Malaysia is pretty hot and humid year-round, so there isn’t really a bad time to visit. Although Malaysia sees occasional and sporadic rain all year, there are a few months, deemed the rainy season, where rain is particularly heavy.

March – October: If you’re planning a visit to the East Coast of Malaysia, these are the best (and driest) months to visit. 

November – March: These are the driest months on the West Coast, and thus the best time to visit popular cities such as Penang, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur. 

Street food heaven. That’s the best way to describe the whole of Malaysia, especially in the main cities of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Penang.

Malaysia’s cuisine reflects its multiethnic population, influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors. Food is flavorful, spicy, and widely diverse. While the dishes across Southeast Asia are similar, each country has a unique twist on popular foods. The national dish is nasi lemak, a delicious rice dish cooked with coconut milk and served with a variety of sides, all wrapped in a pandan leaf. It’s a drool-worthy and well-balanced meal. Other popular dishes include laksa (noodles in a coconut sauce), rendang (a coconut-based stew), and murtabak (bread with minced meat and onions).

If you’d like to get a true taste of the food scene in Malaysia, be sure to check out one of many amazing food tours here!