Langkawi Sky Bridge above the tropical jungle over the mountains

🇹🇭 Southeast Asia · 34M people

Travel to Malaysia: the complete 2026 guide

Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, UNESCO street food in Penang, primary Borneo jungles (Sepilok orangutans), Langkawi beaches, Cameron Highlands tea plantations. Direct 13h flight from Paris, 90 days visa-free, mandatory MDAC. Our guide to plan 2-3 weeks in Malaysia.

📅 When to go? 🗺️ See itineraries

Malaysia at a glance

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Language

Bahasa Malaysia + English

Currency

Ringgit (MYR)

Time diff

+7h / +8h

Flight from Paris

~13h direct

Average / day

€50-180

Visa

Best season

Dec-Feb (west coast) · Mar-Oct (east coast)

Photo : Ankush Nath Sehgal / Unsplash

In 30 seconds

Why visit Malaysia

1

One of Asia's most diverse cuisines

Penang (UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy) packs Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan into the same street. Char kway teow, nasi lemak, laksa, roti canai: quality meals for €3-5 at hawker stalls.
2

Borneo, primary jungle and orangutans

Sabah (Kinabalu, Sandakan, Semporna) and Sarawak (Bako, Mulu). Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre for orangutans, Kinabalu summit at 4,095 m, Sipadan diving (top 5 worldwide).
3

90 days visa-free for French citizens

Visa-free 90 days on arrival. MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) mandatory online, to fill at most 3 days before arrival, 100% free at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my. Passport valid 6 months required.
4

Direct 13h flight from Paris-CDG

Malaysia Airlines operates the direct Paris-Kuala Lumpur flight in ~12h45 (€650-1,100 in economy). No tiring stopover, KL hub excellent to push on to Bali, Bangkok, Tokyo or Borneo.
5

Excellent value for money

4-star hotel at €50-80/night (KL and Penang), Grab for €2 in town, meals at €5. Malaysia stays 20-30% cheaper than Thailand at equivalent comfort, and more modern on infrastructure.

Calendar

When to go to Malaysia

Equatorial climate with no real season. West coast (KL, Penang, Langkawi, Mélaka) is drier December to February, more humid April to October. East coast and Borneo (Perhentian, Tioman, Sabah) are in monsoon November to February and drier March to October. Right timing depends on your route: KL + west coast = January-March, Borneo + east coast islands = May-August.

Full when-to-go guide →

Ideal Fair Avoid · Click for details

Jan

🌡 24-32 °C

Feb

🌡 24-32 °C

Mar

🌡 24-33 °C

Apr

🌡 25-33 °C

May

🌡 25-33 °C

Jun

🌡 25-33 °C

Jul

🌡 25-32 °C

Aug

🌡 25-32 °C

Sep

🌡 24-32 °C

Oct

🌡 24-32 °C

Nov

🌡 24-32 °C

Dec

🌡 24-32 °C

Detailed programs

Recommended itineraries

1 week

1-week itinerary

📅 1 week 💰 📍 Kuala Lumpur · Penang · Langkawi

See itinerary →

2 weeks Best-seller

2-week itinerary

📅 2 weeks 💰 📍 KL · Penang · Langkawi · Mélaka · Kota Kinabalu · Sandakan

See itinerary →

1 month

1-month itinerary

📅 1 month 💰 📍 Full peninsula · Sabah · Sarawak (Mulu) · Perhentian

See itinerary →

Destinations

Cities & islands of Malaysia

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Petronas + Batu Caves + KLCC

Colorful townhouses and street art in Georgetown, Penang

UNESCO

Penang (Georgetown)

UNESCO street food + street art

By traveler profile

Which trip suits you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

With family

Great from age 6. KL (Aquaria, Sunway Lagoon), Langkawi (cable car, calm beaches), Cameron Highlands (strawberries + tea). Borneo possible from age 8-10 with Sepilok and Kinabatangan river cruise.

💑

Honeymoon

Langkawi (The Datai, Four Seasons = €600-1,200/night), Mabul (Mabul Water Bungalows for diving), Banjaran Hot Springs spa in Ipoh. Budget €5,000-9,000 for 12 days.

🎒

Backpacker

Hostels KL/Penang €12-20, hawker meal €3-5, intercity bus €8-15. Possible at €1,200/2 weeks excl. flight. AirAsia for inter-island flights from €25.

👤

Solo

Very solo-friendly: universal English, modern infrastructure, high safety. Social hostels in KL (Chinatown), Penang (Georgetown), Kota Kinabalu. Great for first solo Asia trip.

🦧

Wildlife

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre + Bornean Sun Bear Conservation. Kinabatangan River for wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants. Mulu for bat emergence.

🍜

Foodie

Penang (UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy), Ipoh (kuey teow, dim sum), KL (Jalan Alor, Indian Brickfields). Order Char Kway Teow at Siam Road, Nasi Kandar at Line Clear. Food tours €35.

In pictures

Malaysia in photos

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Penang (Georgetown)

Must-do

Signature experiences

✨

Petronas Towers + KLCC

Sky Bridge at 170 m, 86th obs deck

✨

Batu Caves + Hindu temples

272 multicolor steps

✨

Penang street food

Char Kway Teow + Cendol

✨

Diving at Sipadan

Turtles + sharks + barracuda schools

✨

Sepilok orangutans

Sandakan, Borneo

✨

Kinabatangan river cruise

Proboscis monkeys + pygmy elephants

✨

BOH tea plantation

Cameron Highlands

✨

Langkawi Sky Bridge

World's steepest cable car

Plan your trip

Practical info

📄

Malaysia visa + MDAC

90 days visa-free for French citizens. MDAC mandatory online (free), to fill 3 days before arrival.

Read the guide →

💉

Vaccines & health

Hepatitis A and B recommended. Antimalarial for inland Borneo (Sarawak), not for peninsula. Dengue present.

See sheet →

🛡️

Travel insurance

Excellent hospitals in KL and Penang (private). More limited in inland Borneo. Evacuation recommended.

Compare →

📡

Malaysia eSIM

Excellent 4G/5G in peninsula, decent in Borneo. eSIM from €6.

Compare →

How much

Malaysia budget

💰 Calculate my budget →

Backpacker

€1,200

✈️ Paris-KL flight: €650
🏨 Hostel / guesthouse: €15/night
🍜 Hawker stall: €12/day
🚌 Bus + domestic AirAsia: €100

Recommended

Comfort

€2,400

✈️ Flight: €750
🏨 4-star hotel: €65/night
🍽️ Mixed meals: €30/day
🚗 Transfers + tours: €300

Premium

€7,500

✈️ Premium economy: €1,500
🏨 5-star (Datai, Mandarin Oriental): €400-1,000/night
🍽️ Dining + spa: €100/day
🚙 Driver 14 days: €1,200

Our picks

Prepare your trip to Malaysia

Our tested and updated comparisons for a smooth trip to Malaysia.

🏢

Best travel agency for Malaysia

Tailor-made agencies, organized tours, free quotes. Our selection for Malaysia.

See comparison →

🛡️

Travel insurance for Malaysia

Medical coverage, repatriation, cancellation. The best insurance for Malaysia.

See comparison →

📡

eSIM for Malaysia

Data plans, network coverage, pricing. The best eSIM to stay connected in Malaysia.

See comparison →

Combine with

🇸🇬

Singapore

Land border, 5h bus

🇮🇩

Indonesia

2h flight to Bali

🇹🇭

Thailand

Classic SE Asia combo

Aerial view of Palawan turquoise lagoons, karst cliffs and bangka boats

🇵🇭

Philippines

Vol 3h, même région

FAQ

Do I need a visa for Malaysia in 2026? +

No, French citizens enjoy 90 days visa-free entry. However, the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) is mandatory for all foreign visitors: fill it free online at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main at most 3 days before arrival. Without MDAC, you risk being refused at immigration. Passport valid 6 months + onward ticket required.

When to go to Malaysia? +

West coast (KL, Penang, Langkawi, Mélaka): December to February, driest. East coast and islands (Perhentian, Tioman, Redang): March to October, monsoon November-February. Borneo (Sabah/Sarawak): May to August, driest. Worst overall month is November (northeast monsoon). January-March works for both west peninsula and a short Borneo trip.

How many days do you need in Malaysia? +

Minimum 10 days for the peninsula (KL + Penang + Langkawi + Cameron Highlands or Mélaka). 2 weeks to add Borneo (Sabah with Sepilok and Kinabalu). 3 weeks to explore Sarawak (Mulu, Bako) and dive Sipadan. Classic combos: Malaysia + Singapore 10 days, or Malaysia + Thailand 3 weeks.

How much does a Malaysia trip cost? +

Backpacker: €1,200-1,800 over 14 days incl. flight. Comfort 3-4 star: €2,400-3,500. High-end honeymoon: €6,000-10,000. Direct Paris-KL economy flight: €650-1,100 depending on season. Domestic AirAsia or Firefly: €25-80.

How to get around Malaysia? +

Peninsula: fast ETS trains (KL-Penang 4h, KL-Singapore 7h), comfortable long-distance buses €8-15, Grab everywhere in town. Borneo: flying is mandatory (AirAsia KL-Kota Kinabalu 2h45, from €60), 4x4 + boat for national parks. KL-Borneo by air only.

Is Malaysia safe in 2026? +

Generally very safe. Standard pickpocket vigilance in KL (Bukit Bintang, KLCC). France Diplomatie advises against east Sabah (coast facing the Philippines, Lahad Datu-Semporna) due to past incidents. Sipadan accessible under armed escort. Cyclone and flood risks in east coast monsoon (Nov-Feb).

Can you combine Malaysia and Singapore? +

Yes, classic combo. ETS train KL-Singapore 7h or 1h flight from €50. Mélaka sits in between, a perfect stop (2h from KL by bus). 90 days visa-free in both, typical format: 3 days Singapore + 8-10 days Malaysia peninsula, or reverse.

Is tap water safe to drink in Malaysia? +

Not as a rule. KL and Penang have technically potable water but bad taste, boil it. Bottled water (1-3 MYR/1.5L) or refillable in high-end hotels. Borneo: strictly filtered or boiled water.