Malaysia is an incredible country that has a rich history, plenty of natural beauty, friendly locals, and delicious food. In this blog post I will share the perfect 10 day Malaysia itinerary when you visit the country for the first time. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Kuala Lumpur: 4 days
This 10-day Malaysia itinerary starts in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. This way you can fly into Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the largest airport in Malaysia. I personally think KL is one of the most vibrant cities in Southeast Asia. Exploring it is the best way to start this 10-day tour.
Go up the KL Tower
KL Tower is a 421 meter telecommunications tower. It’s the seventh tallest telecommunications tower in the world.
It has a 360 degree open air observation deck. You’ll be able to get some incredible panoramic views of the city here, including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
The KL city skyline is gorgeous and going up the KL Tower is one of the top things you should do in the Malaysian capital.
KL was my favorite observation deck. Yes, I liked it more than the famous Petronas Towers. I’ll explain why in the next section.
Visit the Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Twin Towers are probably the most iconic landmarks of Kuala Lumpur. They are also a symbol of the city and the tallest twin towers in the world.
I lived in NYC and traveled a lot, so I’ve seen plenty of skyscrapers. But I have to say there is something special about the Petronas towers. They have that wow effect that not a lot of tall buildings have.
The observation deck is less impressive compared to KL Tower. That’s because the entire experience is indoors, while you get an outdoors experience at KL Tower.
In addition, you’ll get a close-up view of one of the twin towers since you’ll be in the other one. But the view of both twin towers from KL Tower is much better.
They do have some interactive exhibits and opportunities for taking pictures. But given that the entrance fee is a similar price to the one at KL Tower, if you can only visit one observation deck I recommend KL Tower.
Walk through KLCC Park
KLCC (short for Kuala Lumpur city center)Park is a nice urban park right at the bottom of the Petronas towers. There is a water fountain, plenty of trails and trees, and a running trail.
It’s also a great spot to get some very cute pictures with the twin towers.
Do some shopping at Suria KLCC Mall
After strolling through the park it’s time to get some air conditioning and do some shopping at Suria Mall.
Suria Mall is the mall at the twin towers. It is big and it has a lot of shops and dining options.
I have been to multiple shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur and the shopping scene is elite. There are so many options for everything you would want to buy. That’s why I included some shopping on the itinerary.
Another great mall to check out if you have time is Pavilion.
Attend the KLCC Lake Symphony Show
The first day ends at KLCC Park for the light and sound water fountain show. You can watch the show at 8pm, 9pm or 10pm every day. It lasts for about 10-15 minutes.
I loved it. It’s really cute to see the water dance on the beats of the music playing.
It’s a very popular show. There are a lot of people coming to see it, but you still have enough space to sit down on the steps in front of the water fountain. It’s free to attend.
Explore the Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a Hindu Temple located about 8 miles / 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur. It’s one of the most visited attractions in Kuala Lumpur.
It’s a really gorgeous temple as all 274 steps that lead up to the cave entrance are painted in bright colors. These colorful steps are a great spot for pictures.
When you go up the stairs watch out for the monkeys. They steal food and can be pretty aggressive, so I suggest you don’t carry any snacks or bags with you during your visit.
On the ground level there is a very large golden statue of the deity Murugan. Once you make your way up, inside the cave, there are multiple temples and you can observe all the rituals and practices they perform.
It’s free to visit, but be mindful that many people come here to pray, so cover your shoulder and keep your voice down once you enter the cave.
The best time to visit is early in the morning. Otherwise it gets really hot and humid and trust me, you don’t want to climb all those steps in that weather.
Eat on Jalan Alor Food Street
When you’re in Kuala Lumpur you must eat on Jalan Alor Food Street once. It’s a street full of street food stalls and restaurants that becomes alive at night.
We ate at Meng Kee Grill Fish and shared a bunch of dishes. It’s nice if you’re eating here with a larger group since you’ll be able to try more dishes.
Everything we had was really good, so pick whatever sounds good to you from the menu.
Stroll through Central Market
Central Market is a cute market that has been operating since 1888 in Chinatown. It has lots of shops where you can buy souvenirs, traditional batik art, and handmade objects. It’s one of the best places to buy souvenirs.
One of the shops also offers a batik painting workshop here where you can paint your own souvenirs to take home. I visited during Eid, so they were closed, but if you want a unique experience I recommend you sign up for this.
Visit Sin Sze Si Ya Temple
Also in Chinatown is the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur, Sin Sze Si Ya. This is a bit of a hidden gem that my local friend introduced me to. There weren’t any tourists, just locals praying and making offerings to the gods.
It’s a really special temple with a lot of history. There is a long table inside the temple and the legend says that if you crawl under the table from one end to the other and make a wish, this wish comes true.
Take cute pictures at BookXcess RexKL Bookstore
Another hidden gem is this cute bookstore. As you get there go to the top floor. There you’ll see a lot of books arranged in multiple bookcases that have some empty spots where people can sit.
It’s the perfect place to snap some adorable pictures. And if you want to buy a book as a souvenir from your Kuala Lumpur trip, this is a great place for that too.
Walk through Petaling Street Market
Petaling Street Market is a busy market that sells all kinds of items, from clothes, shoes, to fruit and street food. It’s a popular tourist destination.
I recommend you only buy fruit or food here, and stay away from all the stalls selling clothes, shoes, and trinkets. They inflate the prices for tourists and you’ll have to haggle if you buy something.
Even my local friend told me to just keep walking and avoid eye contact while I was there haha.
It’s definitely worth visiting for the experience, but maybe do your shopping somewhere else.
If you decide to try the fruit, you should buy some mangosteen, a tropical fruit that you can’t easily find in other parts of the world. It’s delicious, sweet and tart at the same time.
Be careful not to get any peel juice on you because all locals told me that you won’t be able to get the stain out with anything.
Go back in time at Kway Chai Hong alleyway
I loved Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. It’s probably my favorite neighborhood. Another cool spot here is the Kway Chai Hong alleyway.
It’s one of the most instagrammable spots in the city. It has restored pre-war shophouses, lots of impressive street art, the oldest lamp post in Kuala Lumpur, and a great speakeasy bar.
It’s one of the best spots in KL to take some epic pictures. It’s just so cute!
Visit Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou is one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia. It’s a six-tiered temple of the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu.
This temple is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur, so it will be busy.
The temple has some impressive architecture that blends traditional design with modern techniques. It has spectacular roofs and a lot of colorful lanterns and other decorations.
You can go inside the temple, but have to remove your shoes first.
Inside the temple they have these things that look like containers with a lot of tiny drawers. And inside the container there are some long wooden objects that look like spears and all have a number on them.
You need to grab all of them, lift them a bit, and then throw them back in the container. There will usually be a spear that stays taller than the rest when you do this.
Read the number on it and then take a message card from the little drawer that has that number.
The message will have a prediction about your finances, relationships, health, and travel opportunities. I have no idea how true these predictions are, but it’s a fun thing to do while you’re there.
Stroll through the KL Butterfly Park
I think of Kuala Lumpur as a mix of jungle and concrete jungle. That’s because the city has plenty of skyscrapers, but it also has plenty of green spaces.
The botanical garden is one of these green spaces. The butterfly park is a separate enclosed area that has trees and plants and a lot of species of butterflies flying around.
The butterflies are really pretty and come in all sizes and colors. You can spend some time watching them and just walk around all the green areas.
The butterflies won’t come sit on you. I tried to keep my hand out thinking one of them might rest on it, but it didn’t happen. They seem to just do their thing and not interact with people.
The garden itself is on the small size, but very well kept. There are bridges, gazebos, and cute alleys. And even a little waterfall.
I’ve never been to a butterfly park before, so I loved the experience here.
I do need to warn you that it’s really hot there. There is no AC and the greenhouse effect makes it feel really hot and humid.
Malacca: 1 day
Malacca is a port city with a very tumultuous history. It was a city perfectly positioned for international trade. In the early 1500 it was conquered by the Portuguese.
Then the Dutch defeated the Portuguese and ruled Malacca from 1641 to 1798. Then in the 1800’s it was ceded to the British in exchange for another place on Sumatra.
During World War II it was ruled by the Japanese. And as of 1963 it became part of independent Malaysia.
The city has a lot of influences from both the Portuguese and the Dutch. It’s a very unique city to visit and to learn more about its history.
I went on this day trip from KL and I opted for the private tour. The driver was amazing and he shared so much about Malacca both as we were driving there and after we arrived. But he also gave us free time to explore on our own.
It takes a bit under 2 hours to get to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur. You leave KL around 7am and return in the early afternoon, so you can make plans for dinner in KL.
Lunch was included in the price. We picked a banana leaf lunch and it was the best Indian food I’ve had in Malaysia.
Can’t recommend this day trip enough! I loved it!
Cameron Highlands: 1 day
Another great choice for a day trip is Cameron Highlands. It’s an area in the mountains where they have tea plantations.
Since you’re going up in altitude the temperature will be a bit cooler and more bearable than Kuala Lumpur.
The drive to Cameron Highland takes 3-4 hours, so it takes longer to get there compared to Malacca.
But you’ll be able to visit a tea plantation (and drink some incredible tea), strawberry fields where you can pick your own strawberries, visit a waterfall, and a butterfly park.
All activities on this day trip are very unique and they are worth the longer drive. Plus, the drive is very scenic as you start ascending to Cameron Highlands.
This is the day trip from KL I took and I opted for the private tour. Unfortunately I went on this day trip when all locals were leaving Kuala Lumpur for the Ramadan celebrations, so traffic was really bad.
It took us about 5 hours to get to Cameron Highlands and we didn’t have time to go to the butterfly farm.
I knew this when I booked, so I take full responsibility for it. For me, being able to visit Cameron Highlands was more important than doing all activities. So I’m glad I went and I don’t regret my choice even though it was a long day in traffic.
Penang: 4 days
Penang is the last stop on this 10-day Malaysia itinerary. Georgetown is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Island of Penang and it’s considered the food capital of Malaysia. It’s the right place to enjoy these last few days in Malaysia.
Visit the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion or the Blue Mansion is one of the two most famous Peranakan mansion on Penang Island. The other one is Pinang Peranakan Mansion.
The term Peranakan describes the descendants of Chinese men who came to Malaysia and married Malay women. The other word for it is Baba-Nyonya, where Baba is the name used for a boy and Nyonya for a girl.
Many Chinese men came to Malaysia to set up the tin mining business since they had previous experience with it. And of course, they stayed and built families there, which led to the creation of this new culture.
Cheong Fatt Tze was a very successful businessman, nicknamed the Rockefeller of Asia. He used to be the richest man in Asia.
He expanded his trading and banking businesses to Penang, where he used to reside occasionally. So he built the Blue Mansion in Penang.
This building was restored and became a heritage building. It is now part hotel, part museum. And it was featured in a lot of movies, including Crazy Rich Asians. So if you want to stay in this historical building while in Penang, make sure you book a room in advance.
How to visit
You need a ticket to visit the mansion. They offer 2 daily guided tours and self-guided tours hourly between 11am-6pm. The capacity for guided tours is 24 people. The capacity for self-guided tours is 10 people per hour.
They needed to reduce the volume of visitors to preserve the building, hence the limited slots.
These tickets sell out fast, so I recommend you book them in advance to avoid disappointment. I was able to snag a self guided tour ticket a day in advance, but it was the last one available.
Explore the Pinang Peranakan Mansion
The other famous Peranakan Mansion, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, is a museum dedicated to the Peranakan heritage. The mansion used to be the home and office of a 19th century Chinese tycoon.
This one is a green building. I loved the bright colors of the two Peranakan Mansions!
They offer free guided tours in English and Chinese that are included with your ticket. These tours start at set times, so you’ll probably have to wait a bit before the tour starts.
I attended a guided tour and I loved it. I learned a lot about the history of the house and of Peranakans in general.
Stroll on Armenian Street
Armenian Street is a narrow street in George Town that has a lot of street art, shops that sell souvenirs, and Chinese clan houses.
The famous children on a bicycle street art mural is on Armenian Street. There are always people there taking pictures with the mural, but everyone is waiting their turn.
It’s a first come first served queue and everyone is waiting patiently for their turn to take pictures.
This street is a good place to take a leisurely walk. Just enjoy everything you find here.
Go on a street art tour
Speaking of street art, Penang is famous for its street. There are so many works of art throughout George Town!
I think you can see them in two ways. The first option is to just get lost on its streets and find the murals.
The other way is to find the locations of the different murals through blog posts and use Google maps to create an itinerary. This way you create your own street art tour.
You could easily spend a few hours just hunting for cool street art and taking pictures.
Visit the Clan Jetties
The Clan Jetties are rustic houses built on stilts. It’s a historical neighborhood by the water.
You can find a lot of street vendors selling food, souvenirs, and clothes as you walk from the entrance all the way to the back to reach the end of the houses and the little pier.
There is also a street art mural on the last jetty. I’m telling you, you’ll find street art everywhere in Penang!
There isn’t much to do at the Clan Jetties, but it’s really cool to see these houses that are built on stilts. It’s part of Penang’s history.
Go on a food tour
Penang has the best food in Malaysia. There are people who come here just for the food. There are so many restaurants in Penang and most of them offer incredibly delicious food.
My recommendation is to go on a food tour on your first day in Penang. That’s what I did. I joined this food and walking tour where I sampled about 15 different kinds of food, including the famous char kway teow and delicious street food.
My guide was born and raised in Penang, so she was able to take us to all the great local spots. She explained the history behind every dish, told us how we are supposed to eat each item, and recommended extra places to try.
The advantage of joining one of these tours on your first day is that you’ll be able to try a lot of different dishes. And you’ll be able to discover hidden gem restaurants that you can return to. Plus, you’ll support small, local businesses.
My tour lasted for 4 hours. So make sure you go hungry! You’ll eat a lot.
Go up The TOP Penang
While Penang is famous for its historical center it also has a more modern side. The TOP is a skyscraper that houses the largest indoor theme park with 18 different attractions.
They have the Jurassic Research Center that has over 200 dinosaurs as part of an interactive activity, an aquarium, a magic mirror maze, toboggans, and so many other things.
My favorite one was the Rainbow Skywalk, their observation deck at the top of the skyscraper where you can walk on a transparent glass walkaway.
The Rainbow Skywalk experience is in the open air and it offers one of the best views of Penang. I loved it! When I visited there weren’t that many people, so I was able to truly enjoy this place.
They also have a water fountain called “Pot of Gold”. The fountain has a bell in the middle. Legend says that if you make a wish, hit the bell with a coin and you can hear the bell ring your wish will come true. I totally did this and I had a great time!
Visit one of the most beautiful streets in the world
The 17th most beautiful street in the world, Jalan Kek Chuan, is just a short walk from the TOP. It’s a very small street that has old, traditional houses that were renovated and painted in bright colors.
It looks beautiful and you can take some great pictures here. I love cute, colorful, artsy places, so I had to stop by.
But if this is not your vibe feel free to skip it.
Take the funicular railway to Penang Hill
There is another place to get an incredible panoramic view of Penang: the Penang Hill. You can either hike up the hill or take the funicular. I opted for the funicular because I would have probably passed out if I attempted to hike in that heat and humidity.
They sell 2 types of tickets for the funicular: regular and express. When I visited there weren’t that many people waiting in line, so I bought the regular ticket. I had to wait about 5 minutes and I could hop on the funicular.
Just gauge the size of the line when you get there. If it’s long, you should buy an express ticket. Express ticket holders board before regular ticket holders, so you don’t have to wait that long.
Once you reach the top of the hill there are multiple balconies where you can take pictures with the view. Everyone stops at the first one and it gets crowded. My advice is to keep going and find another spot that’s not as busy.
I have to warn you that if you go up the hill on a cloudy day you won’t be able to see much. You’ll basically be in the clouds. This is what happened to me, but I don’t regret the experience.
There are some food places on the hill and if you walk 5 kilometers you will get to the botanical gardens.
Another attraction you can find there is the Habitat Penang Hill. a rainforest where you can walk and do forest bathing.
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple
The last stop on the itinerary is Kek Lok Si Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.
It is pretty close to Penang Hill and it is built on multiple levels on a hill.
You can hike all the way up or you can buy a ticket that you can use to take funiculars or golf carts from one level to the next. I opted for the ticket because it was really hot outside.
The temple is beautiful and it’s worth exploring everything. The pagoda is not included in your ticket price, so if you want to visit you will have to buy a separate ticket. It’s really cheap, so worth it.
If you want to go up the pagoda you have to make a donation. And if you want to hang a few wish ribbons you also have to pay 1 ringgit per ribbon.
I respect that they are trying to monetize as much as possible, but I want you to know this to make sure you have cash with you if you want to do all these things.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.