The Top 15 Cities & Towns in Malaysia

Malaysia's diverse cities, showcasing Buddhist temples, skyscrapers, and bustling marketplaces, are surrounded by beautiful scenery and offer a rich history and a fascinating mix of cultures.

Cities & Towns in Malaysia

Malaysia offers lots of the best cities to explore, each with its unique charm and attractions. Whether you're seeking a modern metropolis or a cultural haven, Malaysia has it all with its stunning beaches.

The Best cities in Malaysia are unlike any other, with a rich cultural history, amazing cuisine, and warm and inviting natives. In addition, English is widely spoken in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's enormous cosmopolitan capital truly offers something for everyone to enjoy, with lots of places and activities to choose from. Skyscrapers like the Petronas Towers and many more rise overhead.

It is mesmerizing to roam among its mosques, temples, marketplaces, and retail centers with its abundance of attractions and enthusiastic nature.

Kuala Lumpur truly exhibits its own traditions as a result of its diversified community. Merdeka Square features beautiful examples of colonial architecture, while Chinatown and Little India are home to some amazing eateries and cafés.

George Town

Exploring around George Town's bustling streets is an enjoyable one for the diverse mix of cultures that meet you. Around the city are lovely mosques and temples, and amid the ancient colonial architecture and native Malay structures, skyscrapers and commercial centers contend for space.

It's enjoyable to get lost in George Town’s winding lanes, which lead through charming ancient shrines, busy cafés, and exciting pubs. There are also many amazing street art paintings. The second biggest city in the nation is well worth a visit, with great food that blends the influences of many different cultures easily available.

George Town’s Street art scene attracts tourists, showcasing its creative spirit and cultural heritage. Its diverse culinary offerings, including Malay cuisine and Indian and Chinese delicacies, provide a delightful experience.

Melaka

Malacca, which is located on the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula, is a unique destination since it was once under the control of the British, Dutch, and Portuguese.

Due to this, there is an abundance of exquisite colonial architecture to discover, with every country having put its imprint on the structures that remain and the cultural influence they have had.

This little city is naturally a well-liked tourist destination in Malaysia, with its vibrant night market and diverse food offerings.

Ipoh

Ipoh, the capital of Perak state, is a beautiful destination to visit and is located halfway between Kuala Lumpur and the Thai border. Several small stores and cafés line the narrow alleyways of the old town, making it a delightful place for strolling about.

There are a ton of fantastic eateries in the new area of town that provide regional specialties. From mouthwatering seafood shacks to charming bistros, the culinary scene in this part of town is truly a food lover's paradise.

The city is home to several magnificent temples representing various religions, the most notable of which is the Perak Tong cave temple. It attracts visitors from all over the world who come to admire its grandeur and seek spiritual solace.

Kota Kinabalu

At first glance, Kota Kinabalu's enormous concrete buildings might not seem particularly inviting, but as you get to know it, you'll quickly fall in love with everything it has to offer.

The city, which is in Borneo, boasts a bustling waterfront, breathtaking sunsets, and views over the South China Sea.

Kota Kinabalu offers everything a city could ask for, including marketplaces, stores, delicious food, and a thriving music and art scene. With how many attractions are close by, it's well worth a visit.

You can go scuba diving off the coast, hike Mount Kinabalu, or explore the breathtaking islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park from this location.

Kuching

While Kuching is the biggest city in Borneo, it's a calm, enjoyable destination with many things to see and do. Situated near the Sarawak River, the city features several fascinating museums and a lovely waterfront walkway. Additionally, Kuching boasts a wide variety of eateries, pubs, and cafés that showcase its multiculturalism.

Because of its colonial architecture and skyscrapers that seem to be rising out of the forest, the area is quite attractive.

Kuching is an excellent base from which to explore the rest of the island and the adjacent national parks. You can plan tours along the coast as well as jungle treks.

Miri

The petroleum industry's oil money has allowed Miri to grow into the big metropolis it is today. The city is a vibrant, contemporary town with lots of shopping centers, lively marketplaces, and excellent restaurants, hotels, and pubs to choose from.

Its population ranges from all over Malaysia so you may taste food from throughout Malaysia and beyond. Because Miri is a key transportation hub, a lot of people pass through it on their route to other Malaysian cities.

Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu is a peninsula in northeastern Malaysia; most visitors are eager to continue their journey to Thailand or the Perhentian Islands. However, the city itself is an excellent resource for learning about Malay culture, with the engaging and informative Culture Center being especially noteworthy.

Kota Bharu makes a great starting point from which to experience the pleasures of Kelantan state as it has some beautiful ancient architecture along with some amazing Buddhist temples and bustling marketplaces.

Kuala Terengganu

Once a little fishing village, the discovery of oil changed the city's landscape, prompting skyscrapers to thrive amid charming ancient structures. Though Kuala Terengganu has seen a lot of modern development, it's still a gorgeous area with an especially lovely Chinatown and several lovely beaches along the coast.

With enough to keep visitors entertained for a few days, the city is mainly used as an anchor to explore the captivating forests and stunning islands in the surrounding area.

Johor Bahru

Located near Singapore's border is the southernmost city Johor Bahru in Malaysia. The majority of visitors just make this one-stop when traveling to the neighboring country.

Although it was previously a chaotic, crowded city with bad air quality, it has made an effort to reinvent itself recently, and while significant changes are still to come, things are gradually improving.

This vibrant city has an abundance of museums and cultural attractions that make a visit interesting. It also offers some fantastic retail centers and a buzzing nightlife.

Kuantan

Kuantan, the capital of Pahang state, is frequently overlooked by tourists due to its awful sprawl of concrete structures and lack of historical or cultural landmarks.

The Padang, the oldest area of Kuantan, is the main attraction, but the nation's second-largest port also has a few other interesting features that make it worthwhile to explore.

There are some lovely beaches nearby, and many tourists choose Kuantan as a beginning to see the neighboring Gua Charas cave shrine or the amazing palace in the royal town of Pekan.

Sandakan

Sandakan, which overlooks the sea with the same name, was frequently attacked during World War II for its strategic location. But in fact, just many visitors visit Sandakan, despite having a pleasant coastline, charming colonial architecture, and military memorials to offer.

You may visit the orangutan refuge at Sepilok or enjoy a beautiful boat trip along the Kinabatangan River, where a variety of species can be seen.

Sandakan

Sandakan, which overlooks the sea with the same name, was frequently attacked during World War II for its strategic location. But in fact, just many visitors visit Sandakan, despite having a pleasant coastline, charming colonial architecture, and military memorials to offer.

You may visit the orangutan refuge at Sepilok or enjoy a beautiful boat trip along the Kinabatangan River, where a variety of species can be seen.

Putrajaya

Putrajaya, a planned city situated about 30 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, is home to the government's administrative authority. Beautiful to explore, there are some amazing parks and green areas here as well as some amazing monuments and architecture on display.

The city is unusual and a little scary to see; it is beautifully illuminated at night and has a much smaller population than expected. Putrajaya is an example of Malaysia's aspirations and future vision, and it is well worth a visit.

Semporna

Semporna is a busy city with no noteworthy historical or cultural interests; visitors come here primarily to reach the neighboring Semporna Archipelago.

If tourists do spend any time in the congested city, they inevitably make their way to the mosque and the unique hotels perched along the beach.

You are often better off just using Semporna to go to the close islands with their wonderful diving locations, while some visitors do remain in the city's inexpensive hotels to save money for a couple of extra dives.

Alor Setar

Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah State, is known as "the rice bowl of Malaysia" and is surrounded by beautiful curving hills and paddy farms. The city itself is a center of Malay culture and features some fascinating galleries to explore along with stunning architecture.

Beautiful Pulau Langkawi, a tropical island with excellent beaches, is nearby. When touring the state, most tourists make this their first stop.

Kedah is a delightful place to explore, owing to its stunning beaches and contrast to paddy farms. The archipelago has around one hundred islands.

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Last but not least, from the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur to the tranquil beauty of Penang, each city offers a unique experience. Whether you're exploring the vibrant street art in George Town or immersing yourself in the vibrant night markets of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia's cities are a true delight for all senses.