Years ago, Malaysia was declared the most child-friendly faraway destination for international travelers. Since then, Malaysia has consistently appeared on lists of great travel destinations that are suitable for (young) children. Why? It is a combination of reasons that we will list below:
1. The healthcare system is (very) well organized
Everywhere you go, there are so-called Kliniks—general practices for a first visit if you need one. There are also large public hospitals with excellent care, and you can go there for any issue. Additionally, there are many private hospitals where you pay more, but the care is faster and often feels more like a luxury 5-star hotel.
2. It’s a safe country
Malaysia is one of the most developed countries in Southeast Asia. No stress on the road—just helpful locals who are friendly (but not overly so). In some other faraway destinations, we sometimes get a bit suspicious if someone seems too eager to help. There’s also little to worry about in big cities, even late at night. Plus, English is widely spoken, so communication is easy.
Are the kids a bit older and have their own phone? Then you can buy a local SIM card for next to nothing, and they’ll always be reachable. Perfect for when they want to explore a shopping mall while the parents relax nearby.
3. Great public transportation and excellent infrastructure
Malaysia has an extensive public transportation network. Buses, minibuses, and taxis are everywhere. You can book a taxi easily, quickly, and affordably via Grab—no haggling required. There are also trains and domestic flights for longer distances, all modern and reliable. For the best prices and availability, it’s best to book train, bus, or flight tickets in advance.
Driving a rental car is also very doable. It’s a great way to travel independently, especially with small children, and gives you the freedom to take breaks whenever you want or stop for sightseeing along the way.
Thanks to this great infrastructure, you can visit a lot of the country’s highlights in a short amount of time. That makes it perfectly doable to explore Malaysia in, say, two weeks.
4. Many fun attractions and activities for children
Malaysia has over 100 great destinations you can include in your itinerary, and almost all of them offer something fun for children. Whether you go snorkeling on the Perhentian Islands, take the Panorama Cable Car on Langkawi, or go on a guided jungle hike or river cruise—there’s something for everyone.
There are also amusement parks, water parks, and tons of other fun things to do with kids.
We often go bowling at a bowling alley with over 100 lanes—always a hit! Or catch a movie at one of the many luxury cinemas. For younger kids, you’ll find those soft play areas (bouncy castles, ball pits, etc.) often in shopping malls, so parents can take turns shopping.
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that are the biggest hit. In central Kuala Lumpur, there’s the beautiful KLCC Park with a big public children’s pool. Our kids have spent hours (or days!) there over the years. In the evening, there’s a lovely fountain show at Suria KLCC.
5. Lots of variety in food and drink
Some kids love everything, others are super picky—Malaysia works well either way. Visit a food court, and you’ll always find something for them. Some food courts have over 100 stalls, so even just walking around and picking something is fun. And aside from local food, there are plenty of Western options too. You can always get a burger and fries if needed. If nothing works, grab tomatoes, cucumbers, fruit, or other snacks from a supermarket. In the early years, we even brought our own food containers.
6. Affordable accommodations
Traveling with a family can get expensive—especially with older kids who need their own beds. You often end up booking adjoining rooms or big family suites, which can be pricey. But Malaysia has some of the world’s lowest hotel room rates, especially in cities and tourist hotspots.
You’ll find great family-friendly hotels and resorts—like Shangri-La Golden Sands in Penang or Pelangi Beach Resort in Langkawi—that offer lots of extras for kids (some even have entertainment programs).
You’ll also find loads of private apartment rentals, including luxurious two- or three-bedroom places with full kitchens, multiple bathrooms, and rooftop infinity pools with amazing views. Since discovering Airbnb, we rarely book anything else. In central Kuala Lumpur, you can stay in Bukit Bintang (within walking distance of everything) for less than €75 a night—and often for even less.
7. Also great for traveling with babies
Anything you need on the road is easy to find in Malaysia. The supermarkets (even in smaller towns) are modern and well-stocked with baby products. Most hotels offer baby cots (just request in advance), and you can bring a baby carrier for convenience. Restaurants and hotels usually have high chairs, and some even offer coloring sheets and crayons. Public toilets (even at highway rest stops) usually have changing tables and are generally clean.
8. Malaysian Borneo is also a great option
Malaysian Borneo is another fantastic place to visit with kids. A trip to the Kinabatangan River is a popular adventure in eastern Sabah. The region has developed a lot in recent years, and many nature parks are accessible and well maintained. Healthcare is also available if needed. Cities like Kota Kinabalu are perfect as a base for exploring Borneo with children.
There are also two orangutan rehabilitation centers—one in Sabah and one in Sarawak—which are easy to visit and a great chance to see these amazing animals in the wild.
Do note that malaria occurs in some parts of Borneo, so check with your local health authority for the latest advice before traveling with small children.
9. Slow travel is perfectly doable in Malaysia
Almost every destination has enough to keep you busy for days. Even in a big city like Kuala Lumpur, we easily spend a week just relaxing by the pool and keeping a light schedule.
In other destinations, you can also stay longer—like five days or more—and reduce travel days, which is less tiring for little ones. We often pick just a few main destinations and explore the surrounding areas by rental car or Grab taxi.
10. Adventure and children go well together
Many destinations in Malaysia are well organized and maintained. There are several nature parks on both the Malay Peninsula and in Borneo, with hiking trails and wooden walkways—great for kids. Some jungle trips are boat-based, and everyone gets a life jacket.
On the tropical islands, there are many dive schools that offer snorkeling trips or Discovery Dives for kids. They have child-sized equipment and always prioritize safety during the trips.
11. Great to visit year-round
Malaysia is a great year-round destination. From November to March, the east coast of the peninsula has monsoon season, so some islands may be closed. But you can still visit Langkawi, Penang, or Pangkor, or even hop over to Koh Lipe in Thailand from Langkawi.
The rest of Malaysia—including Borneo—can be visited year-round.
Tips
- Don’t be afraid to stop by a Klinik if you have any problems. It’s better to take action right away than to wait. You can easily search for “klinik” on Google Maps, and you’ll always find a few in the area. A simple consultation often only costs a few dollars, so there’s no need to figure out how to claim it back first.
- Decathlon has a great assortment of UV swimwear — a must when traveling with small children.
- A couple of times a year, you can find great deals on sunscreen. Choose a version without harmful substances, and preferably not too high a protection factor, so you have to reapply it more often (which is actually better, because you’re less likely to miss a spot).
- Also, be prepared for things to go wrong sometimes. We always book a few days in Kuala Lumpur upon arrival. If something happens to the luggage, we can wait for it to be delivered. We also keep all our essentials in our hand luggage, so we can get through the first few days if something goes wrong. Most things can also be bought in Malaysia anyway.
- When renting a car, make sure it’s a modern one — usually automatic and fully equipped. GPS can be added as an option, but we always just use a local SIM card in our phone and rely on Google Maps. If needed, we buy a phone holder for the air vent. You can rent car seats, but that’s often more expensive than bringing your own (many airlines allow free check-in for car seats). It does require a bit of logistical planning, but we always leave the seat in Malaysia when we leave. By the way, driving on the left is totally normal in Malaysia.
- Make sure you have enough DEET. There’s a natural version, but it’s usually less effective. Some travelers are now also advised to get the Dengue vaccine before departure — especially for vulnerable groups or people who’ve had Dengue before.
- We also brought a buggy a few times. The kids were a bit too big for the baby wrap or back carrier but still got tired on longer walks. Just note that Malaysia (like much of Southeast Asia) isn’t really buggy- or stroller-friendly. Honestly, it might be better to leave it at home — even though you can take one on the plane for free. Instead, bring a “Kids Carrier” — a backpack-style carrier that works for kids up to about 5 years old.
- Almost all destinations in Malaysia are great with (young) children — especially: Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Pangkor Island, Penang Island, Langkawi Island, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara, Genting Highlands, Port Dickson, Johor Bahru (including Legoland and Hello Kitty Land), Singapore, Tioman Island, Redang Island, Perhentian Island, and Royal Belum.
- You’ll find modern supermarkets all over Malaysia with lots of imported (luxury) products. There’s also a wide selection of diapers, so you don’t need to bring too many from home. Besides diapers and baby food, you’ll find plenty of familiar products — chocolate spread, peanut butter, breakfast cereals, yogurt, muesli, fresh bread, savory spreads, and more.
- There are plenty of amusement parks and water parks in Malaysia. These include The Lost World of Tambun (Ipoh), Sunway Lagoon and Berjaya Times Square Theme Park (Kuala Lumpur), Legoland and Hello Kitty Land (Johor Bahru), SkyWorlds Theme Park (Genting Highlands), and ESCAPE Water Park (Penang).
- Malaysia is a predominantly Islamic country, but there are three major population groups (Malay, Chinese-Malay, and Indian-Malay), each with their own customs and traditions. Western tourists don’t need to worry much about local etiquette. The stricter Islamic rules only apply to Muslims, although you may be asked to wear a robe when visiting a mosque. Bikini, swimming trunks, kids running around with bare bellies? Totally fine.
- Airbnb isn’t available in some places. Also, a family room at a resort is often more expensive than two separate rooms. We sometimes book two rooms — one child sleeps with each parent.
- Our Facebook group “Friends of Malaysia” is a great place to ask questions about your upcoming trip — either in advance or on the go.
- Each year, a few weeks are dedicated to Ramadan in Malaysia. Muslims observe this period strictly, and in areas with a large Muslim population, restaurants may be closed during the day. On one hand, it’s a peaceful and quiet time to visit, but on the other, it’s also a really special experience. While many Muslim-run places are closed during the day, Chinese-Malay, Indian-Malay, and international restaurants stay open as usual. The whole country is nice to visit during Ramadan, but you’ll feel the impact more along the east coast of the peninsula, where the Muslim population is larger.
- Try to book attraction tickets in advance via Klook.com. It saves you time in queues (sometimes a lot!) and is often cheaper than buying on the spot. For weather-dependent activities, book with free cancellation or flexible dates.
- The best snorkeling islands with crystal-clear water are Perhentian, Redang, and Tioman — all along the east coast. They’re perfect places to chill out and do absolutely nothing for a few days. Great spots for families to take a break between busier stops.
- A visit to one of the “Turtle Islands” is a truly unique experience. There are several in Malaysia where you can book an overnight tour (usually 2 days, 1 night). You’ll be woken up at night when turtles come ashore to lay their eggs — and you might even get to release baby turtles.
- Don’t trust the weather apps too much. Malaysia is a tropical country, so it rains often and hard — but usually only briefly. Most rain comes in short bursts, often in the late afternoon. Sometimes it rains at the same time every day (like 4:30 PM), sometimes at night, sometimes randomly. All-day rain is rare, but it can happen. It doesn’t have to ruin your trip though — we always keep some indoor activities (cinema, bowling, shopping, aquarium visits) in our back pocket for rainy days. Sometimes it’s already raining at breakfast, so you know what’s coming.
- Want easy snorkeling without a long boat ride? Stay in Kota Kinabalu (in Sabah, Borneo — no malaria concerns) and visit Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. These small paradise islands are just a 10-minute boat ride from the city.
- The best way to explore Kuala Lumpur? A guided bike tour with MikeBikes. They use Dutch-imported bikes and also have child seats and kids’ bikes. It’s a great way to see the highlights quickly. We’ve done the tour (without kids), and we’ve only ever heard great things about it.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Malaysia, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below or join our private Facebook Group Friends of Malaysia.