Country guide
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur's towers, Penang's street food, Borneo's orangutans and beaches on two coasts with opposite monsoons.
Currency
MYR
Language
Malay
+ English
English
Everywhere
Payment
Cards & cash mixed
Power
Type G
230/240 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+60
Destinations
Georgetown
Malaysia's street-food capital, served on UNESCO World Heritage streets.
✓ best Dec-FebIpoh
Malaysia's best-preserved tin-boom town, where limestone cave temples ring an old town that eats better than cities ten times its size.
✓ best Feb, JulKota Kinabalu
Borneo's front door - marine-park islands 20 minutes offshore, Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's most famous summit, behind town.
✓ best Jan-MarKuala Lumpur
Three cultures, one capital - nowhere in Southeast Asia eats this well for this little.
✓ best Jun-AugKuching
Borneo made easy: semi-wild orangutans by mid-morning, Sarawak laksa back in town by lunch.
✓ best JulMelaka
Six centuries of sultans, Portuguese, Dutch and British stacked into a few walkable streets - and the best Nyonya food in Malaysia.
✓ best FebThe sweet-spot windows
Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.
| Where | When | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| East-coast islands (Perhentians, Tioman) | Jun-Aug | Best beach weather, turtle season, clear water | Ramadan dates may affect dining options |
Climate zones, month by month
Malaysia has 6 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.
Georgetown (Penang) Penang →
✓ Best Dec-Feb · ✗ Avoid Aug-Oct
Conditions Jan Dry & cool · Feb Driest month · Mar Warming up · Apr Hot & humid · May Very hot · Jun Monsoon start · Jul Monsoon flow · Aug Wet & hazy · Sep Peak haze · Oct Monsoon peak · Nov Monsoon tail · Dec Cool & dry
Watch for Jul-Oct haze risk · Sep-Oct monsoon flooding risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Ipoh Perak →
✓ Best Feb, Jul · ✗ Avoid Apr-May, Nov-Dec
Watch for Apr-May, Nov-Dec monsoon flooding risk · Jul-Oct haze risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) Borneo →
✓ Best Jan-Mar · ✗ Avoid Aug-Nov
Conditions Jan Dry & warm · Feb Very dry · Mar Driest month · Apr Warming up · May Hot & humid · Jun Wet season · Jul Rainy · Aug Heavy rain · Sep Monsoon · Oct Peak rain · Nov Very wet · Dec Rain easing
Watch for Jun-Dec monsoon flooding risk · Jul-Oct haze risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Kuala Lumpur →
✓ Best Jun-Aug · ✗ Avoid Nov
Conditions Jan-Feb Wet & humid · Mar Hot & rainy · Apr Very hot · May Hottest · Jun Dry period · Jul Driest month · Aug Dry & pleasant · Sep Transition · Oct Increasing rain · Nov Very wet · Dec Wet season
Watch for Mar-Apr, Oct-Dec monsoon flooding risk · Jul-Oct haze risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Kuching (Sarawak) Borneo →
✓ Best Jul · ✗ Avoid Nov-Feb
Conditions Jan Monsoon peak · Feb Very wet · Mar Heavy rain · Apr Hot & humid · May Warm & humid · Jun Dry season · Jul Driest month · Aug Occasional rain · Sep Increasing rain · Oct Wet season start · Nov Heavy monsoon · Dec Wettest month
Watch for Aug, Oct-Jun monsoon flooding risk · Jul-Oct haze risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Melaka →
✓ Best Feb
Watch for Jul-Oct haze risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions