Kota Kinabalu

Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Malaysia page at Yoogo.

Malaysia's currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR). Cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and shopping malls, though smaller hawker stalls and markets generally operate on a cash-only basis, so it is worth keeping some ringgit on hand.

Malaysia is generally considered one of the safer destinations in Southeast Asia, and the US State Department maintains a Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) advisory for most of the country. Petty theft and snatch theft can occur in busy urban areas, so keeping bags in front and being alert around ATMs is sensible practice.

Kuala Lumpur has an extensive rail network including the MRT and LRT lines, and the Grab ride-hailing app is a convenient and widely used option throughout the country. Inter-city travel is served by buses, trains via KTM, and domestic flights, which are the most practical way to reach Sabah, Sarawak, and island destinations.

Malaysia is a year-round destination, though the timing depends on your destination: the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi, is driest from November to April, while the east coast and Borneo are best visited from March to October. The country experiences both the southwest and northeast monsoons at different times of year, bringing heavy but typically short-lived rainfall to different regions.

Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national language, with Mandarin and Tamil also widely spoken among the Chinese and Indian communities respectively. English is used broadly in cities, tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, and most signage in major destinations is bilingual, making it straightforward to navigate as an English speaker.

The CDC and most travel health authorities recommend being up to date on routine vaccinations and also advise considering hepatitis A and typhoid, both of which can be contracted through contaminated food or water. Japanese encephalitis and rabies vaccinations may be recommended for longer stays or travel to rural or forested areas, particularly in Borneo; consult a travel health clinic at least four to six weeks before departure.

Tipping is not a local custom and is not expected in Malaysia. Many restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge to the bill, and in establishments that do not, rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated but entirely optional.