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If you’re travelling to Malaysia with kids in 2026 this article will tell you everything you to know to plan an amazing trip. Malaysia is a beautiful country with friendly people, amazing scenery and lots of great things to do with kids. Not to mention the incredible food which is found all around Malaysia.
There are some challenges if you are planning to travel Malaysia with kids. Also there are certain things that you need to know in order to plan and prepare for your trip to Malaysia with kids.
In the past we lived in Malaysia and we have also traveled Malaysia extensively with two young kids. We are very excited to share our experience, top tips and advice with you to enable you to have an awesome trip around Malaysia with kids.
Overall Malaysia is a wonderful destination for a family holiday. If you’re travelling to Malaysia with kids you will find incredible activities, amazing food, and warm welcoming hospitality from the locals.
PLANNING A FAMILY TRIP? What is the BEST country in Southeast Asia for travel with kids?
What kind of things can you buy for kids in Malaysia?
It can be difficult finding things to buy for kids in Malaysia. If you’re travelling with a baby it can be pretty difficult to find small travel size packs of nappies. The best way to find and buy nappies in Malaysia is to go to a big supermarket. Around Malaysia you can find Lotus supermarkets. In Lotus supermarkets you can often buy large packs of nappies.
However, it is worth being aware that the minimum size bags are usually around 40 nappies. In larger supermarkets you can often find sections with things for babies including toys, formula, baby shampoo and more.
You can find convenience stores around Malaysia but these are a little bit less frequent than in a country like Thailand. In some convenience stores you may be able to buy things like nappies, snacks and drinks for kids.
If you are travelling Malaysia for a short family holiday we recommend bringing a sufficient number of nappies for your trip. Another thing to be aware of in Malaysia is that it can be difficult to buy sun cream. Sun cream is often very expensive and can only be found in pharmacies and large supermarkets.
What are toilets like in Malaysia and can you find baby changing rooms?
Many toilets in Malaysia are “squat and drop” style toilets. In some places you can also find western style toilets too. You often need to pay a small amount to use toilets in Malaysia. This can be frustrating if you are running to a toilet with a leaky child. Also, many toilets in Malaysia are unclean (especially in rural areas). Many toilets in Malaysia do not have toilet paper. We always recommend having wet wipes and toilet paper if you are travelling in Malaysia with kids.
You can find baby changing rooms and some places in Malaysia. However, this is quite rare. If you are looking for baby changing facilities, your best bet is to look in larger malls, shopping centres and big supermarkets. If you are travelling Malaysia with a baby and you have space in your bags we recommend travelling with a baby changing mat.
What is food like if you are travelling Malaysia with kids?
Malaysia has a worldwide reputation for amazing food. The cheapest and street food starts at around 5 ringgits (around £1).
The food culture in Malaysia is definitely a family culture. In almost every cafe, restaurant, Hawker Street side food stall you can find baby chairs. Best makes it very enjoyable eating out if you are travelling Malaysia with small children.
When you are travelling in the new country with children they will always define pursued unfamiliar and strange. This can make it tricky to feed kids in a different country.
Monitor take challenges with some of the street food in Malaysia is that it can be quite spicy. Malaysian street food is also fairly oily and therefore not very healthy.
Here are a few useful tips to find kid friendly food in Malaysia.
Firstly, try to find supermarket and convenience stores. In supermarket and convenience stores you can often find snacks and drinks for kids.
Most convenience stores sell snacks like nuts, biscuits, bread, cakes and crisps. Granted this may not be the healthiest food to survive on but it’s a good way to fill hungry tummies when you are on the go.
Secondly, you can find Western food in Malaysia. Especially in large cities and shopping malls you can often find restaurant chains serving familiar Western food. In Malaysia and some places you can find restaurants like Chillies, Nando’s, McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC. Again this may not be the healthiest option because it may help if you are stuck for options.
Finally, there are some local Malaysian dishes that are not too spicy and kids may actually enjoy. Here are a few super tasty local dishes which kids may actually love.
- Fried chicken
- Chinese Chicken rice (roast chicken and rice)
- Roti Chenai – Indian fried bread
- Bakeries (these can be slightly off but generally pretty tasty)
- Some places sell toast (Chinese coffee shops)
- Burgers are surprisingly common in Malaysia and vary in quality
- Apom (coconut pancakes often sold in hawkers)
- Waffles (normally made in malls and shopping centers)
- Pau – Chinese steamed buns (often served with fillings like Kaya and custard)
- Naan breads and tandoori
- Fresh fruit can be found in some places like markets (although not as common as Thailand)
Top tip: Many food places in Malaysia do not offer napkins or serviettes. If you are traveling Malaysia with children we highly recommend that you bring a pack of tissues or wet wipes when you are eating out.
Does Malaysia have family friendly activities?
Don’t miss our ultimate guide to the BEST things to do in Malaysia
The first very important thing to know about activities in Malaysia is that you do not need to book in advance. In fact, in many cases it will be more expensive to try and book activities in advance in Malaysia. Some places like theme parks and waterparks allow you to book tickets online in advance. And in some cases this may allow you to get slightly cheaper tickets. However we do not recommend booking activities in advance through a tour agent, especially from your home country as this is likely to cost a lot more.
Malaysia is actually great for family friendly activities. Malaysia has some amazing tourist attractions around the country. Many activities in Malaysia do not charge for young kids or they may have a reduced ticket rate for kids. But the exact age and rate that kids pay in Malaysia varies from place to place. Many places charge adult ticket prices for 13 years old and above.
One thing that can be frustrating when you’re travelling Malaysia is the dual pricing system. Many places in Malaysia charge up to 4 or 5 times a price to foreigners. Our best advice is to decide if you really want to do the activity at the price they charge foreigners and try not to let the dual pricing system impinge on your experience.
If this is too much of a frustration for you, then we recommend travel to another country like Thailand. In some places Thailand also has a dual pricing system but it is less common and not as extreme as Malaysia.
Here are some of the best activities in Malaysia with kids
DON’T MISS our amazing Penang itinerary AND you may also be interested in THE BEST things to do in Penang with kids
There are so many great activities to do in Malaysia with kids.
Visit Langkawi and ride the gondolas up the mountain. Have a go at sea kayaking. Take a boat tour of the mangroves and watch wildlife. Langkawi also has some beautiful waterfalls.
In Penang you can explore the street art in Georgetown, visit ESCAPE – an amazing outdoor adventure park and also visit Entopia, an incredible indoor butterfly and insect Farm. Don’t miss the Penang National Park with its beautiful beaches, jungle trekking and turtle sanctuary.
Also don’t miss the funicular Penang Hill railway. If you get to the top of Penang Hill there is also an amazing ecopark called habitat. Habitat has a canopy walkway and nature exhibitions.
If you are hoping for a stunning Beach Holiday in Malaysia, don’t miss the beautiful Perhentian islands. These small islands are located on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and have stunning beaches, crystal clear waters and beautiful tropical Forest. In the Perhentian islands you can also take a snorkeling tour of The Islands where you can see amazing coral reef and sea life. This is one of the best places we have visited for snorkeling.
There is also a Legoland waterpark and theme park in Johor Baru.
Visit the Cameron Highlands with the mossy Forest and tea plantation and take a tour looking for Rafflesia flowers. The Cameron Highlands also has a strawberry farm and several beautiful tea terraces. Visit the Genting Highlands with it’s amazing theme park and cable cars.
In the centre of Peninsular Malaysia there is also a giant jungle called taman Negara. This is a large National Park and the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. This is a great place to see via life and experience some real trekking in the Malaysian Jungle.
In Kuala Lumpur there are some amazing family-friendly museums. The National Science centre and the discovery centre in KLCC are great places for kids to learn more about the world around them. Also don’t miss the impressive Batu Caves.
If you plan to visit the Historic City Of Malacca take a river cruise with your family. And make sure you don’t miss the A’Famosa water theme park.
What are hotels like in Malaysia for families with kids?
Malaysia has a good range of family friendly hotels, especially in cities and tourist hotspots. Good family friendly hotels in Malaysia often offer comfortable rooms, kids clubs and large outdoor swimming pools with slides. The restaurants in family friendly hotels in Malaysia may also offer kids menus.
Hotels in Malaysia for families with kids can be a real frustration if you’re traveling on a low budget. If you are planning to travel Malaysia with kids on a budget, hotels tend to start at around 70 ringgits for a room that can accommodate a family (normally a double room). However even for this price rooms are very basic. In some places you need to be aware of things like mold in rooms and bed bugs if you are looking for budget rooms in Malaysia. We recommend reading reviews carefully and if you can afford to pay a little more it is probably worth doing that.
Also, Malaysia is a very hot climate we recommend making sure you pay for a room with air conditioning. Most rooms at the lower end of the budget range (70 ringgits and up) including air conditioning. Another thing to watch out for in Malaysia is the proximity to a mosque. If your hotel or guest house is right next to a mosque be aware because the call to prayer can be very loud and can also start very early in the morning.
If you are planning a family holiday in Malaysia with kids then there are a lot of fantastic family friendly hotels available. Malaysia has brands of hotels such as Hard Rock, Hilton, Shangri-la and much more. On a budget you can also find OYO hotels.
If you’re travelling Malaysia with kids, be aware that it normally costs around twice the price to add an extra bed in a room. Cheaper budget hotels and guest houses may not be able to add cots to rooms. Being prepared to share beds is quite important if you are travelling Malaysia with kids on a budget.
Here are some fantastic family friendly hotels if you’re travelling Malaysia with kids.
If you’re staying in Langkawi check out The Westin Resort & Spa for family holiday luxury
If you’re staying in Penang don’t miss the Hard Rock hotel in Batu Ferringhi for fun and good vibes
If your visiting Kuala Lumpur make sure you stay at the Pullman City Centre hotel with their awesome suites and facilities for families
If your planning to stay in Malacca with kids don’t miss The Amverton Heritage Resort – you’ll love the kid friendly pool!
Getting around Malaysia with kids
Travelling around Malaysia with kids is very cheap. However the speed, efficiency and level of comfort depends on the method of transport you choose.
What is the best way to do long distance journeys in Malaysia with kids?
If you are planning to do long distance journeys around Malaysia with kids there are a few good options. The cheapest way to travel around Malaysia with kids is to use the long distance bus services. Be aware that many of the bus companies do not provide toilets on board the bus. This can be challenging when travelling with young children. Most bus drivers are very understanding and will be willing to stop if your children need to use a toilet part way through the journey. The most comfortable long distance bus service is called Aeroline.
Aeroline buses are slightly more expensive and they include large comfortable reclining seats, snacks and refreshments and they also have a toilet on board the bus.
If you cannot book an Aeroline bus around Malaysia then we recommend looking for VIP bus seats. Make sure the bus has 2 seats on one side and 1 seat on the other side (rather than 2 by 2). This means that the seats will be wider and more comfortable. We also recommend booking seats close to the back of the bus but not on the back row. On some buses the back row seats do not recline.
Long distance buses around Malaysia are delightfully cheap. For example, a 5-hour journey from Penang to Kuala Lumpur will cost in a region of 40 ringgits for an adult ticket. Very often very young children do not need to pay for a ticket. However if your child is old enough to need their own seat you will generally need to pay for a ticket for them.
A more comfortable alternative to long distance buses are the trains in Malaysia. If you’re travelling around Malaysia with kids and there is a train route connecting your destinations we recommend booking a train. The additional space available on the train is very valuable when you’re travelling Malaysia with kids. Also the experience of travelling on a train around Malaysia is very fun, interesting and enjoyable.
The fastest and most convenient way to travel around Malaysia with kids is to take a domestic flight. This is also the most expensive way to travel around Malaysia with kids. Expect to pay around 50 or 100 pounds for an internal flight in Malaysia.
AirAsia is the cheapest airline for domestic flights in the area. It is easy to find flights connecting lots of places around Malaysia. Another fun airline that connects Kuala Lumpur with some of the islands is SKS Airlines. They have small propeller planes with a fun, exciting and intrepid feel.
Another great way to get around Malaysia with kids is to take a car rental. Car rental in Malaysia is very convenient and the advantage of taking a car rental deal in Malaysia is that you may be able to get baby seats or booster seats included with the car. Car rental in Malaysia is actually quite expensive compared to other things in the region. Most places will charge around 100 ringgits per day for car rental. If you are travelling on the budget this can seem on the high side. However, if you are on holiday in Malaysia this is probably pretty reasonable. Petrol prices in Malaysia are very cheap. Expect to pay around 3 or 4 ringgits per litre.
What are the best ways to make small local journeys in Malaysia with kids?
If you are making small local journeys in Malaysia with kids there are several options for you. The quickest and most convenient way to get around small local journeys in Malaysia with kids is to use a taxi. Grab is the main Taxi App in Malaysia. Grab taxis will normally cost between 5 and 25 ringgit depending on how far you want to travel for a short local journey.
Grab taxis are normally readily available around Malaysia. At peak times such as weekends, evenings and public holidays, Grab taxis tend to be a bit more expensive.
The great thing about taking a Grab taxi in Malaysia is that the price is set before the journey. No need to barter or negotiate. You always know you are getting a reasonably fair price.
If you’re using Grab in Malaysia with kids, be aware that taxis do not generally include child or booster seats. If you are looking for a taxi with a child seat or booster seat we recommend speaking to your hotel or resort to see if they can arrange any special services.
Alternatively, if you are planning to rent a car in Malaysia talk to your car rental company about adding a child seat or booster seat to your rental deal. Be aware that this may come with an additional daily charge.
Another great way to get around Malaysia with kids if you are taking short local journey is to use the bus system. Many towns and cities in Malaysia have very cheap and efficient local bus services. In many places the local buses are clean, air conditioned and only cost one or two ringgits for local Journeys.
What risks you need to be aware of if you are travelling Malaysia with kids?
If you are travelling Malaysia with kids there are some risks that you need to be aware of.
If you’re planning to swim in the ocean in Malaysia with kids be aware of jellyfish. Poisonous jellyfish encounters do happen in the waters around Malaysia. Any time you step into the water this is a legitimate risk.
If you do plan to swim in the ocean in Malaysia with kids, you will need to take measures to reduce the risk of jellyfish encounters. In general jellyfish encounters are more probable in the cooler parts of the day early in the morning and late in the evening. Furthermore, jellyfish encounters are more common during or after rainy weather. If you or a family member is stung by a jellyfish in Malaysia it is important to get out of the water as quickly as possible and find vinegar. The jellyfish sting should be washed with vinegar and use a credit card to remove the jellyfish barbs carefully. Notify the emergency services as soon as possible and transfer the patient to hospital as quickly as possible.
If you’re planning to go to the ocean in Malaysia with kids, another risk to be aware of is large waves and strong currents. This depends on the location and the conditions. Be aware of strong currents called rip current that can pull you away from the beach. We recommend that you never swim out of your depth in the ocean.
If you’re planning to go trekking in Malaysia with kids, be aware that Malaysia has it’s fair share of poisonous animals. Be particularly aware of animals like snakes, scorpions and in some areas of Malaysia you can also see monitor lizards.
This is a male wagler’s pit viper hanging out in a tree at the Penang Botanical Gardens – a venomous and potentially lethal snake.
Another risk if you’re travelling Malaysia with kids is the heat. During the day the temperatures can get very high and the sunlight is very direct. It’s important to use sun protection, try to stay out of the direct sun during the hottest hours of the day and drink plenty of water. We recommend using a high Factor suncream, sun hats and being aware of sun exposure in Malaysia.
Hopefully we haven’t scared you off too much. Malaysia is a truly stunning country and is an amazing place to travel with kids.
Summary what’s it like to travel in Malaysia with kids?
Overall Malaysia is an amazing place to travel with your family. The people are super friendly, there are lots of amazing activities and the food is delicious. However, we have mentioned some of the challenges of travelling Malaysia with kids. This is not to put you off going to Malaysia which is a country with many amazing things to do. Rather, we are hoping to help prepare you for your trip to Malaysia with kids.
