Places to visit in Malaysia
11 places most Malaysia trips are built around, in the order a first visit usually takes them. Four days covers Kuala Lumpur with the Petronas Towers, the old city and a Batu Caves and Genting Highlands day; five or six days adds Langkawi for the SkyCab, the Sky Bridge and a speedboat island-hopping day; seven days pairs three nights in Singapore with Kuala Lumpur and Genting, and nine days fits Singapore, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur without a rushed day.
- Petronas Twin Towers: The 452-metre twin towers at KLCC, with the Skybridge and observation deck on timed tickets, and the park and fountains at their feet.
- Batu Caves: The Hindu shrine in a limestone cave up 272 rainbow-painted steps, beside the 43-metre Murugan statue; busiest at Thaipusam in January or February.
- Genting Highlands: The hilltop resort at about 1,800 metres, an hour from the city: the Awana SkyWay cable car, Genting SkyWorlds theme park and the Chin Swee temple.
- KL Tower: The telecom tower on Bukit Nanas with an observation deck, a glass Sky Box and the forest park at its base.
- Putrajaya: The planned administrative capital: the pink-domed Putra Mosque, the Perdana Putra and a boat on the lake, a half day from KL.
- Malacca: The UNESCO port town two hours south: the Dutch Square, Jonker Street's weekend night market and the river cruise.
- Langkawi SkyCab and Sky Bridge: The cable car up Gunung Mat Cincang and the curved bridge hanging over the rainforest, the island's main sight.
- Langkawi island hopping and Pantai Cenang: A speedboat to Pulau Dayang Bunting's lake and the eagle-feeding stop, and the sunset beach with the duty-free shops behind it.
- Penang: George Town: The UNESCO old town of street art, clan houses and hawker food, plus Penang Hill and the Kek Lok Si temple.
- Cameron Highlands: The tea plantations, strawberry farms and cool air at 1,500 metres, three to four hours from KL.
- Sunway Lagoon: The water and theme park in Petaling Jaya, the family day on a KL itinerary.
