This one-week Malaysia itinerary will cover the best two places in Malaysia: KL and Penang. You will get to experience two very unique cities with different cultures, foods, activities to do, and places to see. Do you have more than one week to explore Malaysia and want a longer itinerary? I have 14-day, 21-day and 30-day itineraries, which may be more suited for you than the one-week Malaysia itinerary!
Day 1- KL
This one-week Malaysia itinerary will commence in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, also known as KL. Arrive in Kuala Lumpur at any time and check into your hostel. Spend the early afternoon hanging out at KLCC Park and admiring the views of the Petronas Towers in the daytime. Stay until after dark at Petronas Towers to see the stunning towers lit up at night. Stay for the fountain light show and the general vibes around the park in the evening.
Then, head to Jalan Alor Food Street for dinner to try some local Malay cuisines. Then head to Changkat Bukit Bintang for drinks and dancing until the early hours of the morning.
Day 2- KL
Grab breakfast somewhere quick and takeaway before jumping on a train heading for the famous Batu Caves. Spend the morning exploring the caves, taking photos of monkeys and getting that typical photo for the Gram on the rainbow steps.
Afterwards, jump in a taxi heading for the Genting Highlands. Grab lunch in the food court, where the cable car begins, before purchasing your ticket. Enjoy the stunning views from the cable car before arriving at your destination- the top of the Genting Highlands. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the theme park, opulent mall and other attractions before jumping on a bus and then a train back into the city.
Head to Hutong 10 food court (one of the most famous hawker markets in Malaysia) for dinner. Then, get an early night’s sleep before a big day of sightseeing tomorrow!
Day 3- KL
Wake up (maybe a little hungover) and grab a leisurely breakfast at LOKL Cafe just north of Chinatown. After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the streets of Chinatown, including sights such as Sri Maha Mariamman temple and the Central Market, for some souvenir shopping.
Afterwards, walk to Jamek Mosque for a free guided tour of the main Mosque in the city. After your tour of the Mosque, make your way to Merdeka Square to learn about Malaysia’s independence.
Then, head to the National Museum to learn about the history of Malaysia. Spend as little or as much time as you need exploring the massive museum (I spent around 4 hours).
Grab lunch at the restaurant outside of the museum before walking across the road to the Botanical Gardens. Spend the afternoon walking around the massive gardens taking in sights like Goose Island, the Spice Garden, the Orchid Garden and the Butterfly and Bird Parks if you fancy.
After you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the Hungry Tapir in Chinatown for a fancy dinner in KL. After, head to Skybar for the sunset to drink a few fancy cocktails and enjoy stunning views of the Petronas Towers lit up at night. If you fancy continuing the night, make your way back to Changkat Bukit Bintang for drinks and dancing.
Day 4- KL- Penang
Grab an early breakfast from Cafe ETC in Chinatown before packing up your things to fly to Georgetown, Penang.
You should arrive in Georgetown by early afternoon. This will give you enough time to settle into your hostel and do some sightseeing before dinner. Jump in a grab to spend the afternoon at Kek Lok Si Temple. Make sure you take the cable car to the top, where you will be rewarded with panoramic views of Penang Island.
For dinner, Check the night market schedule here and head to whichever night market is running, depending on the night of the week it is.
Day 5- Georgetown, Penang
Start the day off with breakfast from cult-classic cafe Yin’s Sourdough Bakery and Cafe (you won’t regret it). Afterwards, it’s time to commence a big day of walking and exploring Georgetown’s famous street art and sights. You can jump on a walking tour or hire a guide if you prefer, but you can easily find street art yourself. There’s street art on almost every corner in Georgetown, and they have plaques explaining the art and its meaning. Some of the main spots you can’t miss are Muntri Street, Weld Quay, Jalan Penang, Leith Street, Ah Quee Street and Armenian Street.
After you’ve worked up an appetite walking around Georgetown, head to Chew Jetty to grab some lunch from one of the local restaurants at the entrance. Then explore the Clan Jetties, starting with the most famous, the Chew Jetty. Afterwards, head to Fort Cornwallis to explore the 18th-century fort and learn more about the colonial history of Georgetown. At around 4 pm, make your way to the Komtar building. Head to “the top” Penang skywalk to watch the sunset over the city.
For dinner, head to wherever the night market is in Penang, depending on the night of the week. To wash down your dinner, head to Love Lane for casual drinks and watch the nightly fire shows.
Day 6- Georgetown, Penang
Enjoy a little sleep in before heading to the best brunch spot in Penang- Urban Daybreak. After gorging yourself on a full English breakfast or smoothie bowl, make your way to the Blue Mansion. At the Blue Mansion (also known as Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion), take an audio tour of the house to learn about the history of the historical figure Cheong Fatt Tze and the significance of the mansion to Penang History.
After the audio tour of the Blue Mansion, grab lunch at Teksen Restaurant (one of the top restaurants in Penang). You may have to queue for a while outside, but it is worth it, particularly for their famous pork dishes.
In the afternoon, head to Khoo Kongsi Clan House to learn about the history of Penang. Afterwards, walk to China House (another historical house) to learn about Chinese-Malay culture in Penang.
For dinner, head to Deens Maju to try their famous Nasi Kandar, a speciality dish originating from Penang. If you fancy heading out tonight, start the night at the Original Reggae Club on Love Lane. For dancing, go to Canteen (particularly if it’s a Friday/ Saturday night).
Day 7- Georgetown, Penang
Start the final day of this Malaysia itinerary with coffee and breakfast at Coffee Lane in Georgetown. Afterwards, jump on the local bus heading toward the Botanical Gardens.
After spending some time walking the gardens and relaxing on the grass, commence the 3-hour hike through the jungle to Penang Hill. The hike starts from within the Botanical Gardens (the trail starts just to the left of the office). You may spot wild monkeys or other animals on this trail if you’re lucky.
Grab some lunch from one of the street vendors at Penang Hill before walking around to explore the area. If you’re still there around 5 pm, head to behind the Hindu Temple to watch the sunset over the jungle before departing in the evening!
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