By Liam Isola With UNESCO World Heritage sites, a blend of cultures and landscapes, and affordable prices, Malaysia is an intriguing destination to consider in Southeast Asia. Whether on its own or as part of a larger Asia trip, consider spending a week in Malaysia. While there may be no direct flights from the US currently, Kuala Lumpur’s airport is incredibly well-connected to other Asian cities.
I spent two months in Asia back in 2019 and traveled to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. With plenty of hostels, transit options, and activities, Southeast Asia is unsurprisingly popular among backpackers. You can certainly do these destinations as a luxury traveler as well, and they’re all worth a trip.
In any case, we’ll discuss how to spend a week in Malaysia today and cover other Asian destinations another time.
A Week in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur – Two Full Days
The most natural first stop during a week in Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, unless you’re coming from Singapore or flying into Penang. There are plenty of direct flights from nearby countries to Malaysia’s cosmopolitan capital.
Malaysia is a multicultural country, with a Muslim majority. The main ethnic groups in the country are Malay, Chinese, and Indian, and that diversity is reflected in its cuisine. Malaysia’s national dish is Nasi Lemak, which is rice cooked in coconut milk and banana leaves served with sides.
Kuala Lumpur has something for everyone, and it’s relatively easy to get around with the metro. The world’s former tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers are in KL. They’re a must-see, and I especially liked the view of the Twin Towers from nearby KLCC Park at night.
Another iconic attraction just north of Kuala Lumpur is the Batu Caves. Visitors can take the train from KL to the Batu Caves, which only takes around 30 minutes. There is a massive golden statue of the Hindu god Murugan at the entrance stairs, which is the tallest statue in the country.
Once at the complex, there are plenty of temples and caves to explore. The floor drum percussionists playing Hindu devotional songs, combined with the setting, made it an unforgettable experience.
Other must-see sites include the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the National Mosque, which non-Muslims can only visit during set hours. They are 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, except for limited hours on Friday.
I also liked the KL Bird Park and Perdana Botanical Garden. It’s also worth sampling the city’s varied food offerings at the famous Jalan Alor Food Street. Central Market and Jalan Petaling Street (Chinatown) are other stops to make.
Penang (George Town) – Two Full Days
Flying from Kuala Lumpur is the most convenient way to reach Penang Island. Flights only take around an hour and fares are as low as $19. George Town, the capital of Penang, is around a 20-minute drive from the airport and an essential stop during a week in Malaysia.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and a key city on the Strait of Malacca. An iconic dish from the city is Nasi Kandar, which is steamed rice served with a few different curries. Deens Maju Nasi Kandar was delicious and close to the Olympic Gym, where they have affordable day passes.
There’s a lot of Chinese and Indian influence in the city, and Penang’s Little India is a great place to get Roti Canai, an Indian-inspired flatbread. The Kimberley Street Night Market is an ideal place to try street food, especially Chinese soups, dumplings, and meat dishes.
You’ll find creative street art adorning buildings around Penang’s colorful capital city, which over 700,000 people call home. The Penang City Hall is a beautiful building right near the waterfront. Along the jetties, there are houses on stilts, which make for interesting viewing.
During my second day in George Town I decided to venture out. I rented a scooter and drove out west to Penang National Park, about 35 minutes away from the city. I have fond memories of seeing families of monkeys on the way to the Pantai Keracut beach.
George Town is a place I wish I had spent more time in. You could easily extend your stay just to enjoy its food scene.
Cameron Highlands – Two Full Days
While the tropical rainforest climates in Kuala Lumpur and Penang can be oppressively hot, you can get some respite in the Cameron Highlands. The bus from Penang usually takes between four and five hours, and it’s a different world up in Pahang State.
Known for lush greenery and tea plantations, the Cameron Highlands is a popular destination for hikers. There are plenty of trails, and it has a nice, cool climate. I stayed at Hikers Port Guesthouse, which was affordable and had a memorable free breakfast.
I hiked on both Jungle Trail 6 and Jungle Trail 10. They weren’t too challenging and had nice scenery. From Trail 6, you can reach the Cameron Valley Tea House, where you can sample local tea and buy souvenirs to bring home.
I was able to easily follow my gym routine during a week in Malaysia by getting a day pass at Joe’s Fitness Gym. Some hostel friends and I also played soccer with local kids at the Padang Awam Park, close to downtown.
Like Penang, I could’ve easily stayed more days in Cameron Highlands and loved how laid back it was. There were also some good restaurants in town, like Singh Chapati and Restoran AlRaudah. Jungle Bar is a fun spot for billiards as well.
A Week in Malaysia: Malacca – One Full Day
The bus between Cameron Highlands and Malacca can take as long as eight hours. So, consider breaking up the journey and spending another day in Kuala Lumpur if time allows.
All of the main attractions in Malacca are in its relatively compact city center. Malacca had a long colonial history and was under the control of the Portuguese, Dutch and British at various times.
This shows up in the architecture and food. You can easily find pastel de nata at Jonker Street Night Market. There’s an old Portuguese fortress in the city called A Famosa, close to the Proclamation of Independence Memorial.
Dutch artifacts include the Dutch Square, which includes the old State House, Stadthuys. Meanwhile, the Queen Victoria Fountain is a remnant of the British colonial era.
Like in George Town, there’s a lot of street art and massive murals in Malacca. It’s nice to walk along the Malacca River and see all of the murals and cafes.
I walked over to Malacca Island and climbed up a guard tower to see a view of the Strait of Malacca and the modernist Selat Melaka Mosque.
After a great week in Malaysia, I went on to Singapore by taking the bus from Malacca to Johor Bahru and crossing over the land border there. Compared to Malaysia, which is exceptionally cheap to travel in, Singapore is more expensive. Still, it is possible to do Singapore on a budget.