8 Most scenic towns in Malaysia you simply need to visit

Sarah Khan 22 Sep 2016 updated the 14 November 2016 à 11:27

1/8
Miri
Miri is a coastal city in Sarawak, bordering Brunei, on the island of Borneo. As Miri's first settlers were Chinese merchants, the city still bears noticeable Chinese influences to this day. You can find typical Straits Chinese architecture along the shophouses in downtown Miri.
Some of its other scenic landmarks worth paying a visit to is the Al Taqwa mosque, that is a vision with its white and gold exterior fanned by lush green palm trees, and the beautiful reefs along the town's coasts. For a unique Miri experience, check out Tamu Muhibba, where you'll find indigenous people of Borneo from up the river selling their fruits and wares.
2/8
Alor Star
Alor Star (or Alor Setar) is the capital of Kedah and the last major town before the Thai border. A distinctly Malay city, some of its key landmarks like the 19th-century Balai Basar bears noticeable Thai and Victorian influences.
Although the town is more popularly known to tourists as a transit route to Langkawi or Thailand, this city undoubtedly has a unique aesthetic charm of its own. Masjid Zahir, the state mosque of Kedah, is one of the largest and truly most aesthetically impressive mosques in Malaysia. Some of the town’s most beautiful buildings are also found in the padang (the colonial town square).
3/8
Kuala Kangsar
Previously the seat of the Sultan of Perak since the 15th century, Kuala Kangsar is one of Malaysia’s most stunning royal towns.
This peaceful, idyllic town with a rich, distinct Malay culture is home to stunning colonial architecture like its District Office, beautiful garden landscapes, and royal structures like Perak's royal mosque, the regally beautiful Ubudiah Mosque. Kuala Kangsar is also home to the Malay College, another colonial building of historical significance to Malaysia, as it was the first school in the country to provide English education.
4/8
Ipoh
Ipoh's affluent legacy, arising from its lucrative Kinta Valley tin mines in the late 19th century (it was one of the wealthiest cities in Southeast Asia then), is reflected in its beautiful Chinese mansions and colonial-era buildings scattered throughout its old town.
Ipoh Station features a stunning combination of late Vicotiran and Moorish-Islamic architectural styles, while the Ipoh Old Town offers a rustic glimpse into the town's history. Ipoh is a great starting point to explore other beautiful parts of Malaysia, like the lush greenery and milder temperatures of Cameron Highlands.
5/8
Melaka Town
Stepping into Malacca is unlike stepping into any other parts of Malaysia. With its distinctive architectural landscapes reflective of both its various Asian and European influences, it feels like you're stepping into a page of history.
Once occupied by the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British, and having served as a key Southeast Asian trading port, you can find a diverse array of iconic cultural landmarks like the Christ Church, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Jonker Street and even Hang Tuah's well (a legendary Malaccan warrior prominent in Malay literature and history). Its diverse heritage, unique architectural features and symbolic historical sites has rightfully earned it the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6/8
George Town
George Town is the vibrant, colourful and multicultural capital of Penang. Known for its stunning and iconic street art, George Town in Penang is definitely a city worth visiting purely for its aesthetics and history.
Like Melaka Town, George Town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its five hundred years of trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West has endowed it a distinctive, multicultural heritage and influence that is unlike anywhere in Asia.
7/8
Kuching
Kuching is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. A contrasting blend of the old and new, it is a busy and diverse city consisting of old colonial buildings and modern ones coexisting.
Visit the scenic Sarawak River waterfront where you'll find classic shophouses selling various trinkets and handicrafts and quintessentially Malaysian food vendors. The best part is the esplanade that offers views of all the town's historical 19th century landmarks like The Astana (former palace of the White Rajahs) and Fort Magherita (built as a defense against pirates). It truly is a nostalgic slice of a slightly different and vintage Malaysia.
8/8
Taiping
Taiping is one of the most well-preserved colonial towns in Malaysia. Like many other areas of Perak, it is home to striking historical architecture built in the 19th century during the industrial tin mining boom.
Beyond its well-preserved colonial architecture and Chinese shophouses, Taiping also boasts more than 64 hectares of scenic gardens and is home to the Taiping Lake Gardens (pictured on the left), which was Malaysia's first public garden established in 1880 and arguably remains its most picturesque.

Bookmark this for some travel inspiration for your next trip around culturally rich Malaysia!

Malaysia has definitely seen some major urban changes in the recent years, with a growing urban population and the further creation of satellite towns around Kuala Lumpur. Despite its glossy city landmarks and cosmopolitan progress, some of its old, historical towns have (thankfully) remained largely untouched and still retains some of its rustic, colonial charm.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Melaka Town and George Town in Penang, which offers a nostalgic slice of Malaysia’s culturally diverse trade history, to lesser known towns like the historical royal town of Kuala Kangsar, check out our gallery to see which of these scenic Malaysian towns should be on your travel itinerary.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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8 Most scenic towns in Malaysia you simply need to visit

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