Is Malaysia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Malaysia is generally safe for solo female travelers. There's a high level of security in the main cities and tourist areas. Malaysian people are generally friendly and hospitable towards foreigners. However, like all destinations, it's advisable to exercise caution, particularly when traveling alone. Stick to well-lit, populated places, especially at night, and keep an eye on your belongings at all times. While petty crime such as pickpocketing or bag-snatching can occur, this is not common, and vigilance can reduce risk significantly.

Safety rating

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How safe is Malaysia?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Moderate

While Malaysia maintains a generally safe environment, it is always important to stay cautious, especially while walking alone at night. Well-lit, crowded areas such as shopping destinations are generally safe, but less populated areas might be riskier. That being said, serious incidents are not common, but incidents like pickpocketing or theft can happen. To reduce such risks, avoid unlit and isolated places and always ensure someone knows about your whereabouts. Remember to book safe rides and avoid arguments with locals. Be aware, pay attention to your surroundings and follow your instincts – these are your most reliable safety tools.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Malaysia is generally safe, efficient and reliable. Whether you are traveling by train, bus, or taxi, providers prioritize passenger safety. Important caution must be taken during peak hours due to the large crowds and heightened risk of pickpocketing. As in any travel situation, always be aware of your surroundings and belongings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Malaysia is a relatively safe country for solo women travelers. The prevalence of street harassment is quite low in comparison to other countries. Respect for personal space is generally observed due to the blend of cultures and religions present. Nonetheless, during peak hours in crowded places like public transport, markets, or tourist spots, occasional instances might occur. Therefore, it's always crucial to stay cautious and aware of your surroundings. Be sure to dress conservatively, respecting local customs, to further minimize unwanted attention.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Moderate

Whilst Malaysia is generally a safe place for solo female travelers, as with most destinations, petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft can occur particularly in crowded areas and tourist hotspots. Therefore, it is advised to always keep your belongings close to you, use secure bags and keep a cautious eye on your surroundings especially in public transportation and markets. Moreover, it's always a good idea to have copies of your important documents like passport, credit card, etc. stored somewhere safe in case you become a victim of such crimes.

Is Malaysia worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 34 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.4/5

Safety

4.1/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5
Hadiqa

Hadiqa

Pakistan

Malaysia, Family travel

Malasiya is a good place fir tourist, safe country , You can go to genting highlands , melaka , langkawi, batu caves , you can also use hip on hop off buss it was a good experience but keep umbrella or rain coats with you. The food was ok I booked swiss hotel for 3 days rooms were good but there were cockroaches in the kitchen. I would recommend to book a hotel in sentral you can use busses from there easily . In malacca i stayed in the apartment , apartment was very good and clean but the owner was quite fussy . I used grab and indrive it costs me much less then the taxis . Plus for genting highland if you are alone you can easily travel through buss but you have to booked it earlier. Overall it was good experience.

Posted: May 25, 2025
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Ezhil

Ezhil

India

Kuala Lumpur, Family travel

Guys I don't know if it was because I was a child but this was one of the best family trips I ever had. We went to Kuala lampur and langkawi and I fricking loved it. Langkawi is sooo beautiful and personally I liked langkawi more than the city. I felt super safe probably since I was with my family and we were in a huge group with our own friends. We had a great guide who was super nice to us and very hospitable throughout the whole trip. Unfortunately we couldn't get to eat authentic malaysian food since we had people who preferred indian food in our group. I totally recommend island hopping if you're an adventurous gal like me. This trip was long back but I can never forget itšŸ˜­šŸ«¶šŸ¾. Please carry a lot of sunscreen and water tho 😁.

Posted: May 3, 2025Experienced: April, 2018
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Pangkor Island, Group travel

Went there during weekdays and theres very little tourist on the island. We were tge only guest for our hotel. I get around by renting a car but renting bikes would be so much fun. luckily bcs theres bery little tourist, not much car on the road and that helps a lot since their road is very narrow. 2 full days is enough to explore the entire island but I stayed for 3 days just to chill. Most interesting activity is feeding the hornbills. i didnt do water activities, just went there to see the scenery.

Posted: March 17, 2025
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Langkawi, Solo travel

Langkawi is made for tourists. Although I hate these kinds of places, the island is amazing. It used to be a hippie-gathering place, so there's a lot of reggae and hippie vibe all over the island. For women who are traveling and looking for a hostel, check out Bunga Hostel. The owner is a friend of mine, and she has created a hotel only for women. It's a creative place for solo female travelers.

Posted: January 16, 2025Experienced: April, 2022
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Malaysia, Family travel

I don't have any pictures because my parents have them but the locals are absolutely friendly, very chill and harmless. They are very welcoming and the food is just delicious. I was in Kuantan btw. And the sunset is soooooo pretty on the beach

Posted: January 6, 2025
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Is Malaysia safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 61 local experiences

Crime index

2.3 /5

Based on 61 local experiences

Malaysia

As long as you stay in the touristy areas, generally in KL you're good. Even in the other states, youre safe. the most you'd have to worry about is racism. malaysians generally mind their own business

Posted: June 1, 2025
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Meet locals in Malaysia

Fatima

Fatima

About Me

Hey šŸ«¶šŸ¼ I’m an English literature student currently based in KL, I’m new to this app and I would love to connect with everyone!

Speaking

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Nina

Nina

About Me

I fell in love with solo travel after a trip to Amsterdam – the feeling was so amazing it became addictive! Music, travel and discovering new cultures fuel my inspiration. Always up for meeting fellow explorers and making memories together

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Malaysia

Shahida

Shahida

Kuala Terengganu

Can host for:

2 days

About me

A 20-something lawyer turned writer. I lost my youth to depression, and now I am reclaiming my lost years by traveling solo. A self-proclaimed digital nomad. I love to travel in hoping to fall in love with places, its people, food and culture. I can be found at @speakingofshahida on Instagram where I share bits of my travel

Speaking

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Aaqilah

Aaqilah

Penang Island

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hey! I'm a Malaysian woman who came back from a life changing first ever solo backpacking trip around Chile pre-Covid and is ready to be packing once more to explore the world! I've been lucky enough to be able to couchsurf and hosted by so many great individuals. I've hosted many sisters on Host A Sister (FB group) ever since CF became a paid service. I've now downloaded this app to connect with incredible women from all over! I'm an easy going person. I enjoy knowing the cultural similarities (and differences) between people with a simple conversation. I'm a lover of all things that give me a sense of escapism - music, nature, movies etc. I've grown to enjoy solo travelling and I can't wait to get acquainted with you!

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to Malaysia

omayma

omayma

About Me

Hello everyone, I'm a woman still trying to learn from life discovering and curious about everything, I will share with you my previous trips and following ones . Would love to discover the following countries in the near future( next 2 years ) : Indonesia , Malaysia, Korea

Speaking

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Catherine

Catherine

About Me

Hi there! I’m from Montreal, Canada and French is my first language. This May, I’m heading out on my very first solo adventure—3 months of exploring, wandering, and soaking it all in. I’m super excited and would love to connect with other solo female travelers—whether it’s grabbing a coffee, discovering a cool hidden spot in a city, or just chatting about travel and life!

Speaking

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Safety in Malaysia