Explore Malaysia with Grab

Malaysia is a country that’s worth exploring beyond the beaten path. Beyond the famous landmarks, you’ll find a multicultural experience, from hawker stalls to cave temples. Grab helps you unlock the real Malaysia and discover the places most tourists never reach. Fare prices are always fixed and given upfront, so you'll know exactly how much your journey from A to B will cost – meaning you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Grab also allows cashless payments, so you don’t need to worry about having the right amount of ringgit. For added peace of mind, download the Grab app before your trip and set up your cards so you’re ready to go as soon as you touch down in Malaysia.

And of course, one of the best things about Malaysia is the food. Skip the tourist trail and use Grab to find the restaurants most loved by locals. You can have food delivered straight to your hotel with GrabFood, or you can use Grab’s Dine Out Deals, which allow you to order in advance and dine in – perfect after a long day of exploring. You can also purchase a Grab Travel Pass, giving you vouchers for rides, meals and more. That means all you need to do is research your itinerary to ensure you enjoy Malaysia like a local.

Discover hidden gems in Penang

Penang, or more specifically its capital George Town, is the most celebrated food destination in Malaysia, and one of the country’s artistic and cultural hubs. The city is on the radar of many tourists, but it’s easy to discover hidden gems beyond the tourist trail.

Thanks to its long history as a port town, the city is a cultural melting pot where Chinese, Indian, Malay and European communities have lived side by side for centuries. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Street of Harmony, where you’ll find four places of worship from different religions (Islam, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity) side by side.

A multicultural foodie heaven

It’s also evident in the city’s food scene, where classic dishes reflect the city’s multicultural roots. New World Park was originally opened in 1939 as an amusement park and was reimagined as an open-air food and lifestyle hub in 2008. It’s one of the busiest and best in the city, with each stall specialising in a different Penang classic. Head to Famous Mee Jawa for jawa mee, a Penang speciality of yellow egg noodles in a rich, slightly sweet gravy.

Walk the heritage city streets

Beyond the food, George Town is a wonderful place to wander. It’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of Asia’s best-preserved multicultural trading cities. The colonial quarter sits right next to Chinese, Indian, and Malay neighbourhoods, creating a patchwork of architectural styles and cultures that’s uniquely Penang. The waterfront clan jetties are the perfect example of this. These wooden stilt villages were built in the 19th century, and are still a living, breathing part of the city today. They’re best explored in the morning when they’re at their quietest. While the city comes to life, don’t miss sunrise at the Esplanade, where locals head for walks and tai chi.

Discover a thriving art scene

As you walk, it’s hard to miss the street art lining the city walls. In 2012, the city commissioned Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic to create murals for the George Town Festival, and his work inspired a flourishing creative scene that shows no signs of slowing down. Check out what’s on at Hin Bus Depot, a former bus depot turned creative arts space, featuring independent shops, galleries and a weekend market.

Things to do in Taiping

Taiping is home to a number of firsts, including the first museum in Malaysia (Perak Museum), the first railway station in the country, and the first public park (Lake Gardens). Also once the capital of Perak state, it was eventually replaced by Ipoh as Taiping slipped quietly into the background.

But that’s one of the greatest joys of Taiping today. It moves at an unhurried pace, rewarding those who slow down and experience life here as the locals do, but you can get a glimpse of days gone by on the Taiping Heritage Trail. This self-guided walking route links over 40 historical landmarks, from the Victorian railway station to the grand government buildings, offering visitors an insight into the city’s remarkable past.

Immerse yourself in nature

It’s known as the “Rain Town” as it has the highest rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia. So you may need to bring your raincoat, but you’ll be rewarded with lush green nature. The Lake Gardens, established during the time of British rule, are an incredible example of this. Rain trees are the park’s defining feature, draping over the lakes and walkways to create a beautifully calm space that's popular with locals taking their morning exercise. Close by, at the foot of Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill), is the Burmese Pool, a series of natural rock pools where locals come to cool off in cool, clear water.

Eat like a local

The food scene is quieter than that of Ipoh, Penang or busier cities like Kuala Lumpur, but there are delicious experiences for those willing to seek them out. Going out for breakfast is part of Malaysian culture, and Taiping does it well. Head to stall C37 in Pusat Penjaja market for chee cheong fun, rice noodle rolls that are standard breakfast fare. Or try Restoran Kakak for kai si hor fun and kakak peng, iced coffee mixed with barley to give it an unusual sweetness. Find more local favourites with GrabFood, and either enjoy in the comfort of your hotel or find exclusive Dine Out Deals.

Explore Ipoh like a local

Roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Ipoh is a laid-back city that doesn’t feature on many tourist itineraries. That means you have the chance to experience life here like a local, without the crowds.

Ipoh is sometimes called the “city that tin built” thanks to its tin mining legacy. The immense, rapid wealth that flowed in during the late 19th century transformed it from a small village into a bustling, mid-size city and with it came the grand colonial architecture you can still see today. The jewel in the crown is the grand Ipoh railway station, nicknamed the “Taj Mahal of Ipoh” by locals. As you wander the streets, you’ll spot a lot of Art Deco influence, with geometric lines and curved corners, alongside subtle Chinese decorative detailing.

Be wowed by street art

New life has been breathed into the city streets in recent years thanks to Ipoh’s thriving street art scene. George Town is famous for its street art, largely thanks to works by Ernest Zacharevic, but few know that he also created a series of seven murals in Ipoh. Stroll around the old town and you’ll likely catch them all – look out for the trishaw, the hummingbird, and several coffee-themed works in a nod to the city’s great obsession. Concubine Lane is one of the few places in the city that feels crowded, with hanging lanterns, charming cafes and souvenir shops. Start here on your street art tour and work your way out to quieter streets where you’ll find Zacharevic’s murals.

Eat your way around the city

The food scene is one of the biggest draws of Ipoh. The region’s cuisine has a big Cantonese influence, with light, subtle flavours dominating the dishes. The city’s most famous dish is nga choy kay, consisting of fat beansprouts and poached chicken. It’s best sampled at Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant, ever-popular with locals. Kai si hor fun (chicken rice noodle soup) is another Ipoh classic, commonly eaten at breakfast. It can be found in kopitiams (traditional coffee shops) across the city. Coffee is another staple of the Ipoh foodie scene. You’ll find most locals drinking white coffee here, made from beans roasted with margarine and served with condensed milk.

Explore locals' favourite nature spots

Beyond the old town, immerse yourself in the nature surrounding the city. Ipoh sits in the Kinta Valley, surrounded by dramatic limestone karst hills – and within them, you’ll find cave temples. Kek Look Tong is one of the finest, overlooking a tranquil lake. Alternatively, head up Bukit Kledang, where the locals go to hike. It’s a hill with multiple trails through the jungle, first to a viewpoint at 350m with an unobstructed view over the city below, then to the 800m summit. Both are easily reached with Grab, which is the easiest way to get around the city, with upfront pricing and easy pick-up points.

Discover Malaysia with Grab

Like any new country, Malaysia can feel overwhelming when you first arrive. But with Grab, you can feel like a local from the moment you first land. Grab’s Advance Booking allows you to schedule Grab rides anywhere from 75 minutes to 90 days ahead of time, so you can rest assured you have a ride waiting for you at the airport. And there’s no need to worry about language barriers: Grab’s chats are auto-translated, meaning both you and your driver can communicate seamlessly in your own language.

And when it comes to exploring the country safely, Grab has you covered. All Grab drivers are officially verified, and your driver’s photo, name, car model and license plate are all displayed in your app so you can always be sure you’re on the correct ride. Plus, the Share My Ride feature allows you to share your ride details with your loved ones with a real-time tracking link to let a friend or family member back home know you’re safe and sound.