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Are you looking for a destination for a short trip within Malaysia? You are at the right place.
As an ex-pat in Malaysia for more than a year, I have had chances to visit a myriad of places in the country, including those hidden gems.
In this post, I will share with you where to go in Malaysia for a short trip, including highlights of the destinations, must-try food, how long to stay and how much to spend in each place.
Table of Contents
1. Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a cultural, economic and financial centre of Malaysia, as well as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities in Southeast Asia. Not only does the city offers tourists modern architecture, but it’s also teemed with a long-standing history and rich culture.
Best places to visit
Read more: Kuala Lumpur travel blog: things to do, places to stay, expenses
Must-try food
Length of stay: 4 days
How much to spend in Kuala Lumpur?
Here is what I spent during my trip to Kuala Lumpur
Transportation: ~RM 30/day
4start hotel (3 nights): RM 700/ room/ 3 nights
Food: ~RM250
Attractions: ~RM55 – RM120
2. Malacca
Malacca (Melaka) – a renowned trading port in Malaysia in the past – is located to the South of Kuala Lumpur. Nowadays, Malacca still remains its ancient beauty with a plethora of ancient Chinese buildings.
Best places to visit
Read more: Malacca travel guide: transportation, best things to do, how long to stay
Must-try food
Length of stay: 2 – 3 days
How much to spend in Malacca?
Taxi: ~ RM 20/day
3star hotel: RM 150/room/night
Food: RM 50/day
Attractions: RM 30 for the sightseeing cruise
3. Penang
Penang (or Pulau Pinang in Malay) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Malaysia and is also known as the food heaven of Malaysia. Located just 350km from Kuala Lumpur (KL), you can easily travel from KL to Penang within 5 hours.
Best places to visit
Read more: KL to Penang travel guide: transportation, tourist map, expense
Must-try food
Length of stay: 3 – 4 days
How much to spend in Penang?
Taxi: ~ RM 20/day
2-bedroom apartment ( for 5 people): RM 700/night
Food: RM 70/day
Attractions: RM 200/ 3 days
4. Ipoh
Only 3-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh is a great place to go for a short trip in Malaysia. It was the 2nd administrative centre of Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur. Thus, you can see a whole heap of historical attractions in this small town. The best thing is that most of the places of interest in Ipoh are free of charge.
Best places to visit
Read more: A complete Ipoh travel guide: transportation, what to do, famous food, cost
Must-try food
Length of stay: 3 – 4 days
How much to spend in Ipoh?
I have been to Ipoh for more than 3 times, and here are what I spent during my trips:
Transportation (grab): ~RM 20/day
3-star hotel: ~ RM150/ double room/ night
A portion of local food: ~ RM20
Entrance ticket: ~ RM40 (most of the places I visited in Ipoh are free admission).
5. Tamjung Sepat
Tamjung Sepat is a heaven for foodies, thus, many local Malaysian people come here just for food. There are a plethora of delishes in this small town such as Seafood Bak Kut Teh, Duck soup seafood noodles, Mui Choy Pau, etc.
Besides, you can also visit some places of interest around the town such as Love Bridge, Mushroom farm, Cheng Leng Keng temple, etc. It takes you only 1-2 hours to visit all of the attractions here as they are very close to each other.
Best places to visit
Must-try food
Length of stay: 1 day
How much to spend in Tamjung Sepat?
All the tourist attractions in Tamjung Sepat are free to visit. Thus, what you spend most is on food and transportation. I went to Tamjung Sepat for a day trip and it cost only less than RM 100 for everything.
6. Kuala Selangor
Only 70 kilometres from the hustle and bustle city of Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Selangor is a perfect place for a short trip in Malaysia. The town offers a lot of fascinating natural phenomena that will blow your mind on your first visit such as blue tears, sky mirrors, fireflies and the stunning sunset view when joining eagle feeding activity.
Best places to visit
Must-try food
Length of stay: 2 days
How much to spend in Kuala Selangor?
3-star hotel: RM 90/room/night
Food: RM 70/day
Tour package (blue tears, sky mirrors, fireflies, eagle feeding) : RM 130/person
Tram to Bukit Malawati: RM 5
7. Putrajaya
The federal territory of Putrajaya is surrounded by Selangor state and has been the administrative capital for the federal government since 1999.
Not only does Putrajaya house massive government buildings, but it also offers a wide range of activities and places of interest that can take visitors more than a day to discover all.
Best places to visit
Read more: Cruise Tasik Putrajaya: price, my review & pictures
Length of stay: 1-2 day
How much to spend in Putrajaya?
Transportation: RM 40/day
Food: RM 90/day
Putrajaya sightseeing cruise: RM 50/person
Above is 7 ideas of where to go in Malaysia for a short trip. Do you have any other suggestions? Share it in the comment box.
