Best Time to Visit Malaysia in 2025

Planning Tool Kit

Plan your travel most appropriately. Find out how you can make your travel time memorable.

Tourist Season

Knowing the peak, shoulder, and low seasons can be very helpful in making a travel plan.

Weather and Temperature

Check the weather and average temperature of the country before packing your bags.

Peninsular or East Malaysia?

Both parts experience different weather at the same time—plan accordingly.

The beaches of Langkawi, the history of Melaka, and the lively streets of Kuala Lumpur make Malaysia the perfect getaway for all kinds of travelers.

So, when should you travel to this country? Well, the best time to visit Malaysia depends on the kind of experience you seek and what interests you the most.

The country has two separate parts—Eastern/Malaysian Borneo (divided into the states of Sabah and Sarawak) and West/Peninsula Malaysia (with East and West Coast). Eastern and Western Malaysia are separated by the South China Sea, making the climate and weather different in both parts.

Don’t worry, we will also give you a general idea of when you should visit the country for the best experience. So, let’s figure out the best time to go to Malaysia.

And when you’re ready, book your travel from the leading travel agency, Next Holidays, to have an effortless, stress-free trip to Malaysia!

Best Time to Visit Malaysia

Before getting into the details of specific seasons and the best time to travel to Malaysia, let’s first understand when the country gets the most tourism and the least.

This also applies if you're wondering about the Best Time to Visit Kuala Lumpur.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly experience with fewer crowds or seeking pleasant weather for visiting Malaysia, this section will be most helpful.

Peak Season (December to February)

Seasonal Highlights:

Pleasant weather with temperatures ranging between 23°C and 31°C
Best time to visit Malaysia
Crowded tourist attractions
Higher prices for resorts and hotels due to higher demand
Celebration of the Chinese New Year

Shoulder Season (March to May)

Seasonal Highlights:

Warmer weather with temperatures ranging between 24°C and 32°C
Moderate prices for stays due to comparatively fewer crowds
The famous Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan) of Sabah
Celebrate Easter in Malaysia

Low Season (June to November)

Seasonal Highlights:

Frequent rain showers with temperatures ranging between 24°C and 31°C
Great deals and offers on travel and accommodation as a result of the low tourist influx, making it Malaysia best time to go for budget travelers and backpackers
The festival of lights (Diwali/Deepavali) is celebrated by the Hindu community

Monthly Overview of the Best Time to Visit Malaysia

Season	Month	Temperature (Max/Min)	Rain (mm)	Best For
Peak	December	30°C/24°C	152	Adventures in West Coast and Cameron Highlands
	January	30°C/24°C	96	Island hopping on the West Coast and cultural outings in George Town
	February	31°C/23°C	62	Cameron Highlands tours, exploring jungles in Koto Kinabalu, and the Chinese New Year
Shoulder	March	31°C/24°C	75	Climbing Mount Kinabalu and spotting orangutans and whale sharks in Borneo
	April	31°C/25°C	112	Exploring beaches on the Peninsular East Coast
	May	32°C/25°C	109	Vesak Day, spotting orangutans and whale sharks in Borneo, and beach days
Low	June	31°C/25°C	85	Gawai Dayak (Sarawak), climbing Mount Kinabalu, and spotting Lankayan Island turtles
	July	31°C/25°C	87	George Town UNESCO World Heritage Day and diving in Borneo
	August	31°C/25°C	83	Malaysia National Day and Light Water Festival
	September	31°C/25°C	94	Mid-Autumn Festival, Borneo International Kite Festival, climbing Mt Kinabalu, and spotting Lankayan Island turtles
	October	31°C/25°C	120	Spotting animals in Borneo
	November	30°C/24°C	162	Festival of Lights and Penang International Dragon Boat Festival

Overview of Malaysia’s Seasons

Malaysia goes through four seasons throughout the year, namely winter, spring, summer, and autumn. You can decide Malaysia best time to travel based on what to expect in each season.

Winter Season (December to February)

December to February is the peak season in Malaysia and is also the season of winter, making it the best time to visit Malaysia. However, the northeast part experiences monsoon during this period, making it more of a time to visit the southwest.

Temperature & Weather: Temperatures range between 23°C and 31°C. The country experiences severe rains because of the northeast monsoon effects. The storms are generally felt on the northeastern coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. On the other hand, the West Coast hardly feels any influence.

Important Events: Festivals such as Hari Raya, New Year, and Christmas are celebrated during this season.

Why Visit Malaysia in Winter: The West Coast in winter is all about sunny skies and beach vacations (which might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘winter’). This is the best time to visit Malaysia—spend time in Langkawi and Penang sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying water sports.

Travel Tip: We recommend visiting the West Coast to make the most of your trip. If you end up on the other side of the country, the rain is highly likely to interrupt your plans.

Spring Season (March to May)

The spring season in Malaysia starts in March and goes on until the end of May.

Temperature & Weather: Temperatures range between 24°C and 32°C, with rainfalls reducing significantly, making it a good time to visit Malaysia. There are occasional rain showers, but that’s it. The monsoons can cause winds in March and May, however, that is unlikely to affect any plans.

Important Events: Festivals like Vesak Day, Easter, and Sabhan culture celebrations are significant in Malaysia and cannot be missed during the visit.

Why Visit Malaysia in Spring: This is the best season to go to Malaysia, especially for people who are looking for better deals on accommodations without having to bear the heat.

Travel Tip: Don’t forget to bring an umbrella and sunscreen—best to be prepared for both sunny days and rainy days.

Summer Season (June to August)

June to August is the duration of the summer season in Malaysia. Since April to September is the second monsoon season (Southwest Monsoon), the experiences can highly vary in both parts.

Temperature & Weather: The East Coast has the perfect weather for beach activities since it gets more sunshine and drier weather as compared to the West Coast, which gets occasional rainfall as a result of the Southwest Monsoon. Thus, Malaysia's good time to visit is during this period for the East Coast.

Important Events: Prophet’s Birthday, Independence Day, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Day, and Light Water Festival fall during this period.

Why Visit Malaysia in Summer: This is the best period to visit Malaysia for people who love water sports like scuba diving. The weather, clear skies, and cultural events all make the visit worthy of time, energy, and money.

Travel Tip: Remember to apply a thick layer of sunscreen to avoid any sunburn. Don’t forget to pack your bathing suit.

Autumn Season (September to November)

The autumn season in Malaysia starts in September and goes on until November.

Temperature & Weather: Temperatures range between 24 and 31 degrees Celsius. The frequency of rain increases, and the rain showers generally start in September in Western Malaysia and in October in Eastern Malaysia.

Important Events: International Music Day and Diwali are celebrated with great joy in Malaysia.

Why Visit Malaysia in Winter: The best time to visit Malaysia is during September and October if you wish to visit in autumn. November is the coldest and rainiest month in the country when temperatures fall quite low. It can be chilly but if you love that, why not?

Travel Tip: Keep an eye out for deals and offers because accommodation can be pretty cheap at this time. It is the best season to visit Malaysia for those who like spontaneous planning. So, whatever happens, don’t forget to carry your umbrella everywhere.

Ready to travel to Malaysia? Book your Malaysia holiday packages now!

Book Your Trip to Malaysia

Visiting Malaysia can be highly rewarding due to the variety of places and activities it offers to tourists.

Besides, the fact that each part experiences different weather at the same time is fantastic. You can decide the best time to visit Malaysia based on which part of the country you wish to visit.

Otherwise, you can also do it in reverse order—decide which month you’re going to travel in, and then, based on the weather in both parts of Malaysia, plan your visit.

And if you need any help deciding, we are here to help you—get in touch with our team at Next Holidays to get assistance and the best packages for Malaysia.

Have a happy journey!

FAQs