritage site.   Admission Fee : Free Admission Operation Hours : 24 Hours (Monday to Friday) Nearest Station : Pasar Seni or Masjid Jamek (LRT)

National Museum

Built in 1963, the National Museum displays vast collections which defined and shaped the nation’s history and cultural heritage.   Admission Fee : Adult, RM5/USD1.25/PHP62; Children, RM2/USD.50/PHP25; Below 6y/o, FREE Operation Hours : 9 AM to 5 PM (Daily) Nearest Station : KL Sentral (There’s a pedestrian path leading to the museum from the station)

KL City Gallery

KL City Gallery gives a big picture of the city’s what had been, what is, and what will be. It is just a stone’s throw away from Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building.   Admission Fee : Free Admission Operation Hours : 9 AM to 6 PM (Daily) Nearest Station : Masjid Jamek Station or Pasar Seni (LRT)

As the world’s seventh tallest telecommunications tower, KL Tower stands as the city’s most recognizable landmark.   Admission Fee : Adult, RM52/USD12.03/PHP648; Children, RM31/USD7.77/PHP387 (Observation Deck) / Adult, RM105/USD26.31/PHP1309; Children (13y/o above), RM55/USD13.78/PHP685 (Sky Deck) *There are other attractions inside KL Tower including F1 Stimulator and XD Theater, among others. Operation Hours : 9 AM to 10 PM (Weekdays)/9:30 AM to 10 PM (Weekend & Holidays) Nearest Station : Dang Wangi Station (LRT; From there, walk for about 10 minutes following the signage.)

You may do combination package or purchase a ticket per attraction. Whether you are getting a single-attraction pass or thinking of getting a combo package, Klook is offering KL Tower tickets for less.

Get Your Tickets Here

Tun abdul razak heritage park.

This 173-acre park is home to other interesting attractions include the Perdana Botanical Gardens (also known as Lake Gardens), KL Bird Park, Orchid Garden, Deer Park, Butterfly Park, and Islamic Art Museum to name a few.   Admission Fee : Entrance to the park is free; Some attractions inside are free also, others have minimal fees. Operation Hours : 7 AM to 8 PM (Daily) Nearest Station : KL Sentral (10-15 minute walk to TAR Heritage Park; you can also take the Hop-On Hop-Off bus)

If you want to experience three attractions — Bird Park, Butterfly Park, and the Orchid Garden, you can book this half-day tour with Klook.

The city of Kuala Lumpur used to be Malaysia’s administrative center; Putrajaya now holds that title. Almost all of the government-run establishments are located here. Some of the notable structures include Putrajaya Government Center, Putra Mosque, Putra Perdana, and Putra Bridge among others.

  How to Get Here: From Kuala Lumpur city center, you can take the KLIA Transit from KL Sentral. The fare is around RM15/USD3.76/PHP187 (one way). If you opt to take the bus, pick up/drop off point for passengers traveling between KL and Putrajaya is beside Putrajaya Sentral train station. Fare ranges from RM3/USD.75/PHP37 – RM5/USD1.25/PHP62. Taxi fare should be between RM40/USD10.02/PHP499 – RM50/USD12.53/PHP623, but you would not take the taxi, right? Hehe.

——— Going around Putrajaya is quite tiring. The distance from one attraction to another is quite a long walk, and there are few public transportation within Putrajaya, but if you really want to explore this federal territory, Klook is offering a tour, which might interest you.

Putrajaya and Agriculture Heritage Park Tour

• Attractions include PJ Government Center, Putra Mosque, Putra Perdana, Putra Bridge, and Agriculture Heritage Park.
• Hotel pick up and drop off
• English-speaking guide and driver
• Guided tour at the Agriculture Heritage Park
• Approximately 4 hours duration

Batu Caves is an important and sacred place for the Hindu people. The limestone hill houses a number of caves and Hindu cave temples. Visitors will have a feel of countryside life and the lush vista of the suburbs. Batu Temple Cave has no entrance fee and is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM.

  How to Get There: Coming from KL Sentral, take the KTM Komuter train going to Batu Caves station. The fare is around RM2/USD.50/PHP25. If you are going there by bus, RapidKL has two routes going to Batu Caves: U6 (get off at APM) and U10 (get off at Jalan Sri Batu Caves 5). It would be better if you ask the driver to inform you where to get off. The fare is around RM3/USD.75/PHP37. For taxi, the fare ranges from RM20/USD5.01/PHP249 – RM25/USD6.26/PHP311.

——— If you want to make the most of your countryside/suburbs trip, Klook offers a tour of Batu Caves combined with other interesting destinations such as the Batik Factory and Pewter Factory.

Suburbs and Batu Caves Half Day Tour

• Approximately 3-5 hours duration

Sunway Lagoon

If you are looking for a shopping mall, a theme park, a water park, and a hotel all in one place, then Sunway Lagoon is the place for you! I was actually amazed at how extensive the place is. It’s that one place where all family members (with different personalities and needs) will fit in.

Admission Fee: Adult, RM170/USD42.59/PHP2119; Children (12y/o below), RM 140/USD35.08/PHP1745; Senior Citizen, RM140/USD35.08/PHP1745; Children below 3y/o and 90cm height, FREE (Note: Admission covers entrance to all parks and rides, activities, and attractions EXCEPT Bungy Jump, G-Force X, and Go Kart. No Refund and No Cancellation policy applies.)

Operation Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Daily)

  How to Get There: Take KTM Komuter train going to Subang Jaya station, then get on a feeder bus to the Sunway Pyramid stop. If going via Putra LRT, get off at Kelana Jaya station, then catch a feeder bus to the Sunway Pyramid stop. Sunway Lagoon is approximately 15 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur.

——— Klook is offering discounted 1-day tickets for you to experience 80 rides across 6 theme parks!

• Fixed date ticket
• Show mobile e-voucher
• Collect Physical ticket

Reserve Slot Here

Kampung kuantan.

Kampung Kuantan is a popular destination for those who want to witness the dancing light performance of the colonies of firefly while cruising the Sg Selangor river. It is one of the famous sites with the largest firefly colonies in the world. Firefly watching activity is from 7 PM to 10:30 PM.

  How to Get There: If you are coming from Puduraya Bus station (city center), take a bus to Kuala Selangor. You can get the ticket inside the bus. The fare is around RM2/USD.50/PHP25. From Kuala Selangor, take another bus that passes the entrance to the firefly park. If you choose to ride a cab, the fare is around RM50/USD12.53/PHP623 (one way). Boat rental fee is around RM53/USD13.28/PHP660 per boat. Each boat can accommodate four people. Travel time is around 1.5hr to 2hrs from Kuala Lumpur city center.

——— It would be best if you avail yourself of a package tour for firefly watching rather than doing it by yourself. If you go there DIY-style, you need to find accommodations as it would be difficult to get back to the city late at night. Even getting a cab would be hard and costly. Some of the Firefly Watching tours offered are overpriced, so be wary of those. Klook is offering a discounted rate not only for the firefly activity but also for a visit to the historical Kota Melawati.

• Roundtrip transfer from city center hotels (Pick up at 3:30pm)
• Entrance ticket
• Seafood dinner
• Approximately 8hrs duration

Other Attractions:

• Muzium Duraja (Royal Museum) Used to be the residence of the King of Malaysia, this structure has been transformed into a museum, showcasing the royal memorabilia. Admission Fee: Adult, RM10/USD2.51/PHP125; Children, RM5/USD1.25/PHP62 Operation Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM (Daily) Nearest Station: Tun Sambanthan (Monorail)

Day Tours from Kuala Lumpur

Outside of Kuala Lumpur, there are other attractions which might take your interest. You can either go DIY-style or you can join a group tour if you don’t want to think about the how-to-get-there part especially when you are traveling with kids or elders.

Melaka (Malacca)

A couple of hours away from Kuala Lumpur is the historic state of Melaka. It is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site for Culture recipient. Melaka is one of the four Malaysian states, which are not under the rule of the Sultan; the other three are Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak. A governor is the head of Melaka state. Take photos of the Dutch Square (most commonly known as the Red Square), stroll along the world-famous Jonker Street, or take a river cruise.

  How to Get There: Take bus from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) going to Melaka Sentral. Buses leave every 30 minutes. Fare is around RM10/USD2.51/PHP125 – RM15/USD3.76/PHP187. Travel duration is two hours.

——— Should you want to take this historical tour of Malacca, Klook is offering this tour at a good price.

Historical Malacca Tour with Lunch

• Lunch at local restaurant (drinks not included)
• Malacca River stroll
• Historical City Tour

  You can read MALACCA MALAYSIA: Budget Travel Guide for more details.

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands encompasses hilly terrain that is close to the size of Singapore. Due to its elevated location and the rich flora, the temperature is cooler. Refresh and clear your mind while enjoying the scenic tour around the area. Activities include farming, fruit-picking, and trekking.

  How to Get There: From Kuala Lumpur, take a bus from TBS (Bandar Tasik Selatan) going to Tanah Rata. Fare starts at RM35/USD8.77/PHP436, one way. Travel duration is 3 to 4.5 hours.

——— If you want to avail a tour package, Klook offers a comprehensive itinerary for a discounted price. The itinerary includes tea plantation, bee farm, butterfly farm, strawberry farm, waterfall, and local fruit and vegetable market.

Cameron Highlands Day Tour

• English-speaking guide cum driver
• Entrance Fees
• Approximately 13hrs duration

Genting Highlands

Another high-altitude attraction near Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s biggest hilltop resort, Genting Highlands, also known as Resorts World Genting. It’s a one-stop place for those who fancy both urban activities such as shopping while also relishing the cool temperature and basking in the verdant scenery. The place is also famous for its hotels and entertainment including theme parks (both indoor and outdoor) and golf course, among others. But what really made this place stand out is its monocable gondola lift, the Genting Skyway, which is the longest and fastest cable car in Southeast Asia.

  How to Get Here: There’s no railway directly servicing Genting Highlands, but the resort provides shuttle buses running hourly between Genting Highlands and Gombak Station (KJ1) of the Kelana Jaya Line. From KL Sentral, you can purchase your bus ticket (and Genting Skyway cable car ticket) at the Lower Ground Floor. It is recommended to get your return ticket too and plan your trip well. Be mindful of your time. Overall fare is around RM20/USD5.01/PHP249 – RM25/USD6.26/PHP311.

——— If you don’t want to be overwhelmed by this trip and worry less about catching your bus to the city center on time, let Klook handle the arrangement for you at a discounted price.

Genting Highlands Day Tour

• Return ticket on Genting Skyway
• Entrance to the resort (this is different from theme parks admission fees)

Where to Shop in Kuala Lumpur

As one of the shopping capitals in Asia, shopping experience for tourists is made even better not only because of the relatively cheap goods and services but also because of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Refund Scheme . I, myself, who is not really into shopping when I travel bought a lot from this trip, especially the 3-in-1 teh tarik packs. Haha! Don’t miss out on that one. The teh tarik is to die for!

• Bukit Bintang is KL’s premier shopping district, much like Singapore’s Orchard Road and Tokyo’s Ginza District. You will never be left wanting for more shopping malls when you come to this area. It currently has eight malls providing shoppers, locals and foreigners alike, with wide spectrum of choices from clothes to food to gadgets.
• Outside the Golden Triangle area, the suburbs enclaves, such as Bangsar in the South and Mont Kiara in the North, have a laid-back urban ambiance. They not only have specialty stores and boutiques offering unique shopping experience but also have bargain shops offering goods at low price.
• Jalan Petaling is located at the city center. If you are into bargain finds and souvenirs, you might love combing through this traditional commercial district. The area is most commonly referred to by the locals as “Chinatown”. One of the suggested places to shop is the Pasar Seni, also known as Central Market . The place offers Batik products and other apparel products, local handicrafts, food (either for snacking or for “pasalubong”), and many more!

Sample Kuala Lumpur Itinerary

Here’s a sample 5D/4N Kuala Lumpur itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival + Petronas Twin Tower 03:00pm – Airport to KLCC 04:30pm – Check in hotel/hostel 05:00pm – Petronas Twin Tower 07:00pm – Dinner and Chill 10:00pm – Back to Hotel

Day 2: KL City Tour + Putrajaya Tour 07:00am – Breakfast 09:00am – Putrajaya Tour 01:00pm – Lunch 02:00pm – KL City Tour 06:00pm – Dinner and Explore 10:00pm – Back to Hotel

Day 3: Melaka Day Tour (Or any other day tour of your choice) 07:30am – Breakfast 08:30am – Transfer to Melaka 10:30am – Melaka City Tour 12:30nn – Lunch 01:30pm – Resume tour 04:30pm – Return to KL 07:00pm – Dinner 09:00pm – Back to Hotel

Day 4: Chinatown + Batu Caves 08:00am – Breakfast 09:00am – Chinatown (Explore and Pasalubong Shopping) 01:00nn – Lunch 02:00pm – Batu Caves (or Firefly Activity Tour) 06:00pm – Dinner 10:00pm – Back to Hotel

Day 5: Pack Up + Departure 07:30am – Breakfast 08:00am – Check out 12:10nn – Depart to Manila

Other Tips for the Poor Traveler

• Choose to walk when you can. The monorail is a very convenient way to go around the city. You might miss something interesting if you opt to ride rather than walk.
• Point with your thumb. It is considered rude if you point using your forefinger.
• Respect homes and places of worship. If you are entering homes or places of worship, shoes must always be removed.
• Ask permission. It is better to ask permission when you want to take photos inside places of worship and someone’s home.
• Use your right hand. When giving and receiving something, it is preferable to use your right hand.

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 1️⃣2️⃣ • 2️⃣3️⃣ (Updated)

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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highly recommended! thank you for sharing your travel stories

Thanks for the article. Its very useful. Keep sharing. 

can i exchange php to rm in kuala lumpur? i normally buy usd when i travel but i want to know if i can exchange php there instead in money changers or in the airport?

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Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide Blog (Budget + Itinerary)

by thepinay solobackpacker | Dec 28, 2022 | Itinerary , Malaysia , Travel Guide | 2 comments

Kuala Lumpur is my most visited city outside the Philippines.  I can’t recall how many times I’ve visited this sprawling metropolis.  Thus, this Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide with itinerary and budget is long overdue.  Kuala Lumpur has grown into a modern and affluent metropolis from an erstwhile tin mining village.  What I like about Kuala Lumpur is despite its success, it remains a culturally diverse city.  It is a melting pot of ethnic Malays,  Indian migrants, British colonials and Chinese. Everywhere you go, you can see how the city managed to preserved its age-old heritage buildings, temples and mosques that blend beautifully with towering buildings and opulent shopping malls.

TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS

KUALA LUMPUR BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE

Kuala Lumpur is massive, thus, it can be intimidating to get around the first time.  But don’t fret as many of its top tourist attractions are concentrated within the city center and can be easily accessed by public transportation.

Kuala Lumpur city is composed of several districts and the following are the ones you will most likely visit:

Golden Triangle – Kuala Lumpur’s business district, it covers Petronas Tower and Bukit Bintang’s shopping district, hotels and nightlife./p>

Old City Centre – This is where you’ll head to if you want to visit Chinatown, Merdeka Square, KL Gallery and Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Brickfields – This is where KL Sentral and Little India are located.

Northern Suburbs – This is where you’ll find Batu Caves.

Southern Suburbs – This is where the National Stadium and Putrajaya are located.

KUALA LUMPUR PRE-TRAVEL GUIDE

1. when is the best time to visit kuala lumpur.

The best time to visit Kuala Lumpur is from May to July, because the rest of the year, Kuala Lumpur may experience floods and heatwaves especially during March to April when western monsoon hits. Refer to the table below to check the average temperature, rain and daily light per month in Kuala Lumpur.

2. DO FILIPINOS NEED A VISA TO TRAVEL TO KUALA LUMPUR?

Philippine Passport Holders are entitled to a 30 day visa-free entry in Malaysia.

  3. KUALA LUMPUR CURRENCY AND MONEY EXCHANGE

Kuala Lumpur currency is Malaysian Rinngit (MYR/RM). Current rate exchange is around MYR 1 = PHP 13/USD 0.26/EURO 0.21/SGD 0.34 .  The best rates are bank rates, you can withdraw from ATMs sprinkled around Kuala Lumpur.  If you need to change your cash, our local guide advised us to go to money exchange centers in shopping malls.

4. KUALA LUMPUR SOCKET

Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia use type G power socket, similar to the British socket. The standard voltage is 240 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

  5. KUALA LUMPUR POCKET WI-FI RENTAL

Stay connected online in Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia by renting a pocket Wi-Fi.  It can connect up to 10 devices at once. So if you are a group of travelers or a family traveling, this is your best bet.

RESERVE HERE

6. kuala lumpur simcard.

If you are a solo traveler, your best option to stay connected online is by purchasing a 4G sim card.  You can pick up the sim card right upon your arrival at KLIA or KLIA2.

BUY SIMCARD HERE

How to get to kuala lumpur from the philippines.

Kuala Lumpur currently has 2 airports.  The main terminal is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, about 45 minutes away from the city center serving most of Airasia and Malaysia Airlines flights.  Meanwhile, the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang is being used for charter and turboprop flights only.  Recently, I returned to Kuala Lumpur via Philippine Airlines. It’s a good option since their economy airfare already includes a 30 kg baggage.

RESERVE FLIGHTS HERE

How to get to kuala lumpur from singapore.

You can either fly to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore or travel overland by bus.  If you want to take the bus, you can check the schedule and book tickets below. Fare to Berjaya Times Square and TBS Kuala Lumpur from Singapore is roughly RM 66.62/PHP 1,381/USD 17.30/ SGD 22.40.

CHECK BUS SCHEDULE AND RESERVE HERE

How to get to kuala lumpur from thailand.

You can fly to Kuala Lumpur from Thailand, see the flight schedule and airfare below. See the bus schedule and book your tickets below.

CHECK FLIGHTS AND BOOK BELOW

• BANGKOK TO KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTS: CHECK HERE      
• PHUKET TO KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTS: CHECK HERE  
• KRABI TO KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTS: CHECK HERE  
• KOH SAMUI TO KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTS: CHECK HERE

Alternatively, you may cross to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Thailand by bus. See the bus schedule below.

CHECK BUS SCHEDULE AND RESERVE BUS TICKET BELOW

• PHUKET TO KUALA LUMPUR:  CLICK HERE  
• HAT YAI TO KUALA LUMPUR: CLICK HERE  

  HOW TO GET TO KUALA LUMPUR FROM VIETNAM

You can fly to Kuala Lumpur from Vietnam. Check flight schedule below .

• HO CHI MINH CITY TO KUALA LUMPUR: BOOK FLIGHTS HERE  
• HANOI TO KUALA LUMPUR: BOOK FLIGHTS HERE  

HOW TO GET TO KUALA LUMPUR CITY FROM KL AIRPORT

KLIA Train connects KLIA main terminal with KL Sentral, the main transportation hub in Kuala Lumpur. One way fare is RM 55/PHP 736 /USD 14/EURO 11/SGD 19 and RM 25/PHP 335/USD 9/EURO 7/SGD 12 and roundtrip fare is RM 100/PHP 1,338/USD 26/EURO 21/SGD 34 and RM 45/PHP 602/USD 12/EURO 9/SGD 15.  Train runs from 5:00 AM to 1:03 AM from the airport to KL Sentral. From KL Sentral to KLIA Airport, train runs from 4:33 AM to 1:03 AM.

You can book a ticket below, no need to redeem your ticket, just enter the gate with your QR code.

RESERVE TICKET HERE

By airport transfer.

For a hassle-free airport transfer to your hotel, you can book below. Good for 7 persons. If you are a party of 2-7, this is cheaper than taking the KLIA train.

  BOOK AIRPORT TRANSFER HERE

  If you are looking for the cheapest way from Kuala Lumpur airport to Kuala Lumpur city, you can take the Airport coach that travels between KLIA and KL Sentral.  Fare is only MYR 11/PHP 147/USD 3/EURO 2.29/SGD 4

HOW TO GET AROUND KUALA LUMPUR

First of all, be warned that Kuala Lumpur traffic is as notorious as traffic in Manila. Avoid using the bus during rush hours: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM and 4:00 – 7:30 PM.  You can use Kuala Lumpur metro to avoid traffic.

• Rapid KL MRT/LRT and Monorail – They have 5 lines: Ampang Line, Monorail Line, Sri Petaling Line, Sungai Buloh-Kajan Line and Kelana Line.
• KTM Komuter – Though this is not as frequent as the MRT/LRT, you will most likely use this if you are headed to Batu Caves.  Check the train schedule here .
• ERL – The two lines (Ekspress and Transit) travels between KL Sentral and KLIA (KL International Airport).

  RAPID KL – Rapid KL bus is a cheap way to get around Kuala Lumpur.  There are  3 routes: Utama (U) shuttles passengers to the suburbs, Tempatan (T ) goes to the train stations and Bandar (B) travels around the city centre.  Rapid KL buses are available from 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM only.  Fare is RM 1/PHP 13/USD 0.26/EURO 0.21/SGD 0.34 to RM 4/PHP 54/USD 1/EURO 0.83/SGD 1.35.

  KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS – For a hassle-free tour of Kuala Lumpur, you can take the KL Hop-on Hop-off bus that covers over 70 tourist attractions and has 23 stops around the city center.

  KL CITY BUS -There’s a free bus in Kuala Lumpur called KL City Bus that takes passengers to the city’s famous districts, shopping malls and some attractions.  It has 4 routes: Red, Purple, Green and Blue Line. The red line links KL Sentral to Jalan Tuanka Abdul Rahman via Chow Kit area.  The Purple line begins at Pasar Seni and connects to Bukit Bintang. The Green Line links to the Purple Line here and goes around KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre). While the Blue Line travels between Medan Mara and Bukit Bintang.

When taking a taxi in Kuala Lumpur, remember that there are 2 types of taxi – the executive taxi and the normal taxi. The executive taxi is the blue taxi usually using SUV vehicles like Toyota Innova or  Nissan Serena. Fare is doubled, because they are usually used by tourists ands business people. Fare is RM 6/PHP 6/USD 2/EURO 0.42/SGD 2 for the first kilometre and RM 0.10/PHP/USD 0.026/EURO 0.021/SGD 0.034 for additional 100 meter. Meanwhile the normal taxi uses Sedan by Proton with green, red and blue collar.  Fare is RM 3/PHP 40/USD 0.77/EURO 0.62/SGD  1 for the 1st kilometre and RM 0.10/PHP/USD 0.026/EURO 0.021/SGD 0.034 for additional 115 meters.

You can get around some areas in Kuala Lumpur by foot, but be prepared to endure the heat and bring drinking water to keep yourself hydrated.  I tried it before during my first trip to Kuala Lumpur, but I won’t do it again! Haha I’d rather take the bus or the metro to get to the tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

WHERE TO STAY IN KUALA LUMPUR?

Malaysia may not have the cheapest accommodations in Southeast Asia, but there’s a wealth of accommodations of all types in Kuala Lumpur, including basic rooms.  If you are on a budget, you can stay in either Chinatown or Bukit Bintang where budget to mid-range hotels/hostels/guesthouses abound.  The cheapest rooms are dorm rooms, perfect for backpackers.  Book in advance, at least a week or 2 weeks before your trip to ensure you’ll get a room. Room rates remain relatively stable during the entire year, but expect it to spike slightly during major holiday season such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali.

KUALA LUMPUR BUDGET HOTELS

Here are some budget hotels/hostels in Chinatown, if you opt to stay here, look for accommodation near Petaling Street market.  It’s walking distance to the Central Market (Pasar Seni) where you can find interesting Malaysian souvenirs at reasonable prices.

CHINATOWN KUALA LUMPUR BUDGET HOTELS

 1.  Travel Hub Hightstreet

Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CHECK ROOM RATES HERE OR RESERVE HERE

2. Suzie’s Guesthouse KL

CHECK ROOM RATES HERE

3. Rain Forest Hotel Chinatown

BUKING BINTANG BUDGET HOTELS

  Another popular place to find cheap accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is Bukit Bintang.  Many of the guesthouses here are housed in nicely restored old shop houses. It’s pretty close to the Golden Triangle where you’ll find some of Kuala Lumpur’s top attractions like the Petronas Tower, KL Tower and KLCC.

1. Hotel Paloma Inn

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50150

2. Sahabat Guesthouse

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

3. Revopackers

Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN KUALA LUMPUR

Here are some of Kuala Lumpur’s top attractions for first-timers.  I included directions on how to get there, the nearest MTR station, hop on and hop off bus stop and tour package, in case you want to join a hassle-free group tour. Below this section, you can find Kuala Lumpur side trip suggestions that can be easily done as a day tour or an overnight trip.

1.PETRONAS TOWER

The poster boy of Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Tower was once the tallest twin tower in the world.  This stunning structure was designed by Cesar Pelli, an Argentine architect. The outside design made of steel and glass is a reflection of Islamic patterns, while the interior is a reflection of local handicraft and weaving patterns. You can admire its beauty for free but if you want to witness the panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur city from the skybridge and observation deck, you have to purchase the Petronas Tower ticket. You can book online below (with one way transfer) as tickets sell out fast.

Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last admission 8:30 PM)

Closed between 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM on Fridays

Nearest MRT Station: KLCC Station (KJ10 LRT)

Petronas Tower Entrance Fee : Adult: RM 85/ PHP 1,137/USD 22/EURO 18/SGD 28, Kids: RM 35/PHP 468/USD 9/EURO 7/SGD 12, Infant (below 3 yearls old) : FREE

  2.KUALA LUMPUR TOWER (MENARA KL TOWER)

Menara KL, also known as Kuala Lumpur Tower, is actually a communications tower with a revolving restaurant. The 7 th tallest of its kind in the world. Tourists and locals can visit this tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Nearest MRT Station: Masjid Jamek/Bukit Nanas/Raja Chulan and walk about 20 mins

  3.BATU CAVES

Batu Caves is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Malaysia after the Petronas Tower. It’s a limestone hill that houses several caves and cave temples. Batu Caves is dedicated to Lord Murugan, a Hindu deity, which has a gigantic statue standing beside the stairs leading to the cave temple.

Address: Batu Caves, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia

Nearest MRT: KTM Komuter Train (Subang Jaya Station)

Kelana Jaya Station (Petra LRT)

Open Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Entrance Fee: Free

  How to get to Batu Caves:

1: At KL Sentral, take the KTM KOMUTER train to Batu Caves. Transit time is about 36 minutes.

2: Alight at Batu Caves and walk for about 6 minutes to Batu Caves.  Fare is MYR 2.60/PHP 34/USD 0.66/EURO 0.54/SGD 0.87.

1: From Central Market, you can ride Intrakota Bus 11D or Cityliner Bus #69 to Batu Caves.

BY TOUR PACKAGE

If you want to book a stress-free tour to Batu Caves, you can book below.  The tour is really affordable considering the tour package already includes a visit to the rural Malay villages, the Royal Selangor Pewter, Batik Factory and more. This is an interesting tour as you’ll be able to learn about Malaysia’s rich history, traditions and customs in the suburbs.

  Aside from a visit to Batu Caves, this tour also includes a visit to rural Malay villages, the Royal Selangor Pewter and Batik Factory where you’ll learn about Malaysia’s rich history and tradition.

4.PUTRAJAYA

The planned city of Putrajaya is the federal administrative center of Malaysia.  You can visit the Agricultural Heritage Park, PJ Government Centre, Putra Mosque, Putra Perdana, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Putra Square and Putra Bridge.

HOW TO GET TO PUTRAJAYA:

TRAIN FARE: (Adult) MYR 14/(child)MYR 6.30 (one way)

TRANSIT TIME:  Roughly 17 minutes

1: Head to KL Sentral and look for the KL Transit Gate.

2: Purchase KLIA Ekspress train ticket to Putrajaya & Cyberjaya Station.

3: At Putrajaya Station, hire a taxi to tour you around Putrajaya.  Rate is usually fixed at MYR 17 for 2 hours.  This is good for 1-4 persons.

If PUTRAJAYA DAY TOUR PACKAGE:

You can book a cheap Putrajaya Private tour below. (minimum 2 persons)

5. SUNWAY LAGOON

Sunway Lagoon is a sprawling theme park in Kuala Lumpur City, with over 88 attractions, perfect for family trips or barkada trips!

Address:  3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,

Open Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to get to Sunway Lagoon:

Via KTM Komuter Train

Ride the train to the Subang Jaya Station then catch a feeder bus to the Sunway Pyramid stop.

Via Putra LRT Catch the train to the Kelana Jaya Station then take the feeder bus to the Sunway Pyramid stop

7. SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING AND NATIONAL TEXTILE MUSEUM

One of the most beautiful and distinct old buildings in Kuala Lumpur is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building just across Merdeka Square.  It was once the administration building of the British colonizers.  A few meters away is the National Textile Museum before it was converted into an administration building and the now textile museum.

Address: Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nearest Metro: Masjid Jamek Station

How to get to Sultan Abdul Sahmad Building

  Ride the LRT and alight at Masjid Jamek Station. Walk to Sultan Andul Sahmad Building for about 10 minutes.

8. MERDEKA SQUARE

Formerly known as the Selangor Club Padang, Merdeka Square is an  important site in Malaysia’s history, as this is where the Malaysian flag was first raised after the Union Flag was lowered sometime in 1957.  Merdeka Square is right across the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Address:  Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Open Hours: 24 hours

Entrance Fee: FREE

Nearest MRT Station: Merdeka MRT Station

9. KL GALLERY

Address: Dataran Merdeka, 27, Jalan Raja, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

10. LAKE GARDENS KUALA LUMPUR

Opposite the National Monument Kula Lumpur is a relaxing park – the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur, which was opened back in 1975.  This park is peppered with different gardens and parks including the Orchid Garden, Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, Deer Park and the Butterfly Park Kuala Lumpur.

  Nearest Metro Station: Pasar Seni Station  (5 min walk), Masjid Jamek Station (10-15 min walk), Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (10 minute walk).

Nearest Hop-on Hop Off: Bus Stop 14

11. TUGU NEGARA (NATIONAL MONUMENT)

This bronze monument of 7 soldiers carrying a Malaysian flag is dedicated to the Malaysian militaries who died during the World War II and the 11,000 people who died during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), which lasted for 12 years.  The 7 soldiers actually represents one of the seven qualities of leadership such as courage, strength, sacrifice, command, unity, suffering and wariness.

Address:   Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur, 50480

Open Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

12.NATIONAL MOSQUE OF MALAYSIA

  The National Mosque of Malaysia is a popular mosque in Kuala Lumpur known for its distinct feature – the 16-pointed star roof with a 240 feet high minaret that resembles an umbrella.  The National Mosque is dappled with fountains and reflecting pools. This mosque is massive, it can accommodate up to 15,000 people.

Address:  Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours:  6:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM -7:00 PM

13. OLD ISTANA NEGARA (Royal Museum)

  The Old Istana Negara was originally known as the Big House of Chan Wing, a wealthy local Chinese.  It was rented  and renovated to become the residence of the Sultan of Selangor.  And eventually, it was sold to the Malaysian government and became the former home of Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the monarch of Malaysia.  Today, it is known as the Royal Museum since the residence of the King was transferred to the new Istana Negara.

  Address: Jalan Istana, Istana Negara, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Entrance Fee: Adult (foreigner): RM 10/PHP  134/USD 3/EURO 2/SGD 3

Kids (foreigner): RM 5/PHP 67/USD 1.29/EURO 1/SGD 2

Student/PWD/Senior: RM 3/PHP 40/USD/EURO/SGD 1

14. ISTANA NEGARA (Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim)

The new Istana Negara is the official home of the monarch of Malaysia. It replaced the old Istana Negara in Japan Istana. The palace was completed sometime in 2011 proudly reflecting Malay and Islamic architectural elements.

Address:  Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Bukit Damansara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours: Monday – Friday – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM – 9:00 PM

15. ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM

Address: Perdana, Jalan Lembah, Perdana Botanical Gardens, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Open Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

16.SRI MAHAMARIAMMAN TEMPLE

Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest temple in Kuala Lumpur.  It was built sometime in 1873 and can be found along Jalan Bandar in Chinatown.

Address: Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR SIDE TRIPS

Putrajaya day tour.

Enjoy a day trip to Putrajaya and discover the unique local architecture of Putra Mosque and Putra Jaya Government Centre. This day tour also includes a visit to the Agriculture Heritage Park to learn more about local farming and produce.

RESERVE TOUR HERE

Genting highlands.

Enjoy a day tour to Genting Highlands and enjoy its food, shopping and entertainment and try the ride on Genting Skyway, Southeast Asia’s fastest and longest cable car.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS

Enjoy a day trip to Cameron Highlands and learn about tea production, visit bee and butterfly farms while soaking up the scenic valley view. Taste and pick fresh strawberries at the local strawberry farm and cool down by a waterfall.

ALSO READ:   DIY CAMERON HIGHLANDS BUDGET + ITINERARY

Lost world of tambun (ipoh).

Visit Lost World of Tambun, a sprawling amusement park situated in the historic city of Ipoh, Malaysia, about 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur.  Here, you can learn about the Malaysian Tin Mining History while being surrounded by limestone hills that dates back to 400 million years.

LEGOLAND MALAYSIA

If you are visiting Kuala Lumpur with your kids, take a side trip to Legoland Malaysia in Johor Bahru where you can build anything you imagine with Lego bricks. Take a train, captain your own boat or pilot an airplane at Lego City, then go for a ride on the Dragon Roller Coaster.

AFAMOSA OLD WEST COWBOY

I’ve visited A’Famosa Old West Cowboy Town once and it sure was fun if you’re into cowboys and theme parks. Feel the vibes of the ‘Wild West’ when you step into this rowdy cowboy town carnival and enjoy fascinating shows, country songs, stunt shows and more. This sprawling resort also have a Water Theme Park nearby.

Explore Melaka (Malacca), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Walk along street peppered with beautiful historical buildings and visit other attractions such as A’Formosa Portuguese Fortress, St. Peter’s Church, Malacca Museum and more!

  RESERVE TOUR HERE

Also read: diy melaka travel guide (budget + itinerary), colmar tropicale.

How to get to Colmar Tropicale

  1: Purchase a shuttle bus ticket at Colmar Tropicale Office (The Chateu/The Taraas) at Berjaya Times Square Level 8. It is recommended to purchase a day before your visit as the seats are limited.

2: Take the shuttle van to Colmar Tropicale. It is parked in front of Berjaya Times Square Main entrance near the stairs leading to KL Monorail (Imbi Station).

3: Alight at Colmar Tropicale Resort.

WHERE TO EAT IN KUALA LUMPUR

1. JALAN ALOR – Jalan Alor is known as one of the best place to eat street in Kuala Lumpur.  It is located in the middle of Kuala Lumpur near hotels around Changkat Bukit Bintang. This foodie street is sprinkled with a variety of seafood restaurants and hawker stalls.

2.BUKIT BINTANG – Bukit Bintang has its own shares of restaurants where you can savor really good Malaysian dishes as well as foreign dishes.

3.CHINATOWN – If you are craving for Chinese food, head to Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur and try Hainan chicken, mee goreng and asam laksa.

4.DINNER IN THE SKY MALAYSIA – Undoubtedly, a unique way to dine is by enjoying a 3 course dinner as you are suspended 50 meters off the ground with a 360-degree view of the city including the Petronas Tower.

WHERE TO SHOP IN KUALA LUMPUR

1. CENTRAL MARKET- Just a stone’s throw away from Petaling Street is Central Market, originally a wet market back in the days.  This Art Deco building is a actually a heritage site oozing with over 300 kiosks and shops selling handicrafts, souvenirs, antiques, batik, shoes, etc.  There are also good restaurants here where you can dine and try Malaysian dishes.

  3. BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE MALL- Berjaya Times Squares boasts as one of the world’s largest building ever built in a single phase.  This shopping mall houses over 1,000 shops selling all kinds of good. Interestingly, this mall also houses Malaysia’s largest indoor theme park!

KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY

ALSO READ: DIY KUALA LUMPUR ITINERARY (5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS) WITH BUDGET

Kuala lumpur trip budget breakdown.

Here’s a sample Kuala Lumpur trip budget if you follow the above itinerary. As always, this is subjective, budget will depend on your food expenses, activities and type of hotel.

 ALSO READ:   SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE (Budget + Itinerary)

SIEM REAP TRAVEL GUIDE

Bali itinerary, bangkok itinerary, ho chi minh itinerary, hanoi itinerary, related posts.

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2024 LILIW TOURIST SPOTS + ITINERARY

hi… thanks for your blog.. its very helpful.. may i ask if where to buy sim card with unli data good for 5 days for tricity – kl, singapore & indonesia? where to change money in KL and Singapore? and budget hostels for those countries? hehe sorry andami kong tanong… thanks in advance (“,)… be healthy & happy always – more travels!!!

An FYI the USD in the total budget is not correct. Very helpful otherwise as always. I use all your guides for South East Asia!

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Charming small towns and villages in Malaysia for your next road trip

R oad trip anyone? Don’t fret if you’re on a tight budget but still want to explore and travel. Malaysia is full of hidden gems just waiting to be explored. While you may have done the rounds on the more popular touristy cities like George Town, Malacca and Ipoh, there are still a handful of smaller towns and villages just waiting to be discovered.

These small but charming towns and villages are full of distinctive cultures, sights, good food, character, that certainly deserves a spot on your instagram and tik tok feeds. Ready to be pleasantly surprised? Here we go!

1. Bentong, Pahang Most of you have probably been to Bentong before, a huge district in the state of Pahang and know for popular weekend getaway spots such as Bukit Tinggi, Genting Highlands and Janda Baik.

However there is more to Bentong than meets the eye, this place hides some pretty sweet durian orchards, gorgeous waterfalls, and a aesthetic laid back old town with good food, go explore and soak in the lovely morning atmosphere at the Bentong Morning Market, take your coffee at a quaint shop that has been in business for decades and take a refreshing dip at the beautiful Chamang Waterfall.

Also what is a trip without souvenirs, doný forget to bring back Bentong's famous ginger, soy sauce and durian snacks.

2. Kluang, Johor

When your friends suggest a road trip to Kluang, just accept!

Nestled in central Johor, Kluang has some of Malaysia's largest organic farms, where you can pick your own herbs, befriend some goats and sheep and take selfies to fill your whole phone gallery, there are hills waiting to be conquered, a colourful street adorned with murals and if you're coffee enthusiast a coffee powder factory you are able to explore.

Go early and start with an aromatic cup of Kluang coffee and kaya toast at a kopitiam established in 1938, walk off those calories by admiring the murals and then take the whole day to explore the beautiful organic farms and learn how organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs are farmed!

3. Gopeng, Perak

Everyone associates Perak with Ipoh, rightly so, but have you ever set foot in Gopeng? Gopeng is a former tin mining town, with a laid-back vibe perfect for nature lovers who love exploring majestic rainforests, rivers, caves, and limestone cliffs.

Home to the 400-million-year-old Gua Tempurung, those craving for an adrenaline rush can try out white water rafting at the Kampar River,or hike Bukit Batu Putih. History buffs can learn the history of this town at the Gopeng Museum.

For those who love the idea of camping but are not really into roughing it out, there are many glamping sites to also explore.

4.Teluk Intan, Perak

If you miss the days of old, and love quaint towns then lean into Teluk Intan or formerly known as Teluk Anson. This town is most known for the iconic leaning tower of Teluk Intan, Malaysia's version of the leaning tower of Pisa!

The tower which was built in 1885 for the purpose of storing water during the drought season and to guide ships to the town's port is slanted leftward due to the underground stream.

While there aren't a lot of things to see in this quiet laidback town, the food will make the trip worth it. Go on a foodie adventure and start with some hearty nasi kandar, yummy rojak, and chinese pastries. Cool down with a refreshing bowl of ais kacang at the Glutton Square food court which has been a local favourite for almost 60 years.

5. Kangar, Perlis

The capital of Perlis, Kangar is more known as a transit station for overland travel between Malaysia and Thailand. While Kangar is not some snazzy metropolis full of exciting lights and vibrant streets, it has a charming old town vibe that makes it refreshing to explore.

Because of its close promiximity to the Thai border, most locals speak Thai and for those who stay by the border some even just walk over the immigration line to visit family and friends.

Surrounded by vast fields and farms, you can even get aesthetic photos at its beautiful sunflower field filled with rows and rows of sunflowers located in its snake and reptile park.There is also a petting zoo and reptile conservatory for an educational and fun filled time for the kids.

6. Rompin, Pahang Dotted with natural gems and located by the sea and the river, surrounded by lush rainforests, if you're off the adventurous sort then Rompin is the district for you.

Explore the off-the-beaten path, see beautiful waterfalls, visit orang asli villages, soak in the sun at one of the beaches and prepared to be mesmerised by a picturesque lake with clear blue waters in Bukit Ibam called Tasik Biru.

The district also merges with the edges of the popular Endau-Rompin National Park,the second-largest national park in Peninsular Malaysia after Taman Negara. Covering an area of almost 900 square kilometres, this nature gem makes up a part of two Malaysian states (Pahang and Johor), and is home to pristine forests, majestic waterfalls, and endangered animals including the Malayan Tiger and Sumatran Rhinoceros.