Being a middle-class destination for a holiday, Malaysia is located at the core of Southeast Asia.
It is proving to be brimming each year with an abundance of travel hotspots, gourmet cuisines at every block of the country and an atmosphere infused with a unique blend of cultures.
It does not stop there! It is of no surprise that Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations among Muslim travellers based on the availability of halal food, convenient access to prayer amenities and wide range of Muslim-friendly hotels and tourist attractions.
Malaysia may be a diverse region comprising of a population of approximately 32 million people but they never fail to provide an ultimate `Muslim-friendly vacation` for families who are visiting the country for the first time.
Without further ado, let's jump into the top 5 reasons why Malaysia should be your next holiday destination!
You would not have completely experienced the whole of the Malaysian lifestyle if you did not try out the local food they have to offer. Their cuisines range from a variety of different cultures - Indian to Malay to Chinese and so on.
If you are a fan of spicy food bursting with flavors, you should definitely explore the restaurants in Malaysia. They will leave you in a food coma with zero regrets.
There is no shortage when it comes to the availability of restaurants serving Malaysian cultural food. Be sure to bump into carts and huts that are known for reasonable pricing at every street corner.
Bukit Bintang is a spot-on example to satisfy your Malaysian cultural food fix with a literal street jam packed with gourmet food shacks serving the typical Malaysian delights like Satay, Nasi Lemak, Teh Tarik etc.
You will be assured of the Halal factor of the food, considering that the majority of the population is dominated by Muslims.
Some Halal eateries that will leave you salivating for more:
Ayam Penyet Api Restaurant
Contact number: +603 8020 7499
Website: AyamPenyet
Price range: RM11.90 – RM20.00
Satay Satay Restaurant
Location: Paradigm Mall, No.1, Jalan SS7/ 26A, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya 47301
Contact number: +60 3-7887 7908
Price range: RM9.90 – RM15.90
Capital Café
Location: 213, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
Contact number: +60 3-2110 5591
Due to Islam being one of the core religions practiced by the Malays, there are a plethora of mosques available in Malaysia which encourages the Muslims to carry out daily prayers and religious activities.
The beauty of each mosque differs from each other. One thing you will notice is that each mosque has its unique feature and its own way of portraying Islamic architecture.
The mosques portray a variety of intricate designs on their monuments which would make them stand out individually. However, one must be cautious about behaviorism and how they conduct themselves as mosques are sacred places of worship.
There are certain etiquettes that each mosque follows and tourists should be mindful of these before visiting to avoid disrespecting the mosque and those worshipping in it.
A few of the standard ones would be the removal of shoes before entering the mosque, wearing appropriate clothing and keeping volumes to a minimum.
Some of the most unique mosques you can expect to come across would be the following listed below:
Malacca Straits Mosque, Malacca (The floating mosque)
Location: Jalan Pulau Melaka 8, 75000 Melaka
Operating hours: 9AM - 5PM
Contact number: +60 17-377 0309
Putra Mosque
Location: Persiaran Persekutuan, 62502 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya
Operating hours: 9AM-12.30PM, 2-4PM, 5.30-6PM (Sat-Thurs)
3PM-4PM, 5.30PM-6PM. (Fri)
Contact number: +60 3-8888 5678
Crystal Mosque
Location: Pulau Wan Man, 21000 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Contact number : +60 9-627 1111
Operating hours: 10AM–7PM (Mon-Thurs)
9AM–7PM (Fri-Sun)
Shopping malls all throughout the country radiate with the "shop till you drop" vibes thanks to their mammoth assortment of both high-end and affordable spending options.
They are compacted into the copious floors that entail you to crane your neck while attempting to figure out which floor you are on (and discounts of course!).
Malaysia is one of the most ideal places to grab a bargain without having to compromise on quality, which is a crowd-drawing aspect that the country provides for visitors on a vacation.
To find enjoyable entertainment facilities for the traveling kids, along with a worthy shopping experience do drop by to Berjaya Times Square and Sungei Wang Plaza.
Berjaya Times Square
Location: 1, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10AM-10PM(Daily)
Contact number: 1 300 888 988
Sungei Wang Plaza
Location: Lower Basement One, SWP Box No. 009, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10AM-10PM
Contact number: 03-2148 6109
For a lively and bustling street shopping experience head over to the Central Market and Petaling Street.
Central Market
Location: Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Operating hours: 10AM-9.30PM
Contact number: +60 1-300-22-8688
Petaling Street
Location: Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Operating hours: 10AM-12AM
Contact number: +60 3-2032 5988
As the annual inflow of tourists increases in Malaysia, the country keeps up in terms of accommodations and hotels for visitors.
They have a huge selection of unique and one of a kind types of lodging, breaking the norm of having to live in dull and the usual `Bed & Breakfast` dwelling options.
Malaysia does not undergo scarcity when it comes to listing down amazing Muslim-friendly accommodation spots. It need not be a 5-star rated hotel to give you the best of amenities and a great stay.
A large number of budget-friendly accommodations here could provide tourists with an unforgettable experience and a whole bunch of Instagram-worthy pictures, while radiating a luxurious lifestyle without having to create a dent in their wallet.
Here are some Muslim-friendly lodging options which will deliver an ultimate Malaysian experience for you and your family:
Time Capsule Retreat
Location: Sungai Lembing, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang, Malaysia
Price range: RM118 – RM498 (per night)
Contact: +013 963 8888
Bamboo Village, Hulu Langat, Selangor
Location: Off Jalan Pelangi 5, Taman Desa Pelangi, Batu 11, 43100 Hulu Langat
Contact: 019-2275620 /016-2226424
Email: [email protected]
Wind Paradise, Sabah
Location: 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia
Contact: +6019 8000 201
E-mail: [email protected]
Price: RM170 – RM380(for standard rooms)
RM220- RM300(for the Mongolian Yurts)
Malaysia is indeed a spot where there is so much to do and so much to see. You can be assured that you will not be left bored to tears.
They range from picnicking on the beaches and trekking in the rainforests to visiting some of nature's wonders like Batu Caves and Bukit Tabur. If you have the above listed in your itinerary then you are definitely in for an exhilarating time at Malaysia.
Muslims have plenty of attractions to choose from. Taking into account the vast amount of Muslim-friendly tourists hot-spots, it would be a challenge trying to name the most favorable. However, some of them that could be deemed as top attractions are listed below:
Sunway Lagoon
Location: Subang Jaya, 3, Jalan PJS 11/11, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya
Operating hours: 10AM-6PM
Contact number: +603 5639 0000
Website: SunwayLagoon
Petronas Twin Towers
Location: Concourse Level, Lower Ground, 50088, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 9AM-9PM
Contact: +603 2331 8080
Website: PetronasTwinTowers
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Location: Perdana, Jalan Lembah, Perdana Botanical Gardens, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10AM-6PM
Contact: +60 3-2092 7070
Website: IAMM
As Malaysia is leaning towards a more Islamic approach, the country would be a highly-recommended destination for a Muslim family looking for a holiday without having to worry about non-halal products or eateries.
