food tour in ipoh

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Ipoh Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

Ipoh, Malaysia is a foodie's paradise, and it's no surprise that food tours have become increasingly popular in this city. The unique blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures has given rise to a plethora of mouth-watering dishes that are sure to satisfy any appetite. From traditional street food to high-end restaurants, Ipoh has something to offer every food lover.

One of the highlights of any food tour in Ipoh is the famous Ipoh white coffee. This local specialty is made with beans roasted in margarine and brewed with condensed milk, resulting in a smooth and creamy texture. It's a must-try for coffee lovers and can be found in most coffee shops and cafes around the city.

Another must-try dish in Ipoh is the Ipoh hor fun, a noodle soup dish made with flat rice noodles and shredded chicken or pork. The broth is usually made from pork bones and is simmered for hours to achieve a rich and flavorful taste. This dish is so popular that it has become a signature dish of Ipoh, and many tourists come to the city just to try it.

Other notable dishes to try in Ipoh include satay, curry mee, and nasi lemak. Satay is skewered meat (usually chicken or beef) that is grilled over charcoal and served with peanut sauce. Curry mee is a noodle dish that is served in a spicy coconut curry broth with chicken, prawns, and tofu. Nasi lemak is a popular Malaysian breakfast dish made with coconut rice, fried anchovies, peanuts, and sambal.

Overall, Ipoh is a great foodie city that offers a diverse range of cuisines and dishes that are sure to satisfy any palate. Whether you're a coffee lover, noodle enthusiast, or curry aficionado, there's something for everyone in Ipoh. So, if you're planning a trip to Malaysia, make sure to add "Ipoh food tours" to your itinerary and explore the city's delicious culinary scene.

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Wander-Lush

Things to Do in Ipoh: The Perfect Ipoh Itinerary for Food, Art & Culture

My Ipoh itinerary covers Ipoh’s best attractions, the top things to do in Ipoh including street art, architecture and hawker food – plus how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh.

Occasionally when I travel, I have a sensation that’s closer to experiencing a moment in time and less like visiting a physical destination.

Sight, smell, taste, sound and touch plus something else—a vibe, I suppose—combine to make a place feel all-encompassing. I become completely immersed. It’s like plunging into a different epoch rather than just ‘arriving’ at a new point on the map.

Ipoh is one of those places.

Also read: 30 best places to visit in Malaysia .

The biggest city in Peninsular Malaysia’s central Perak state, Ipoh is one of the country’s best-girded secrets. Sultans, Brits, tin miners, tea barons, Chinese merchants, street artists and entrepreneurs have all left their mark on Ipoh.

The city perfectly captures the multiculturalism and visible strata of history and custom that I so love about Malaysia, with an undercurrent of nostalgia and effortless old-school cool.

I spent a week wandering Ipoh’s streets, slinking in and out of cafes, sipping on white coffee and eating egg tarts. It was one of my top travel experiences of the year. This 3 days 2 nights Ipoh itinerary and Ipoh travel blog brings together everything I enjoyed most about the city, with a strong focus on food, architecture, culture and street art.

I’ve also included some practical travel tips to help you make the most of your visit to Ipoh.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Why visit Ipoh?

I’ve had my sights set on Ipoh ever since Lonely Planet named it one of their top picks in Asia for 2017. Having spent a week there, I can confirm that Ipoh really holds its own as a destination for foodies and art connoisseurs.

Ipoh is often compared to George Town (Penang); both have street art, culture , hawker markets, and cute architecture. In my experience, Ipoh is much quieter and far less touristy than Penang (in terms of foreign visitors at least), which only adds to its appeal.

More than that, there’s something totally unique about Ipoh that I’m yet to find anywhere else in Malaysia . When I shared a photo gallery from Ipoh, one of my readers, who was born and raised in Malaysia, described it as ‘The KL of yesteryear’ .

Ipoh has a wonderful retro vibe and a close-knit community feel. It feels more like a big country town than a city.

Top things to do in Ipoh: Ipoh itinerary highlights

Many people consider Ipoh Malaysia’s culinary capital. Like every city on the peninsula, Ipoh has hundreds of restaurants.

At night, vast hawker food markets take over the streets and alleyways. There are a few notable specialty dishes that were dreamed up in Ipoh kitchens and that you can’t find anywhere else in Malaysia. Must-eats include Hakka mee , Chee cheong fun , Kai se hor fun , and Ipoh laksa. Keeping reading for more recommendations of what to eat in Ipoh.

Another claim to fame: Ipoh is the birthplace of Malaysia’s famous white coffee, which is served in retro cafes throughout the city.

Ipoh laneways

There are a few historic laneways in Ipoh Old Town that have been transformed into street art and culture precincts.

Concubine Lane is far and away the most popular. Ipoh’s lanes are the perfect place to wander, people watch, and cafe-hop an afternoon away.

Ipoh street art

Penang might be Malaysia’s street art capital—but did you know that Ipoh has a collection of murals by the same artist? Truthfully, I prefer the street art in Ipoh! For starters, you don’t have to queue to get a look in.

Ernest Zacharevic’s work spurred on a local street art scene, and now Ipoh is decorated with dozens of colourful murals done by local artists.

Colourful architecture

I love Malaysian architecture, especially Chinese shophouses with their five-foot ways and pretty shutters and tiles.

Ipoh mixes heritage shophouses and British Colonial architecture with modernist concrete monstrosities. If you’re a fan of the Malaysian city aesthetic, you’ll love Ipoh.

Ipoh cave temples

There are some truly magnificent temples nestled in the jungle and built into limestone rock formations on Ipoh’s outskirts. Sam Poh Tong, Kek Lok Tong and Perak Cave Temple are three of the most prominent.

When you need a break from the city, Perak’s lush landscapes are only a short drive away.

Ipoh travel essentials

How long to spend in ipoh.

While it’s possible to visit Ipoh as a day trip from Kuala Lumpur or Penang, I highly recommend staying for at least a few days.

We spent a full week in Ipoh and didn’t run out of things to do. 3 days and 2 nights is a good amount of time to spend in Ipoh if you’re a first-time visitor.

How to get to Ipoh

Finally, Ipoh’s location roughly halfway between KL and Penang means it’s perfectly positioned for a stopover and easy to incorporate into any Malaysia itinerary.

It’s possible to get to Ipoh in a few hours from Kuala Lumpur by car, train or bus, or to travel from George Town or the nearby Cameron Highlands.

Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh train

There are regular daily trains between Kuala Lumpur’s Sentral Station and Ipoh, starting at 8.30am and running until late. This was our preferred method of travel when we visited Ipoh. The journey is fairly unremarkable, but it must be said that Malaysian trains are a very comfortable way to travel!

And for under 10 USD per person, it’s also very affordable. The trip by train from KL to Ipoh takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.

View the latest train timetable and book your train tickets online here through 12GoAsia .

Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh bus

If you prefer to travel from KL to Ipoh by bus, there are a number of companies that make this journey. Express coaches depart from TBS Kuala Lumpur (centrally located in Bandar Tasek Selatan) or the airport and terminate at one of three bus depots in the Ipoh area.

Look for a bus that will take you to either Jalan Bendahara or Aman Jaya—both are not too far from the centre. You’ll need to take a taxi for the final part of the journey into town.

There’s no arguing with the price—a bus ticket will set you back as little as 5 USD per person. The bus from KL to Ipoh takes a little over 3 hours.

View the latest bus timetable and book your bus tickets online here through Bookaway .

Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh by private car

If you’re short on time or you just prefer to travel comfortably, a private transfer by air conditioned car (or minivan for large families and groups) is the fastest and easiest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh.

GP Global’s door-to-door service includes pick up from your KL hotel – and you can make as many rest stops as you like along the way.

Check prices and availability for private transfers here on Bookaway .

George Town (Penang) to Ipoh

It’s also possible to travel to Ipoh from Penang. The only option here is to travel by bus—but take heart, because the journey is slightly shorter (a mere 2.5 hours on the road).

A number of different companies run express buses throughout the day and drop passengers off at Aman Jaya station in Ipoh. A ticket for this service will set you back approximately 5-11 USD.

View the latest bus timetable and book your Penang to Ipoh tickets online here through Bookaway .

Cameron Highlands to Ipoh

There are six daily buses connecting Tanah Rata (the closest town to Cameron Highlands) with Ipoh. The journey takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and tickets cost 5 USD per person. This service also terminates at Ipoh’s Aman Jaya station.

View the latest bus timetable and book your Cameron Highlands to Ipoh tickets online here through Bookaway .

Can you visit Ipoh on a day trip?

It’s possible to visit Ipoh in a day from Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, or even Penang. If you have your own rental car , you can drive yourself to Ipoh and spend a day exploring.

If you don’t have a car, I recommend joining an organised day trip that includes transfers. If you try to visit Ipoh in a day using the train or bus, you’ll run out of time.

This private full-day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh covers all the highlights and is incredibly good value for money.

Where to stay in Ipoh

For a city of its size, Ipoh has a great range of accommodation options in both the Old Town and New Town. As you’ll see, Ipoh is fairly walkable, so it doesn’t really matter which side of the river you choose to stay on.

Generally speaking, the new part of town is where you’ll find contemporary hotels and hostels, while the Old Town is home to Ipoh’s heritage inns and boutique accommodations. If you want to be right in the thick of it, I recommend choosing a hotel in the Old Town.

Budget accommodation in Ipoh

Beds in Garden Hostel | Newly opened in 2018, this is probably the best hostel option in Ipoh. Beds start from 14 USD/night. Check availability and rates on Agoda .

Mid-range hotels in Ipoh

French Hotel | Located in the New Town, this hotel is simple but clean with excellent air-con (so important!) and an on-site cafe. Doubles start from 32 USD/night. Check availability and rates on Agoda .

Ban Loong Hotel | Heritage accommodation in a restored Old Town shophouse. Rooms are modern and sparse; some have loft spaces. Doubles start from 40 USD/night. Check availability and rates on Agoda .

Boutique hotels in Ipoh

27 Concubine Lane | Another heritage hotel, this time located right on Ipoh’s Concubine Lane. Brace yourself for crowds and possible noise pollution. Private rooms with a shared bathroom start from 30 USD/night. Check availability and rates on Agoda .

Sarang Paloh Heritage Stay | An exquisite heritage building situated at the quieter end of Ipoh’s Old Town. Rooms are clean and modern, and the indoor-outdoor common spaces feature original floor tiles and loads of greenery. Doubles start from 65 USD/night. Check availability and rates on Agoda .

Sekeping Kong Heng | An uber-trendy warehouse conversion right in the heart of Ipoh Old Town. Some rooms feature sleeping lofts, and there are beautiful shared terraces that open out onto the treetops. Because of the location, it can get noisy (there are cafes and bars directly downstairs and next door), and the chic design isn’t kid-friendly nor accessible. The simplest single rooms start from 20 USD/night. More information and rates here .

Need more Ipoh inspiration? Check out my Ipoh street photography .

Orientation & getting around

Ipoh is split into two by the Kinta River. The west side of the city, the aptly named Old Town, is where you’ll find most of Ipoh’s shophouses, heritage buildings and museums.

The eastern side of the city, the New Town, was developed at the turn of the century. It’s the more ‘livable’ side of town, with parks, gardens, and most of the city’s best restaurants and hawker markets. The New Town area is less atmospheric but has an interesting mishmash of architecture.

I highly recommend taking the time to explore both sides of Ipoh. This Ipoh 3 days 2 nights itinerary includes the Old Town and the New Town.

Ipoh is pretty compact and generally walkable. It does get extremely hot though—and there isn’t a whole lot of shade—so it’s a good idea to avoid walking in the middle of the day. We caught one taxi during our week-long stay, and that was on a particularly blazing day.

Ipoh’s red and yellow metred taxis are generally reliable and can take you across town for a couple of dollars. Uber and Grab, Malaysia’s homegrown rideshare service, are both available in Ipoh as well.

Things to do in Ipoh: 72 hour Ipoh itinerary

72 hours is a good amount of time to spend in Ipoh if you want to see the main sights and sample the best Ipoh food.

Here’s a quick overview of my recommended 3 days 2 nights Ipoh itinerary:

Day 1: Heritage Ipoh Breakfast at a traditional coffee shop The Ipoh Heritage Trail Self-guided tour of Ipoh’s best street art White coffee & egg tarts Ipoh’s house museums Kong Heng Square Explore Ipoh’s laneways Beansprout chicken & snow beer Gerbang Malam night market

Day 2: New Ipoh Dim sum for breakfast Ipoh Flea Market Mural Art’s Lane Panglima Kinta Mosque ‘Dessert Street’ New Town architecture Tong Sui Kai Hawker Centre Cocktails at Tiga Bar

Day 3: Beyond the city Ipoh Cave Temples Mirror Lake

Ipoh itinerary Day 1: Heritage Ipoh (the Old Town)

Breakfast at a traditional coffee shop.

At the time of my visit, I remember commenting that Ipoh makes me nostalgic for a childhood I never had. There’s just something about Malay coffee shops ( kopitiam ) that’s so sentimental.

Maybe it’s the ambiance, or the fact that service staff tend to be older and approach their work with extreme diligence. Or it might be the fact that they serve iced Milo (I actually did drink Milo all throughout my childhood).

I love the addition of crackers on the side of every saccharine cup of white tea. Thick white toast with Kaya butter (coconut jam), which tastes a bit like vanilla or pandan, feels like something your mum would make for you when you were feeling under the weather.

My favourite old-school Ipoh coffee shops:

• Lim Ko Pi ⚑ This no-frills eatery embodies everything that’s great about a traditional Malay coffee shop. You can’t go wrong with a cup of sweet tea with crackers on the side (pictured above). The noodle dishes and dim sum are also tasty.
• 22 Hale Street ⚑ This cute cafe doubles as a heritage museum and souvenir shop . Their rendition of Kaya Toast (pictured above; note the Jenga tower of butter!) was the best we had in Ipoh. Don’t leave without visiting the restroom—the decoration is really something!

Walk the Ipoh Heritage Trail

As in other Malaysian cities, the British left a legacy of stunning architecture when they exited from Perak in 1957. Ipoh’s colonial buildings have since been overlaid with townhouses, mosques and municipal buildings in a range of architectural styles.

But it’s the well-preserved British colonial buildings and turn-of-the-century townhouses that steal the show.

Highlights include the white-domed Ipoh Railway Station and adjoining Majestic Station Hotel, which I’ve heard described as ‘The Taj Mahal of Ipoh’; the neo-Classical High Court ; the 1931-built Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank building ; and the Chung Thye Phin building .

Shophouses of note are the Dramatists’ Hotel (as the name suggests, it served to accommodate actors performing at Ipoh’s since-demolished Chinese Theatre); the Mikasa Photo Shop (famously used as a cover for a Japanese spy during WWII); and the Seenivasagam Brothers’ residence and offices , a row of gorgeous pre-war townhouses.

One of the best ways to explore Ipoh Old Town is using the Ipoh Heritage Trail map. Most buildings marked on the route are signposted and feature information plaques out the front. Ipoh’s tourism information office has a reputation for long queues—avoid that by downloading a PDF copy of the map instead.

If you would prefer to explore Old Town Ipoh in depth with a private local guide, this 8-hour itinerary focuses on the city’s Heritage Trail and includes a visit to Kellie’s Castle at the end.

Track down Ernest Zacharevic’s Ipoh murals

When Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic left his mark on Penang, he contributed in no small way to the city’s explosion in popularity. Can you blame Ipoh for wanting a piece of the action?

In 2014, Zacharevic was invited to paint a series of eight murals in Ipoh, each inspired by a different facet of local culture. Only seven remain visible today.

Zacharevic’s Ipoh murals are artfully woven into the Old Town and fit seamlessly with Ipoh’s heritage architecture. They really bring the history of the town to life. All the major murals are marked out on Google Maps and are pretty easy to spot from the street.

Ernest Zacharevic murals in Ipoh:

• Old Uncle Drinking Coffee ⚑ This mural, one of the largest in Ipoh, was commissioned by Oldtown White Coffee. The design on the cup is delightful—exactly like the painted china you still see in Ipoh’s cafes today.
• Kopi Break ⚑ You’ll have to come early if you want to see this large-scale mural without the parked cars in front. Coffee is often consumed this way in Southeast Asia, in small plastic bags that can be tied to the handle of a motorbike and sipped on the go.
• A Single Bag of Coffee The smallest of Zacharevic’s Ipoh murals, A Single Bag of Coffee is just that—a life-sized plastic bag of coffee with a drinking straw painted on a blue and white metal gate.

• Trishaw ⚑ Located in Market Lane, this 3D mural incorporates a metal trishaw frame mounted to the wall. My favourite Ernest Zacharevic mural in Ipoh.
• A Yellow Hummingbird ⚑ I love the colours in this piece, which really pop against the blue-wash wall where it’s painted.
• A Paper Plane   ⚑ This mural depicts two kids riding in a paper plane. It’s painted quite high up on the side of a rather weathered building. The child’s bright yellow shirt is the easiest feature to spot.
• Evolution   ⚑ This large-scale, monochrome painting on the northern side of the Han Chin Pet Soo house museum (see below) is an ode to Ipoh’s tin mining history.

Try Ipoh’s famous white coffee & egg tarts

No trip to the Old Town would be complete without a glass of iced white coffee and an egg tart. White coffee , an Ipoh specialty first developed by Chinese tin miners in Perak, is prepared with coffee beans that have been roasted in margarine.

The white colour comes from the copious amounts of condensed milk and creamer added at the end. It’s tooth-loosenly sweet. Pair a glass with a piece of Dan Zhi (toast with a soft-boiled egg) or even better, a Macau -style egg tart—another Ipoh classic.

Where to try Ipoh white coffee:

• Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong ⚑ One of the oldest (if not the oldest) cafes in Ipoh that still serves white coffee the old way. Food stalls along the perimetre offer sweets and lunch meals. Always open, and always crowded.
• Nam Heong White Coffee ⚑ Located directly opposite Sin Yoon Loong, Nam Heong vies for the title of Ipoh’s original white coffee merchant. Try both and decide which one you prefer.
• Oldtown White Coffee ⚑ Malaysia’s biggest white coffee brand, with several branches located across the city.

Learn about local history at a house museum

There are two small house museums in Ipoh Old Town that I think are worth a visit. The first, Han Chin Pet Soo ⚑ , explores Perak’s tin mining heritage. The venue started out as the Hakka Miners Clubhouse, founded in 1893 by a miner named Leong Fee.

Once strictly off-limits to non-members, it reopened as a museum fairly recently, and now displays a collection of mining memorabilia and antiques donated by members of the Ipoh community. Entry is free; reserve online in advance .

The nearby Ho Yan Hor Museum   ⚑ is dedicated to one of Ipoh’s most famous residents, Dr Ho Kai Cheong. The herb magnate is the man behind one of Malaysia’s most prolific medicinal tea brands, and it all started at this little shophouse in Ipoh.

This museum really stole my heart—the family’s story is quite remarkable, and the museum staff are extremely sweet. Entrance is free (no reservations required).

Kong Heng Square

Ipoh’s hip new creative precinct, Kong Heng Square ⚑ , houses a few gift boutiques , a barbershop, and a museum dedicated to local film director Yasmin Ahmad. Plan B , probably the city’s trendiest cafe, is also located inside the industrial-chic complex.

Admittedly I didn’t love the food at Plan B, but the Melbourne-style lattes were fantastic. There are some cool street art pieces and independent shops scattered around as well, making it a nice place for a wander.

Discover Ipoh’s laneway culture

Back in 1892, a fire destroyed much of Ipoh’s Old Town. As part of the urban renewal project that followed, Ipoh was reconstructed in a more ‘orderly’ fashion, with gridded streets to make navigating easier, and laneways to organise the city’s various trades and merchants.

At the time, Yao Tet Shin, a local mining tycoon and land owner, is said to have gifted a lane to each of his three wives. These would go on to become Ipoh’s three most popular laneways.

Wife Lane (now known as Lorong Hale or 大奶巷), Concubine Lane (now known as Lorong Panglima or 二奶巷) and Second Concubine Lane (now known as Market Lane or 三奶巷) are all lined with townhouses that once served as opium dens and brothels.

Those illicit days are long gone—now, many of the historical facades along the lane have been restored and turned into cafes and shops. Add a few interactive street murals and some hanging lanterns, and you have yourself a picture-perfect laneway.

Concubine Lane ⚑ is by far the most popular laneway in Ipoh. It’s packed to the brim on weekends (verging on unpleasant in the afternoons). The other two lanes are probably awaiting a similar fate; but for now, they’re largely empty so you can still enjoy an unfettered stroll.

While you’re in the area, make sure you pop into BookXcess Kong Heng Ipoh ⚑ , a bank turned bookshop where novels are displayed in the old vaults, and the nearby Ipoh Heritage Barber ⚑ , a very photogenic men’s salon that channels those old-school Ipoh vibes. Both are walking distance from the western end of Concubine Lane.

Beansprout chicken and ‘snow beer’ in the Old Town

There are a handful of one-dish-specialty restaurants dotted around the western end of Concubine Lane. Try Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong   ⚑ for a big plate of Ipoh’s famous chicken with beansprouts, and Kafe Sun Yoon Wah   ⚑ for a ‘snow beer’ (literally frozen beer).

If you want to keep the party going, there are a few open-air ‘beer gardens’ located in this area as well (just look out for the blue plastic chairs).

Wander through Gerbang Malam Night Market

If you have time, end your first day in Ipoh with a wander through the lively Gerbang Malam Night Market ⚑ , where dozens of small Gerai shops open up every night at 7pm and sell an array of clothing, accessories and knickknacks.

I wouldn’t necessarily do my souvenir shopping here, but it’s worth visiting for the local atmosphere.

Ipoh itinerary Day 2: Contemporary Ipoh (the New Town)

Dim sum for breakfast.

Do as many of Ipoh’s families do and start your second day with a breakfast spread at one of the city’s dim sum joints. I’ve never been a huge fan of dim sum, but I absolutely adored eating it in Ipoh. The ordering process can be a bit confusing; if in doubt, grab a seat and watch how other people do it.

Usually a waiter will take your drink order first (I highly recommend starting with a pot of jasmine tea). You’re then free to approach the different counters scattered around the dining room and pick out which bite-sized morsels you want to try.

At Restaurant Foh San (pictured below), there are two counters: One for baskets of steamed goodies, and another for sweets. Other restaurants serve dishes on wheely carts: You simply take a seat and wait for the servers to come to you. Everything gets marked off against a long docket, which you present at the cash counter to pay.

The best thing about dim sum restaurants is that they open bright and early, most by 6am. It’s a perfect way to kick off a big day of sightseeing.

Old-school dim sum joints to try in Ipoh:

• Restaurant Foh San ⚑ My favourite dim sum in Ipoh. The food is fantastic (try the tofu, steamed prawn dim sum and sesame balls), and the open-air dining room is very pleasant. Open from 6.30am (closed Tuesdays)
• Restoran Chef Fatt ⚑ More than 50 dim sum on offer, including a nice rendition of lau sar pau (salted egg custard buns) made with lotus paste. Open daily from 6am.
• Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum ⚑ Right across the road from Restaurant Foh San, this is another popular dim sum venue. Try the black sesame soup and fish balls. Open from 6am (closed Thursdays).
• Greentown Dimsum Cafe ⚑ Located at bit further out near Ipoh Town Square and open later, from 9am. We didn’t make it to this dim sum restaurant, but it gets consistently good reviews. It’s a little cheaper than other dim sum joints, too.

Browse the Ipoh Flea Market (Sundays only)

If you happen to be in Ipoh on a Sunday, you can take a stroll down Memory Lane —literally. On Sunday mornings, this laneway in Ipoh’s New Town hosts a colourful pop-up flea market . Dozens of stalls descend on the area, selling an eclectic range of vintage Malaya memorabilia and British-era goods, including melamine plates, tiffin boxes and old records.

There is also a fair amount of second-hand clothing on offer, as well as a sprinkling of food and drink stalls. See if you can spot the two dads who set up a little sex shop on a single trestle table—pretty hilarious.

Be dazzled by Mural Art’s Lane

Also in the New Town, Mural Art’s Lane   ⚑ is where you’ll find the city’s best contemporary street murals. There are literally dozens and dozens of paintings large and small dotted all throughout this area. It’s a visual feast! Some murals are the work of school or community groups; others can be attributed to local artists and collectives.

All blend in perfectly with the urban environment, conforming to the angles of doorways and window grills, and accommodating the sprigs of green emerging from the cracks in the concrete.

These artworks are more colourful than Ernest Zacharevic’s murals, which is why I personally prefer them. Many reference local festivals and traditions, so you can learn a bit about Ipoh as you go.

Pop into Panglima Kinta Mosque

Located at the end of Mural Art’s Lane, Panglima Kinta Mosque ⚑ is worth a quick visit. Dating back to 1898, the blue and white mosque was one of the biggest and most impressive in all of Ipoh when it was finished. Visitors are welcome to enter the mosque outside of prayer times.

Eat your way along Ipoh’s dessert strip

For an afternoon pick-me-up, head to Ipoh’s unofficial sweets strip. Some of the city’s best bakeries, cookie shops and sit-down dessert bars are spread across several blocks in the New Town area.

Start with an ice cream sandwich at Hokkaido Ice Cream Puff ⚑ before sampling some of Perak’s famous pastries at Chin Han Guan Biscuits ⚑ and Guan Heong Biscuit Shop ⚑ (takeaway available). An egg tart or two from Hong Kee Egg Tart ⚑ is also a must.

Check out the New Town’s eclectic architecture

If the Old Town is a well-curated landscape of heritage buildings, Ipoh’s New Town is a total hodgepodge of past and present. As someone who loves concrete, Brutalism and abandoned buildings, I’m a big fan of this style.

Aside from the 1950s theatres (such as the Ruby, pictured below) and a bevvy of dilapidated hotels, offices and banks, you’ll also see some incredible (and original) terrazzo floor mosaics, hand-painted shop signs and the like.

Ipoh has some lovely arched five-foot ways and forsaken buildings that nature has reclaimed. I spent several afternoons wandering around this part of Ipoh with my camera. It might not encapsulate everyone’s idea of beauty—but it’s a street photograph’s dream for sure.

Dinner at Tong Sui Kai Hawker Centre

Dinner at a traditional Malaysian food market is a must for any Ipoh itinerary. Ipoh’s best hawker centres are all in the New Town. Tong Sui Kai ⚑ (open from 6pm daily) is my pick of the bunch.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, a hawker centre (essentially a night food market) is comprised of many separate stalls, each specialising in one or two dishes which are cooked fresh to order.

The idea is to grab a table and rove the aisles, collecting as many plates as you can stomach (or carry) to piece together your own dinner spread.

Nasi Kandar, Ipoh Laksa (pictured above) and Ayam Garam (salted chicken) are among the Ipoh specialty dishes you should look out for.

For dessert, try a bowl of Ais Kacang (a mountain of shaved ice topped with fruit, coconut milk, syrup, and other goodies), or pop around the corner to Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd   ⚑ (open until 7.30pm) for a bowl of Tau Fu Fah (soy custard pudding).

Cocktails at Tiga Bar

Top off your second day with a drink at Ipoh’s coolest cocktail bar. Tucked away in a heritage building on Market Lane, Tiga Bar ⚑ serves imaginative drinks, many of them themed around Ipoh’s heritage and local ingredients. The Dr. Ho Remedy made with cognac infused with Ho Yan Hor tea is a must-try!

Ipoh itinerary Day 3: Temples, caves & lakes

Once you’ve had your fill of city activities, travel just 5km south-east of the city centre to discover Gunung Rapat, home to Ipoh’s best natural attractions.

You can comfortably fill a whole day exploring this area using taxis or rented bicycles to get around.

Ipoh’s Taoist temples

If you’ve been to Vietnam, Gunung Rapat will remind you of Ninh Binh or Halong Bay . The otherwordly landscape is made up of pockets of jungle, rock formations and shimmering waterways (except in Ipoh, you’ll find lakes instead of rice fields).

This area is known for its spectacular Taoist and Buddhist temples, nestled in caves or clinging to the sides of limestone karsts. Don’t miss Sam Poh Tong (Three Buddhas Cave), the oldest cave temple in the area and the largest of its kind in Malaysia (yes, it’s bigger than the Batu Caves Murugan Temple!). Beautiful views of Gunung Rapat can be found from the temple entrance, reached via 240-steps.

Perak Tong Cave Temple is another Ipoh cave temple you should visit. Behind the temple you can access a walking path that leads you to the top of a limestone formation for amazing views of the landscape.

Nearby, Nam Thean Tong Temple and Ling Sen Tong Temple are also worth seeing. A little further south, you’ll find the Buddhist temple at Guanyin Cave and further east, the incredible Kek Lok Tong Buddhist Temple .

Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake)

Popular with locals, Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake) is part of a network of waterways around Gunung Rapat. There are viewing platforms and restaurants nearby.

You can also do short walks or bike rides around the lake and up to Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village , another popular tourist attraction in the area.

We didn’t get to go to Mirror Lake when we were in Ipoh, but Daphne’s guide includes everything you need to plan a visit.

Where to eat in Ipoh: More Ipoh restaurants to try

• Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd – for Ipoh tau fu far
• Deen CT Corner Cendol – for Malaysian cendol and other desserts
• Lou Wong’s – for delicious chicken and rice
• Yum Yum Restaurant – for authentic Nyonya food
• Sri Anandha Bahavan – for authentic Indian cuisine

More time? Here are the best day trips from Ipoh

If you have more time left on your Ipoh itinerary, try one of these day trips.

Ipoh to Cameron Highlands

If you have a day in Ipoh to spare, take the opportunity to visit Cameron Highlands. Spend a full day hopping between tea plantations, picking strawberries, or even hiking in the nearby rainforest.

The easiest way to travel between Ipoh and Cameron Highlands is by bus. The first bus from Ipoh to Tanah Rata (the closest town to the tea fields) departs Ipoh at 8am and arrives in Cameron Highlands at 10.45am. The last return bus departs Tanah Rata at 6pm.

Note that Cameron Highlands can get very busy on weekends with day trippers from KL, so it’s best to visit on a weekday if possible. I also recommend pre-booking your transportation from Ipoh to avoid disappointment.

Click here to view the bus timetable and reserve tickets online through Bookaway .

Ipoh to Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar, Perak’s royal town, is an easy half-day trip from Ipoh. It boasts a beautiful mosque (the Ubudiah Mosque, pictured), and is close to some of Ipoh’s cave temples. The train journey from Ipoh to Kuala Kangsar takes just 30 minutes.

Services depart regularly (every half hour during peak times) from Ipoh Railway Station, and a one-way ticket costs around 4 USD.

Click here to check times and reserve train tickets online through 12GoAsia .

Alternatively, you can join an organised day tour from Ipoh to Kuala Kangsar. This private tour includes hotel transfers by air conditioned car. As well as visiting the mosque, you’ll also participate in a hands-on pottery workshop and visit the historic Victoria Bridge.

Click here to check prices and availability on Klook .

Ipoh to Kellie’s Castle

For a slightly off-beat addition to your Ipoh itinerary, travel 20km south to Batu Gajah. There you’ll find Kellie’s Castle, an abandoned country home sponsored by a Scottish rubber baron in 1915 but never finished.

The Moorish-revival architecture is quite spectacular, and the castle is filled with history (tours are available if you want to learn more). Nowadays, most people visit to take selfies in front of the deteriorating brickwork, which is utterly ‘Instagrammable’. More details about Kellie’s Castle here .

More Malaysia inspiration

• Ipoh street photography gallery
• The best Malaysia souvenirs & where to find them
• Kuala Lumpur airport & layover guide
• 9 reasons to visit Kuching, Borneo
• The art of Malaysian batik painting
• How to spend a perfect 24 hours in KL
• My guide to George Town, Penang
• Why you should take a food tour in Penang

What are your favourite things to do in Ipoh? If you have any tips or recommendations to add to my Ipoh itinerary, please leave them in the comments below!

Ipoh itinerary: Pin it!

27 Comments

I used your blog so much last summer in Georgia. And everyone I met raved about it!! So nice to get some tips off you again on another adventure! You have a really nice writing style that doesn’t feel like it’s selling me something like so many other blogs. Thanks for your work!

Thanks so much Rhiannon, that’s so kind of you to say! I hope you had an incredible time in Georgia and enjoy your time in Malaysia! Safe travels.

Is it easy to travel from Ipoh to KLIA2?

Hi Jem – yes for sure, you can use the train.

I knew you would be the one helping me plan that (too short trip) to Malaysia!

Travel guides are helpful, but I was hoping to find a blog I could trust (which I hadn’t yet). I didn’t think you had been to SEA lately but I decided to take a look anyway after going through the Lonely Planet and reading the description of Ipoh. It reminded me of Haiphong, which we had decided to visit after reading your article and we all loved it so much. We will indeed absolutely put Ipoh on the top of our destinations for that short two week stay next July.

Can’t wait to read more of your suggestions for Malaysia. Thank you so much!

So happy to hear that Isabelle! Ipoh really is one of my favourite places in Asia… I really want to go back. It definitely reminds me a bit of Haiphong so I’m sure you will enjoy it too! Have a blast!!

Thank you for this article, it’s really helpful. Do you have more information about the eclectic architecture of the new town, like places to see (I love brutalist architecture) ? Or maybe, I’ll just have to walk around without a plan…

The old town is quite small so you can happily walk around and explore! That was my strategy and I had a great time!

that’s an amazing blog post. thank you for all the effort and informations.

Loved Ipoh. Great food, great street art and lovely people. Definitely worth a visit.

Agreed! Glad you liked my Ipoh itinerary, thanks for reading 🙂

Hello! Thank you for your complete guide it helped us so much to plan our trip to Ipoh!

So happy to hear that, Sofia! I hope you had a wonderful time!

I like to go to Ipoh for weekend getaway from KL. My favourite place to stay is Weil Hotel, they serve good spread of breakfast. Mostly local food. If tourist don’t have time to try local food while in Ipoh, don’t miss this one!

Thanks for the tip!

I am from Malaysia and Ipoh is often compared to Penang and has the best choices of food. You perfectly summed up the experiences of Ipoh, from the mural arts to the colonial past! A reminder for me to explore my country more 🙂 Thanks Emily.

Thanks for the kind words, Pashmina! Very glad to hear that!

Beautiful writing of my hometown, Ipoh

Thank you Teresa!

Beautiful post! BTW, the gourd-like vase on the bottom left of the photo for the flea market is the iconic Perak ‘labu sayong’ – a fired clay vessel for holding water and keeping it cool. It’s always dark, nearly black in colour. That one looks somewhat worn. One of the several craftwork unique to Perak. (Another is ‘tekat’, a Perak Malay technique of gold embroidery onto velvet).

I think one reason I have a soft spot for Perak, despite not being Perakian myself, is that there’s so much to discover in Perak, yet Perak doesn’t show herself off. She plays it cool, and it’s up to you to come find out. Or not. She doesn’t care!

What a beautiful way to put it, Teja! I love that.

Thanks for the information about the antiques, too. I recognised the tiffin boxes but I wasn’t sure what that vessel was used for!

Such a great guide about ipoh! Its right in my backyard but I haven’t spent any proper time there. Definitely need to now!

Thanks, Nadia! I hope you get a chance to visit soon—it’s a really cool city! I’d be very interested to hear your perspective as a local!

What a comprehensive article on Ipoh! I’be never been to Malaysia. For when I do, I’ve got to visit Ipoh and for that reason I’ll pin it for planning. BTW, I love street art too.

Thanks a lot, Jyoti! I hope you make it there soon! If you love street art, you’ll love Ipoh for sure!

I’ve never heard of Ipoh until today and now I want to go there. What a beautiful place! I especially love the murals and from what you describe, the food scene is pretty great too. One more for the bucket list!

Thanks, Bea! Definitely one for your travel wish list. The food is excellent! I only wish I had eaten more!

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Ipoh Food Tour

Get picked up from Ipoh airport or your hotel in Ipoh at 8:30am for breakfast in Ipoh. This will be at a local kopitiam suggested by your guide.

A visit to a traditional biscuit factory and a pomelo plantation is next.

Lunch will be at a local Chinese restaurant. Or another kopitiam if you prefer.

After lunch, the tour continues with a stop for tau fu fah . Or cendol .

You can spend some time shopping for Ipoh’s many edible souvenirs in the afternoon.

With evening approaching, your guide will bring you to a local dinner spot .

Drop off will be at your hotel at 6pm.

What’s included:

• Comfortable transport with an experienced driver
• Flexible – change up the itinerary to suit your preferences and needs
• Local insight

What’s excluded:

• Entrance fees for attractions
• Cost of your food
• Accommodation bookings

We respond to requests faster on WhatsApp but if you prefer, we do have email too.

You can reach us by filling in the form on our Contact Us page .

Other Tour Services

• Ipoh To Cameron Highlands Tour
• Ipoh And Cameron Highlands Tour
• Ipoh City Tour
• Ipoh 3 Days 2 Nights Tour

Ipoh Tour Package: Book A Limited Private Flexible Local Tour

Ipoh tour with a local perspective, explore ipoh with an exclusive private ipoh tour at your own pace.

What To Expect:

The highlight of Ipoh are the gorgeous limestone hills and  Ipoh Old Town  with its beautiful architecture hailing from the British colonial era.

Try  Ipoh’s famous delicious food  like bean sprout chicken,  gai se hor fun  and Ipoh white coffee!

Visit attractions  outside of Ipoh Old Town!

Important Info:

• Duration: 9 hours
• Guests: 1 – 10 person (or more)
• Availability: All year (except Chinese New Year)
• Guide speaks: English, Chinese (Cantonese & Mandarin), Malay
• Cancellation: Full deposit return up to 15 days prior tour date
• Booking: 20% deposit to reserve tour dates

Flexible Ipoh Tour Itinerary:

• 9:00am -> Pick Up Within Ipoh
• 9:30am -> Kellie’s Castle
• 11:00am -> Ipoh Heritage Sight-seeing
• 12:00pm -> Lunch At A Local Spot
• 2:00pm ->  Ipoh Cave Temple
• 3:00pm -> Ipoh Old Town
• 4:00pm -> Pomelo Farm
• 6:00pm -> Hotel Drop-off In Ipoh
• Local Licensed Tour Guide/ Driver
• Customized Itinerary
• Transport Around Ipoh
• Ipoh Hotel/ Airport Pick-up or Drop-off
• Parking Fees
• Hotel Accommodation
• Meals & Beverages
• Personal Expenses
• Entrance Fees (Where Applicable)
• Travel Insurance

Customize Your Own Ipoh Private Tour!

Or Take Ready-Made Tours!

Ipoh Cultural Tour

The cultural tour revolves around Ipoh’s magnificent cave temples. You can visit local renowned fortune teller to have your future told! And of course, no Ipoh tour is complete without some delicious local food haunts thrown in!

Ipoh Historical Tour

Ipoh is steeped in history and there’s no better way to learn about it than having a personal private guide to point out the details that you would otherwise miss! The tour takes you through Ipoh Old Town, Little India and finishes with a detour to  Kellie’s Castle !

Ipoh Food Tour

Start with a local breakfast followed by a stroll along Ipoh Old Town. For lunch, it’s all the way to rural Sitiawan to feast on their fresh seafood! Next stop is a cave temple to beat the afternoon heat. Along with a local treat. Ending with dinner at a local spot!

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The Ipoh Food Guide – Where to Eat the Best Street Food in Ipoh?

Updated: 11 February 2020

Bean sprouts chicken, white coffee, hakka mee, assam laksa, chicken rice, satay, rojak, beancurd, cuttlefish, char kway teow, caramel custard, chendol… Ipoh is best known for its hawker fare — some of which are hard to find anywhere else. People here usually drive around for makan, walking is really impossible. Here is a guide on where to eat in Ipoh, featuring some of my personal favourites.

Table of Contents

Restoran Cathay (国泰茶餐室)

Finding this place was quite a challenge using Google maps as it was marked in a different location and the Grab driver nearly took us to the wrong location. So it is better to type the full address instead of the coffeeshop name. I haven’t had enough Hakka mee to compare but I like the friendliness of the stall owner. Hakka Mee is a favourite breakfast among many Ipoh-reans. You just have to order single portion, one and a half portion or double portion, then they will pick the different yong tau foo items for you. The eggy noodles are topped with a scoop of minced meat seasoned with soy sauce and fish sauce. The chicken chop at the coffeeshop is also very popular. The tender chicken thigh is coated in crisp batter and drowned in tasty tomato-based sauce with some onions, peas and fried potatoes. Don’t forget to get a coffee and french toast too!

Restoran Xin Quan Fang

Address: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 16-531 4193

Opening Hours: 7:30am–1pm daily

Kedai Kopi Keng Nam

There are really unlimited breakfast options in Ipoh. After a disappointing dim sum experience at Ming Court, we head to Kedai Kopi Keng Nam for round two. This typical Hainanese coffee shop has got many good food run by different stall owners. Besides ordering the popular curry noodles and chee cheong fun, you should also grab a cup of white coffee and kaya glutinous rice. Similar to Kuih Pulut Tekan except that they don’t use blue pea flowers, the soft and slightly chewy glutinous rice is topped with fragrant homemade kaya. We also had the classic half boiled egg on toast, which locals call it “Dan Zhi”. Nothing extraordinary to be honest, we were just intrigued by the name. For coffee, I still prefer Sin Yoon Loong’s version.

Address: 127, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6am to 11am daily

Kedai Makanan Chuan Fatt

Ipoh’s curry noodles are unique, not only for its thick Indian-style curry soup, but also for its silky-smooth hor fun with roasted pork and char siew. Chuan Fatt is the curry mee legend in Pasir Puteh. The noodles are coated with a creamy aromatic curry sauce. It’s so rich that I don’t think I can eat it for breakfast, but not a bad idea for lunch! You can pair your curry noodles with a plate of crispy roast pork and fried chicken by the side. They are fried to perfection — crisp exterior, thin layer of greasy fat and juicy, flavourful meat. The sio bak is juicy and tender, with crispy skin crackling that is hard to resist. They serve this with some curry dipping sauce to coat the chicken.

Address: 294, Jalan Pasir Puteh, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.30am to 2.30pm daily

Sin Yoon Loong

Sin Yoon Loong is started by Mr Wong Poh Chew, a Hainanese who emigrated from China to Malaysia in his early twenties in search of greener pastures. He was employed as a chef by a British man in a restaurant where they served local and Western food. After years of hard work and with some savings, he decided to venture out into starting his own food business. In 1937, Wong together with his brother Wong Poh Ting opened ‘Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong’, one of the oldest traditional Hainanese coffee shops in Ipoh old town. They served quality hot and cold beverages, toasts with kaya, Chinese sponge cakes and other local delights.

The brothers are very passionate about serving superior coffee and every morning, this coffee shop is packed by patrons coming for their famous coffee. It’s velvety smooth and very aromatic. It’s recommended that you opt for a side of kaya toast to go with your order of coffee to complete the experience. Because it is a very old coffeeshop, you will have a chance to meet some old folks while having breakfast.

Address: 15A, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 5-241 4601

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 6am to 5.30pm; Sun 6am to 1pm

Big Tree Foot (Dai Shu Geok)

How many times have you dine under a tree? I probably have done it once when I was having Da Jia Fa Duck Rice in JB. Now I have done it again at Ipoh. This yong tau foo stall (忠记兵如港口大树头炸料粉) is the most memorable meal I had in Ipoh when I visited in 2014. And when I am back the second time (2020), nothing much has changed and the assam laksa is still great. So you pick your yong tau foo pieces (RM0.50 each) and choose your noodles – kway teow soup or assam laksa. The yong tau foo items are mostly deep-fried with fresh fish paste. One of the must try is the turnip fritter which is similar to hash brown. I love the assam laksa combination, the tangy fish broth teases and tantalizes the taste buds. Seriously, why didn’t any hawkers in Singapore sell assam laksa with yong tau foo?

Address: 1206, Jalan King, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 9:30am - 5:30pm daily

Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah

Operating in a Chinese-owned coffee shop named Kedai Kopi Yong Suan, it is inarguably one of the most popular nasi kandar in Ipoh. The stall was started by Mr. Mohamed Nihmatullah Syed Mustaffa’s grandfather in 1957. Today, people start flocking to the coffee shop as early as 11am for Nasi Ganja. Don’t get confused by the two names, Nasi Ganja is just another name for Nasi Kandar and somehow the locals adopted it as the nickname for the stall here.

You must definitely order the ayam merah, which they take 8 hours to prepare. The breast meat is pretty hard, to just go for the tender drumstick. I had the ayam merah, sambal kelapa & salted egg topped with some achar. The curry goes really well with the fried chicken and the salted egg is an good addition to the nasi kandar. The mint chutney is their secret weapon and it works magic with every dish. The curry combination is another winning factor. I don’t really like to have too much gravy in the rice but this time, my whole plate is literally drenched and I am not complaining. Parking may be a problem here though, so clear your plates quick and leave.

Address: 4, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak

Opening Hours: 9:30am - 5:30pm daily (Be sure to go before 12.00pm)

Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken

Ipoh is a hotspot for bean sprouts chicken “Ngah Choy Kai” (芽菜雞). At Taman Jubilee, there are two popular shops that sell bean sprout chicken. One of them is Lou Wang (老黃芽菜雞). Honestly speaking, I think it tastes not bad from a tourist’s point of view.

Using free-range chicken, Lou Wong’s steamed chicken’s skin had this slippery smooth texture and tender yet firm flesh. But if you don’t like kampong chicken, you will not like it here (perhaps Onn Kee works better for you). Ipoh’s hard water from the limestone hills surrounding the Kinta Valley has allowed its bean sprouts that grow here to be crunchy and succulent. Slurping on the smooth hor fun and crunchy bean sprouts, together with the tangy chilli and tender chicken, makes it a perfect lunch. The chicken rice here is milder and less oily, which works perfectly for me. Oh, this is also a good supper venue as they close at 12am.

Address: 49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 5-254 4199

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:30am–12am, Closed on Mondays

Funny Mountain Soya Bean & Tau Fu Fah

I don’t know why Funny Mountain Soya Bean & Tau Fu Fah has such a funny name. But heck, their beancurd is really good! You may not agree with me and you may think it is a tourist trap. Well, during my most recent trip back to Ipoh, I had the chance to try at least 4 other beancurd stalls and I honestly still prefer Funny mountain. It’s so good that I want to have a bowl every single day I am in Ipoh. They do traditional beancurd which is so soft, so smooth and so cheap. Of course, portion is small so I had to eat 2 or 3 bowls at one go.

The Tan brothers have been running this place since the 50s. Something unique here is, you can either stop your vehicle in front of the stall, signal a little and the workers will deliver your orders. Or if you are not that lazy, walk to the stall and get your drinks after a short wait. The beancurd literally melts in my mouth. Can’t wait to go back to it again!

Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd

Address: 50, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 12-516 1607

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:30am–4pm

Restoran Thean Chun

This is one of the coffeeshops worth going because they have a variety of good food there. We had quite a feast here, from chee cheong fun to the famous kai see hor fun, pork satay, wantan mee and caramel egg custard pudding. Everything was delicious.

One of the must-try here is their Kai See Hor Fun, which means Chicken Kway Teow Soup. The clear broth has a layer of oil that stems from the prawn heads that were boiled into making it. The comforting bowl of noodles comes with shredded poached chicken, fresh shrimps and chopped spring onions, you could down a serving in one go.

This satay stall operates from the side alley between Kong Heng & Thean Chun. They are probably one of the rare stalls in Ipoh that sells pork satay. The pork skewers are grilled with charcoal flames, with minimal burnt bits and a small proportion of fats. The satay is so succulent and served with spicy-sweet peanut sauce. If you still have some tummy space, go for their chee cheong fun, popiah and caramel custard. So much good food here!

Address: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 5-255 3076

Opening Hours: Friday to Wednesday 8am to 3pm, closed on Thursdays

Paris Restaurant (Yin Yau Kui)

Hakka Mee is one of the must-try noodle dishes of Ipoh. There is a well-known stall at the Paris Restaurant run by three brothers. The business was started by their grandfather more than 50 years ago and they used to be known as Yin Yau Kui Hakka Mee. The brothers make their own egg noodles, which are cooked to the right degree of springiness.

Choked with lardy goodness, the bowl of noodles are silky smooth with minced meat, chilli oil, beansprouts and a bowl of yong tau foo. Unlike Restoran Cathay, you don’t have to go and pick your yong tau foo from the pots. Just order single portion, one and a half portion or double portion and sit back. They will mix and match the sides for you. I enjoyed the assorted yong tau foo items more than the hakka mee. Some people may find it too bland. But for me, after eating so much in Ipoh, a bowl of mild-tasting yong tau foo soup is welcoming and comforting. Pimp your bowl of noodles with the condiments provided at the table. The chili-ginger-garlic sauce goes well with the noodles, giving a spicy kick!

Note that my opening hours may not be accurate. We went on a Saturday and they were opened. But when we walked past the following day, it was closed. So good luck (just come early for breakfast lah)!

This is an unassuming family-run stall serving home-cooked food that just comforts your stomach. The menu is simple and straightforward as there are just two dishes – chicken wings and claypot mee tai mak. There noodles are cooked over charcoal fire with minced pork and two eggs were added right when it was brought to the table. Don’t expect their claypot mee tai mak to be dark-coloured and tossed with dark soy sauce. Their rendition is more pale looking but packed with umami taste. Just add in some red chilli for the right kick. Pair your claypot mee tai mak with cuimin-infused fried chicken wings that are only deep-fried a la minute. The crispy skin and tender juicy meat is the perfect supper snack!

Address: 12, Jalan Che Tak, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: Friday to Tuesday 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Closed on Wednesday & Thursday

Restoran Ayam Nasi Pak Kong

Restoran Ayam Nasi Pak Kong (白宮雞飯) is always crowded no matter what time you are there. There is always a queue for takeaways but never get intimated by it because they are pretty efficient. The lady boss will come and take your order, she is friendly. I see this as a totally different category from the bean sprouts chicken. The steamed chicken is very juicy and tender. The fluffy rice is slightly tinted with chicken oil, not for the faint hearted. We paired it with their achar and kai choy.

The spicy and sour kai choy is surprisingly very tasty. I have only seen it during CNY but apparently, it is quite common at chicken rice stalls. The stock is flavoursome and paired with mustard greens, dried chillies and tamarind. If you come here for lunch, you can walk to Funny Mountain Soya Bean, grab a Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken across the road or go for second round at Lou Wong and Onn Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken.

Restoran Nasi Ayam Pak Kong

Address: 27, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 31400 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 12-588 6618

Opening Hours: 11:30am–4pm daily

Ipoh has so much good food that it is really impossible for me to just have kaya and roti for breakfast everyday. I started our day eating the famous curry noodles at Restaurant Xin Quan Fang (or the locals call it Ma Ta Liu curry mee). Our bowl of noodles arrived with a side of roasted pork, char siew, prawns and chicken seated on top of a bed of blanched bean sprouts. Dip it into the curry sauce, oh man, it is sooooo shiok. I don’t think they have any coconut milk added, the curry was very delicious with lard and garlic. The braised roast pork is from their own recipe and cannot find anywhere else. If you are coming by, got to be patient cuz the wait can be quite long.

Kedai Makanan Different Taste

A friend recommended us to try Kedai Makanan Different Taste, so we booked a table on our last day in Ipoh. We had to travel about 20 mins by car as it’s not exactly near our hotel. This non-airconditioned zichar eatery is famous for their claypot crab vermicelli. Don’t expect it to be similar to our claypot crab bee hoon as it is not milky at all. Instead, the soup is very subtle with an underlying sweetness from the crabs. For a table of 10, we had two crabs in the Crab Bee Hoon and this costs RM166! Some of the other recommended dishes include Salted Egg Squid and Steamed Lala. Apparently, there were quite a few features on their Handmade Fishballs but it’s not for me.

Address: 72, Persiaran Bercham Selatan 2, Taman Desa Kencana, 31400 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Phone: +60 12-528 1132

Opening Hours: 12pm to 9.30pm, closed on Mondays

And, that’s a wrap! Gather your troops and head to Ipoh to satisfy your cravings!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

JB Food Trail Part 2

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Ultimate Ipoh Itinerary For 1-2 Days + Best Food!

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After my time in Yogyakarta and Ipoh, I have two new favourite Southeast Asian cities. That’s why I’m sharing my Ipoh itinerary, packed with colourful corners and tasty local food. Whether you take a day trip to Ipoh or stay overnight, I have plenty of suggestions! I was excited to get back to Malaysia as I’d had such a good time there in 2016. Last year, my sister visited and went somewhere I’d missed: Ipoh. It sounded interesting so, en route from KL to Georgetown, I paid it a visit.

IPOH ESSENTIALS E-sim data plan Copy of Lonely Planet Malaysia Getting there: flight, bus, train ( 12GoAsia ) Accommodation: Hotels on Booking.com // hostels on Hostelworld Tours: GetYourGuide / Viator

Related read: how to spend 2 weeks in Malaysia

Many visitors to Malaysia miss Ipoh but I don’t know why – it’s the perfect tourist city: colourful, friendly, easy to get around and a foodie paradise. What’s not to love? Add it to your Southeast Asia bucket list if you haven’t already.

Can you see Ipoh as a day trip?

If you just have one day in Ipoh, a good option is to take an Ipoh day trip from Kuala Lumpur. You can catch a bus or train in 2.5 hours from the capital . It’s a long day trip but possible since you can see the top Ipoh things to do during a short amount of time.

For an Ipoh day trip, I recommend GetYourGuide:

You could also consider taking a day trip to Ipoh from Penang . Once you’ve hopped on the ferry from George Town, the bus or train journey to Ipoh is just 1.45 hours from Butterworth. Use 12go to book journies in Malaysia .

Read next: 101 Asia travel tips

Ipoh one day trip itinerary:

• 8am – leave Kuala Lumpur and board a train or bus
• 10.30am arrive in Ipoh for a late breakfast
• 12pm – explore the best things to do in Ipoh (keep reading)
• 7pm – have dinner and board your return transportation
• 9pm – arrive back to your accommodation.

Staying overnight in Ipoh

Obviously I’d say the longer the better for your Ipoh itinerary as it’s such a lovely little city. I spent 2 days in Ipoh exploring at my leisure which I’d highly recommend if you have time. Consider staying over at… Brownstone Hostel – with a rooftop garden, TV room, coffee makers and more, this is a great budget backpackers base with dorm beds from $13 a night. M Boutique Station 18 – for an affordable yet stylish hotel with thoughtful details and quirky decor, check out this boutique guesthouse. Rooms start from $40. Ipoh Bali Hotel – splashing out on one of the most stylish hotels in Ipoh will only cost you around $50. This rustic Bali-inspired hotel has thought of everything, from carved elephant door handles to views over leafy gardens.

Things to do during an Ipoh itinerary

Where to start? The central city has gorgeous old-fashioned streets, spectacular street art and lots of authentic local restaurants. Dotted around the countryside are more Ipoh attractions including a few sets of cave temples.

After sharing the best things to do, I’ll run through my suggested Ipoh itinerary for day trip visitors, as well as those staying overnight for 2 days in Ipoh.

Read next: Solo female travel in Malaysia

The basketball court

There are definite Hong Kong vibes at this basketball court and symmetrical apartment building. Right beside Old Town White Coffee, one of the best restaurants in Ipoh on Jalan Bandar Timah , a visit is easy to work into your Ipoh day trip itinerary.

The colourful house street

So many rainbow-coloured houses on such a small hidden street, who knew? As a city of undiscovered gems, one of the best things to do in Ipoh is seek them out. This really is a hidden one because the street doesn’t even have a name. It’s very near Mural Art’s Lane so you’ll probably spot it straight away but if not, head to Cakchibow Cafe and find it in the alley beside.

Ipoh Booth Cart

There’s street art all over Ipoh but for an interactive experience, pop over to Ipoh Booth Cart . Outside you’ll find this awesome swing mural. Inside, there are even more interactive murals. It was totally empty when I visited but the murals are well worth checking out.

Mural Art’s Lane

Of all the attractions in Ipoh, none are more colourful or quirky than Instagram paradise, Mural Art’s Lane . Whole alleyways of stunning colourful designs – I spent ages taking photos and I’d love to do it all over again.

Concubine Lane

Named after the fact that British colonialists used to frequent ‘houses of the night’ on this street, Concubine Lane is completely different today. Cute markets selling jewellery and souvenirs pop up, flowers blossom, and even an English red phone box has a spot!

Market Lane (umbrellas and art)

Market Lane was once known as Second Concubine Lane because apparently one wasn’t enough for the British. Like the first one, it’s now bright, colourful and quirky. You can barely imagine it dimly-lit and full of seedy bars. The main reason people seek it out today is to get their ‘grams with the interactive street art: the Trishaw piece by Ernest Zacharevic is located here, as well as a cute tea party mural and one of some jumping kids.

Read next: my Ipoh street art guide with map

Panglima Kinta Mosque

This dreamy blue and white mosque is a great place to experience Malaysia’s rich culture. Nearby to Taoist and Hindu temples, it makes the city of Ipoh a real melting pot. It’s also gorgeous to photograph.

Ipoh railway station

This iconic station built by the British has become a well-photographed attraction in Ipoh. I arrived by train at night and came back (minus the luggage) for a photo in the daytime. It’s unlike much of Ipoh’s architecture so it’s worth seeking out.

Visit the caves around Ipoh

Another of the best things to do in Ipoh is explore the countryside, particularly the incredible cave temples dotted outside the city. Religious shrines are hidden away inside vast labyrinths within craggy limestone caves. Top Ipoh caves to visit include Perak Cave, Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong.

Read next: visiting the Ipoh caves

Day trip Ipoh itinerary

If you’re coming from KL or Penang and not staying overnight, follow this detailed Ipoh one day trip: 10.30am: After arriving into Ipoh, start your day with famous white coffee and an egg tart at Old Town White Coffee , a well-loved local establishment dating back generations. It’s also a food court known for its tasty Malaysian food so if you have time to return for a meal, do!

Don’t forget to visit the basketball court, right beside Old Town White Coffee. Take a few minutes to snap some photos before moving on.

12pm: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple

During a day trip to Ipoh, you’ll probably only have time to visit one set of caves. I’d suggest Sam Poh Tong . I t closes at 2pm which is why I’m suggesting it for the morning (swap it for one of the other set slower down if you miss this window). Sam Poh Tong is super bright and colourful, home to pagodas, statues from Buddist mythology and a reclining Buddha statue. There are three temples beside each other so you can spend a couple of hours exploring.

Getting there: Jump in a Grab from Ipoh for 8 MYR.

3pm: Mural Art’s Lane / Ernest Zacharevic street art tour

Arrive back from the caves and head to Mural Art’s Lane, one of the best things to do in Ipoh for street art fans. Take a while to wander while snapping photos of world-class street art.

Depending how into street art you are, you might want to follow the Ernest Zacharevic Ipoh street art trail. After becoming famous for his street art in Georgetown, this Lithuanian artist completed similar works in Ipoh. They’re well worth finding.

4pm: Concubine Lane and Market Lane

Next, head to the colourful centre. Concubine Lane is a great place to shop for souvenirs but I preferred Market Lane’s quieter, rustic feel and street art murals. You can leisurely wander both streets in under an hour.

6pm: Dinner – Chinese food

Chinese food is a right of passage in Malaysia. Make sure to include a tasty meal before ending your Ipoh day trip. Chinese residents used to make up 50% of Malaysia’s total population, and the total is still around 20% today. For that reason, Chinese food is deeply ingrained in the culture and, thanks to the small size of Ipoh, none of it will be far away. I went to  Luo Wang  for their renowned chicken with bean sprout dish. It was delicious!

Ipoh itinerary for 2 days

If you have 2 days in Ipoh, add this day. Start with an adventurous hike or decadent brunch. I won’t judge you based on which you pick. Based on the fact I only have a photo of one, which do you think I did? 😉

Hiking option – Bukit Kledang

An adventurous thing to do in Ipoh is hike Bukit Kledang . There are four hikes you can do, the shortest taking one hour and the longest taking four. Bukit Kledang is 800m above sea level and my advice would be to go early or late to beat the heat.

Brunch option – Plan B Cafe

No Ipoh itinerary would be complete without brunch! Foodies should visit   Plan B and order the French toast with maple syrup, caramelised bananas, peanut butter, peanut brittle and ice cream. It was so indulgent but worth it. The coffee was great, too.

Afternoon – Kek Lok Tong / Perak Cave

For the afternoon, visit another set of cave temples, or two if you want. Set in 12 acres of gardens,  Kek Lok Tong  is pretty as a postcard. Visually, the surroundings of this cave temple remind me of China which is interesting since so many Chinese people moved here last century. They must have felt at home in these stunning surroundings. Take an hour to wander the limestone cliff-lined gardens. There are Buddha statues to admire inside but the grounds steal the show. Getting there: It’s easy to call a Grab in Ipoh but there aren’t so many drivers waiting near the caves. For that reason, I’d suggest asking your driver to wait. Often waiting time is free and they’ll just charge for the ride home.

Perak Cave Temple

A 20-minute drive from Kek Lok Tong is Perak Cave Temple . Built in the same era as Kek Lok Tong, these two cave temples are actually pretty different. This gorgeous red temple has no grounds and is all about cave paintings, Buddhist shrines and panoramic views from the top. An hour is plenty of time to see everything. Getting there: I got my Grab driver to take me to Perak Cave from Kek Lok Tong, then back to Ipoh. Book on Grab then arrange the rest of the journey when you meet. Swing by Ipoh railway station for photos before heading home!

Where to eat in Ipoh

Don’t forget to work some amazing meals into your 1 or 2 day Ipoh itinerary. As a multi-ethnic society, Malaysia is a great place to try Chinese and Indian classics as well as Malay-specific dishes. Ipoh may be smaller than KL and George Town but that only makes it easier to move between the abundant food courts and cafes. Eat local food and everything’s cheap! I managed to track down some of the best food in Ipoh and I hope you do too. As well as coffee and egg tarts at Ipoh White Coffee and French toast at Plan B , don’t miss these places. It wouldn’t be an Ipoh travel guide without food, right?

Sri Anandha Bahavan (authentic Indian)

Malaysian-Indian food will be good wherever you try it – Ipoh is no exception!  Sri Anandha Bhavan  is one of the best restaurants in Ipoh for Indian food, serving vegetarian and meat dishes including curries, dosa and banana leaf dishes. You can’t go wrong with any of it but I loved my serving of spicy palak paneer (cheese cubes in a spinach sauce). Don’t forget to order some Indian sweets for dessert! Jalebi is always a winner. These milk and pistachio squares above were also extremely moreish. Address: 7 Persiaran Bandar Timah.

Restoran Lou Wong Tauge Ayam Kuetiau

As I already mentioned earlier, Hainanese chicken with bean sprouts is what this local restaurant is known for. It’s a simple dish but well-worth worth trying. My fresh, generous serving was very moreish and doused in sweet soy sauce. Address: 49 Jalan Yau Tet Shin.

Thean Chun (shredded chicken noodles)

Another of the best restaurants in Ipoh for Chinese food is  Restoran Thean Chun . The shredded chicken noodles with prawns and a salty broth were tasty and cheap at 6 MYR. This busy restaurant is food court-style like many others so grab a shared table and order whatever takes your fancy. Address: 73 Jalan Bandar Timah. Opening times: 8am-4.30pm (only until midday on Sundays), closed on Thursdays.

Yoke Fook Mun (dim sum)

I’m always on the hunt for dim sum and I wasn’t disappointed in Ipoh. This old-school restaurant is run by a team of older ladies who can’t speak much English but make some excellent dim sum. A bit of pointing and guessing went my order but I was happy with what came out – a selection of pork and prawn dumplings and fried rice batter with spicy sauce. I paid 25 MYR for 3 plates and a drink – a bit on the pricey side for Ipoh but at least I was stuffed! Address: 65-69 Jalan Leong Sin Nam. Opening times: 6am-1.30pm and 6.30pm-10pm.

Ipoh essentials

These are the items that came with me to Ipoh and I would recommend using during your Malaysia trip.

• Copy of Lonely Planet Malaysia
• A handy bum bag with secure zip to keep your belongings secure
• Combination padlock (ideal for hostel lockers)
• A stainless steel reusable water bottle that you can fill up with filtered water (hotels in Ipoh will have these)
• Alternatively, a filtering water bottle that allows you to safely drink tap water
• Reusable coffee cup (collapsable) for hot takeaway drinks
• Travel luggage – I use the Mountain Warehouse Traveller Backpack (60l with 20l detachable backpack)
• A camera – I use the Sony DSC-HX350 Digital Compact Bridge Camera which I think is one of the most affordable options for a camera with such a good zoom
• A GoPro if you’re into making videos – I use the HERO8 Black
• Solo travel pick: a tripod or mini GorillaPod to get yourself in the shot – I use the Manfrotto tripod and Joby Gorillapod .

Thanks for reading my Ipoh itinerary!

I’m very jealous you’re visiting as I want to do it all again. There are so many things to do in Ipoh, including simply sipping white coffee and watching the world go by. Whether you choose an Ipoh day trip or spend a couple of days getting immersed, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Penang blogs:

• The best places to visit in George Town, Penang
• The top hawker food in Penang
• How to visit Kek Lok Si from George Town
• Penang digital nomad guide
• The best cafes in George Town, Penang
• Where to find healthy food in George Town

Kuala Lumpur posts:

• The ultimate KL itinerary for 2 days
• 5 cute cafes in Kuala Lumpur
• The top restaurants in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

Melaka posts:

• All the best things to do in Melaka
• The best food in Melaka
• 10 cute Melaka coffee shops
• Where to see street art in Melaka

Southeast Asia travel planning:

• 101 items for your Southeast Asia bucket list
• 101 backpacking Asia tips
• The perfect Southeast Asia travel route

Follow for more Malaysia content on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and YouTube .

See you next time for more adventures,

Ps. Liked this itinerary for Ipoh? Pin it for later!

Malaysia quick links Flights – I use Skyscanner and search by month to see the cheapest dates. Stay connected with E-sim data plans that don’t require delivery or collection; just span the QR code. In my opinion, Lonely Planet offer the best guidebooks. Get the latest Copy of Lonely Planet Malaysia . For Malaysia buses and trains , I use 12GoAsia . The search feature allows you to compare prices and durations. I use Booking.com for accommodation. They have the best range of hotels and self-catering apartments, plus you can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld . To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters , a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets. For activities, I use GetYourGuide and Viator as they both have a huge range of affordable tours. Need travel insurance ? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote . For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing . Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and tips!

Rose is a solo traveller from the UK who has been on the road since 2015. She wants to show other women that solo travel isn't scary and doesn't have to be expensive! Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes!

2 thoughts on “ Ultimate Ipoh Itinerary For 1-2 Days + Best Food! ”

Last year I decided to skip the mainland of Malaysia and only visit Borneo. Otherwise Ipoh would’ve definitely be part of my itinerary

Ah how did you enjoy Borneo? Hope you make it back to the mainland sometime!

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The Updated Ipoh Itinerary Plus Taiping & Kuala Kangsar – Sightseeing & Food Highlights of Perak, Malaysia

January 23, 2024 by Bino 1 Comment

The state of Perak in Malaysia, and by extension, its main cities of Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar, is a somewhat underrated destination despite being one of Malaysia’s gems. While many flock to the nearby city of Penang or head down to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, Perak is only starting to gain recognition as a tourist destination in its own right. This corner of the peninsula is a personal favorite and I love the wealth of heritage architecture, delicious food, friendly folk as well as the overall variety of attractions in Ipoh and the state of Perak.

This itinerary for Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar shows you how you can combine these cities on a trip that lasts from 3 to 4 days. This itinerary is also flexible in the sense that if you only have 2 days to spare for a weekend trip and are only interested in Ipoh, you can easily trim this itinerary depending on your needs. Aside from providing the recommended places to visit, I also documented some of my favorite places to eat in these cities.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Ipoh – Old Town & New Town

Your itinerary starts in Ipoh – Perak’s largest city. Ipoh was once one of Malaysia’s most prosperous towns and the amount of shophouses with intricate facades at the city center attest to that. Ipoh’s glory days however, came to an end when the tin boom collapsed in the 1980s. After decades of stagnation, the city has regained a new lease of life – this time as an up-and-coming tourist destination.

Check out this itinerary if you are also heading to Penang

As of this writing, Ipoh’s tiny airport has direct flights to Singapore and Johor Bahru while it’s roughly a 2 hour drive / 2.5 hour train ride from KL. Regardless of the destination, most of the incoming flights to Ipoh arrive in the city in the morning or by noon at the latest, with the exception of 1 daily flight from Singapore that arrives in the afternoon. From Ipoh Airport, it is an easy transfer to anywhere in the city via a ride-sharing app such as Grab. I paid about 10 Ringgit for my ride to Ipoh’s center.

ipoh white coffee from sin yoon loong

After dropping your bags in the hotel and depending on your time of arrival, it may still be a good idea to catch a late breakfast at one of Ipoh’s old school cafes. Said to be the best place for Ipoh’s famed white coffee, Sin Yoon Loong (daily, 6:30AM to 2:30PM) is as old school as it gets with coffee served in ceramic cups with floral motifs. Go for a kaya toast or even an egg custard (flan) for your morning meal. Alternatively, Nam Heong (daily, 6:30AM to 4:30PM) just next door is a worthwhile alternative.

ipoh market lane

Ipoh is known for its street art an insta-worthy back lanes. From Sin Yoon Loong, walk north a couple of blocks to reach Market Lane with its red and white umbrellas strung up from above.  If you come here early enough in the mornings, you’ll find the lane all to yourself. Otherwise, you might have to compete for photo-taking space with a number of tourists getting that perfect instagram shot.

A few blocks north is Ipoh’s Concubine Lane . This is where wealthy merchants of yore used to house their mistresses back in the day. Today, this narrow alley is busy with souvenir shops, eateries as well as drinks/dessert stalls. Despite probably being Ipoh’s most touristy spot these days, there are a number of noteworthy eateries here for a light meal. Worthwhile places to check out include Kong Heng (daily except Thursdays, 7AM to 5PM) for its egg custard and Sin Lean Lee (open daily except Tuesday, 6AM to 2PM; 6:30AM to 1PM on Mondays) which is known for the city’s own rendition of char kway teow which is topped with a fried egg. 

plan b cafe in ipoh

Ipoh has plenty of hipster cafes to choose from, and the most prominent one seems to be Plan B (75 Jalan Panglima, 10AM to 10PM daily) with its large indoor space and voluminous menu. Alternatively, if you prefer the clean and minimalist look with a strong focus on the coffee itself,   Jalan Theatre Coffee (76, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee; open daily 10AM to 6PM) is a good option.

ipoh railway station

The old part of town has plenty of heritage buildings and one thing you shouldn’t miss doing while in Ipoh is to go for a heritage walk. You can choose to DIY or go with a tour. The advantage of going with a tour is you don’t need to worry about hailing a Grab each time you finish exploring one attraction. This tour focusing on Ipoh’s heritage sites also includes stops that are farther afield such as Kellie’s Castle . There is a detailed map with more than 2 dozen buildings to check out in Ipoh city center itself but if you have time to only check out a few, make sure to stop by the impressive Ipoh Railway Station as well as the block of buildings by HSBC, OCBC, Standard Chartered, etc. This area is only a block or two away from Concubine Lane.

sultan iskandar bridge separating the old town and new town of ipoh

After having your fill of Ipoh’s old town, it’s now time to cross the Kinta River and head to the “new town.” Don’t be misled by the name however, the new town is only named as such because it was built after the old town but the new town itself dates from the early 20th century, making it not really new at all. 

mural art’s lane

The great thing about the “new town” is that many of the restaurants here are open in the evening, unlike many establishments in the old town which shut down by mid-afternoon. You can cross the Kinta Bridge to get to the new town, where you’ll find the Mural Art’s Lane in the next block to the south parallel to Jalan Sultan Iskandar.

various kuehs in seong man

If hunger strikes by this time in the afternoon, the nearby Seong Man (124 Jalan Sultan Iskandar, open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 6pm) is a worthy stop for its quaint kueh (traditional rice cakes) and tea.

woong kee beancurd ipoh

Another worthwhile afternoon stop is Woong Kee Beancurd (Jalan Ali Pitchay Taman Jubilee, daily except Wednesday, 11:30am to 6pm) especially if you’d like something refreshing to counter the punishing heat. Sit by the counter with a window overlooking a lorong (alley) while sipping on a refreshing and smooth beancurd. I loved it so much that I went for two consecutive days! Ipoh is very popular for its beancurd desserts and other places to try include Big Mom (daily except Thursday, 12PM to 6PM) for its more atmospheric setting and presentation and Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd (daily except Tuesday, 10:30AM to 7:30PM) which has the smoothest beancurd among the three most popular brands.

in front of lou wong restaurant

For dinner, stop by Lou Wong (open daily except Wednesday, 10:30am to 9pm) for its famous beansprouts chicken rice. Ipoh’s water purportedly has a mineral quality to it which supposedly makes the beansprout more fragrant in these parts. End your day with some shopping in the night market in this area. Most travelers would be shopping for traditional snacks to take home such as tau sar piah (salted bean biscuit). If you do not mind queuing however, check out Cowan Street Tauge Ayam and Koitiau Restaurant (Thurs to Sun, 6PM to 12AM; til 10PM on Sundays) where I thought the chicken was slightly more flavorful. The carbohydrate of choice here is the kway teow, made savory thanks to the fragrant chicken stock.

Day 2 – Ipoh – Caves & Lost World of Tambun

dimsum in ipoh

Start your second day by partaking in one of Ipoh’s most beloved morning rituals. Having yum cha in a dimsum restaurant is a common weekend morning activity here. While the dimsum in Ipoh is not typically as refined as what you’ll find in Hong Kong or Singapore, prices are very reasonable and there is also quite a bit of variety. One can also still see the use of dimsum trolleys – a practice which has just about disappeared in major capitals. The area around Jalan Leong Sing Nam has a couple of dimsum places, including two that are situated across each other. Ming Court (36 Jalan Leong Sing Nam, daily except Thursday, 6am to 2pm) and Foh San (51 Jalan Leong Sing Nam, daily except Tuesdays, 7am to 2pm) are among the most popular options.

kai see hor fun from moon de moon

Alternatively, go where the locals go and head to Restoran Moon de Moon (Wed to Sun, 7:30AM to 1PM) for its Kai See Hor Fun (Flat Noodles with Shredded Chicken). Located in a residential area in the outskirts of town, the place makes for a worthy detour. You’ll have to come here early (think: 8AM or before on a weekend) to get a seat without having to queue. What makes this a winning dish in my view, is the prawn flavored broth which went well with the oh-so-soft flat noodles and moist shredded chicken.

entrance to perak cave

Your second day in Ipoh can be spent exploring the outskirts. Surrounding the city are plenty of karst limestone hills that don’t look out of place in areas such as Guilin or Krabi. Some of the caverns found in these hills have been turned into temples and the likes of Perak Cave , Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong are visited by tourists.

For nature lovers, some of Perak’s caves (which have NOT been turned into temples) can be entered and explored if you have a guide. Tempurung Cave in Gopeng is probably the most popular in the area. A typical tour involves 3 hours of exploring the cave’s many chambers and rock formations and takes only slightly more than half a day door-to-door.

empty streets of gopeng

Once you finish your cave exploration, you can enjoy a late lunch in Gopeng itself. The town of Gopeng used to be quite important and was even more prominent than Ipoh until the turn of the 20th century when Gopeng fell into rapid decline. This is why you’ll see some unusual quirks here such as finding rows of charming shophouses that abruptly lead to a dead end. Popular eateries here include the High Street Kopitiam and Heritage Town Cafe Gopeng . The latter only opens at night.

If you are traveling with kids, a trip to the Lost World of Tambun (discounted tickets available here ) is perhaps necessary. This theme park is likewise located amidst these limestone hills which makes it quite photogenic even for those not coming with kids. The Lost World of Tambun aptly has “old tin mining town Ipoh” as its theme – something more realistic and close to home – which makes for a nice departure from the “fantasy world” of bigger and more established theme parks in the region. 

Allow for a day to finish the caves and the Lost World of Tambun.

Day 3 – Kuala Kangsar and Taiping

Kuala Kangsar, the royal capital of Perak, is a mere 30 to 40 minute drive from Ipoh or a relatively quick train ride through one of Malaysia’s modern ETS trains. Accessible through private transport or through a pre-booked tour, this small town is well worth a day trip. 

ubudiah mosque in kuala kangsar

There are a handful of architectural highlights in Kuala Kangsar and first on that list would most likely be the stately Ubudiah Mosque . This is undoubtedly Kuala Kangsar’s most recognized building. With its bulbous dome looming even from a distance, this place of worship is notable for its striped facade and combination of Moorish and British design features. It was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, the same person who designed Ipoh’s and Kuala Lumpur’s railway stations.

istana kenangan in kuala kangsar

Other highlights of the town include Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah , a museum dedicated to the current sultan of Perak as well as Istana Iskandariah , the current royal residence of the sultan. The Istana Kenangan , which perpetually seems to be under refurbishment is a worthwhile stop even if the inside is off limits. The palace is notable for having been built without using a single nail with its floor raised from the ground using stilts, in traditional Malay style.

Kuala Kangsar can be done in about 2 hours. It will be close to noon by the time you finish but I would recommend having your lunch at the next town, Taiping.

the beautiful taiping lake gardens

The sleepy town of Taiping is probably one of Malaysia’s most underrated destinations. Lying about 30 minutes away from Kuala Kangsar and an hour away from Ipoh, Taiping feels even sleepier with its centuries old buildings and arcades with barely any foot traffic.  The highlight here is undoubtedly the Lake Gardens – a tranquil expanse located at the edge of town with views of Maxwell Hill in the distance. The lake gardens are best explored later in the afternoon or early in the morning when it is cooler. Check out the decades-old rain trees here which have branches almost touching the lake. 

As one of the major settlements in Malaya during colonial times, Taiping has a fine collection of 19th century and early 20th century buildings. The Taiping Land Office building is among the city’s finest, and seems almost too grand if you consider the population of Taiping today.

perak museum taiping

Many of the architectural highlights of Taiping can be done on foot or via a series of rides on the ride-sharing app. Other highlights in town include the Taiping Hokkien Association and Perak Museum .

coffee shop inside the shun tak association of taiping

You can have dinner at the restaurant inside the Shun Tak Association , an old clan association, for an atmospheric dining experience. 

For coffee lovers, a stop at the Antong Coffee Mill (open daily 8:30AM to 5:30PM) at the city outskirts is worthwhile. You can witness coffee beans being roasted the traditional way and buy some to bring home. Dating back from 1933, this is supposedly the oldest coffee mill in Malaysia. 

Another dinner option is Golden Corner (open daily except Monday, 4PM to 9:30PM) for its curry mee and chicken noodles in clear soup.

Day 4 – Taiping

maxwell hill

Start the day early and explore Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) for some cooler climes as well as awesome views. You can choose to go up on foot. It’s a 2 hour climb this way. Alternatively, you can also get a seat on one of the Land Rovers that make the trip up. You will have to queue relatively early to get a guaranteed seat. You can buy tickets near the entrance. Some folks come here the day before to buy tickets for the following day.

At the top, you can expect to find a view point as well as well-manicured gardens and some walking trails. There are also chalets which can be rented for the evening, though facilities are a tad basic and you are better off in one of the hotels in Taiping itself.

Check out this itinerary if you are also heading to Kuala Lumpur

It will be close to / around noon by the time you finish the Maxwell Hill hike, provided you manage to get a seat at the lorry. From there, you can make your way back to Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur or Penang to catch your flight back to your home destination.

Getting To Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru or Singapore

Ipoh has a small airport with international flights to Singapore as well as domestic flights from Johor Bahru. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur and do not have your own car, you can rent one here or take the ETS trains instead. Malaysia’s ETS trains are thoroughly modern and clean with several departures a day from Kuala Lumpur. The ride lasts roughly 2.5 hours each way.

Travel Insurance 

If you come from Singapore, you can check out Starr Travelead for its cheap single- trip travel insurance with S$10 cash rebate here . 

Where to Stay in Ipoh and Taiping

Lodging options in Ipoh and Taiping are inexpensive, even if you go with the big name brands. Ipoh is now dominated by boutique names while Taiping has 2 hotels managed by Accor. Kuala Kangsar can be done as a day trip so you are better off staying in better hotels in either Taiping or Ipoh.

rooftop swimming pool of m roof hotel in ipoh

Ipoh – I have been to Ipoh a couple of times and stayed at different placed. I can recommend M Roof Ipoh for a unique view of the city’s limestone hills from its rooftop pool. Otherwise, for options closer to town, French Hotel is noted for its proximity to many of the city’s recommended eating places while MU Hotel is close to the main road leading to the old town. You can book other Ipoh hotels here .

Taiping – It is not the highest rated hotel in Taiping but if like me, you were captivated by the Lake Gardens, you might want to stay somewhere near it. Flemington Hotel is just across and some rooms even offer fine views of the lake. Otherwise, Novotel Taiping is the best all-around option in town and is adjacent to Taiping Mall. You can book other Taiping hotels here .

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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October 15, 2021 at 9:44 am

Hai Bino,I see from your comments regarding Ipoh town,Kuala kangsar and taiping town are in incomplete with details of various places to eat and places to see. For example you only concentrate in Ipoh where Chinese like to visit and eat but what about the malays and the Indians like to patronised in these places like the Nasi Ganja,curry mee and nasi kandar in Ipoh town, in Kuala Kangsar you can taste the best beef and in Taiping town popia and mee rebus at casual market. u dont ride lorries to Maxwellhill but used land Rovers to climb.

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Dive Into Malaysia

Ipoh Itinerary 2024: The Perfect Itinerary For 1 – 3 Days

Looking for the perfect Ipoh trip itinerary? Great! That’s exactly what we give you in this Ipoh itinerary blog.

We created this itinerary after multiple trips to charming Ipoh. We researched to find the best spots then visited themselves to hone this list to the perfect itinerary for 1, 2 or 3 days for you.

A quirky place to visit, Ipoh is ideal for a long weekend – perhaps in combination with a stay at the Cameron Highlands or as a stopover when travelling between Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Discover the city’s laid back charm on the 6.5 kilometre Ipoh Heritage Walk, taking in restored colonial buildings such as the Railway Station, Birch Clock Tower and Ipoh Town Hall and Post Office. A sometimes sleepy but atmospheric town – showing strong similarities with George Town, Penang – streets are lined with Chinese shophouses and an abundance of coffee houses that spill out onto the pavements.

Noted for dramatic street art murals, check out Old Town and the more recently added Mural’s Art Lane in New Town, for colourful depictions of local family life, regional customs and traditions. Further afield, explore the region’s mystical cave temples deep within Ipoh’s limestone cliffs, and the equally spectacular Tambun Cave full of Neolithic cave paintings dating back thousands of years.

Recent investment into Ipoh has led to not only a revitalised Old Town but a regeneration of its Malaysian-Chinese cuisine and culture… and our top reason to visit Ipoh is without a doubt to sample the food, with Lonely Planet calling it the “lesser known food capital” of Malaysia. Spoilt for choice, it’s a foodie’s delight, with local restaurants, hawker stalls and expansive food courts offering mouth-watering fare at great prices!

Finally, for all those young-at-hearts, head to the Sunway Lost World of Tambun for a full day of thrills, action, animal encounters, hot springs and water rides… More than enough to keep you busy!

Below, you will find the ultimate Ipoh travel itinerary! We walk you through options whether you want an Ipoh day trip itinerary, an Ipoh 2 day trip itinerary or an Ipoh 3 days 2 nights itinerary.

You can simply stop following our Ipoh tour itinerary if your trip finishes in less than 3 days when you hit the number of days you have or pick the days that sound best from the 3d2n Ipoh itinerary below.

If you have longer in Ipoh, lucky you! You can take this itinerary Ipoh slower with more time to relax at your hotel or look for other things to do in Ipoh from our full list here .

Finally, we also recommend some top places to stay in Ipoh depending on your budget and needs and there is a map below of everything you will do on your Ipoh trip.

Travelling to Malaysia? Click here to download your free Malaysia Trip Planning checklist . We’ll help you get ready for your trip!  

Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired.

Perfect Ipoh Itinerary 2024

Remember, this is a full 3 day Ipoh itinerary. If you have less days, simply pick the days that most appeal.

If you are looking for an Ipoh budget itinerary or an Ipoh itinerary for families this also works. Just take out activities if you want to make it easier/cheaper or if they don’t seem suitable for your kids.

The highlights of this itinerary in Ipoh are:

• Spend a full day discovering the Old Town of Ipoh, taking in the region’s famous Ipoh White Coffee, exploring colonial buildings and a fabulous night market… and trying out the lip-smacking local cuisine along the way.
• Day two will take you out of the centre of town to nearby caves celebrating Buddhist and Taoist deities, neolithic paintings and, rather surprisingly, a Scottish castle with hidden rooms and tunnels!
• It’s a fun afternoon and evening on day 3 at the fantastic Sunway Lost World of Tambun with water slides, tiger-encounters, hot springs and more.

Need to get to Ipoh? We can arrange a private taxi from anywhere in Malaysia. Click here for more details.

Day 1: Discover Old Ipoh Town

Today is all about discovering the best of Ipoh within the city. It’s perfect whether it’s the start of a longer trip or you are just looking for an Ipoh itinerary 1 day. Either way, I recommend you follow this exactly!

• Start the day at Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong – the perfect place to try Ipoh’s famous white coffee and to have a roti breakfast.
• Go crazy walking around the Old Town. Check out the colonial architecture, magical laneways and keep a lookout for Ipoh’s famous street art.
• Visit Ipoh World/Han Chin Pet Soo to learn more about the history of tin mining in the area.
• Take a short taxi trip to Restaurant Lou Wong for lunch where you can have Ipoh’s best tauge ayam.
• Have a siesta in the heat of the day ready to venture out again as things cool down in the early evening.
• Head to Gerbang Malam night market for dinner and shopping. This is particularly good on weekend nights.

Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong

The Story of Ipoh in a Cup… this 1937 establishment was the Old Town birthplace of the now famed Ipoh White Coffee, and today Sin Yoon Loong is still going strong!

What better way to start your day than enjoying breakfast at this longtime establishment? No WiFi or air-conditioning here, in fact the rear of the café appears to have the same coat of paint from years gone by. Locals and tourists adore this place, so head out early to avoid crowds – though you may still need to queue a while for a table.

This kopitiam – traditional coffee shop – has a fairly basic menu and the coffee is perhaps not as tasty as years ago, with tourism demands leading to an urgency to churn out cup after cup, but this is one place everyone should tick off when visiting Ipoh.

And, the coffee? Well, the beans are roasted with palm oil and served with condensed milk, resulting in a rather sweet and creamy beverage. Cheers!

Address: 15A, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak . Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Walking Around The Old Town

The highlight of your Ipoh one day trip itinerary will be exploring the heart of the city. Ipoh’s Old Town is full of heritage buildings that showcase the town’s 130-year history from a small Malay village to a minor tourist destination.

On the west side of the Kinta River that flows through the city, you’ll find colonial shophouses, that are often likened to Penang’s Georgetown. Easy to explore on foot, due to the excessive heat you might want to consider jumping in a taxi.

At the start of the 19th Century, Malaysia was under British Colonial rule with Ipoh the second most important city. Though a huge fire in 1892 led to most of the city being rebuilt, there is still a strong structure of Ipoh Old Town remaining, alongside newer places to explore with shophouses revamped into cafes, hotels, galleries and tea shops.

We recommend you follow the self-guided Ipoh Heritage Walk, taking you to all the major landmarks. Starting at Ipoh Railway Station, you’ll see the majestic Ipoh Town Hall and Old Post Office, High Court and much more. Check here for details.

The most famous street is probably Concubine Lane, with colourful decorations and tasty cold treats – quite different from the days of old when the shophouses were home to opium and gambling dens! Today, you’ll find charming souvenir shops, fashion outlets and many cafes. It’s a great place to visit at weekends with its busy, lively atmosphere.

Also in the Old Town, check out stunning wall murals with the most famous by the original artist, Ernest Zacharevic. His paintings are scattered throughout the lanes, along with many newer murals. You’ll see “An Old Uncle Drinking Coffee”, “Paper Plane” and the most dramatic, “Evolution”, that covers the entire side of the herbal-tea Ho Yan Hor Museum. Check this Ipoh street art map for the best spots.

Finally, discover more about Islam at the stunning Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque, near to the train station and facing the Birch Memorial Clock Tower. The State Mosque of Perak, it’s unmissable with many bronze domes and majestic modern architecture.

Take a break from your Ipoh day tour itinerary because it’s time for lunch, and your destination is Lou Wong’s – the most famous Chinese restaurant in town. Be sure to select its noted dish, Tauge Ayam (bean sprouts chicken).

Don’t come expecting a calm dining experience. This is a busy, sometimes hectic, restaurant with locals and tourists queuing for the famed food!

Address: 49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

Gerbang Malam Night Market

Once the sun goes down, this is the heart of Ipoh! The night market sets up around 7pm daily with stalls selling all manner of things from mobile phone accessories, toys, clothes, footwear, perfumes, bags, etc.

Crowded by 8pm, enjoy the hustle and bustle in the evening’s warm air. Bargain hunt and negotiate your way to a good price. And once you’re all shopped out, you’ll find many dining choices in the side streets, offering delicious Chinese and Malay cuisine. There’s also a hawker centre right next door. I may have had the best ice kacang of my life here (called an ABC Special).

After a full day of walking, why not end your Ipoh 1 day trip itinerary with a relaxing foot massage at the market before heading back to the hotel.

Address: Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

Day 2: Enjoy Ipoh Surrounds

Now you’ve seen the sites within Ipoh, our Ipoh 2 days itinerary focuses on the attractions around Ipoh where you’ll find awesome scenery and cool cave temples.

• This morning, set out after breakfast for a morning of exploring Ipoh’s famous cave temples. Start at Perak Cave Temple
• Take a taxi ride onto Kek Lok Tong Temple
• Take another short drive to Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Nam Thean Tong Temple and Ling Sen Tong Temple
• Grab a quick lunch at Restoran New Hollywood, a Halal food court serving some of Ipoh’s top specialities, located en-route to your next attraction
• Visit Tambun Cave with its thousands-of-years-old artwork
• Take a 25-minute scenic drive to the Scottish manor, Kellie’s Castle
• And, if you have time, end your day at Gunung Lang Recreational Park before heading back to Ipoh for dinner.

Perak Cave Temple

In the limestone hills near Ipoh, there are amazing cave temples. These are basically exactly what they sound like – caves with temples 🙂 They are built into the hills and are serene, picturesque and well worth a visit.

This morning, use the Grab (like Uber) app to order taxis to help you explore some of them. These rides cost us RM6-11 each to get between the temples and the Old Town.

These are spiritual places which means you should dress in appropriate clothing. In this case, that’s shoulders and knees covered. You will (sadly) see many people not doing this, but I highly recommend you respect these temples and cover up.

The Perak Cave Temple is a big cave in a lovely spot. There are interesting rock formations and a big Buddha in the centre. The temple itself is located on the ground level, but there’s a staircase you can climb to get to the top of the hill. It’s quite a nice walk especially at the beginning through the cave.

Inside the cave, you’ll find paintings that depict celestial beings, flowers, and other images of spiritual significance.

Address: Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Kawasan Perindustrian Tasek, 31400 Ipoh

Kek Lok Tong Cave Temple

Next up is Kek Lok Tong. This Buddhist temple is the second stop today, where you’ll explore 12-acres of limestone caves and a wonderful reflexology footpath in the surrounding gardens.

Translating as “Cave of Ultimate Bliss (or Great Happiness)”, this atmospheric spacious cave, first discovered in the 1920s, enjoys good natural light and a refreshing breeze throughout. It’s truly a lovely spot to sit and reflect, in the company of Buddhist and Taoist statues.

Address: Pesiaran Sepakat 3, Taman Endah Jaya, 31350 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple

Not far away is your next stop. Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple is one of the city’s oldest cave temples. It features a beautifully landscaped ornamental garden as well as a columbarium designed to hold the ashes of the departed.

What I liked about this cave temple is that the cave went on further than I expected to open up a big lovely area with the view you can see above. There was also a turtle pond with many turtles. The ornamental garden at the front is also beautiful.

Otherwise, this temple looked a little aged and wasn’t as spectacular as some of the others to me.

Address: Kampung Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh

Ling Sen Tong Temple

Just a short walk from Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, this colourful Taoist temple is located at the foot of a limestone mountain on the southern side of Ipoh and is full of statues of deities and animals. Literally translated it means “The Rock of Heavenly Spirits” and has a main compound area adorned with statues of characters from Chinese folklore.

Visit the garden for more wonderful statues, this time from Chinese mythology such as the Monkey King!

It’s a super colourful temple.

In between this temple and the last, you can also visit Nam Thean Tong Temple. It’s very easy to visit these three temples on foot as they are directly next to each other.

Address: Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak

Tambun Cave

Also known as Gua Tambun, this limestone cave contains the largest number of neolithic cave paintings in Asia. Discovered in 1959 by a British soldier on a routine training exercise, they are estimated to be around 2,000-5,000 years old.

Painted on the side of a cliff (not actually inside a cave), art was found depicting animals, humans, fruit and geometric shapes. Unfortunately having been not very well preserved, today there are only a dozen or so recognisable from the original 600 found.

You can take a Grab here from the last cave temple. It is not far.

Address: 31400 Tambun, Perak

Kellie’s Castle

This unfinished, ruined mansion, is a wonderful Scottish home in the Malaysian jungle! With a story that combines romance, tragedy and mystery, it has become a popular attraction.

Owner and creator William Kellie Smith, a Scottish planter, passed away during construction leaving the project halted and forever unfinished. The castle was designed to replicate the great British Raj palaces in India, with Moorish-style arches and windows.

Shrouded in mystery for many years, eventually three secret tunnels were discovered under the house, and rumours abound of a car found parked inside one! Spooky stories of ghosts continue to this day – whether real or perhaps as a way to increase tourism…

Today, it’s quite a surreal site in the plantations of Perak, and you’ll enjoy the dizzying road that weaves its way to the Castle.

Address: 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak

Gunung Lang Recreational Park

If time permits, finish with a trip to the Gunung Lang Recreational Park.

Covering over 30 hectares, with half consisting of lakes, this park is set to a stunning backdrop of limestone hills. The main attractions include the man-made cascading waterfall, a 2 kilometre boardwalk across a swamp and sporadic lookout towers.

Children can have fun at the on-site playground and visit the mini zoo. Everyone can enjoy a short boat ride around the lake, making a great end to this Ipoh 2 days, 1 night itinerary.

Address: Jalan Damai, 30100 Ipoh, Negeri Perak

Day 3: Tons Of Fun At Sunway Lost World Of Tambun

If you have a third day in Ipoh, lucky you! Today is going to be lots of fun. That’s because you will spend it at the theme park, Sunway Lost World of Tambun.

It’s easy to spend an afternon and evening here exploring and then hanging out in the huge wave pool which may have some of the best views from a wave pool in the world!

Sunway Lost World Of Tambun

Wow, you’re in for fun-overload today! Visit the action-packed Sunway Lost World of Tambun just 10 kilometres from the centre of Ipoh. This great family-adventure destination covers 40-acres of Park. It’s cocooned by lush tropical jungle, natural hot springs, and sits at the foot of dramatic limestone cliffs.

With six themed areas, suitable for all age groups, plus a night park, this is your perfect Malaysian Eco-Adventure.

Try your luck at Malaysia’s biggest wave pool – Jungle Wave Bay. Younger children will adore the giant tipping-buckets, water cannons and spraying elephants in the three different water playgrounds. It’s terrific fun!

Next, time to check-out the majestic tigers at the thrilling Tiger Valley or discover the cute Petting Zoo (great for younger visitors) where you’ll interact with a wide variety of animals.

Now it’s time for some serious fun and thrills at the Amusement Park, with a roller coaster, swing-chair ride, dragon flight and 180 degrees pirate boat swing! They are all quite child-friendly, and there is a lack of thrilling amusement park-style rides.

However, if you want more thrills, head to Adventure Park with 13 high-rope challenges, rock climbing and a zip line along the lake!

Or you can learn some history of the area and look for tin in Tin Valley.

In the evening, head to the Lost World Hot Springs & Night Park. Relax in 13 different rejuvenating hot spring pools, such as the Steam Cave, Geyser of Tambun, and an Infinity Pool, soaking your tired feet! Dry off, grab some dinner at the on-site restaurant, and explore the enchanted Luminous Forest with amazing flora and fauna or the nocturnal wildlife at the Petting Zoo.

I recommend you head to this theme park mid-afternoon and plan to stay for the evening attractions to get the most out of this experience.

Click here to purchase discounted tickets or here to read our full review.

Address: 1, Persiaran Lagun Sunway, Sunway City, 31150 Ipoh

Itinerary Ipoh Map

Find all the things to do in this Ipoh itinerary on the map below.

Best Places To Stay In Ipoh

When planning to visit Ipoh, consider staying around the Old Town, the centre of the city, for easy exploration of historic colonial buildings and to be well located for restaurants.

Alternatively, stay out of town hidden amongst the lush jungle and limestone cliffs at Gunung Rapat or stay at Tambun, slightly north of the city, for its natural hot springs, water park and some wonderful locally grown fruits such as the native tasty pomelo.

Whatever your budget, there’s a great range of hotels to choose from. Below, we’ve listed a few different places to consider including a budget, mid-range and more expensive option.

BEST – The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat Review

Set amidst tropical jungle, this peaceful property is a luxurious sanctuary. Offering wellness, longevity, rejuvenation and detox treatments, you’re bound to leave with peace of mind and feeling terrific!

Surrounded by panoramic cliffs, explore the grounds for magnificent waterfalls and take a dip in a private Balinese pool. This is not your usual accommodation. In fact, a stay here will be a highlight of your visit to Ipoh!

Boasting 45 spacious, luxury villas – Lake, Garden or Water – we recommend taking one with a balcony overlooking the local canal. Villas come with private jacuzzi hot tubs filled with natural geothermal hot-spring water, private plunge pools, outdoor rain showers, private decks and sun loungers… All up, this is a quiet, stylish, luxury resort.

Dining is offered at Pomelo, an indoor/outdoor all-day restaurant focused on wellness and specially crafted meals to suit your needs. There’s also Jeff’s Cellar which was named one of the top 20 restaurants in Malaysia by Tatler. This stunning fine-dining restaurant and bar is set within a 260-million-year-old limestone cave!

With a famed spa, thermal steam cave and ice-bath, meditation cave, fish pool, jungle trails, fitness centre and swimming pool, you’ll find it hard to leave the grounds of the hotel!

Available for guests of 12 years of age and above.

Click here for more information and the latest prices.

MID-RANGE –  Regalodge Hotel Review

Location is everything here, with the hotel only 800-metres from the Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre, at the heart of the city. This 3-star hotel has a wide variety of room categories, including premier, deluxe, executive, suites, and Regal family suites.

Air-conditioned rooms with modern decor and large windows, overlooking garden, mountain or city views, and a bathroom with shower, all help make this our stand out as a mid-range choice of accommodation.

This hotel is an excellent choice for tourists, offering free WiFi in all rooms, a 24-hour front desk and has recreational facilities such as hot tub, sauna, spa, massage and steam room.

An on-site restaurant offers a selection of French cuisine at The Limestone’s Fine Dining Restaurant.

BUDGET – Beds In Garden Hostel Review

Billed as a 5-star boutique hostel, Beds In Garden is a ten-minute walk from Ipoh town centre.

Modern, quirky and full of natural light, the hostel has a mixture of air-conditioned rooms including family, female-dormitory, 6-bed mixed, single, double or quadruple rooms. Shared bathrooms come with hot water, soap and shampoo.

Guests can relax at a small but well-maintained garden area, enjoy a fitness centre, and the hostel offers WiFi in the communal areas and some parking.

A shared-kitchen area (with a local store less than 5-minutes walk) is available for guests to cook their own food, and a huge common area with a television showing movies and local news is a great place to relax or meet fellow travellers. Next door to a nightclub, it can be loud on weekends so we suggest you request a room away from that side of the hotel.

Click here to see all our recommendations for the best hotels in Ipoh.

Final Words

We love Ipoh for its pretty Old Town which is filled with unusual street art and colonial buildings, trendy coffee shops and newer malls. There’s an air of being slightly off the main tourist-route. It can feel like you are discovering somewhere that will soon develop into a major Malaysian destination with both the New York Times and Lonely Planet trumpeting (quite rightly!) the delights of the local cuisine.

Add in the beauty of the surrounding countryside… We recommend you book your trip soon!

We hope you enjoyed this Ipoh city tour itinerary, perfect whether you are looking for a one day itinerary Ipoh, an Ipoh 2d1n itinerary or longer. You can find more information to plan your perfect trip to Ipoh in our complete guide to Ipoh here or read our full list of things to do in Ipoh here .

You can read our full guides to travelling to Ipoh from:

• Penang here
• Cameron Highlands here
• Taiping here
• Kuala Lumpur here
• Melaka here

Looking for the ultimate Malaysia Itinerary Planner for your trip? Click here to get it now!

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

Related posts:

By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is a certified Malaysia travel expert and can't get enough of travelling and talking about Malaysia since she first visited 21 years ago. She travels around Malaysia multiple times a year both alone and with her kids. She used to call Penang home and especially loves this food paradise. Sharon also has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and has been certified by Tourism Malaysia as a Malaysia Travel Expert. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to this amazing destination.

The Best Ipoh Itinerary: 2 Days in Ipoh (2024)

The charming city of Ipoh, Malaysia is full of street art, street food and incredible nature. In this 2 day Ipoh itinerary, we’re going to show you the best things to do in Ipoh, including where to stay, how to get around and our recommended restaurants. Let’s plan your 2 days in Ipoh!

Ipoh is the capital city of the Perak state in Malaysia and is encircled by beautiful cave temples and limestone cliffs . It’s also an easy getaway to the popular Cameron Highlands which is known for its tea!

We like to describe Ipoh as a smaller version of Penang with old colonial buildings, amazing street murals and some of the best food in Malaysia. Ipoh is not as famous as Penang, so there are fewer crowds and the city feels slightly more authentic!

Many people skip Ipoh on a Malaysia trip, but we’re here to show you why it’s worth visiting ! It’s on the way from Kuala Lumpur to Penang so it’s definitely worth spending 2 days in Ipoh on your way.

Alongside the impressive cave temples outside of the city, you can expect to see the colonial old town filled with heritage houses, cosy themed cafes and creative street murals.

This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you .

Quick Tips for a 2 Day Ipoh Itinerary

Table of Contents (Skip to a section!)

• Currency  – Malaysian Ringgit (compare your own currency  here )
• Language  – Malay (also Mandarin and Tamil)
• Cuisine  – Malay, Chinese & Indian (noodles, rice, dosas, soups, curries, roti & more)
• Apps  – GoogleTranslate, GoogleMaps, Grab,  Booking.com &,  Hostelworld
• Power Voltage  – Plug G, 240V ( Same as the UK )
• Sim Card – Digi, Hotlink or grab one on Klook !

Visiting more of Malaysia? We have itineraries for Cameron Highlands , Penang , Kuala Lumpur & Melaka ! Plus our 2 week Malaysia travel guide !

Where to stay in Ipoh? The Tudor – Find on Booking.com here !

This 2 day Ipoh itinerary will take you to the lovable old town, the modern new town and some incredible nature spots just outside of the city centre.

These days can be switched around depending on the weather or what time you arrive in Ipoh. If you have more than 2 days in Ipoh, we’ve also added some suggestions for more things to do in the city.

Day 1 – Exploring the Old & New Town of Ipoh

Once you arrive in Ipoh, head to your accommodation and drop your bags off! We highly recommend staying close to the Old Town or New Town, but there are many great places to stay outside of the city centre too. Find places to stay on Booking.com !

There are two sides to Ipoh with the Old Town sitting on the left of the Kinta River and the New Town on the right.

The Old Town will be a highlight on this 2 day Ipoh itinerary with hidden murals, shophouses, and great food everywhere. All amongst British colonial buildings and heritage buildings.

New Town is more developed and is equally worth a visit for more murals, street food and a look into the full city of Ipoh. There’s less character to the New Town but only due to the preserved age of the Old Town!

Explore Concubine Lane

The best way to dive into the culture of Ipoh is to head straight into the Old Town and you’ll very quickly come across the popular Concubine Lane ( also known as Panglima Lane ).

This is the most famous part of Ipoh with boutique shops selling souvenirs, flowers, jewellery and of course, food!

There’s a Time Tunnel Museum and a Funtasy Trick Art House that both looked interesting but we didn’t get time to visit.

Chill in one of Ipoh’s unique cafes

Since Ipoh is the birthplace of Malaysia’s popular white coffee , it’s perfect for visiting a cafe during your Ipoh itinerary.

White coffee was introduced to Ipoh when condensed milk started getting added to the black English coffee. It’s been popular ever since!

The city is filled with traditional, cosy and themed cafes and you’ll come across many when exploring Ipoh in 2 days. We even came across a Platform 9 1/2 (Harry Potter) Cafe!

As we are not coffee drinkers we didn’t get a chance to try the famous white coffee! If you want to find the best cafes in Ipoh head over to this guide by Ipoh locals!

Browse around Ipoh’s Little India

There’s a Little India in most large cities throughout Malaysia and Ipoh is no different! Little India in Ipoh is quite small and not built for tourism, but there’s an authentic feel and it’s a great area to find delicious Indian food!

We recommend grabbing some lunch at Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant ( here’s the location ) and choosing anything from the menu! We visited twice for thalis and curries!

Admire the Street Murals in Old Town Ipoh

Although some of the murals have only been around a few years, they are already starting to fade but here’s a few that we found when exploring Ipoh in 2 days.

• Cheers! 3D ( location here )
• Parking Troubles Mural
• Kids Riding a Paper Plane ( location here )
• Old Uncle Drinking Coffee ( location here )
• Market Lane Murals 3D ( location here )
• Evolution ( location here )
• Old Town Relieves Nostalgia With Trishaw 3D ( location here )

The street art in Market Lane includes our favourite street murals in Ipoh! Most of them are interactive and they’re still pretty hidden. We stumbled across them and had a little photoshoot as that’s what they’re made for! Be careful of cars coming down the street.

The Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic has made his mark around Ipoh and George Town and is often referred to as Malaysia’s Banksy! Some of these murals are his!

Padang Ipoh

Whilst you’re exploring the wonderful street murals in Ipoh, take a visit to the park in the north of the Old Town. The park itself isn’t so exciting, especially on a hot day, but it’s where you can find the Ipoh sign!

We are suckers for finding a city sign wherever we go, so it was cool to come across one in Ipoh!

Fancy a Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat ? Spend the day in luxury in one of Ipoh’s spas! – Find out more here !

Also check out our 4 Day Penang Itinerary !

Ho Yan Hor Museum

If you have time on the first day of your Ipoh itinerary, pay a visit to Ho Yan Hor Museum to learn about the herbal tea producer – Mr Hoi Kai Cheong ! It’s free to enter the museum but you’ll need to add your name to a waiting list for the next slot.

See the Heritage Buildings in Ipoh

As well as street murals there are many beautiful heritage buildings in Ipoh and there’s even a dedicated  Ipoh Old Heritage Trail to follow. We didn’t manage to find all of them during our Ipoh itinerary, but you can get a map from a Tourist Information Office !

• Ipoh Town Hall – built in 1928
• Birch Memorial Tower – built in 1909
• Ipoh Railway Station – visit the beautifully large train station built in 1917
• HSBC Building – built in 1939
• Han Chin Pet Soo – one of Ipoh’s museums!

Mural Art’s Lane

Now it’s time to head over to the New Town to find more street art and spend the evening hunting for delicious food!

Mural Art’s Lane is the place to be to enjoy refreshing vibrant art painted on the streets. This lane is one long strip of street murals all with different colours, themes and styles! A lot of them embrace Malaysian culture!

As Ipoh isn’t as touristy as George Town, Penang , you don’t usually have to queue to take photos with the murals. We definitely recommend checking this spot out during your 2 day Ipoh itinerary!

There’s also a beautiful row of colourful houses near Mural Art’s Lane, so make sure to find them before leaving the area!

Panglima Kinta Mosque

Another well-preserved heritage building in Ipoh is the Panglima Kinta Mosque which deserves its own spot on this 2 day Ipoh itinerary.

The architecture of the building is incredible and it’s amazing how it was built in 1898! There’s often volunteer guides offering information about the mosque. We always find locals to be so welcoming!

Did you know? Ipoh used to be a village and grew in the 1880s due to the selling of tin which was discovered in the area!

New Town Food & Hawker Centres in Ipoh

New Town is a great area to end your first night in Ipoh and find some great food. There are so many options around all of Ipoh but the hawker centres and night markets are mostly on this side of the river!

Guan Heong Biscuit Shop – New Town has a range of popular pastries and snacks, and biscuits are one of them! We saw a huge line outside of Guan Heong Biscuit Shop – find the location here !

Gerbang Malam Night Market – A vibrant street to explore if you’re looking for snacks in Ipoh. The market was previously a lot bigger before 2020, but now it’s taking a while to pick up again – location here !

Tong Sui Kai Hawker Centre – Find a spot to eat and explore the many types of food on offer during your Ipoh itinerary! We usually opt for some vegetable noodles or a laksa but there are so many traditional Malay dishes here too ( location here ).

➤ Spend 2 Weeks in Malaysia exploring more incredible places!

Day 2 – Discovering Cave Temples & Mirror Lake

On day 2, it’s time to step out of the charming city of Ipoh and head to the caves, temples and nature only a short bus ride away!

Visit Ling Sen Tong Temple

The first temple on your Ipoh itinerary is Ling Sen Tong Temple, which is a Taoist Temple. The temple complex is so colourful with flowers planted around the sanctuary.

The next temples we’ll mention are all in a line next to each other with caves, so they’re all really easy to visit once you arrive. They’re all open 9 am – 2 pm (sometimes 4 pm) !

Walk around Nam Thean Tong Temple

A quick walk around the corner and you’ll discover Nam Thean Tong Temple! It’s another Taoist Cave Temple with colour bursting all around and some beautiful architecture.

It’s possible to explore the caves at Nam Thean Tong Temple and it’s such a nice feeling if it’s hot outside. The temple features a fish pond in the front with a bridge to walk over.

There are also monkeys in the area, but monkeys can be very cheeky , so be careful of your food!

Admire Sam Poh Tong Temple

Sam Poh Tong Temple is the most popular of the three and is also our favourite! The complex is a lot larger and there’s a slightly secret temple hidden through the cave.

There’s a beautiful garden filled with greenery, stunning architecture on the buildings and small statues on the rocks. Sam Poh Tong Temple is the oldest cave temple in Ipoh and it’s definitely worth visiting during your 2 day Ipoh itinerary!

Visiting the Cameron Highlands on your Malaysia trip? Check out our Cameron Highlands Itinerary !

➤ Travelling on a budget? Here’s our budget guide in Southeast Asia (including Malaysia)!

Find the Mystery Temple

Head through the cave at Sam Poh Tong Temple and you’ll discover someone selling food for animals. At first, we were pretty confused but then realised there were so many tortoises on the other side. There are so many!

This is where you’ll be greeted by one of the most beautiful temples in Malaysia – a true cave temple surrounded by limestone cliffs!

We admired the temple whilst snapping some photos using our Joby GorillaPod . It’s one of our favourite travel essentials as it’s lightweight and fits in our day bag! There’s also a Joby Phone Tripod which is even smaller and great for videos!

After the temples, head to Man Xiang Cun Vege Restaurant for the most amazing curry noodles and Chinese food! The prices are so affordable and there’s so much choice!

Explore nature in Tasik Cermin

After delicious lunch, make your way to Tasik Cermin for some nature! If we’re being honest, we had pretty rainy weather throughout most of our Malaysia trip and in Ipoh we experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms!

We were some of the only people at Tasik Cermin due to the stormy weather and the heavens opened as soon as we reached Mirror Lake.

Luckily the staff gave us an umbrella to use for our time in the park, which was the sweetest thing! You’ll see the umbrella in our upcoming photos! A few things to see at Tasik Cermin are:

• Snake Mouth Cave
• A beautiful boat ride through tunnels & limestone rocks
• Walk through the tunnel leading to Mirror Lake
• The park is also expanding and building more!

The park has two Mirror Lakes and one can only be accessed by boat! As it was raining, the boats weren’t running on the day we visited, however, the photos look incredible. You can still visit Mirror Lake No.1 by walking.

Embrace nature at Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake is a popular spot to visit on an Ipoh itinerary but not too many people are visiting there yet. Tasik Cermin translates to Mirror Lake in English, so it’s the best thing to see in the park.

When you walk through the tunnel it gets so dark in the middle and then you’ll be greeted by the dark green lake surrounded by limestone cliffs! We’re so glad we visited on our Ipoh 2 day itinerary, even though it’s pricey.

How to get to Mirror Lake in Ipoh?

There are a few options to get to Mirror Lake in Ipoh. Head to the bus station near Little India and wait for a bus to take you, they do run infrequently but the locals are very helpful.

The best way to get to Mirror Lake is by Grab! Download the app, type in your location and wait for your ride. We used Grab to get there and back from the temples and lake due to the heavy rain when we were leaving!

As you know there’s a lot of great food in Ipoh, so revisit one of your favourite spots so far or just walk around the city until you catch your eye on something! We do recommend Indian food at Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant if you haven’t tried it already!

More things to do in Ipoh

If you have more than 2 days in Ipoh, there’s many more things to do in and around the city!

Have fun at a theme & water park in Ipoh! Sunway Lost World Of Tambun is located in the beautiful jungle of Ipoh. It’s one of the best things to do in Ipoh if you have an extra day – Book your tickets in advance here !

• Buntong Falls – a waterfall to the east of Ipoh City!
• Han Chin Pet Soo Museum – learn about tin mining history in Ipoh!
• Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village – a beautiful nature spot around Ipoh!
• Perak Cave Temple / Kek Lok Tong – more cave temples to explore!
• Bukit Kledang – go hiking in Ipoh!

Explore Tempurung Cave and follow a guide through the caves in Ipoh – Find tickets on Klook here !

Spend a day in luxury at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat ! From massages to swimming pools and natural hot springs, it’s such a treat.

If you’re visiting Ipoh on a Sunday – make sure to visit the Sunday Morning Flea Market just north of Old Town across the river.

Where to stay in Ipoh

Even though Ipoh is a small city, the accommodation can spread out quite far. We highly recommend staying near the Old Town or New Town during your 2 day Ipoh itinerary for easy access around the city!

Ipoh Hotels, Hostels & Guesthouses

The Brownstone Hostel  $ – The best social hostel in Ipoh with dorms & private rooms – Find on Booking.com here !

The Tudor $$ – A beautifully unique hotel with balconies & views – Find on Booking.com here !

We stayed in City Hostel for 2 days in Ipoh, but they’re no longer taking bookings in 2024.

Best Restaurants in Ipoh

• Ninety-Six Vegetarian Food $ – delicious Chinese food in New Town Ipoh ( location )
• Thin Hei Vegetarian Restaurant $ – A la carte Chinese food in New Town ( location )
• Man Xiang Cun Vege Restaurant $ – amazing Chinese food near the temples ( location )
• Restoran Krishna Bhawan $ – taste Indian food in Little India ( location )
• Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant – more Indian food in Little India ( location )
• Vegan Delights Cafe $$ – a big menu with loads of vegan alternatives for meat ( location )
• Tong Sui Kai Hawker Centre $ – many small restaurants with lots of options ( location )

Try switching to more sustainable travel products before visiting Ipoh, Malaysia! Here’s a guide to help – Eco Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap in 2024 !

Best Time to Visit Ipoh

The best time to visit Ipoh, Malaysia is from December to March , although you can visit all year round! Ipoh has a tropical climate and is surrounded by jungles and greenery, so the rain is welcomed!

We visited Ipoh in June and got caught in a tropical storm! When it rains it doesn’t rain all day so you’ll still have enough time to continue with your Ipoh itinerary.

How to get to Ipoh

Bus  – One of the best ways to get around Malaysia is by bus! Buses run frequently from popular destinations such as the Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur or Penang to take you straight to Ipoh. Book your bus tickets in advance with RedBus or EasyBook . We used these companies throughout our Malaysia trip. You can also check out 12Go for more options.

If you buy your ticket online – make sure to print your bus ticket off at the station . It will cost an extra RM1.

When catching the bus, it drops you off quite far outside of the city centre. From this main bus station catch the T30a bus that runs every hour to the city centre of Ipoh . It will drop you off at Ipoh bus station which is near Little India and Old Town. Prices are around 2-3RM.

The buses can run infrequently so you can use Grab as a backup option if a bus doesn’t turn up within 1 hour ( which is already quite a long time to wait ).

Train – Another way to get to Ipoh is by train from Kuala Lumpur! Book your tickets here !

Flying – Ipoh has a small international airport for those going short distances. Sultan Azlan Shah Airport is conveniently close to the city and it’s best to use Grab to get there and back.

Tours – Take a day trip from Kuala Lumpur with a private day tour to Ipoh – Book your trip here !

How to get around Ipoh

• Bus – The public buses in Ipoh are inexpensive and a good way to get around if you don’t mind waiting a while. We caught the bus from the bus station (outside of the city) to the main bus station in Ipoh!
• Car  – If you’re on a Malaysia road trip, then staying two days in Ipoh is still possible! Browse on Discover Cars for rental cars in Malaysia .
• Taxi & Grab  – Grab is one of the best ways to get around Ipoh as they’re fast and reliable. Download the app!

We caught a Grab to Mirror Lake for 8 RM and it made our 1-hour bus journey a 20-minute car ride. Sometimes it’s worth spending a little extra to save time especially if you only have 2 days in Ipoh!

How many days to spend in Ipoh

We recommend spending at least 2 days in Ipoh to explore the unique old town and experience the temples outside of the city.

With more than 2 days you can visit even more sights outside the main city centre. We wish we stayed one extra day to visit Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village, the museums in Old Town or hiking in Bukit Kledang.

What to do in Ipoh in one day?

If you only have time to spend one day in Ipoh, it’s best to stay in the Old Town and New Town . We’ve included all the best things to do in Ipoh on day 1 of our Ipoh itinerary. Pick and choose what activities and sights you’d like to do.

It’s totally possible to do a day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh with a private day tour company – Book your trip here !

What to do in Ipoh at night?

• Gerbang Malam Night Market – location here !
• Spend the evening at one of Ipoh’s Hawker Centres eating the best food!
• Get fancy at Tiga Bar – a cocktail bar in Ipoh!
• Another cocktail bar in Ipoh is Atas Speakeasy !

Travel Essentials for an Ipoh Itinerary

➤ Here’s our Southeast Asia Packing list with everything to pack for Malaysia!

• Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Refill your reusable water bottle throughout Malaysia.
• Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – The best way to pack a backpack or suitcase!
• The Little Bodhi Microfibre Towel – A lightweight towel to use in hostels or beaches around Malaysia.
• Rain Mac in a Bag and a Backpack Cover are two more rainy day essentials!
• Anker Power Bank – Keep your phone charged in Ipoh!
• Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600 . There’s also a Joby Phone Tripod .

Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing  Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing  is a very flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world, including Ipoh!  Find out more here!

Is Ipoh Malaysia worth visiting?

Ipoh is definitely worth visiting if you’re already travelling to Malaysia! It’s the perfect stop-off on your way from Kuala Lumpur to Penang or the Cameron Highlands. We were surprised that Ipoh isn’t a main travel destination for Malaysia as it’s such a charming city!

The street art in Ipoh is just as amazing as in George Town, Penang. Also, the cave temples are a must-do when spending 2 days in Ipoh!

Check out our other  Malaysia Travel Guides :

• Cameron Highlands Itinerary: Best Things To Do
• 4 Day Penang Itinerary: Best Things To Do
• 3 Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: Best Things To Do
• The Best 2 Day Melaka Itinerary: Things To Do (Malacca)
• 2 Week Malaysia Itinerary: Best Things To Do
• Also, browse our Thailand and Philippines guides!

That’s the end of our The Best Ipoh Itinerary: 2 Days in Ipoh) ! Enjoy your trip to Ipoh and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!

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Amy & Dan are the founders of The Sunrise Dreamers. They are travellers from the UK who have been on the road since 2017 whilst living in places like England, Canada, Thailand and the Canary Islands. They share their knowledge of travelling the world with detailed travel guides and tips. They're experts in vegan travel and show their audience how to travel on a budget.

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Ticking through history: 6 pre-Merdeka clock towers that still exist today

Thursday, 05 Sep 2024

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A photo from the late 1890s showing the newly-completed Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, with the Christ Church on its right. — Filepic

Alongside her varied attractions, Malaysia is also home to numerous historical clock towers.

Found across the nation, the towers were once timepieces for townsfolk, as wearing personal watches was not the norm back in the day. Fortunately, some of these historical towers are still functioning today.

Mostly constructed during colonial times, their designs are often a unique blend of colonial and Islamic architectural influences.

Here are just a handful of these historical clock towers in Malaysia that are not only beautiful but have plenty of stories to tell too.

Big Clock Tower, Kedah

Standing majestically opposite Masjid Zahir in Alor Setar is the Menara Jam Besar or Big Clock Tower.

Built in 1912, the clock tower used to chime five times a day, to signify the Muslim prayer times. Although it does not ring any more today, the clock is still functioning smoothly.

Bearing a yellow and white exterior, the structure features elements from both Islamic and Hindu architectural styles.

It has a yellow gold dome with a crescent on top, which symbolises Islam. Meanwhile, decorative arches that reflect Hinduism can be seen on the lower portion of the tower.

Birch Memorial Clock Tower, Perak

Located in the heart of Ipoh across from the State Mosque, the Birch Memorial Clock Tower bore witness to many of the state’s historical moments.

It was unveiled in 1909 as an homage to Malaya’s first British resident, J.W.W. Birch, who was assassinated in Pasir Salak in 1875.

He was a British official, but his intervention in local affairs sparked outrage among the Malay communities. This eventually led to The Perak War and his untimely death; he was assassinated by the revered Malay leader, Dato Maharaja Lela.

Take a walk around the area and you will see that the streets nearby are named after Dato Maharaja Lela and one of his accomplices, Dato Sagor.

You will also be able to see murals illustrating the history of civilisation on the upper panels of the clock tower, too. It is adorned with four statues – one in each corner – depicting the “Virtues of British Administration”.

Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, Melaka

Typically known as the “red clock tower”, Melaka’s 138-year-old Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower greets tourists with its striking red facade, just like the buildings that surround it.

The tower that stands over 15m tall was erected as a tribute to a local businessman and philanthropist named Tan Beng Swee.

The construction of the structure was his son Tan Jiak Kim’s idea, who wanted to realise his father’s dream of building a clock tower in Melaka.

Situated within Dutch Square near Christ Church and in the accompaniment of other historical buildings like the Stadthuys, the design of the tower has Portuguese influences.

It has a unique feature: a repeller system is installed on the top floor of the tower to deter birds from defecating on it.

Lebuh Pasar Clock Tower, Kuala Lumpur

Meanwhile, Lebuh Pasar Clock Tower is a common sight for folks who frequent Medan Pasar in the capital city.

The clock tower, which measures 7.6m high, dates back nearly nine decades and was constructed by British architect Arthur Oakley Coltman to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.

In the early days, memorial plaques were moun- ted in front of the structure, but they were removed after Malaya gained independence from the British.

The surrounding sides are also embellished with a “sunburst motif”, an Art Deco style that was popular back then.

Queen Victoria Memorial, Penang

Like Perak’s leaning tower or Menara Condong in Teluk Intan, Penang has one that appears slightly slanted, too – the Queen Victoria Memorial clock tower.

Also called the Jubilee Clock Tower, the structure has definitely stood the test of time and ravages of war. It is tilted because of a bombing incident that took place during World War II.

Located at the junction between Light Street and Beach Street in George Town, it was built in 1897 to mark the 60th anniversary of Britain’s then Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne.

The domed clock tower is a showcase of Moorish design that features horseshoe arches.

Old Courthouse Clock Tower, Sarawak

This clock tower at the Old Courthouse Complex at Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in Kuching is a fine reflection of the Brooke era.

The colonial baroque-styled structure – although it may not be the main highlight of the complex – was put up in 1883, 12 years after the establishment of the heritage site.

Aside from the clock tower, the Old Court House, which served as an administrative centre back in the day, comprises several buildings including the Pavilion Building (formerly a General Hospital and today Sarawak’s Textile Museum) and the Round Tower.

The Charles Brooke Memorial was also erected in 1924 at the site.

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Tags / Keywords: clock tower , pre-merdeka , historical monuments , landmarks , tourism , historical tours , Old Courthouse Clock Tower , Sarawak , Queen Victoria Memorial , Penang , Lebuh Pasar Clock Tower , Kuala Lumpur , Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower , Melaka , Birch Memorial Clock Tower , Perak , Big Clock Tower , Kedah

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