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

4.5 /5

based on 36 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.4/5

Safety

4.1/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.7/5

Kuala Lumpur, Solo travel

I was lucky enough to be hosted by my Chinese friend in Puchong. We would get around by car. I wouldn't recommend walking because there are not many places to walk to. As a European it was quite a shocking thing. I love walking. If you want to have fun, there are organised activities to visit the jungle, or you could just chill at the numerous shopping malls around the city. Malaysian Ringgits are weak, so 40 euros were 200 MYR. Food is great. Please try Durian, it's a smelly fruit, either you love it or hate it 😄

Posted: August 17, 2025Experienced: August, 2022
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Claire

Claire

United Kingdom

Kuala Lumpur, Solo travel

I did loads of cool things in KL, some with my friend who lives there and some alone. I went to the royal selangor pewter museum and tour, the National textile museum, loads of local food markets: yum, Ilham gallery where I ran a tablet weaving workshop and we drove out to an indigenous village one day where people weave beautiful things with pandanas grass and I got to have a go. My friends weren’t into the textile stuff so I did that alone but I wouldn’t have got to the village without them as it was an hour away and not on public transport links. There were quite a few artisans offering textile and craft workshops behind little mini malls in kl that sold songket weaving and Indonesian batik. The workshops were basic but some of the fabric was very beautiful. In one mall (not in KL) there was a whole demonstration craft area which was the best one but I can’t remember exactly where it was. In KL the public transport is good but being a pedestrian isn’t. I ended up wandering round by foot at night a couple of times after an uber couldn’t find me and I got lost. Theres very few pavements or streetlights and that was a bit nerve wracking but I got a travel Adrenaline kick from it and nothing bad happened.

Posted: August 7, 2025Experienced: July, 2018
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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 it😭🫶🏾. 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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Is Malaysia safe for women?

Safety index

3.9 /5

Based on 68 local experiences

Crime index

2.4 /5

Based on 68 local experiences

Priscilla

Priscilla

Sabah

A paradise to people who love island and beaches, seafood and nature. Tourists everywhere in the city However don't lower awareness easily. To be honest, lazy locals like us, we rarely use public transport 😂 we drive most of the time

Posted: August 5, 2025
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Safety in Malaysia