Southeast Asia · AsiaMalaysia
Discover Malaysia - where ancient rainforests meet soaring skyscrapers, three culinary traditions fuse into one of the world's greatest food scenes, and diversity is daily life.
Where Is Malaysia?
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Its capital is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the administrative and judicial capital.
- Capital Kuala Lumpur (administrative: Putrajaya)
- Population 36M
- Area 330,803 km²
Malaysia is where Asia's great civilizations collide in the most delicious way possible. Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures have been blending here for centuries, and the result is one of the most extraordinary food scenes on Earth, a multilingual society that code-switches between languages mid-sentence, and a country where a Hindu temple, a Chinese clan house, and a Malay mosque can sit on the same street without anyone blinking. The food alone - nasi lemak, char kway teow, roti canai, laksa - makes Malaysia a destination worth crossing oceans for.
Beyond the cities, Malaysia is staggeringly biodiverse. Borneo's rainforests are 130 million years old - older than the Amazon - and home to orangutans, pygmy elephants, and the world's largest flower. The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur are an engineering marvel. Penang's Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage city and a street food capital. Langkawi is a duty-free island paradise. And the country somehow manages to be simultaneously modern and traditional, with gleaming malls and ancient jungle existing side by side. Malaysia's unofficial motto, Malaysia Truly Asia, is not just marketing - it is genuinely accurate.
At a glance
Largest cities in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
George Town
Johor Bahru
Kota Kinabalu
Kuching
Famous people from Malaysia
Tunku Abdul Rahman
PoliticsFather of Independence who led Malaysia to freedom from British rule and served as the country's first Prime Minister
P. Ramlee
FilmLegendary actor, director, singer, and songwriter considered the greatest entertainer in Malay cinema history
Jimmy Choo
FashionMalaysian-born shoe designer whose luxury brand became a global symbol of glamour and high fashion
Nicol David
SportDominated world squash for nearly a decade, ranked world number one for a record 108 consecutive months
Lat
ArtBeloved cartoonist whose Kampung Boy graphic novel captured Malaysian rural life and became an international classic
Traditional cuisine of Malaysia
- Nasi Lemak
- Malaysia's national dish - fragrant coconut rice served with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, egg, and cucumber, eaten at any hour
- Char Kway Teow
- Smoky stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage, and egg, wok-fried over intense flame for that elusive wok hei
- Roti Canai
- Flaky, buttery Indian-style flatbread served with dhal and curry for dipping, the staple of every Malaysian morning
- Laksa
- Spicy coconut curry noodle soup with regional variations - Penang's is sour and fishy, KL's is rich and creamy, both are extraordinary
- Satay
- Marinated meat skewers grilled over charcoal and served with thick peanut sauce, cucumber, and compressed rice cakes
Nature and landmarks in Malaysia
- Mount KinabaluMountain
- Southeast Asia's highest peak at 4,095 meters in Sabah, a UNESCO World Heritage site with extraordinary biodiversity
- Danum ValleyForest
- 130-million-year-old primary rainforest in Borneo, one of the world's most complex ecosystems with orangutans and pygmy elephants
- LangkawiIsland
- Duty-free archipelago of 99 islands with mangrove kayaking, a sky bridge at 700 meters, and UNESCO Global Geopark status
- Sipadan IslandIsland
- World-famous diving destination off Borneo's east coast, rising 600 meters from the ocean floor with walls of barracuda and turtles
- Cameron HighlandsHighland
- Cool hill station at 1,500 meters carpeted with tea plantations, strawberry farms, and mossy forests, Malaysia's escape from the heat
Sports in Malaysia
- Badminton
- A national obsession with multiple Olympic medals, the Thomas Cup, and legendary players like Lee Chong Wei
- Football
- The most watched sport in Malaysia, with the Malaysia Super League and a passionate fan culture across the country
- Sepak Takraw
- Traditional Southeast Asian sport combining volleyball and football, where Malaysia is a consistent world power
Did you know?
Malaysia's rainforests are around 130 million years old, making them among the oldest in the world - older than the Amazon
The Petronas Twin Towers were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers
Malaysia has a unique rotating monarchy - nine sultans take turns serving as king for five-year terms
Penang has been called the street food capital of the world, and its capital George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage city
The Rafflesia, the world's largest flower at nearly one meter across, blooms in Malaysian Borneo's rainforests
Malaysians routinely speak three or four languages, often switching between Malay, English, Chinese, and Tamil in a single conversation
Malaysia produces about a quarter of the world's palm oil, making it one of the country's most important industries
Can you find Malaysia on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Malaysia and its neighbours without a second thought.
