Malaysia was the first stop on my Asian trip. I did a lot of research before I went.
I love Asian temples, religious buildings and mixed cultures, and Malaysia has exactly that. The country’s biggest draw is its unique mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions. It felt like a perfect fit for my travel interests. Language is easy here for Western visitors. Most people speak English well. The visa rules are friendly too. People with Western passports can enter without a visa. The local money is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). Overall prices are much lower than in Europe and the US.
I traveled around West Malaysia for seven days, including Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang. The pace was easy and relaxed.

Day 1: Kuala Lumpur – First Sight of the Petronas Twin Towers

I landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I took the KLIA Express train to the city center. The ride takes 28 minutes and costs about 55 MYR one way. I booked a hotel near the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, which location was very convenient. In the afternoon, I went to Merdeka Square. It lets visitors feel the history of Malaysia’s independence. The area has European-style buildings and the Malaysian national flag. It is a great place for photos.
After that, I visited the National Mosque. Many people call it one of the most beautiful mosques in Asia. Non-Muslims may enter, and free robes are provided at the entrance. The best part of the day came after dark. The Petronas Twin Towers lit up at night. I stood by the pool in KLCC Park and took pictures of the tower reflections. The view was amazing. For dinner, I walked around Jalan Alor Night Market. I tried bak kut teh and Hokkien noodles. The herbal soup of the bak kut teh was so rich I wished I could take some home.

Day 2: Kuala Lumpur – Batu Caves and Indian Culture

I got up early the next day, so I could head straight to Batu Caves while it was still cool. A set of 272 colorful stairs leads up to a large Hindu temple inside a cave. Climbing the stairs was tiring, but the view and the stone statues at the top were well worth the effort. I love Asian religious architecture, and this site amazed me just as much as famous European churches. Building a temple inside a natural limestone cave is a very creative idea.
At noon, I walked around Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. I tried nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national food. The dish is coconut rice served with chili sauce, fried chicken and peanuts. The flavors were new and layered. It was a totally new taste for someone used to Western food. In the afternoon, I visited Sri Mariamman Temple. Its gate is covered with detailed carvings of gods. It looks very beautiful.
If time permits in the evening, you can head to Kuala Lumpur Tower to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Day 3: Kuala Lumpur → Malacca – Exploring a World Heritage City

On the third day, I took a bus from Kuala Lumpur’s TBS Bus Terminal to Malacca. The ride takes about two hours. Tickets cost only 10 to 15 MYR. Malacca is Malaysia’s oldest city. It was ruled by Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain in the past. I explored the old town in the afternoon. I started at Dutch Red Square. The area is famous for its red brick colonial buildings. They are the most well-known sight in Malacca.
I then walked up the hill to St. Paul’s Church. The building is mostly in ruins now, but the sunset view from the hilltop is wonderful. Malacca feels like a living history book for anyone who likes culture and history. Be sure to visit Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. It was built in 1673 and is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. At night, I wandered Jonker Street Night Market. I tried chicken rice balls and Nyonya cakes. The rice balls are small, round servings of steamed rice with chicken. They look cute and taste great.

Day 4: Malacca → Penang – The City of Street Murals

On the fourth morning, I took a bus back to Kuala Lumpur. I then flew to Penang. The flight lasts around one hour. George Town is Penang’s old city. It became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008. The streets are full of hand-painted murals. I saw many artworks by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. His most famous piece is Little Children on a Bicycle. It is a very popular spot for photos.
I spent the whole afternoon walking through George Town’s old streets. You can see colorful old shop houses, Chinese temples, Hindu temples and mosques all on the same road. It creates a unique, peaceful mix of cultures. In the evening, I went to the Clan Jetties. These are old wooden houses built on stilts over the water. I sat by the jetty, watched the sunset and drank fresh coconut water. It was so relaxing I did not want to leave. For dinner, I ate Penang prawn noodles and stir-fried char kway teow. The hot, smoky flavor of the noodles was incredible.

Day 5: Penang – Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple

Early on day five, I rode the cable car up Penang Hill. The hill stands 833 meters tall. From the top, I could see all of George Town and the coastline. The wide view felt very calming. After coming down the hill, I went straight to Kek Lok Si Temple. It is one of the largest and most beautiful Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia.
The temple covers 12 hectares and climbs up the hillside. It has a seven-story Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda. The design mixes Chinese, Thai and Burmese styles. You can see almost all of Penang Island from the pagoda top. This temple was one of my main goals for the trip, and it did not disappoint. It has a quiet, peaceful mood and detailed carvings. It is very different from European churches, but just as impressive. In the afternoon, I visited the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, where I learned about the unique Baba Nyonya culture. I finished the day with a Michelin-recommended Nyonya dinner.

Day 6: Penang – A Food Tour

Penang is known as Malaysia’s best city for food. I set aside the sixth day just to eat and explore local dishes. I started the morning at a local tea shop. I had nasi lemak and Hainanese chicken rice. Next, I tried a famous old pork noodle soup shop. It has won the Michelin Bib Gourmand award for three years in a row. The shop simmers pork, chicken and duck bones for hours to make its rich soup base.
In the afternoon, I tried assam laksa. This classic Penang dish was ranked seventh on CNN’s list of the world’s top 50 foods. It has a sour, savory broth with thick rice noodles. The flavor was new and complex for my Western taste, but I could not stop eating it. I watched the sunset at Batu Ferringhi Beach in the evening. I watched the sunset at Batu Ferringhi Beach, then visited a night market for cendol, a refreshing shaved ice dessert. Penang has countless delicious foods — one day is simply not enough to try them all.

Day 7: Penang → Kuala Lumpur → Departure

I didn’t make a packed schedule on the last day.
In the morning, I walked through George Town one last time, and bought some white coffee and durian chocolate as gifts for my friends. At noon, I flew back to Kuala Lumpur. My seven-day trip to Malaysia felt full and complete.

At the end of the day, I'd like to share some simple tips for first-time visitors to Malaysia: Firstly, use the Grab app for rides. It is cheaper and more honest than regular taxis. Secondly, you can get around the city easily on LRT, MRT and Monorail trains. Buy a Touch ‘n Go card and add money to it for quick travel. Thirdly, Malaysia is hot all year round, but indoor places are very cold. Bring a light jacket. Lastly, night markets and small shops only accept cash, so exchange small amounts of Ringgit in advance.
My favorite part of Malaysia is its natural cultural mix. You can hear mosque prayers, smell incense from Hindu temples and listen to chants from Chinese temples all on the same street. All these cultures live side by side peacefully. For me, this everyday cultural mix is the most beautiful part of traveling here.