Rainforest, colonial port towns and a food scene built on three cuisines.
Malaysia spans a peninsula and much of northern Borneo. Kuala Lumpur pairs the Petronas Towers with the Batu Caves, while George Town on Penang and Melaka preserve shophouse streets and a trading-port history. Inland lie the tea estates of the Cameron Highlands and the ancient rainforest of Taman Negara; on Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak offer Mount Kinabalu, orangutans and remote river journeys.
Eating is the national pastime, from Malay nasi lemak and Chinese char kway teow to Indian roti canai at hawker stalls. Travel is easy, with good roads, long-distance buses and cheap domestic flights. The climate is hot and humid all year; the east coast islands such as the Perhentians are best from April to September, before the monsoon arrives.
Best time to visit Malaysia
February, March, June, July.
Places to visit in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's capital, where the Petronas Towers rise above Malay, Chinese and Indian neighbourhoods full of food.
George Town: Penang's historic capital, a UNESCO-listed port town of shophouses, clan houses, street art and legendary hawker stalls.
Langkawi: A duty-free archipelago in the Andaman Sea, with sandy beaches, mangrove tours and the Langkawi Sky Bridge.
Malacca: A historic port city shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, and by the Peranakan culture of its Chinese settlers.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's seaside capital, the base for climbing Mount Kinabalu and snorkelling the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
Essentials
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Language: Malay; English widely spoken, plus Chinese dialects and Tamil
Plugs: Type G, 240 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC+8
Tipping: Not expected; service charge is often added
Getting around: Buses, trains and cheap domestic flights; ride-hailing apps work well in cities
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking