Is Malaysia safe for solo female travelers?
Safety rating
Make travel friends
Meet new friends while traveling, go on trips together, and create memories youâll never forget
How safe is Malaysia for solo female travelers?
Travel safety index
based on 36 experiences from female travelers
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 đ
Posted: August 17, 2025Experienced: August, 2022
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 werenât into the textile stuff so I did that alone but I wouldnât 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 canât remember exactly where it was. In KL the public transport is good but being a pedestrian isnât. I ended up wandering round by foot at night a couple of times after an uber couldnât 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
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
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 itđđ«¶đŸ. Please carry a lot of sunscreen and water tho đ.
Posted: May 3, 2025Experienced: April, 2018Langkawi, 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, 2022How safe is Malaysia for women?
Local safety index
Based on 72 local experiences
Local crime index
Based on 72 local experiences
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is relatively safe for women to travel solo. However itâs good to exercise caution and as long as you are in public places you are pretty safe. Catcalling is one thing that happens that might make women feel unsafe in the city. They are usually not followed with aggression or any pursuit, so best to just ignore it, do not engage and walk away. Also in terms of the way you dress may matter in certain parts of the city. But as a local, I do dress in a more revealing way compared to many locals and I have been fine. Itâs about where you go and the occasion. There are many events that happen in the city for music, cinema, dancing etc. In these creative spaces, people usually dress however they want to and no one minds. Also in nightlife, you will see many women dressed up or in âsexyâ outfits, and no one minds either. So itâs more about the time and place for certain outfits. Definitely dress appropriately for museums, cultural sites, places of worship, etc. Best rule of thumb is to wear a midi/maxi skirt or pants (something that covers the knees), and then something that covers the shoulders. Similarly to how you would dress to visit a temple in Thailand. Also locals are very helpful and almost everyone speaks English, so donât hesitate to talk to a local woman if you sense you are unsafe.
Posted: December 25, 2025Pulau Pinang
Its just hard to explain but i think you can say that we dont need to worry to much, just ask anyone nearby if you need help and they will give you a hand for sure. Just dont be a freak cause even I will avoid uncomfortable situation.
Posted: October 7, 2025
Sue
Kuala Lumpur
As it is a metropolitan city, safety is not that bad however sexual harassment or stalking (personally experienced) may be present. As a local female, I would not walk alone after dark in public. Even with a male companion, could be risky.
Posted: October 3, 2025
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 đ we drive most of the time
Posted: August 5, 2025Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is fairly safe if you know the places to go and have good company. As a solo traveller, girls please do check with a local about how safe some areas are. This city has its ups and downs. Public transportation is safe, grab (e-hailing service) are okay too. After 12 am, try to be more careful and stick with your friends if youâre going to a new place. The nightlife here is pretty good. Unless youâre renting a car, then none of this would be an issue. Please remember to have fun! Oh reminder! Malaysia is not LGBTQIA+ friendly AT ALL, so watch out for that in the public.
Posted: August 3, 2025Safety in Malaysia
Hospitality Exchange in Malaysia
Sue
Kuala Lumpur
Can host for:
2 days
About me
Solo chindian traveller into slow travel, gastronomical adventures, and trying out new things. Insta: heysueq I'm into fitness (good walks, swimming or any movement), reading and beaches! I don't smoke or drink alcohol at all (enjoy life more being sober haha). I do love to exchange travel stories.
Speaking
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
