Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur and Penang are app-friendly. Grab handles rides + food + payments — it's the only app you really need.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
All apps →
Southeast Asia super-app: rides, food, payments, banking.
Super-app — rides, food, payments, parcels.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
All apps →
Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Strong for KL transit.
📱Messaging
All apps →
The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Malaysia's default messenger — hotels, tour operators, and drivers all use it.
🍱Food Delivery
All apps →
Major food delivery in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
Foodpanda is a strong alternative to GrabFood.
✈️Travel Planning
All apps →
Activities, attractions, and SIM cards across Asia. Better than GetYourGuide in Asia.
Activities, ferries to Langkawi, theme parks.
Is Malaysia one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- G
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type G: Three rectangular pins. The British plug, used in UK, Ireland, HK, Singapore, Malta, much of Africa and Middle East.
British plug, same as Singapore and HK.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected; upscale restaurants and hotels usually add a 10% service charge plus tax. Rounding up taxi fares or leaving small change is appreciated but optional.
CurrencyMYR
Malay you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Use your right hand for eating, giving, and receiving, as the left is considered unclean
- Remove your shoes before entering homes, mosques, and many temples
- Dress modestly at religious sites; cover shoulders and knees and women cover hair in mosques
- Accept food or drink offered by hosts as a sign of respect for their hospitality
- Ask before photographing people and religious ceremonies
- Use a thumb or open hand rather than a single finger to point or beckon
✕Don't
- Don't touch anyone's head, including children's, as it is considered sacred
- Don't offer pork or alcohol to Muslim hosts, or eat openly near them during Ramadan
- Don't show public displays of affection, which are frowned upon
- Don't disrespect the monarchy or Islam in conversation
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Taxi drivers refusing the meter and quoting fixed inflated fares, especially at airports
- Overpriced or fake goods and gemstones sold as bargains in tourist markets
- Friendly strangers luring tourists into rigged card or gambling games
- Fake tour operators or 'closed attraction' touts redirecting you to commission shops
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.