Malaysia is the perfect destination to add on your travel bucket list. It 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 ultimate Malaysia bucket list so you can tick off these activities 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.
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Rental cars
- Activities, tours, and day trips
- eSIM for international data
- Where to stay in KL when you visit for the first time
- The best area to stay in Penang when you visit first
Go up the KL Tower
KL Tower is a 421 meter telecommunications tower. It’s the seventh tallest telecommunications tower in the world and one of the tallest buildings in Malaysia’s capital city.
It has a 360 degree open air observation deck. It’s the perfect place 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 capital of Malaysia.
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.
They are located in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (or KLCC) within walking distance from KL Tower.
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.
Watch the KLCC Lake Symphony 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.
Shop at 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.
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.
Get tropical fruit at 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.
Take pictures 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!
Explore Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a Hindu Temple located about 8 miles / 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur. It’s one of the main 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 place 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.
I recommend you visit early in the morning since it’s a very popular spot and it gets crowded. Plus, the weather will be less hot and humid if you go early.
Visit Thean Hou Temple
Thean Hou is one of the largest ancient 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.
Explore Penang’s Georgetown
The Island of Penang is the perfect place to visit solo in South East Asia. It has a vibrant street food scene, cute cafes, plenty of cultural attractions, a mix of pre-war shophouses and colonial buildings, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You should stroll through Armenian Street, Kimberly Street and Chulia Street as they have a lot of street art, shops that sell souvenirs, and Chinese clan houses. Marvel at all the historical buildings, learn about the history of the island, and try as many restaurants and coffee shops as you can.
Go on a food tour in Penang
Penang has the best food in Malaysia. There are people who come here just for the good food. There are so many restaurants in Penang and most of them offer incredibly delicious food.
Going on a food tour on your first day in George Town is a must-do activity. I joined this food and walking tour where I sampled about 15 different kinds of food, including tropical fruits, char kway teow, and baba-nyonya 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. It was an immersive experience and I loved it.
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 and street food stalls 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. Make sure to stay hydrated as Penang has warm weather and high humidity.
Go up Penang Hill
A place where you can get an incredible panoramic view of Penang is 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 railway: 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, it would be a good idea to 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 and the surrounding lush greenery. 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.
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 in Penang
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.
Visit the Clan Jetties in Penang
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.
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple
The last stop on the itinerary is Kek Lok Si Temple. This is the largest and one of the oldest Buddhist temples 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.
Take a day trip to Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is a beautiful 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. 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.
Take a day trip to Malacca
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! It was a great experience.
Need inspiration for your next trip? Check out some of my other articles.
Paris solo travel: everything you need to know
Andorra itinerary: everything you need to visit
Warsaw itinerary: ultimate guide for your first visit
Barcelona 3 day itinerary: the best things to do
Doha itinerary: the best guide for your first visit
Tallinn in 2 days: everything you need to know
Beginner’s guide to NYC: everything you need to know
The best guide for solo travel to Amsterdam
Solo female travel to London: the ultimate guide
The best Oradea 3 day itinerary: a native’s top picks
Istanbul solo travel guide: is Istanbul safe for women?
Helsinki in 2 days: everything you need to visit
Solo travel in Vienna: how to have the best trip
Florence 4 day itinerary: the best guide for solo travelers
Athens 4 day itinerary: ultimate guide for your first visit
4 Day Dublin itinerary: everything you need to know
Solo travel in Milan: the best things to do
Solo travel to Toronto: the ultimate 2 day itinerary
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 80K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.