Most travellers begin their Malaysia holidays in Kuala Lumpur, or KL, the big and bustling capital of the country. Here, visitors will see mosques, Chinese temples and Indian places of worship in the same vicinity. Malay, Chinese and Indian food is best sampled here, too. Visitors to KL will want to see the Malaysian architectural wonder that is the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world.

To see the rich history of the Straits Settlements, alluding to a time when British, Portuguese and Dutch ships dominated commerce and seas in the region, visitors can head to Malacca and Penang. Here, visitors will find heritage buildings along with a rich Peranakan culture, a colourful mix of Chinese and Malay cultures found only in these areas.

Visitors heading to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia will discover that the region is the heart of Islamic Malay culture. One good stop here is Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan. Visitors to this city will get to taste east coast cuisine and be treated to traditional royal architecture and a number of good museums. The historic city of Kuala Terengganu is a major destination on the east coast.

Both Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu are good jumping-off points for those travelling to the beautiful, pristine beaches of the Perhentian Islands. Stunning beaches can also be found in Langkawi, the premier resort destination off the west coast.

Those willing to venture into Malaysian Borneo will be rewarded with virgin rainforests, unique flora and fauna, and traditional ethnic communities. Kuching in western Borneo is a good starting point for those venturing into the jungle. The multicultural city of Kota Kinabalu, on the other hand, gives travellers access to Malaysia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu.

The most popular landmark of Malaysia is found right in the heart of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Standing at 1,483 feet, the Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin structures in the world. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the capital from the 41st and 42nd floor skybridge.

While in Kuala Lumpur, visitors may want to see Merdeka Square. This is where, on the eve of Malaysia’s independence from the British, Malaysians gathered to raise the flag of the Federation of Malaysia for the first time. Around Merdeka Square are a number of British colonial buildings, mosques and heritage structures such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the Royal Selangor Club.

The heritage towns of Malacca and Penang are teeming with historic landmarks. In Malacca, one major tourist attraction is the Dutch Square, which is dominated by Christ Church, the country’s oldest Protestant church. At the top of a hill adjacent to the square are the ruins of St Paul’s Church, which was used by both the Portuguese and Dutch. Right across the river is Chinatown, Malacca’s old town, which contains many of the city’s museums and top attractions.

Georgetown in Penang also has a rich colonial history and landmarks here include Fort Cornwallis where Penang’s founder first landed, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the former residence of Penang’s richest merchant, Penang City Hall, a beautifully preserved British colonial building, and many more.

Malaysia’s natural wonders, on the other hand, include its national parks. Taman Negara National Park, found in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia, has rich rainforests, insects and birds. Meanwhile, in Malaysian Borneo, the Sarawak River, which snakes it way from inland Borneo through the city of Kuching, is a sight to see. The top landmark in Malaysian Borneo, however, is the 13,435-foot peak of the highest mountain in Malaysia, Mount Kinabalu.

While most Malays don’t drink alcohol as per Islamic regulations, there is still a huge population of Chinese and Indian locals, along with many tourists, that keep the country’s watering holes afloat.

In Kuala Lumpur, visitors are sure to find the liveliest and most exciting night-time entertainment venues in the country. Here, tourists have the option of heading to bars, nightclubs and street markets. The most popular party venue in the capital is the Golden Triangle. Here, Jalan P Ramalee hosts modern nightclubs. Nearby Bukit Bintang, Bangsar, Asian Heritage Row, Mutiara Damansara, Cap Square Centre and Sri Hartamas offer further options. Tourists looking to have a fun night out on the town will find restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs in these areas.

In the smaller cities, including the major tourist destinations, night-time entertainment comes in the form of street markets. In Malacca, the place to be on any weekend night is Jonkers Walk, an open-air food market that happens right on the busiest street of Malacca’s old town. Trying any one of the local Malay or Peranakan dishes here is highly recommended. In Penang, the Pasar Malam, or night market, happens right along Batu Ferringhi, while the Little Penang Street Market is not to be missed as it only happens on the final Sunday of every month.

Most of the big cities in Malaysia have large malls and shopping centres. Most, if not all of these venues, have entertainment centres inside: from karaoke bars, bowling centres, gaming arcades and cinemas playing American, Chinese, Indian and Malay movies, often with English subtitles.

With Malaysia being at the crossroads of some of the richest food cultures in the world, it is not hard to understand why Malay cuisine is considered one of the richest. The Malays use meats, fruits, vegetables and most importantly, spices which are grown locally or have passed through their historic ports to produce some of the most flavourful dishes in the world. The word ’Malay’ does not even begin to cover the variety of regional foods, dishes brought by the Chinese and Indians, and the Peranakan cuisine.

Whatever type of cuisine visitors to Malaysia choose to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, they are sure to find a number of choices with regards to dining venues. Street food stalls, hawker centres, food courts in shopping malls, street markets and of course, cafés and restaurants are all present here. Most of the options are very affordable.

There is an endless list of dishes worth trying and most of the major destinations have their own speciality. Those wanting a taste of Malay cuisine will want to sample the rich, deep and dark flavours of slow-cooked rendang (beef, chicken or mutton), naturally eaten with nasi lemak, or white rice cooked in coconut milk.

The Chinese in Malaysia, meanwhile, have developed Hainanese chicken rice, which features boiled chicken which is lightly spiced with ginger, with the cooked meat dipped in a condiment made from soy sauce, garlic and chilli. A Peranakan dish sure to please anyone’s taste buds is ayam pongteh, chicken made flavourful with fermented soy bean paste and dark soy sauce. As for Indian cuisine in Malaysia, it doesn’t get better than roti canai, the tasty Indian flat bread.