First Time in Malaysia? 20 Things to Know Before You Go (2026)

Selamat datang ke Malaysia! Maybe you’re flying in to race HYROX in KL, maybe it’s part of a Southeast Asia trip, or maybe Visit Malaysia 2026 caught your eye. Either way, Malaysia is one of the easiest countries in Asia to visit for the first time: English is everywhere, the food is unreal, and it costs less than you’d expect.

We’re Malaysians, so here’s what we tell our own friends before they come: who we are, how to be a good guest, and the practical bits that save you time at the airport.

The people: one country, many cultures

Malaysia has about 34.3 million people (Department of Statistics Malaysia, Q3 2025). Among citizens, the main groups are:

Group	Share of citizens	You’ll notice it in…
Malay	58.2%	Nasi lemak, songket and batik, kampung houses, Hari Raya
Chinese	22.2%	Hokkien, Cantonese and Hakka food, clan houses, Chinese New Year
Other Bumiputera	12.3%	The indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, Gawai and Kaamatan festivals
Indian	6.5%	Banana leaf rice, Brickfields, Deepavali, Thaipusam at Batu Caves

Source: DOSM Demographic Statistics, Q3 2025.

A few things that make Malaysia’s mix special:

• Bumiputera means “sons of the soil”. It covers the Malays and the indigenous peoples: the Orang Asli of the peninsula and Borneo groups such as the Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau and Murut in Sabah and the Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau in Sarawak. The Iban are the largest group in Sarawak.
• Peranakan (Baba-Nyonya) families in Melaka and Penang descend from Chinese traders who settled here centuries ago. Their food and beaded shoes are a culture of their own.
• Kristang Eurasians in Melaka trace their roots to the Portuguese, who arrived in 1511, and still speak their own creole.

Most Malaysians grow up switching between two or three languages, often in a single sentence. That’s Manglish, and yes, we really do end sentences with lah.

Religion and festivals

Islam is the official religion, and the constitution protects freedom of religion. In the 2020 census, 63.5% of Malaysians were Muslim, 18.7% Buddhist, 9.1% Christian and 6.1% Hindu. Mosques, Chinese temples, Hindu temples and churches often sit on the same street. In KL, you can see all four within a short walk of Merdeka Square.

Because of that, Malaysia has a lot of public holidays. Big ones coming up:

Festival	Date	What happens
Deepavali	8 Nov 2026	Festival of lights. Brickfields (KL’s Little India) glows with kolam art and stalls
Christmas	25 Dec 2026	Huge mall decorations, especially along Bukit Bintang
Thaipusam	22 Jan 2027	Hundreds of thousands of devotees walk to the Batu Caves temple
Chinese New Year	6–7 Feb 2027	Lion dances, lanterns, and KL goes quiet as people return to their hometowns

Dates follow the official holiday calendar. Thaipusam is a holiday only in some states, including KL and Selangor.

During Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, many families hold an open house, where friends of every background (and sometimes strangers) are invited in to eat. If a Malaysian invites you, go. It’s the best food you’ll have all trip.

Etiquette: how to be a good guest

Malaysians are relaxed and friendly, and nobody expects visitors to know everything. These habits go a long way:

1. Take your shoes off before entering someone’s home, and at mosques and many temples. A pile of shoes at the door is your clue.
2. Dress modestly at religious sites. Cover your shoulders and knees. Big mosques such as Masjid Negara lend robes and headscarves at the entrance, and Batu Caves rents sarongs at the bottom of the stairs.
3. Use your right hand to give, receive and eat. It’s polite to pass money or a business card with your right hand, or with both hands.
4. Point with your thumb, not your index finger. Many Malays point with the right thumb, fingers folded.
5. Don’t touch anyone’s head, including children’s.
6. Keep public affection low-key. Holding hands is fine; making out on the LRT is not.
7. During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in front of people who are fasting where you can. Restaurants stay open, and the evening Ramadan bazaars are brilliant.
8. No durian on trains or in most hotels. You’ll see the “no durian” signs. Eat it at the stall.

A few words of Malay that make people smile

Malay	Meaning
Terima kasih	Thank you
Selamat pagi	Good morning
Berapa?	How much?
Boleh	Can / OK (“Boleh lah!” = sure, why not)
Tak pedas	Not spicy
Tapau / bungkus	Takeaway
Sedap!	Delicious!
Jalan-jalan	To wander around, sightsee

Before you land: MDAC, visas and money

Fill in the MDAC arrival card

Since 1 January 2024, most foreign visitors must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before arrival. It’s free and takes about five minutes. Singapore citizens are exempt.

Money

• Ringgit (RM) is the currency. Cards and phone payments work in malls, chains and most cafés. DuitNow QR codes are everywhere.
• Carry some cash for hawker stalls, night markets and small kopitiams (coffee shops).
• Tipping isn’t expected. Sit-down restaurants often add a 10% service charge plus tax. Hawker prices are what you pay.
• Hotels charge foreign guests a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, collected at check-in or check-out. It’s normal, not a scam.

Plugs and power

Malaysia uses Type G three-pin plugs at 240V, like the UK and Singapore. Visitors from Europe, the US, Australia or most of Asia need an adapter.

Getting around

• From KLIA: The KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in about 30 minutes. The airport bus is the cheapest option.
• Grab is the main ride-hailing app for cars and food delivery. Download it before you land.
• Touch ‘n Go card: The tap card for the LRT, MRT, Monorail, buses and KTM Komuter trains, also used on highway tolls. Buy one at any station customer service counter. Bank cards don’t reliably work at train gates yet.
• Sabah and Sarawak have their own immigration checks. Even on a domestic flight from KL to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching, foreign visitors have their passport checked again. Keep it in your hand luggage.

Need data from the moment you land? A Southeast Asia eSIM covers Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand on one plan.

Weather: hot, humid, and an umbrella at 4pm

Malaysia is tropical all year: around 30°C in the day and humid, with sudden afternoon thunderstorms, especially from October to December on the west coast. Storms usually pass within an hour or two, and KL’s malls and covered walkways keep you dry.

The northeast monsoon (roughly November to March) brings heavy rain to the east coast. Many resorts on islands such as Perhentian and Redang close, while Penang and Langkawi are in their best season. See our Cuti-cuti Malaysia destination guide for where to go when.

8 fun facts to impress your Malaysian friends

1. The Petronas Twin Towers (452 m) are still the tallest twin towers in the world, joined by a skybridge on levels 41–42.
2. Merdeka 118 in KL is now the second-tallest building on Earth, at 678.9 m.
3. Malaysia has a rotating king. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is chosen from the nine hereditary Malay state rulers for a five-year term.
4. There are two Malaysias, geographically: the peninsula and Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak), with the South China Sea in between.
5. Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957 (Merdeka Day). Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined. Singapore left in 1965.
6. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah (4,095 m) is one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, and in 2000 Kinabalu Park and Sarawak’s Gunung Mulu became Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
7. George Town and Melaka share one UNESCO World Heritage listing, inscribed in 2008, for their multicultural trading-port heritage.
8. Visit Malaysia 2026’s mascot is the Malayan sun bear, the world’s smallest bear, chosen to highlight wildlife conservation.

Where to next

• Eat: Malaysian food guide: 25 dishes to try
• KL: Things to do in Kuala Lumpur, with a 3-day plan
• Beyond KL: Cuti-cuti Malaysia: where to go and when
• Racing HYROX? HYROX Kuala Lumpur 2026 race and travel guide

Population figures are from DOSM (Q3 2025) and religion figures from the 2020 Population and Housing Census. Holiday dates follow the official 2026–2027 calendars. Always check MDAC and visa rules on the Immigration Department of Malaysia website before you fly.