25 top things to do and eat in Malaysia

By Darshini Kandasamy, CNN
Updated 12:19 PM EDT, Thu September 7, 2017
<strong>Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Towers: </strong>Standing majestically at a height of 451.9 meters, Petronas Twin Towers is a world-renowned Malaysia icon. This gleaming structure of steel and glass is the centerpiece of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre or KLCC, which consists of a shopping mall, star-rated hotels, a landscaped park and a convention center. The highlight of a visit to the Twin Towers is a visit to the Skybridge on the 41st Floor and Viewing Deck on the 86th Floor.
Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Towers: Standing majestically at a height of 451.9 meters, Petronas Twin Towers is a world-renowned Malaysia icon. This gleaming structure of steel and glass is the centerpiece of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre or KLCC, which consists of a shopping mall, star-rated hotels, a landscaped park and a convention center. The highlight of a visit to the Twin Towers is a visit to the Skybridge on the 41st Floor and Viewing Deck on the 86th Floor.
IKRAMISMAIL/Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Brickfields: </strong>KL's Indian enclave of Brickfields has various social, cultural, educational and religious establishments. Among the unique landmarks here are the Vivekananda Ashrama building, which was constructed in 1904, the YMCA building founded in 1905, old shophouses, schools, temples, churches, a mosque and a Chinese temple.
Brickfields: KL's Indian enclave of Brickfields has various social, cultural, educational and religious establishments. Among the unique landmarks here are the Vivekananda Ashrama building, which was constructed in 1904, the YMCA building founded in 1905, old shophouses, schools, temples, churches, a mosque and a Chinese temple.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre</strong><strong>:</strong><strong> </strong>Malaysia is an ideal destination for wildlife spotting. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, for example, is home to the world's smallest bear species.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Malaysia is an ideal destination for wildlife spotting. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, for example, is home to the world's smallest bear species.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
<strong>Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: </strong>The nearby Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah on Malaysian Borneo offers a glimpse of these endangered great apes in their natural environment.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: The nearby Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah on Malaysian Borneo offers a glimpse of these endangered great apes in their natural environment.
Jollence Lee/Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Malacca City: </strong>The Stadhuys is a historical structure situated in the heart of Melaka City, the administrative capital of the state of Melaka. The Stadhuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clocktower. It was built by the Dutch in 1650 as the office of the Dutch governor and deputy governor.
Malacca City: The Stadhuys is a historical structure situated in the heart of Melaka City, the administrative capital of the state of Melaka. The Stadhuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clocktower. It was built by the Dutch in 1650 as the office of the Dutch governor and deputy governor.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum: </strong>Melakka's beautiful Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum offers great insights into Malaysia's Peranakan history.
Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum: Melakka's beautiful Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum offers great insights into Malaysia's Peranakan history.
Iz Madz Isa/Baba Nyonya Museum
<strong>Pangkor Island: </strong>From luxury resorts to private islands, backpacker hostels and beachfront bungalows, there's a perfect island in Malaysia for every budget. Pangkor Island, in the Strait of Malacca offers beautiful sunsets.
Pangkor Island: From luxury resorts to private islands, backpacker hostels and beachfront bungalows, there's a perfect island in Malaysia for every budget. Pangkor Island, in the Strait of Malacca offers beautiful sunsets.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Sipadan: T</strong>he only oceanic island in Malaysia, Sipadan rises 600 meters (2,000 ft) from the seabed off the east coast of Sabah. A diver's dream destination, more than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified here.
Sipadan: The only oceanic island in Malaysia, Sipadan rises 600 meters (2,000 ft) from the seabed off the east coast of Sabah. A diver's dream destination, more than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified here.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Gunung Mulu National Park: </strong>A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu National Park is famous for its millenia-old karst cliffs.
Gunung Mulu National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu National Park is famous for its millenia-old karst cliffs.
courtesy Pinnacles/Mulu Park
<strong>Gunung Mulu National Park: </strong>In addition to its dramatic cliffs, Mulu Park is known for its jaw-dropping cave chambers. Clearwater Cave is one of several caves open to visitors.
Gunung Mulu National Park: In addition to its dramatic cliffs, Mulu Park is known for its jaw-dropping cave chambers. Clearwater Cave is one of several caves open to visitors.
courtesy Mulu Park
<strong>Batu Caves Temple:</strong> Featuring a 42.7-meter-high golden statue of Lord Muruga, Batu Caves Temple in<strong> </strong>Kuala Lumpur is one of many religious monuments worth visiting in the country.
Batu Caves Temple: Featuring a 42.7-meter-high golden statue of Lord Muruga, Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Lumpur is one of many religious monuments worth visiting in the country.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>World's largest flower:</strong> Measuring up to three feet in diameter, the parasitic Rafflesia is the world's largest individual flower bloom and found only in Southeast Asia. The Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Perak is one of the best places to see them.
World's largest flower: Measuring up to three feet in diameter, the parasitic Rafflesia is the world's largest individual flower bloom and found only in Southeast Asia. The Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Perak is one of the best places to see them.
courtesy Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
<strong>'Backpack' on two wheels: </strong>Thanks to an emerging network of cycling lanes across the country, touring Malaysia by two wheels is easier than ever.
'Backpack' on two wheels: Thanks to an emerging network of cycling lanes across the country, touring Malaysia by two wheels is easier than ever.
Ng Tze Koh/Sabah Tourism Board
<strong>Pewter workshops:</strong> Royal Selangor, the world's largest pewterware producer, offers two pewtersmithing workshops for travelers in KL.
Pewter workshops: Royal Selangor, the world's largest pewterware producer, offers two pewtersmithing workshops for travelers in KL.
Royal Selangor
<strong>Putrajaya: </strong>This imposing and majestic five-story building houses the nation's Federal Court and Court of Appeal. Its design incorporates classical Islamic and Western design influences, creating an interesting facade.
Putrajaya: This imposing and majestic five-story building houses the nation's Federal Court and Court of Appeal. Its design incorporates classical Islamic and Western design influences, creating an interesting facade.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: </strong>With more than 10,000 artifacts. from jewelry to one of the world's largest models of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, KL's Islamic Arts Museum houses the largest Islamic art collection in Southeast Asia.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: With more than 10,000 artifacts. from jewelry to one of the world's largest models of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, KL's Islamic Arts Museum houses the largest Islamic art collection in Southeast Asia.
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
<strong>Live music: </strong>The<strong> </strong>Borneo Jazz Festival in Sarawak (pictured) and the Penang Island Jazz Festival are internationally acclaimed events worth checking out.
Live music: The Borneo Jazz Festival in Sarawak (pictured) and the Penang Island Jazz Festival are internationally acclaimed events worth checking out.
courtesy Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
<strong>Firefly viewing: </strong>Kampung Kuantan in Kuala Selangor is one of several parks famous for its dazzling fireflies, which are affectionately called kelip-kelip (lightning bugs) in local Malay.
Firefly viewing: Kampung Kuantan in Kuala Selangor is one of several parks famous for its dazzling fireflies, which are affectionately called kelip-kelip (lightning bugs) in local Malay.
Tourism Malaysia
<strong>Homestay programs: </strong>Through the Malaysian Homestay program, travelers can stay with local hosts -- sometimes in traditional long houses -- around the country.
Homestay programs: Through the Malaysian Homestay program, travelers can stay with local hosts -- sometimes in traditional long houses -- around the country.