Is it safe to travel to Malaysia? What to see? How much does it cost?
Many of our readers, fascinated by the possibility of experiencing a trip to Asia, ask us about the [...]
Malaysia
Many of our readers, fascinated by the possibility of experiencing a trip to Asia, ask us about the Malaysia. It is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating places on the globe, famous for Salgari's novels in Italy, but still a land unknown to most.
In this article:
In this article, we will try to answer travelers' doubts, making a kind of itinerary to discover the beauty of the place.
Some information about Malaysia
It is a country of scenic variety and is located in Southeast Asia, is divided into: Peninsular Zone and Island Zone. Often, people think that visiting Malaysia means taking a trip to bustling Kuala Lumpur, in fact there is much more to discover apart from this bustling city.
Malaysia has so much to offer: you can get lost among the splendor of unspoiled nature and enjoy the many cultural attractions. It is a place to discover, and if you have time, our advice is to experience a slow trip without pretension, but letting your desire for knowledge guide you.
Can one visit Malaysia after the Covid-19 emergency? Is a visa necessary?
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
Absolutely! It is important to carry documents proving the double dose of anti-Covid19 vaccine. For the unvaccinated, there is a 5-day quarantine upon entry into the country, it is imperative to download the app MySejahtera. For more information, we know that everything can change, it is important to check the Farnesina's Viaggiare Sicuri. Just to avoid inconvenience outside Europe, it is always advisable to have travel insurance with coverage from Covid-19.
No visa is required for Italian citizens, but once you land, you will have to answer some questions and will be issued a Malaysian tourist visa. If you are anxious, you can apply before departure for this "pass" at the Malaysian embassy in Rome.
NB: It is necessary to have a passport with you as a document, with the expiration date of more than 6 months, otherwise you may have problems with local authorities upon landing.
To visit Malaysia, from Italy there are several flights with stopovers to Kuala Lumpur, usually the stopover is in Dubai if departing from Milan, while from Rome, the stopover is Singapore. The cost of the ticket varies greatly depending on the company, but it is around 500.00 euros if you book a few months in advance in Economy.
Is Malaysia a safe country?
After understanding how to enter the country, one of the juiciest questions our readers ask us is whether or not Malaysia is a safe place to travel. Well, generally it is, however, it is always good to open our eyes, precisely because we are actually going to the other side of the world.
In Malaysia, the most common scams are credit card scams, so it is always convenient to have a card that can be blocked immediately and move with cash money.
In addition, our advice is to avoid cabs because they are often inclined to take advantage of tourists. It is important, if you want to use vehicles to get around, to negotiate the price first or use car sharing apps such as the popular Grab Taxi.
The currency to be used in Malaysia is the Ringgit, the official one precisely, its abbreviation that can also be found in currency exchange apps is Myr. Usually 1 Myr is equivalent to 0.20/0.22 cents, however, one should always check to understand how advantageous the exchange rate can be at certain times.
We do not recommend changing money already in Italy, because usually the rates are not too advantageous.
The best season to visit Malaysia?
Source Pixabay
The climate Malaysian is the one equatorial, in fact offers high temperatures all year round, often experiencing quite peculiar weather with mists due to humidity. The rainy season lasts approximately from late October to February. Temperatures throughout the year range from 22° to 32°. Our advice is to visit from March to May.
Malaysia: what to see?
As we said, there are indeed many tourist attractions, any one of which could be right for you and the people you are traveling with.
Kuala Lumpur
The beautiful capital city of Kuala Lumpur catapults us into a world of skyscrapers and truly wonderful shopping malls, but also of beauty and antiquities. Think, for example, of the Batu Caves, a splendid place, a shrine nestled in caves where the statue of Karttikeya, deity of war, emerges a whopping 42 meters high.
For lovers of history and culture, also without a doubt a must-see is the Palace of Sultan Abdul Samad, an imposing colonial-era building that spans the city's Independence Square. We also recommend a visit to the National Museum to get an overview of the country's culture. If you love tradition and discovery, we also recommend the Islamic Arts Museum.
In Kuala Lumpur, there are also the Petronas Towers, skyscrapers that you will see from wherever you are in the city, precisely because of their height of a whopping 451 meters. The suspension bridge between the two towers is certainly not for those who are afraid of heights, but it is one of the experiences we want to recommend because it is truly one of a kind. The ticket cost for the visit is around 17.00 euros.
For those who cannot do without shopping, we recommend the Bukit Bintang district. Interesting neighborhoods where you can find goodies and small treasures include the Brickfields, or Little India, and of course the beautiful Chinatown.
Discovering the Island of Gaya
If you are a lover of coral formations and never-before-seen dream beaches, how can you miss an excursion to Gaya Island? It is a wonderful place, open to eco-sustainable tourism located near beautiful Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. The latter is located north of the island of Borneo in the coastal area and is surrounded by rainforest.
This area is perfect for those who love beaches and feel like relaxing and hiking. But not only that, a State Mosque is also present.
The Parks
One cannot go to Malaysia without visiting its famous parks:
- Kinabalu National Park Unesco World Heritage Site with Mount Kinabalu precisely behind it, the highest peak in all of Malaysia. Perfect place for those who love trekking.
- Taman Negara National Park, is located right next to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. We recommend it if you are interested in seeing animal species that you cannot otherwise find elsewhere. The park is also famous for bird-watching and boating in typical canoes.
- Mulu National Park, is located in Borneo, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can find beautiful caves and karst type formations, the special feature is the forest in the middle of the mountains. We can view: the Sarawak Chamber; the Wind Caves; the Deer Caves.
- Batang Ai National Park: is located on Borneo Island and is bordered by very interesting and protected areas where there are species of animals that cannot be found elsewhere. One of the animals that can be encountered is the Bornean orangutan.
Cosmopolitan Kuching
Well, depending on the days you have available, you can choose to also visit the capital of Sarawak State right on Borneo Island. This is a unique experience because we are talking about a truly vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a very unique architectural composition. It is in fact triggered between the busy streets, some colonial buildings and then some really wonderful and modern skyscrapers.
Kuching, which means cat in the local language, is known precisely as the city of cats: walking around its discovery, we can see many statues and depictions of felines.
A place famous for its street food, which is really varied and excellent, you will also find many craft stores to visit during a walk along the river. Also among the things to see are the Astana Palace, the home of the White Raja and a fortress that served as a defense against pirates, namely Fort Margarita.
How much does a trip to Malaysia cost?
It is a trip that can be considered mid-range, with the cost of airfare ranging from 500 euros and up. The hotels present both in the capital and in special places, such as the islets, are up to the expectations of both those who want to spend little or those who seek high standards of quality.
The target price for two weeks could be 2,000 euros per person, considering a high standard and especially the opportunity to take excursions and discover the beauty of the places.
In conclusion
A trip to Malaysia is a safe trip, not overly expensive, and above all, it is a nature discovery trip. It is possible to decline it into what one expects, because the tourist choice is very wide, so we could go snorkeling or visit a temple or an Islamic place of worship. We could go shopping inside a huge mall or choose to walk on the shoreline and fall in love with the beaches.
If this topic interests you or you have already been there, keep following us on social for updates or to learn about other places to visit and insights about Malaysia. Write us a comment to let us know your impressions and maybe send us photos you have taken!
