Lonely Planet Best of Malaysia & Singapore

Best of Malaysia & Singapore

Top Sights, Authentic Experiences

Contents

Plan Your Trip

Welcome to Malaysia & Singapore

Malaysia & Singapore’s Top 12

Need to Know

Hotspots For…

Essential Malaysia & Singapore

Month by Month

Get Inspired

Itineraries

Family Travel

Kuala Lumpur

Petronas Towers

Chinatown & Merdeka Square

Batu Caves

Lake Gardens

Sights

Activities

Courses

Tours

Shopping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Where to Stay

Cameron Highlands

Tea Plantations

Hiking the Cameron Highlands

Penang

The Unesco World Heritage Zone

Hawker Stalls

Air Itam & Penang Hill

Batu Ferringhi

Teluk Bahang

Pulau Langkawi

Langkawi’s Beaches

Kota Bharu

Museum Precinct

Sights

Courses

Tours

Shopping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Taman Negara

Jungle Trekking

Activities

Tours

Eating

Pulau Tioman

Beaches

Diving & Snorkelling

Sights

Activities

Courses

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Melaka City

Melaka’s Chinatown

Sights

Tours

Shopping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Mt Kinabalu

Climbing Mt Kinabalu

Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park

Semporna Archipelago

Diving

Sights

Activities

Eating

Kuching

Kuching’s Waterfront

Bako National Park

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Sights

Courses

Tours

Shopping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Gunung Mulu National Park

Singapore

Botanic Gardens & Gardens by the Bay

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore’s Museums

Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & River Safari

Sights

Activities

Courses

Tours

Shopping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Where to Stay

In Focus

Malaysia & Singapore Today

History

Multicultural Malaysia & Singapore

Religion

Arts & Architecture

Food

Environment

Survival Guide

Directory A–Z

Accessible Travel

Climate

Accommodation

Electricity

Food

Health

Insurance

Internet Access

Legal Matters

LGBT+ Travellers

Money

Public Holidays

Safe Travel

Telephone

Time

Toilets

Tourist Information

Visas

Women Travellers

Transport

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

Language

Behind the Scenes

Our Writers

Welcome to Malaysia & Singapore

Southeast Asia’s dynamic duo offer sprawling metropolises, culinary sensations, beautiful beaches, idyllic islands, soaring mountains, and national parks packed with wildlife. Equally rich and diverse is the region’s fascinating multi-ethnic cultural mix.

Kuala Lumpur sunrise skyline | MEZAIRI/GETTY IMAGES ©

Malaysia is home to some of the most ancient ecosystems on earth, with significant areas of primary rainforest protected by national park and conservation projects. The biodiversity is mind-boggling: from the pitcher plants and orchids in the humid lowlands to the conifers and rhododendrons of the high-altitude forests. The most common sightings of wildlife will be a host of insects or colourful birdlife, but you may get lucky and spot a foraging tapir, a silvered leaf monkey or an endearingly downy orangutan. The oceans are just as bountiful, with shoals of tropical fish, paint-box corals, turtles, sharks and dolphins.

City lovers will be thrilled by Singapore, an urban show-stopper with elegant colonial buildings, stunning contemporary architecture and world-class attractions. In Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL), the shooting rocket spires of the Petronas Towers contrast with vintage architecture, and shoppers shuttle from traditional wet markets to air-conditioned megamalls. In sharp contrast to the metropolises, Unesco World Heritage-listed Melaka and George Town (Penang) have uniquely distinctive architectural and cultural townscapes, developed over half a millennium of Southeast Asian cultural and trade exchange, and both should be high on your to-visit list.

Plan Your Trip

Malaysia & Singapore’s Top 12

1 Singapore

An ambitious, ever-evolving wonder

Singapore may be small in size, but in touristic terms the island state is a giant. This multicultural nation, one of the wealthiest in the region, offers plenty for the visitor to see and do – from admiring the eye-boggling architecture around Marina Bay to being transfixed by the Bolly beats of Little India or the lush magnificence of the World Heritage–listed Botanic Gardens. And then there’s the shopping and the delicious food scene. It’s all simply unbeatable.

ArtScience Museum | Ekkacha/SHUTTERSTOCK © ArtScience Museum architect: Moshe Safdie

Building facade, Little India | Bule Sky Studio/Shutterstock ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

2 George Town

Ancient cultures, colonial architecture, street food

George Town continues to be one of the region’s most popular destinations. The 2008 Unesco World Heritage declaration sparked a frenzy of cultural preservation, and the city’s charismatic shophouses have been turned into house museums, charming boutique hotels and chic cafes. It is one of the most rewarding cities in Southeast Asia to explore on foot, and it also boasts some of Malaysia’s best food.

Bicycle rickshaw, George Town | FILMLANDSCAPE/GETTY IMAGES ©

Blue Mansion | MAREK POPLAWSKI/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

3 Taman Negara

Wildlife and rafflesia-filled jungle

To visit Taman Negara is to experience the land as it was before the modern world rolled through. Inside this shadowy, nigh-

impenetrable jungle, ancient trees with gargantuan buttressed root systems dwarf luminescent fungi, orchids, and rare and beautiful flora. Making their home within are elephants, tigers, leopards and deer, as well as smaller wonders such as flying squirrels, lizards, monkeys, tapirs, and serpents of all sorts.

Hiker, Kuala Tahan | MORITZ WOLF/GETTY IMAGES ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

4 Kuala Lumpur

Cultural diversity and never-ending malls

One of Asia’s most approachable cities, Kuala Lumpur (KL) offers up an enticing multicultural landscape of fabulously designed mosques, intricate temples, busy night markets, thriving megamalls and soaring contemporary complexes such as the Petronas Towers. Plus there’s a delicious food scene covering everything from freshly made rice noodles at street stalls to haute cuisine and fine wine. Malaysia’s capital is also looking back to its 19th-century roots with the ambitious River of Life heritage and landscape project, which is beautifying the areas around Merdeka Square and Chinatown.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square | FRANS SELLIES/GETTY IMAGES ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

5 Kuching

Natural wonders and cultural riches

In Sarawak you can search for semi-wild orangutans or a giant rafflesia flower in the morning, spot proboscis monkeys and saltwater crocodiles on a cruise in the South China Sea at dusk, and then dine on superfresh seafood in a bustling, sophisticated city come nightfall. From the attractive capital Kuching, established by the White Rajas of the Brooke family in the 19th century, it’s easy to organise trips to the north Borneo state’s amazing array of nature reserves, including World Heritage–

listed Gunung Mulu National Park.

Proboscis monkeys | MAZUR TRAVEL /SHUTTERSTOCK ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

6 Cameron Highlands

Beautiful vistas, tea plantations and strawberry farms

Misty mountains, tea plantations, fragrant highland air, Tudor-

themed architecture, 4WDs, warm scones and strawberry farms all converge in this distinctly un–Southeast Asian destination. Activities such as self-guided hiking and agricultural tourism make the Cameron Highlands one of Malaysia’s most approachable active destinations. The area also represents a clever escape within a holiday, as the weather tends to stay mercifully cool year-round.

Tea plantation | BLACKCATIMAGING/GETTY IMAGES ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

7 Pulau Langkawi

A tropical paradise

Pulau Langkawi isn’t called the Jewel of Kedah for nothing, and its white-sand beaches, isolated resorts, diving opportunities and pristine jungles live up to the sparkling rhetoric. Cheap alcohol and some decent restaurants and bars provide just a hint of a party scene, while a glut of kid-friendly activities make it a great destination for families. And best of all, if you get just a little bit off the beaten track, Pulau Langkawi will reveal its endearing rural soul.

Pantai Cenang | PELIKH ALEXEY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

8 Pulau Tioman

Spoiled for choice on pleasure island

What’s your pleasure? Swimming off any of the dozens of serenely beautiful beaches that run down the western shore of Pulau Tioman? Taking on the serious surf that pounds the island’s eastern beaches at Kampung Juara? Challenging your legs, lungs and internal compass on Tioman’s myriad trails? Or perhaps chilling out by a waterfall, swinging in a hammock all day with a good book, or simply doing nothing? All of these goals (and more) are infinitely obtainable on Pulau Tioman. Welcome to paradise.

Waterfall, Juara | TUAN_AZIZI/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

9 Melaka City

Bustling weekend night market, heritage museums and glitzy trishaws

The biggest party in Melaka is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night when Jln Hang Jebat hosts the massively popular Jonker Walk Night Market. Start by the river across from the pink Stadthuys building that glows in the street lights and make your way through the crowds towards the karaoke stage at Jln Tokong Besi. Along the way, you’ll pass stalls selling everything from cheap underwear and trinkets to fresh sugarcane juice. Haggle, nibble and maybe stop by the Geographér Cafe for a cold beer and some people-watching.

Geographér Cafe | PELIKH ALEXEY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Jonker Walk Night Market | NORAISHAH TAHIR/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

10 Mt Kinabalu

Malaysia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site

It is the abode of the spirits, the highest mountain in Malaysia, the dominant geographic feature of northern Borneo, the granite rock that has worn out countless challengers: Mt Kinabalu is all of this, and it is one of the most popular tourism attractions in Borneo. Don’t worry, though, you will still have moments of utter freedom and, if you’re lucky, enjoy a view that stretches to the Philippines. Or it will be cloudy. Whatever: the climb is still exhilarating.

Summit of Mt Kinabalu | THOSAPON.S/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Suspension bridge in Kota Belud with Mt Kinabalu in the background | ADANAN SIDJOH/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Hikers in Kinabalu National Park | MARC VOLK/GETTY IMAGES ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

11 Semporna Archipelago

One of the best diving destinations in the world

For the amateur diver or the seasoned veteran, the Semporna Archipelago is a dream destination, with the island of Sipadan the ultimate underwater adventure. Sipadan’s seawall is filled with the world’s most colourful marine life – from hundreds of chromatic coral species to the most utterly alien fish (we’re looking at you, frog fish), creatures here seem to have swum through every slice of the colour wheel.

DURATUL AIN DUHAMID/GETTY IMAGES ©

MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE’S TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

12 Kota Bharu

Crafts, cuisine and culture

In this centre for Malaysian culture and crafts, visitors can shop for traditional items such as batik, kain songket (handwoven fabric with gold threads), hand-crafted silverware, hand-carved puppets and locally made kites. The Central Market is a great place to buy local goods and the bikeable road from town to Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) is also lined with factories and workshops dedicated to the creation of crafts of all sorts.

Shadow puppets | JOHN HARPER/GETTY IMAGES ©

Plan Your Trip

Need to Know

Currency

Malaysian ringgit (RM)

Singapore dollar (S$)

Languages

Bahasa Malaysia,

English, Chinese

dialects, and Tamil

Visas

Generally not required for stays under 60 days (Malaysia) and 90 days (Singapore).

Money

ATMs widely available. Credit cards accepted by most businesses.

Mobile Phones

Local SIM cards can be used in most phones. Other phones must be set to roaming.

Time

GMT/UTC plus eight hours

When to Go

High Season (Dec–Feb)

o End-of-year school holidays and Chinese New Year push up prices; booking transport and hotels in advance is important.

o Monsoon season for the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak.

Shoulder (Jul–Nov)

o From July to August, vie with visitors escaping the heat of the Gulf States.

o Monsoon season down the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia until September.

Low Season (Mar–Jun)

o Avoid the worst of the rains and humidity.

o More chances to enjoy places in relative quietude.

Daily Costs

Budget: less than RM100/S$200

o Dorm bed: RM15–50/S$25–45

o Hawker centres and food-court meals: RM5–7/S$5–6

o Public transport per trip: RM1–2.50/S$1.40–2.50

Midrange: RM100–400/

S$200–400

o Double room at midrange hotel: RM100–400/S$150–300

o Two-course meal at midrange restaurant: RM40–60/S$80

o Cocktails at decent bar: RM30–40/S$20–30

Top end: more than RM400/S$400

o Luxury double room: RM450–1000/S$350–800

o Meal at top restaurant: RM200/S$300

o Three-day diving course: RM800–1000