We Malaysians know that our country is one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. There are too many good places to visit in Malaysia. Too many in fact, that most believe you won’t be able to visit them all one by one. But did you know that there are places to visit in Malaysia just over the weekend? It’s true. Take a look at our list and see for yourself:
Here’s 5 Places To Visit in Malaysia Over the Weekend this 2020:
1. Kuala Lumpur
Naturally, we start with the metropolitan capital, Kuala Lumpur. It’s one of the most populated places to visit in Malaysia. Rest assured that there are a lot of things to do, a lot of people to meet and a lot of food to eat here. But with too many attractions, most have yet to fully explore the wonders of Kuala Lumpur!
For a fun-filled weekend in Kuala Lumpur, here are some places you can visit:
Central Market
Location: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00 Daily
The country’s National Heritage Department classified Central Market as a Malaysian Heritage Site. Vendors at the Central Market sell various local goods. There’s traditional handicraft, trendy apparel, and local street food. Traders here focus more on traditional handicraft. They sell their authentic Malaysian batik prints and more. There’s also a place within the market called the Annexe. This is where local artists hold galleries that exhibit their works. Discover the beauties of Malaysia’s culture here!
Bukit Bintang
Location: Pavilion KL, Bukit Bintang Road that starts at Raja Chulan Road and ends at Pudu Road
Opening Hours: Varies per establishment but you can visit 24/7
Bukit Bintang is well known as Kuala Lumpur’s trendiest shopping and entertainment district. It has everything you need for a great night out at the city! Club and shop ’til you drop with its many shopping centers, all-day restaurants, and vibrant nightclubs. It’s sure to be one of the most exciting places to visit in Malaysia.
Petronas Twin Towers
Location: Concourse Level, Lower Ground, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 21:00, Tuesday to Sunday / 13:00 – 14:30, Fridays (Closed on Mondays)
The Petronas Twin Towers is still the tallest twin tower in the world up to date. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Malaysia. Locals are welcome to visit. You can go shopping or watch a movie at the Suria KLCC Shopping Centre which is at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers. It’s a modern mall with shopping stores, restaurants and a movie theater. To ascend the twin towers, visitors must buy tickets to reach its top, the Skybridge. You can also go to the Observation Deck and the twin towers’ gift shop.
2. Penang
Penang is one of the most famous travel destinations in the world, the poster boy of Malaysia. It’s no secret why it was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008, what with its cultural sights and natural scenery. It’s also recognized as the food capital of Malaysia. It showcases the country’s mouth-watering street food and hawker fare. So, if you want to have a taste of delicious local delicacies, Penang is the place to go for you.
Georgetown
Location: Northern-east tip of Penang Island
Opening Hours: Varies per establishment
Georgetown is the vibrant and cultural capital of Penang. The city is well known for its artistic murals and for its British Colonial buildings and Chinese shophouses and mosques. Asides from its Old Town, George Town is a modern city, filled with skyscrapers and shopping malls. For those looking to appreciate the local art scene, check out the Hin Bus Depot, an old bus depot where artists, poets and bohemians go to exhibit their art. It’s also a cafe and on the weekends, a market. And for those who are looking to enjoy the local cuisine, try out cheap meals at the street vendors on Chulia Street after 6 PM at night. You can also enjoy the night life on weekends by dancing at the Muchacha, Qe2, a beachbar located at Weld Quay.
Kek Lok Si Temple
Location: 1000-L, Tingkat Lembah Ria 1, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00, Daily
Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist Temple, the largest in Malaysia and all of Southeast Asia. At the temple grounds visitors will find the hill entrance, souvenir stores, food and drink stalls and the turtle liberation pond. At the mid section are the temples, gardens, pagoda and 4 heavenly kings pavilion. The hilltop houses the gigantic statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin. This temple is important to the Malaysian Chinese Community because it features Chinese Buddhist religion and culture.
Little India
Location: Lebuh Cecil, 10300 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Varies per establishment
The Little India in George Town, Penang is like a doorway into South India in the middle of Penang. Locals will surely enjoy the vibrant Indian music playing at every corner, the many Indian Fashion stores that sell saree, silk and cotton which are all staple clothing in their country. You can also enjoy India’s culinary cuisine here. They offer their traditional and classic food such as roti canai, thosai, briyani rice, tandoori chicken and more. Experience the world of India when you visit Little India in Malaysia’s George Town!
3. Cameron Highlands
If you’re tired of the perpetual sweltering heat of Malaysia’s cities, you can visit a different kind of destination altogether: Cameron Highlands. This place has a cool climate all year-round, and is filled with green scenery since it is located in the Titiwangsa Mountains. It’s one of Malaysia’s oldest tourist destinations and boasts of forests, lakes, wildlife and outdoor recreation. It’s no wonder then that Cameron Highlands is also Malaysia’s main tea and flower producer. Locals can appreciate more of their country’s beautiful flora and fauna by visiting Cameron Highlands over the weekend.
Big Red Strawberry Farm
Location: Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8:30 – 18:00, Monday to Saturday / 9:00 – 18:00, Sunday
One of the must-visit spots in Cameron Highlands is the Big Red Strawberry Farm. It’s located walking distance from Brinchang Town, the location of other must-visit sights in Cameron Highlands, which is convenient if you’re looking to maximize your visiting hours. Here, you can see the hydropinically grown strawberries and lettuces and see how they are grown and cultured. You can even get to personally experience picking the biggest and juiciest strawberries in all of Malaysia! Visitors can also have a taste of the strawberries at their cafe, which serves fresh strawberry snacks, milkshakes, sundae, juices, ice cream, pastries and more.
Cameron Highlands Golf Club
Location: Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, 39000 Tanah Rata, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Open Daily
If you’re a fan of golfing, then this is one of the perfect places to visit the sport. Cameron Highlands’ Golf Club boasts of its 18 hole, par 71 course with its green foresty landscape. The fact that it is surrounded by tree-covered mountains makes it the perfect place to play a spectacular game of golf. It has rental shops, spa rooms, and restaurants. Though some of the areas can be quite challenging to play in (what with its rugged mountainous terrain), it’s the perfect place to get challenged as the fresh cold breeze will always keep the players comfortable, fully enjoying their game of golf.
Mount Brinchang
Location: Pahang-Perak border, Cameron Highlands
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Reach the peak of Cameron Highlands by climbing Mount Brinchang, a top nature destination. To get to the top that’s 6,666 feet above sea level or 2, 031 meters high, visitors must take a drive along the mountain road which snakes around the landscape. At the top, there is an observation tower where you can see the glorious view and gorgeous scenery, coupled with the fresh mountain air. At the top you can also see the valleys filled with tea plantations and forests of wildflowers. Mount Brinchang boasts of being one of the highest parts of Malaysia that is accessible by cable car. If you’re feeling rather adventurous, you can opt to trek to the top.
4. Malacca City or Melaka
Malacca City is the capital of Malaysia’s coastal state of Malacca, located in the southwest. It’s particularly filled with rich history and culture, being officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. It’s well known for its architecture, food and famous tourist spots. Taking a look around the city will reveal its colonial past, colonized by both the Portuguese and Dutch. This plays well into the attractiveness of Malacca City to its many visitors.
Jonker Street Night Market
Location: Jonker Street, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Friday to Sundays; 18:00 to Late at Night
Malacca’s Jonker Street is at the center of Chinatown. It’s well renowned for its antique shops, clothing shops, restaurants and crafts outlets, and its night market! The Jonker Street Night Market occurs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights; it sells everything from food to cheap souvenirs. Must do’s on the Night Market: binge on the many local and quirky street food (from the Watermelon Handbag to the Deep Fried Ice Cream!) Don’t miss out on this adventure!
A Famosa Fort
Location: Jalan Parameswara, Bandar Hilir, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 24 hours Daily
One of the relics of a long-lost occupation of the Portuguese is the A Famosa Fort. It’s one of the oldest fortresses and architectural structures left of European remains in Southeast Asia. Built all the way back in 1511, the fortress used to encroach upon its surrounding spaces. Now, all that’s left of it is its lonely gate called the Porta de Santiago. It’s located near one of Malacca’s popular tourist attractions, St. Paul’s Church. For visiting locals, it’s the perfect spot to get your pictures taken with one of the world’s oldest relics. It’s perfect to get your pictures taken during the sunset!
Stadthuys
Location: Circle intersection of Jalan Quayside, Jalan Laksamana, and Jalan Chan Koon Cheng
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Thursday / 09:00 – 20:30, Friday to Sunday
The Stadthuys is another historical building. It’s also thought to be the oldest-surviving Dutch building in the world’s east. The Stadthuys is a historical place to be in if you’re visiting Malaysia since the building stands out worldwide! Stadthuys is a relic of the past. Its Dutch colonial structure is of a big, bright terracotta-red riverfront facade. It used to be the official residence of Dutch Governors and officers from way back around 1641-1660. Now, it’s a museum housing the Museum of History & Ethnography which exhibits Malaccan customs. It also showcases the rich history starting with the Malay Sultanate period to the Portuguese, Dutch and even British colonization’s.
5. Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands, dubbed as the City of Entertainment, is perhaps one of the most popular places to visit in Malaysia. Not only is it a top destination for those looking to have fun, but it’s also famous for its cool climate. Genting Highlands is recognized as Malaysia’s premier casino-resort, like Las Vegas is to the US. It has many attractions from casinos, nightlife, and legendary luxury hotels. Not only that: if you’re traveling with family, you can still take your children as there are much to go to for both adults and children.
Genting Skyway
Location: Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands
Opening Hours: 7:00 – 00:00, Daily
Genting Skyway is one of the two cable cars you can find operating in Genting Highlands. It transports people between Gohtong Jaya and Gentings’ peak. The other cable car is Awana Systems. But if you’re looking for a cable car ride that isn’t crowded, choose Genting Skyway. You can see spectacular views of the many landmarks within the highlands, like a 120-million year old rainforest, SkyAvenue Shopping Mall and Chin Swee Caves Temple, a breathtaking Taoist temple. This is a fun activity to try for both adults and kids alike.
Genting Casino
Location: Genting Highlands Resort
Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily
They say Genting Highlands is a cool tourist spot not only for adults who like to gamble but for families who would like to enjoy a nice metropolitan entertainment destination. But you can’t deny that the Genting Casino is one of the most anticipated attractions for those who are looking for a bit of fun. The Genting Casino is a popular evening activity venue where visitors who would like to test their luck can go to try and win massive payouts. Founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong created Genting Highlands way back in 1971.
Resorts World Genting was the first land-based casino in Malaysia. It still continues to attract gamblers from all around the country and the world. Since the concept of gambling has been so ingrained and integral to Malaysia’s culture, Malaysian people can now choose to gamble and play in online casinos like EMPIRE777 and many more. These top online casinos in Malaysia are safe. They also give big payouts with their fun games.
Genting Club Casino
Location: Genting Highlands Resort
Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily
Genting Club Casino, on the other hand, is one of the many gambling centers you can find in Genting Highlands Casino. Here, you can play electronic table games and slot machines. There are also classic table games such as Blackjack, Russian roulette and French Boule Tai Sai. The Genting Club Casino also has stylish diners where people can enjoy premium wines, champagne, and other drinks, high-quality gourmet food and even cigars. There are also karaoke centers called Be A Star Karaoke that have 24-hour butler services.
Pick any of these top places in Malaysia you can visit over the weekend! You’ll be sure to enjoy your Saturday and Sunday in these beautiful and fun attractions.
