Malaysia
South-Eastern Asia · MYS
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Malaysia
Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's easiest contrast trips if you want food, tropical scenery, and a mix of big-city days, historic quarters, and rainforest-heavy national parks. It suits first visits built around Kuala Lumpur and the peninsula, plus repeat trips that add Melaka and George Town, Taman Negara, or Kinabalu and Mulu instead of rushing everything together.
Popular For
Things To See
- Kuala Lumpur
- Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
- Taman Negara
- Kinabalu Park
- Gunung Mulu National Park
- The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January through April is the easiest broad window in the current brief.
- Kuala Lumpur, the historic cities, and Kinabalu or Mulu do not need to be forced into one short trip.
- Malaysia is easy to shape around food and city time, or around park-heavy nature travel, but usually not every trip style at once.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Malaysia.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Malaysia.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Kuala Lumpur
- Population
- 34,231,700
- Area
- 330,803 km²
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia
Languages
- English
- Malay
Currency
Malaysian ringgit (RM)
MYR
1 USD = 3.93 MYR
Cost of Living (World Bank)
30.6
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 42.0
- Restaurants
- 25.2
- Rent
- 9.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Kuala Lumpur (3.17°N, 101.70°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 67/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.819
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.010
- 10-year change
- +0.028
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.973
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.172
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.677
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (6)
- 🏛️
Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
Inscribed 2008
- 🌿
Kinabalu Park
Inscribed 2000
- 🌿
Gunung Mulu National Park
Inscribed 2000
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 13.3%
- Forest cover
- 57.7%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 80
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 67
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
45/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
87/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. The geographic area in Sabah State subject to Level 2 carveout with a K indicator was revised. Exercise normal precautions in Malaysia. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Exercise increased caution on islands and maritime areas off the coast of Eastern Sabah from Kudat in the north to Tawau in the south due to risk of kidnapping. Advisory summary Malaysia is generally a safe destination for travelers. Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution - Islands and Maritime Areas Off the Coast of Sabah State Exercise increased caution on islands and maritime areas off the coast of Eastern Sabah from Kudat in the north to Tawau in the south due to risk of kidnapping. Kidnappings-for-ransom have occurred in this area, targeting island resorts and maritime activities. U.S. government employees working in Malaysia need special authorization to travel to this area, and due to its remote location, the U.S. government has limited ability to offer emergency services. If you decide to travel to islands and maritime areas between Kudat and Tawau in eastern Sabah State: Review our information on U.S. Citizens Missing Abroad and for Victims of Crime. If you decide to travel to Malaysia: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Malaysia. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Malaysia. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data