Shopping in Malaysia
It makes a lot of sense to shop in Malaysia. Firstly, the exchange rate of the Malaysian Ringgit is relatively low and so you can stretch your currency that much more. Secondly, some items are exempt from duty and therefore cheaper in Malaysia than elsewhere. Thirdly, the variety here is truly vast. Malaysia is actually 'Little Asia'. It offers you not only its indigenous treasures, but also treasures of the entire continent and the Orient, as well as premium branded goods from around the world. All in all, shopping in Malaysia promises to be a pleasurable experience.
[read more]If you are an inveterate shopper, then Malaysia is for you!
Shopping options and districts in Malaysia are as diverse and interesting as its cultural makeup. Spend some time exploring the old street markets or for the more modern shopper, the shopping malls of Kuala Lumpur have it all. Our Malaysia Shopping GuideMalaysian restaurants introduces you to the Malaysian shopping scene, and the variety of goods on offer. Take a well deserved break and taste the local cuisine at one of the great in between shopping escapades.
Check out our local shopping information for Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
Malaysia Shopping Guide
Malaysia offers something to suit every pocket. So you can either shop at the multi story shopping malls in Malaysia where everything is available under one roof or explore the pasar malam (night markets), bazaars and pavement stalls. You can pick up goods from the duty free areas of Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Besar (Kedah), Pengkalan Kubur (Kelantan) and Rantau Panjang and enjoy a distinct cost advantage. Labuan and Pulau Langkawi are tax havens where again you may find goods at a lower price.
Johor Bahru City offers the entire spectrum of shops from the glitzy malls housing international names, to small shop houses from the time before the war. Malls here are by themselves tourist attractions thanks to their unique architecture, design and size! If you are looking for something unusual then head for the handicraft shops, where you can pick up authentic home made knick knacks. Or browse through the pre-war shops for unique mementos and curios. And finally, do not miss the Farmer Markets and Night Markets in Malaysia.
Shopping in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
If shopping in Kuala Lumpur is fun then a lot of that fun comes from its Chinatown. Chaotic but replete with great shopping options, Jalan Bandar and Petaling Street are the most famous shopping areas of Chinatown. Jewellery shops in Malaysia offer beautifully crafted jewels in precious stones set in gold and other metals. There are some very exotic Burmese and Indian ethnic jewellery, ornaments, teapots, curios and wall hangings etc. sold by Nepalese vendors. Then there are strange herbs and herbal medicines, dried fruits, foodstuff and flowers on mobile makeshift shops that stir up your curiosity. Apart from all this exotic stuff, you also get handbags, clothes, shoes, textiles and other interesting wares. Petaling Street and Jalan Bandar come alive in the night, when makeshift stalls come up everywhere, selling everything from 'designer' watches to cosmetics and ethnic goods. Do sharpen your bargaining skills before you get into Chinatown, for if you do not bargain the seller will charge you an enormous rate!
The brilliant lights, the raucous music, the exotic shops all make shopping in Chinatown a heady experience!
Shopping in Penang
Penang is another area where there are a lot of Malaysian shopping options. Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Campbell and Jalan Penang are the major shopping locations in Penang. The Penang Shopping Carnival, held every year, is a shopper's delight. Shopping malls offer huge discounts and there are prizes, competitions and gifts to attract customers. The smaller shops in Little India and Campbell Street are also very popular and offer exciting bargains. Penang offers a wide variety of goods at very reasonable prices. But do haggle over the quoted price and ferret out discounts from not only the smaller Malaysian shops but the bigger ones as well.
Do not miss the Night Markets in Penang. The authorities have set aside a large area for itinerant shopkeepers to sell their goods. Every evening this area fills up with stalls of vendors who come back to the same location every week or change their location every now and then, revisiting a spot only once or twice a month. It is at these night markets that you can pick up some rare plants or fruits and vegetables that are grown in out-of-the-way villages and are not seen in the regular shops. You can also pick up anything from audio and video cassette tapes, T-shirts, clothes and knickknacks to unusual food items.
If you are an early bird, then do catch the ‘wet markets' in Penang, which offer a variety of seafood, fresh fish and vegetables and home-made cakes. They start functioning from the wee hours of the morning and close shop by 11 am Initially, the wet markets sold only fish and vegetables, but over a period of time, items like clothes toiletries and household equipment have found their way to the stalls!
The special shops at the Penang International Airport offer a wide range of handicrafts and souvenirs like pottery, pewter, watches, batik artwork, materials and clothes and silverware. You can also pick up these at the supermarkets, small shops, night markets, hotels and the Penang Bazaar (Penang Road).
