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!
Malay; 'Thank you' is 'terima kasih'
Islam
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Tropical; hot & humid year round (rainy season varies depending on area)
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.
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.
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.
Malaysia can be a very budget friendly travel destination, with hostels available from $5 and private hotels from $15. Meals are also cheap, costing about $3 to $6 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. The Grab transportation app is great for getting around cities like Kuala Lumpur.
The best Malaysia tours & activities
My latest blog posts about Malaysia
There are lots of amazing things to do in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city, and it seems like we’re discovering more every time we visit. Not only …
Thean Hou Temple is a colorful Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with some awesome architecture. It’s a contemporary building (1987), but it has all of the …
The Batu Caves are one of the best things to see near Kuala Lumpur city in Malaysia. These are big limestone hills with huge caves to explore …
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