Country guide
Malaysia is one country in two pieces, and the South China Sea between them is a flight rather than a drive. Peninsular Malaysia holds Kuala Lumpur, the adminis...
Photograph · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Malaysia is one country in two pieces, and the South China Sea between them is a flight rather than a drive. Peninsular Malaysia holds Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital at Putrajaya and most of the 34,374,300 people the 2026 estimate counts; East Malaysia is the Malaysian share of Borneo, and it is where the rainforest is. Thirteen states and three federal territories share 330,803 km2. Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries, and since most of that lives on the Borneo side, planning a trip here means deciding which half of the country the week belongs to.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · thomasgl · Public domain
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
14 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan
Federal Territory Mosque, known locally as Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, is a major Islamic place of worship in Kuala Lumpur.
Chan See Shu Yuen Temple
Chan She Shu Yuen Temple is a Chinese clan temple in Kuala Lumpur, associated with the Chan family and broader Chinese community heritage. The structure represents traditional southern Chinese architectural influence in Malaysia's capital.
Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple is an active Hindu place of worship in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to Lord Ganesha, also known as Vinayagar.
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is an active Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as Kandaswamy. It is a place of worship for the Hindu community and a cultural landmark connected with Tamil Hindu traditions in Malaysia.
Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple
Wat Chetawan, also known locally as Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple, is a Thai Buddhist temple in Kuala Lumpur. It serves the Thai Buddhist community as a place of worship, meditation and community gathering.
St. John’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Kuala Lumpur and the seat of the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. It is an active place of worship serving the city’s Catholic community.
St Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary’s Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Kuala Lumpur and the cathedral church of the Diocese of West Malaysia.
Masjid As Syakirin
As Syakirin Mosque, also known as Masjid As Syakirin, is an active Muslim place of worship in Kuala Lumpur. Its primary purpose is prayer and religious life rather than sightseeing.
Nine to fourteen days allows three days in Kuala Lumpur plus Penang, Malacca, or one carefully chosen island region. Sabah and Sarawak require flights from the peninsula and should be treated as distinct itinerary legs.
Malaysia's passport, visa, and arrival-card rules depend on nationality and arrival point. Use the Immigration Department's official portal to verify all three for the intended journey.
KLIA links to KL Sentral by express rail, while ETS trains and coaches cover much of the peninsula. Flights connect Sabah and Sarawak; island ferries need a separate seasonal timetable check.
February to April is a broad west-coast orientation, not a single Malaysian season. East-coast islands and Borneo have different monsoon patterns, so the ferry-dependent or wildlife leg should determine the dates.
Malaysia uses the ringgit (MYR). Cards are useful in Kuala Lumpur and major resorts, while markets and smaller transport may need ringgit cash; check the MYR amount before accepting terminal conversion.
Dial 999 for emergencies in Malaysia. Type G sockets supply 240 V; tap-water status is not recorded, so seek current local guidance at the accommodation.
