Top choice in Taiping
In a high-ceilinged 1930s shophouse, cheerful Sojourn has four-bed dorms with pod-style bunks – that means more privacy and less rocking from the top bunk. There's bike rental (per half-/full day RM6/10), lockers and primo local knowledge on tap. When we passed through, a new location (still in central Taiping) was on the horizon.
Private single, twin or double rooms are available too, but note that some are fan-cooled rather than air-conditioned.
15.48 MILES
This former royal palace, also known as Istana Kota and Istana Hulu, is a showy mash-up of Renaissance, neoclassical and Moorish styles. Completed in 1903…
Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve
7.46 MILES
Wooden boardwalks weave among the protruding, twisted tree roots of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The reserve is best known for its fireflies, which…
0.55 MILES
With many of Perak's museums in dire need of more funding, Taiping's well-maintained Muzium Perak stands out. Parts of the pristine, whitewashed building…
28.44 MILES
Developed in 1926 by Chinese Buddhists Chong Sen Yee and his wife, this temple (7km north of Ipoh) is popular for its mesmerising murals and panoramic…
15.59 MILES
With bands of Italian marble and enormous gold domes, Masjid Ubudiah is a contender for the title of Malaysia's prettiest mosque. Commissioned by Perak’s…
0.35 MILES
Taiping's centrepiece is a 64-hectare expanse of lagoons and grassland east of town. Created in 1880 on the site of an abandoned tin mine, the gardens owe…
Lenggong Archaeological Gallery
21.13 MILES
The Lenggong Valley, 50km north of Ipoh, is the site of one of Malaysia's most exciting archaeological finds. The 11,000-year-old 'Perak Man', a rare…
15.99 MILES
Also known as the Palace of Memories, Istana Kenangan is made of wood (without a single metal nail) and bamboo woven into diamond-shaped patterns across…
0.35 MILES
Taiping's centrepiece is a 64-hectare expanse of lagoons and grassland east of town. Created in 1880 on the site of an abandoned tin mine, the gardens owe…
0.38 MILES
Consecrated in 1887, this timber church is one of the oldest Anglican churches in Malaysia and is still used as a place of worship. The Gothic-inspired…
0.49 MILES
With its prominent gold domes, this mosque is an arresting feature of central Taiping's skyline. Only Muslims may enter.
0.55 MILES
With many of Perak's museums in dire need of more funding, Taiping's well-maintained Muzium Perak stands out. Parts of the pristine, whitewashed building…
0.62 MILES
Animals are always happiest in the wild, but Taiping's zoo is a well-maintained space managed by conservation-minded staff. Elephants have shade and space…
1.08 MILES
Arranged across two green spaces bisected by a main road, this small cemetery has row upon row of headstones for the British, Australian and Indian troops…
7.36 MILES
Ever dreamed of visiting a charcoal factory? Neither have we, but the 1930s-era warehouse piled with blackened tree trunks, and its accompanying charcoal…
8. Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve
7.46 MILES
Wooden boardwalks weave among the protruding, twisted tree roots of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The reserve is best known for its fireflies, which…