Home › Malaysia
From the ground
Malaysia, honestly
Peninsular cities and Borneo rainforest, duty-free islands and cool tea hills — Malaysia is really a dozen trips in one country. Start here: pick where you're going, then sort the things that are the same everywhere — the visa, the ringgit, the food, getting around — once, before you go.
Cities
Islands & beaches
Understand Malaysia
The visa, the money, the food, the etiquette — the things that don't change from one Malaysian state to the next.
Malaysia · UnderstandEtiquette in Malaysia: The Small Courtesies That Go a Long WayMosque and temple dress, Ramadan manners, right-hand habits, shoes off at the door, and how Malaysia's Malay, Chinese, Indian and Borneo indigenous communities share the same calendar.
Malaysia · UnderstandMalay Phrases That Actually Help in MalaysiaYou don't need Bahasa Malaysia to get by — English covers cities and tourism. A handful of words for warmth, small towns, and reading signs.
Malaysia · UnderstandMalaysian Food: The National Dish Landscape, ExplainedNasi lemak, roti canai, laksa's regional variants, mamak culture and teh tarik, the halal reality, and how to eat well and cheaply — the country-wide picture before you get to any one city's specialties.Before you go
The unglamorous stuff that makes or breaks the trip — what to pack, how not to get scammed, the visa, the scooter, staying well.
Malaysia · Before you goBest Time to Visit MalaysiaThere's no single dry season for the whole country: the west coast and the east coast run on opposite monsoons. Here's the coast-by-coast breakdown, plus haze and holiday timing.
Malaysia · Before you goGetting Around Malaysia: Trains, Buses, Flights and FerriesHow to move between Malaysian cities and states — the ETS train down the west coast, cheap intercity buses, when to fly instead, ferries to the islands, and self-driving notes.Malaysia · Before you goLGBT+ Travel in Malaysia: The Honest PictureWhat the law actually says, how it plays out in daily life, and practical guidance for LGBT+ travellers thinking about a trip to Malaysia.Malaysia · Before you goAlcohol & the Law in MalaysiaWhere you can legally drink as a non-Muslim visitor, why it costs more than you'd expect, the duty-free islands that are the exception, and the conservative states where sales are restricted.
Malaysia · Before you goMalaysia Itineraries: How the Regions Fit TogetherThe classic ways to string Malaysia together — the west-coast train run, an east-coast island stop, the Borneo pair — and how much time each one actually needs.Malaysia · Before you goSIM & eSIM in Malaysia: Getting ConnectedPhysical tourist SIM or eSIM, the three main carriers and where they cover, buying at the airport vs a convenience store, and why remote islands and deep Borneo won't have signal either way.
Malaysia · Before you goMalaysia Visa & Arrival: What You Actually NeedWho gets in visa-free and for how long, the free digital arrival card (MDAC) you must fill in, passport validity, and the Sabah & Sarawak border quirk that catches people out.
Malaysia · Before you goMoney in Malaysia: Cash, Cards, ATMs and TippingThe ringgit explained, when you actually need cash versus a card, ATM fees for foreign cards, the rise of QR-code payments, and whether you're expected to tip.The words
The local words and names you'll meet in the Malaysia guides, in plain English.