City on D'Bayu Travel

Kuala Lumpur

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Most trips to Malaysia start in Kuala Lumpur, and plenty of people rush straight through. That’s a shame. KL is loud, hot and a bit chaotic, but it’s also one of the easiest big cities in Asia to get around, and the food alone is worth a few days.

Penang

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

If you only eat your way through one place in Malaysia, make it Penang. The island is small enough to get around easily, but packs in a UNESCO-listed old town, some of the best hawker food in the country, and a hill and beaches for when you’ve had enough of the city.

Melaka

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Melaka (also spelled Malacca) was one of the great trading ports of Southeast Asia. The Portuguese, Dutch and British all ruled it at different times, and each left something behind. Today its old town shares UNESCO World Heritage status with George Town in Penang.

Johor Bahru

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Johor Bahru, or JB, sits at the very southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, just across the strait from Singapore. Plenty of people only pass through, but JB has a small, likeable old town, a royal heritage, great food and enough nearby attractions for a weekend.

Ipoh

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Ipoh used to be a tin-mining boom town, and the wealth from that era left behind a handsome old town of shophouses and colonial buildings. Today it’s a relaxed, slower-paced city that Malaysians mostly visit for one reason: to eat. It’s an easy train ride from Kuala Lumpur, so it works well as a stop on the way to Penang.

Kota Kinabalu

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Kota Kinabalu, usually just called KK, is the capital of Sabah on the island of Borneo. The city itself is small and easy-going. What draws people is what’s around it: tropical islands a short boat ride away, Mount Kinabalu on the horizon, and some of the best wildlife in Southeast Asia within reach.

Kuching

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is one of the most pleasant cities in Malaysia. It’s small, green and easy-going, with a historic waterfront on the Sarawak River and a food scene all of its own. The real bonus is how close the wild stuff is: orangutans, proboscis monkeys and rainforest are all within a short drive.

Kota Bharu

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan in the far northeast of the peninsula, is often called the cradle of Malay culture. Traditional crafts, music and food are still part of everyday life here. It’s a conservative, unhurried city that most travellers pass through on the way to the Perhentian Islands, but it’s worth a day or two of its own.

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur: the best areas

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Where you stay in Kuala Lumpur makes a big difference. The city is spread out, traffic can be terrible, and walking between districts isn’t always pleasant in the heat. Pick an area that suits your trip, ideally near a train station, and getting around becomes much easier.

Kuala Lumpur food guide: what to eat and where

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Kuala Lumpur is a city that loves to eat. It has food from every corner of Malaysia, plus its own local specialities, and some of the best meals in the city cost very little. Here’s where to start.

Kuala Lumpur on a budget

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Kuala Lumpur can be as cheap or as pricey as you make it. The good news is that a lot of the best things in KL cost little or nothing, and the best food is usually the cheapest. Here’s how to keep costs down.