Malaysia Travel Guide

Overview

Malaysia is a diverse Southeast Asian country with one of the most developed economies in the region. The capital city, Kuala Lumpur, has a lot of cool urban sights like the Petronas Twin Towers, while the Malaysian state of Sabah in Borneo is known for rugged jungles and unique wildlife.

Read through this complete Malaysia travel guide for more info on what to expect!

Quick Facts

Language

Malay; 'Thank you' is 'terima kasih'

Religion

Islam

Capital

Visa

Visa free access for 160+ nationalities

Climate

Tropical; hot & humid year round (rainy season varies depending on area)

Power Plugs

Apps

Flights

Malaysia has a major airport in Kuala Lumpur (code: KUL) with direct flights from many countries all over the world.

In fact, a good portion of the air traffic in Southeast Asia connects through this airport, so if you do any traveling in this part of the world then you'll most likely pass through Kuala Lumpur at some point in your journeys.

In Malaysian Borneo (Sabah), the main airport is Kota Kinabalu (BKI). You can shop for flights to Malaysia on Skyscanner.

Safety

Malaysia is a pretty safe travel destination, with a low violent crime rate from the UN of 2.1 per 100k inhabitants (66% lower than the global average).

I’ve traveled in many parts of Malaysia and didn't witness any crime. Terrorism is not an issue here and attitudes toward foreigners seem welcoming. Just practice normal precautions, especially at night. Mosquito spray can be a good idea too, especially during the rainy season.

Climate

The climate of Malaysia is tropical, so the weather is hot and humid year round. Malaysia's rainy season for the west coast runs from April to October, and the most sunny months for the west coast are from November to February.

For Kuala Lumpur, the opposite is true, so the most sunny months are May through September. It's still possible to visit Malaysia in the rainy season, but you might want to give yourself some extra days as a buffer in case of bad weather.

Budget

Malaysia can be a very budget friendly travel destination, withΒ hostels available from 25 Ringgits ($5 USD) and private hotels from 70 Ringgits. Meals are also cheap, costing about 15 to 30 Ringgits depending on location.

Transportation in Malaysia is generally by motorbike or car, and these can be rented, but hiring a driver is cheap and often preferable. TheΒ GrabΒ transportation app is great for getting around cities like Kuala Lumpur.

Tours

The best Malaysia tours & activities

Posts

My latest blog posts about Malaysia

Get In Touch

Feel free to contact me if you have travel questions, comments, or suggestions!

I'll try to get back to you!