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Malaysia is the easiest short trip from Singapore and still easy to underestimate. Beyond Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur there are heritage towns, highland tea estates and some of the best food in the region.
Entry for Singapore passports
Singapore citizens can visit visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and are exempt from the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Your passport should be valid for at least six months on entry.
Where to go
- Penang: George Town's street food and heritage shophouses.
- Ipoh: white coffee, cave temples and a compact old town.
- Malacca: an easy weekend by coach from Singapore.
- Cameron Highlands: cool weather and tea plantations.
- Langkawi or the Perhentian Islands: beaches; the Perhentians close for the monsoon.
Cameron Highlands
The highlands sit about 1,500 m up, so days are mild and nights cool. Base yourself in Tanah Rata or Brinchang and spend two or three days on the tea plantations, strawberry and flower farms, the cactus nurseries and the Mossy Forest boardwalk. Ipoh, with its limestone cave temples and white coffee, is about 1.5 to 2 hours away and pairs well with the trip.
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Photo: Jaimes Tan
Express coaches run from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Tanah Rata. The road up is winding, so take motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
Getting around
Grab works everywhere in cities. On the west coast, ETS electric trains link KL, Ipoh and Butterworth (for Penang). Long-distance coaches are cheap and frequent.
Where to stay
- Kuala Lumpur: Bukit Bintang for food and shopping, KLCC for views.
- Penang: inside George Town's heritage zone.
Questions people ask
Do Singaporeans need the MDAC to enter Malaysia?
Singapore citizens are currently exempt from the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. Other passport holders living in Singapore may need it.