Exploring Malaysia and Singapore: A 2-Week Adventure
- Tatty
- Oct 31
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 12
Join me on a trip down memory lane as I remember my first ever solo trip through Malaysia and Singapore and share my insights so that you can feel inspired to book your first solo trip too!
It all started with an gut feeling which told me that I needed to go on a solo trip. Despite the fact that I was watching a lot of travel you tube at the time, this feeling still came as a massive surprise. I was afraid of everything, even at the age of 24. So booking a trip to the other side of the world was massively out of character. In any case, I listened to that voice telling me to go so I began my research on where the best country would be to travel solo for the first time.
I knew I wanted to go somewhere different. I had been to Europe and no where else and I always had a draw to Asia. I watched a lot of videos on you tube and after hours of research I decided I would be going to Malaysia.
At the time I had a full time job so I could only afford to take 2 weeks off from work, but I knew that was all I needed for the initial taste of freedom. I decided to book a flight in and out of Kuala Lumpur and then see how everything else evolved from there.
I made a loose plan of where I mostly wanted to go to but only booked the flight there and back and let the rest happen as I was there.
The route I took in the end was Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Singapore, Penang and then finally Cameron Highlands before heading back to Kuala Lumpur for my flight home. More details on the route and how I did it below, including where I stayed and what I did.
Kuala Lumpur
I stayed in KL a total of 2 nights as I was on a short time frame. The main attractions are the Masjid Jamek Mosque, the Batu Caves (30 minute train ride from the center and well worth the visit), the KL towers viewing deck, or even viewing the towers from down below is equally as impressive, if not more!
I also spent my time in KL eating in China town, visiting various Hindu temples, having drinks on a helipad-turned-bar called Heli Lounge Bar and shopping in the famous Petaling Street Market.
KL has plenty to do even for a few more days but as I was on a tight time frame, and also returning at the end of my trip for my flight home, I felt like 2 days was sufficient.
The hostel I stayed in KL has unfortunately permanently closed, but there are many good options in KL to suit everyone's needs. Hostels in Malaysia are generally comfortable, clean and affordable.
Malacca
The next part of my journey was to go to Malacca from KL. It was really easy and I found many buses that do the 2h trip down south. I usually use Red Bus for my bus bookings. The drive was comfortable and safe and before I knew it I was in Malacca. Malacca was taken over by the Portuguese, Dutch and the English so has many European influences throughout the town. There is even a small Portuguese settlement there where you can try Portuguese food, and there is even a Christ the Redeemer statue there. As I'm Portuguese I found that to be very interesting, however, its definitely not a must do activity. In Malacca I would say the main things are relaxing and walking by the river, visiting the old street market and visiting the churches in the main square.
Overall I found Melacca to be a very pleasant experience which was helped by the lovely hostel I stayed in called Ringo's Foyer Guest House. It was clean, comfortable and very social, and the location was great! I stayed a total of 2 nights in Malacca which I felt was the perfect amount of time.
Singapore
After 2 days in Malacca it was time to carry on the journey to Singapore. At this point I had made friends in Malacca which got the bus with me to Singapore. It was a 5 hour bus, and a bit confusing at the border crossing but we got there in the end. Singapore is a bit of a shock from Malaysia, mostly because of the prices! Singapore it's so unique in its culture and food, including the Michelin star chicken rice from Liao Fan Hawker Chan which my friends told me was definitely worth a try! I did find it quite hard to find vegan options, especially when travelling with non vegans, finding something suitable for everyone was quite a challenge.
There are so many things to do in Singapore like exploring the hawker centers for great food, the temples, China Town and shopping. Below is a list of popular activities which I did and you can also enjoy:
Gardens by the bay - At night the trees light up and perform a light show with music. It's must see and free. We lay down on the ground and found that was the best view, so don't be shy and get comfortable! You can also go to one of the many bars on the trees which is pricy but a nice experience.
Cloud forest - very beautiful enclosed forest which mimics different microclimates. A little bit pricy but an enjoyable activity to get away from the heat.
Botanical gardens, beautiful but can get quite hot walking around.
Spectra Light & Water Show - For free and has really cool views of the Marina and the Merlion statues.
In total I spent 3 nights in Singapore which felt like the right amount of time. You could stay longer and do more of the activities on offer but as Singapore isn't as budget friendly as Malaysia I decided to move on. The hostel I stayed in has now closed, but you can find a variety of options depending on budget and I found Singapore incredibly safe, probably the safest country I've been to by far!
Penang
From Singapore I decided to take a quick flight to Penang. It was less than 2 hours and easy to navigate as Changi airport is one of the best in the world, and an attraction in itself.
Penang was overwhelming for me, but i'll put that down to the fact that I was a first time solo traveler and by this point I was becoming quite tired of my fast paced travel. I ended up staying 4 nights in Penang mostly to rest and also because I met some cool people and also found a cool little cafe that that played live music at night. The name of the cafe is The Brick Cafe and the owners Remy and Lisa are so lovely. We ended up following Remy around most evenings as he would sing live in different bars. This honestly was what made my experience a good one. Other than shopping and eating street food, and seeing all the beautiful street art, Penang is also famous for its 'Love Lane' a collection of bars in a street. Although Malaysia is a Muslim country and coming by cheap alcohol wasn't easy. Personally I wasn't there to drink, but if that's your thing then love lane might be for you, just take care of your drinks and if you are solo travelling consider whether its the right thing to do. I stayed at the House of Journey Hostel it was clean, affordable and in a great location.
Cameron Highlands
I was unsure whether to go to the Cameron Highlands or go onto Langkawi, but the weather wasn't great in the islands, and I had met a girl who had gone to the Cameron Highlands, so after 4 days in Penang I decided to move onto there.
It was a 5 hour bus ride which again I booked with red bus. The town in Cameron Highlands is very small and quaint, it feels very safe and also very cool (temperature wise) which was a welcome relief! My first day was spent exploring a nearby waterfall with my new friend and then in the evening a bar which was hard to come by in an unlit part of town so I wouldn't recommend it if you are alone. The second day I booked a day tour to explore the tea plantations and that was incredible! We also stopped at the butterfly garden but the highlight for sure was the rolling hills of green tea! The air felt fresh and cool and it felt so different from everywhere else in Malaysia. The hostel I stayed in was the Traveller Bunker Hostel which featured little private pods which were so welcome and felt private. The location was also very good.
Budget
In terms of my budget, I didn't really have one as this was more of a holiday and less of a backpacking trip. I did decide to stay in hostels so I could meet people but I didn't have a strict daily budget.
fFor flights I decided to fly with Emirates which increased the price a little bit but was worth the experience for sure. As I had a full time job I wasn't really concerned on the cost, but more the experience.
Malaysia is super affordable with cheap street food and night markets which you definitely need to bargain at. Singapore is much more expensive though, so you need to budget for this and be prepared too, as I remember it being a little bit of a shock.
In Malaysia you can expect to pay around £9 for a nice hostel dorm, and as little as £3 for a very budget basic one. Street food anywhere from £1 to £2 and its delicious and filling. I would say Singapore is about 3x as much and in terms of quality of accommodation its a lot less. I remember paying £14 for a night in a hostel which was extremely basic and in Malaysia I would have paid about £3 for something like that. So if you decide to go to Singapore make sure you allow for it in your budget!
Transport in Malaysia was fairly cheap and I mostly got Grabs and Ubers everywhere as Malaysia is hot and Humid and they had AC. You can also travel very cheaply by train and bus.
Visa requirements
British and Portuguese citizens get visa free entry into Malaysia and Singapore for up to 90 days, they just stamp your passport on arrival. Make sure you check online for the rules for your country. In most cases they will also ask for 6 months validity in your passport, so double check entry requirements and how long you have left in your passport.
Food
The food in Malaysia and Singapore is an absolute delight! Both countries are a melting hot pot and blend of different countries and cultures and this is reflected in the food! You can get delicious authentic Malay, Singaporean, Chinese and my all time favorite, Indian. The food is cheap and easily accessible all times of day, from hawker centers to street food in the night markets to sit down restaurants they have it all. I remember the first time I had what is now my favorite food, Masala Dosa (a south Indian, fermented rice crepe served with Dal and chutneys) and it blew me away that I would eat it at every opportunity.
Vegan food in Malaysia was easy to come by. A lot of dishes could be veganized and a lot of south Indian dishes (like Masala Dosa) are naturally vegan. I also found a lot of mock meats and tofu in most places. Malaysia is a Muslim country but also has a huge Buddhist, Hindu and Christian population so there is food to cater for everyone and that's why I think it was so easy to find vegan food!
Vegan food in Singapore was a little harder to come by, although this might have now changed 8 years later! I found that to eat vegan I had to specifically look for it, I couldn't just eat with my friends at a restaurant and expect them to have a vegan option, like they would in Malaysia. Also the food was a lot more expensive, so all in all as a Vegan, I would have to say I enjoyed the food in Malaysia a little more.
Solo female travelers
All in all I would definitely say that Malaysia and Singapore are safe for solo female travelers (especially Singapore). Both countries have great tourism and transport infrastructure and are perfect for first time solo travelers. Also English is one of the languages spoken in both countries so getting around is very easy.
Bare in mind that Malaysia is a Muslim country and therefore you should dress appropriately with consideration to the local customs. Singapore is not and you can dress a bit more freely.
This was just the experience that I had whilst travelling for 2 weeks in both countries. I didn't plan anything except for my first night hostel and my flights in and out. I had a rough idea of where I wanted to go but I wanted to leave it open.
Hopefully the above helps you plan your next trip to Malaysia and Singapore, if you have any questions feel free to drop them below!