Malaysia is a mosaic of cultures and flavors, combining the best of China, India, and Southeast Asia with a smattering of old colonial legacy. Capital city Kuala Lumpur is thoroughly forward-looking, with its gleaming Petronas Towers and immaculate rail transport that’s surprisingly uncrowded. Its compact size—though giant compared to neighboring Singapore—means you can cycle between Penang’s 19th-century shophouses in the morning and wander past hawker stalls in KL by night. Eating is a national hobby here; hopefully you'll be contentedly patting your expanding stomach after just a day or two.
- Eat Your Way Across Asia Malaysian cuisine is a smorgasbord of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino flavors, with delicious influences from neighboring Thailand and Java.
- Swim, Cycle, Repeat In Penang, take a dip in the ocean before renting a bike and cruising around the shop house-lined streets of colonial Georgetown.
- Hike Mount Kinabalu This UNESCO World Heritage site is among Southeast Asia’s highest mountains; its peaks offer gorgeous, sweeping views.
- Take Advantage of the Hub AirAsia's hub is in Kuala Lumpur, which means frequent flights to a bevy of neighboring countries at low, low prices.
