A little more
Malaysia.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Malaysia: what to know before you go

Malaysia is split between the Malay Peninsula and the northern part of Borneo, and mixes Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous cultures in its food, festivals and architecture. Skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, heritage streets in Penang and Melaka, tea-covered highlands and some of the world's oldest rainforests make it easy for first-time visitors to Asia and rewarding for repeat travellers.

Where to go

• Kuala Lumpur. The capital's skyline is defined by the Petronas Twin Towers, and its neighbourhoods range from Chinatown's Petaling Street to Little India in Brickfields.
• George Town, Penang. Penang's capital is a UNESCO World Heritage city of shophouses, clan houses, temples and street art.
• Melaka. Once a powerful trading port, Melaka shows layers of Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and British history, from the red Dutch Square to the A Famosa gate.
• Cameron Highlands. Cool hill country in the centre of the peninsula, with rolling tea plantations, strawberry farms and mossy forest trails.

Best time to visit

Malaysia is hot and humid all year, so timing depends on the coast. The west coast, including Penang and Langkawi, is generally driest from December to March.

Staying online in Malaysia

Mobile coverage is very good in cities and towns and along the main highways of the peninsula, with fast 4G and expanding 5G. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, malls and hotels. Coverage becomes patchy in the Cameron Highlands' valleys, in Taman Negara and in much of interior Borneo, and is limited or absent on some smaller islands and on the upper slopes of Mount Kinabalu. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land so ride-hailing and maps work from the airport.