Malaysia

The Heart of Asia

After spending an entire month in Malaysia, I can go on and on about how beautiful and vast this country is. It is one of my favorite places in the world and a perfect spot for a Muslim friendly vacation. The weather is warm year-round, halal food options are plenty and the people are one of the friendliest I’ve ever met. Islam is the official religion of the country and it can be seen as soon as you enter the country. You will find beautiful and grand Masjids. You will find the local men supporting beards and the woman wearing hijabs. You will even find Islamic sayings, the name of Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) on street signals, road signs, and public buses. MashAllah, Malaysia is proud of its Islamic identity and they make sure it is represented in their day to day life. I have put together this general travel guide for exploring Malaysia in hopes to inspire and assist other Muslims looking to travel to Muslim friendly places. You can find more detailed city travel guides for Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang and others below.

Things To Do and See

Explore the capital and heart of Malaysia in the capital – Kuala Lumpur
Marvel at the beautiful architecture of the Pink Mosque in Putrajaya
Go Street Art Hunting in Penang
Experience nature in Langkawi
Pray in Masjid Crystal in Terengganu
Eat street food at Jonker Street Night Market in Melaka
Visit a strawberry farm and tea plantation at Cameron Highlands

Food

Malaysia is a heaven for halal food. There are just so many options. Here are a few traditional dishes and types of food I highly recommend you enjoy while in Malaysia

Nasi Lemak
Nasi Kerabu
Nasi Goreng
Nasi Kandar

Asam Pidas
Roti Canai – Watch how it’s made
Cendol Ice Cream
Satay

Lots of Fresh Coconut Water (right from the coconut)
Mango Juice
Dragon Fruit
Tea Tarik
Bubble Tea

How to get around

Traveling between States and Cities

Bus

There are many ways to travel between cities and states. The cheapest option is by bus. Malaysia has an extensive bus network ranging from companies that are cheaper with older busses to a bit more expensive companies with newer busses. KKKL, 707 Inc and Transnasional are reliable companies with newer buses. The easiest and most convenient way of purchasing bus tickets is through EasyBook.

Airplane

There are multiple flights that fly daily between major cities. Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air and AirAsia are the main domestic airlines. AirAsia by far is the most affordable way to fly between cities. AirAsia has the cheapest fares and usually has many flights throughout the day. My personal experience with AirAsia has been really good. Flights were usually always on time and in the instance, a flight was canceled or delayed more than 3 hours, AirAsia was quick to provide a credit that could be used on future flights. Just keep in mind, only a small carry on is included in the standard fare. You to have purchase check-in luggage as well as meals. However, the prices for meals and extra luggage are competitively priced.

Car Rental

Driving in Malaysia is safe and easy. The roads are well maintained and drivers follow traffic rules. Renting a car is a good option if you want to travel at your own pace and make multiple stops. However, I would personally recommend flying or taking the bus between cities and then renting a car or using services like Grab to get around. If you do choose to drive, keep tolls in mind.

Traveling inside Cities

If you’re in a large city like Kuala Lumpur and Penang then traveling options within the city are plenty. Public transit is good and the cities are also walkable. If you’re in smaller cities, then I recommend going with Grab. It’s cheap, safe and convenient.

Is Malaysia Safe

Malaysia is a safe country. Alhamdulillah. May Allah continue to give this country its people success and protect it from the evil of this world. Malaysia is also a Muslim country which also means it is incredibly safe for Muslims. Take normal safety precautions as you would anywhere else. Always use common sense and if you feel unsafe, leave the area.

Apps

Grab

The most useful and important app you will need. Use Grab to move around the city and order food to your doorstep.

Food Panda

Food Panda is an alternative food ordering app. Some cities and restaurants exclusively use Food Panda.

Google Maps

Download offline maps for every city you will be traveling to beforehand. Use maps to navigate your way around the city.

Maxim

Cash-based ridesharing app. Cheaper than Grab but only works in smaller cities like Teregannu.

Google Photos

For backup up your precious photos to the cloud.

Google Translate

In case you need to converse or translate something.

For communicating with locals and friends you meet.

Agoda

For current and future hotel bookings. Always find the best rates on Agoda.

Maxis App

For loading up money onto your phone after finishing credits.

There are a few essential apps you will need when traveling throughout Malaysia. I highly recommend downloading and setting these apps up on your phone BEFORE you leave your home country.

Cellphone Service

Cellphone service is excellent in Malaysia and is easily accessible to tourists. There are many cell service providers in Malaysia but the two names you need to be aware of are Maxis and Celcom. These two offer the best coverage and reception across the entire country. I personally used Maxis for one month and had no trouble wherever I went. I suggest purchasing a sim from an official store, which you can find all over the city. Both companies have different plans to choose from, depending on what you’re looking for. I only went with a data plan package because I did not need minutes or text messaging.

Electrical Outlet

Malaysia uses a Type G electrical outlet. The standard voltage is 240V. You can buy a universal power adapter from Amazon to make your life easier and will work in almost every country.

Packing

Malaysia is a modern country. There is very little that you will not find here in case you forget to pack something. There are a few things I would recommend packing for Malaysia apart for your normal packing essentials. Due to the warm weather year-round, make sure to pack slippers/sandals and swimming wear (brothers and sisters). Malaysia has many beaches and waterparks.