9 Best Things to Do in Ipoh and Complete Guide
Explore vibrant temples carved into huge limestone cliffs, discover colourful contemporary street art on the sides of timeworn buildings, browse trendy boutiques housed in traditional shophouses, drink the world-famous Ipoh White Coffee and enjoy a multicultural and diverse food scene. Read our guide for more of the best things to do in Ipoh Malaysia.
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The hidden gem of Ipoh is still fairly undiscovered on the usual Malaysian travel route. It’s usually bypassed between the Cameron Highlands and Penang, however, this charming, historical city is definitely worth spending a couple of days.
Ipoh is nicknamed ‘Penang’s little brother’, and it’s how we imagine Penang to have been like 20 years ago, before the tourism it sees today.
The streets of the old town are lined with old colourful traditional shophouses, colonial buildings and trendy boutiques, while rundown buildings have been spruced up with contemporary street art.
Head out of the city and discover spectacular landscapes with brightly coloured cave temples carved into huge limestone cliffs, and glide across peaceful, hidden lakes.
Discover a wonderful and diverse food scene consisting of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences to wash down with a famous Ipoh white coffee or refreshing snow beer.
While Ipoh is one of the best places to visit in Malaysia and probably our favourite stop, the city could definitely do with a lick of paint and a bit of a refresh. I’m sure this will come with time as Ipoh becomes more popular with tourists. However, this did make it feel more authentic and a lot more untouched than Penang.
In this guide, you’ll read about the best things to do in Ipoh Malaysia, as well as everything you need to know for your visit, including where to stay, the best time to visit, how long we’d recommend, how to get to Ipoh and more. So, continue reading for an incredible and memorable visit.
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Contents
Best Things to Do in Ipoh
Explore the Picturesque Old Town
Ipoh’s Old Town is a myriad of narrow streets adorned with decorations, colourful lanterns, weathered colonial buildings painted vibrant colours and traditional shophouses home to chic boutiques, cosy cafes, market stalls, eateries, secret bars and more.
Ipoh Old Town is full of historical charm, so spend at least a few hours exploring the streets and seeing what hidden gems you discover.
Concubine Lane is the main street in the old town. It was once where wealthy Chinese tin mining tycoons housed their mistresses and an entertainment hub with brothels, gambling houses and opium dens.
Recently, it has undergone huge revitalisation and is now lined with restored colonial-era shophouses home to charming boutiques with stalls spilling into the alley, cute cafes and lanterns hanging between the buildings.
One of the top things to do in Ipoh is to shop for trinkets and souvenirs to take home, and Concubine Lane is the best place to do that.
Market Lane and Wife Lane are two other streets in Ipoh Old Town that, along with Concubine Lane, were gifted by tin mining tycoon Yau Tet Shin to his wife and concubines.
Market Lane is lined with buildings embellished with charming decorations and fascinating street art.
Wife Lane has retained more of its historical charm than the other two. It’s very quiet and doesn’t see many tourists. Besides a couple of cafes and eateries, it’s quite sleepy.
Visit the Ipoh Cave Temples
Just outside the city are the magnificent Gunung Rapat limestone hills with vibrant temples carved into them. Set aside at least half a day of your Ipoh itinerary to visit some, as they’re so unique and really impressive.
This area is littered with cave temples, however, not all are open to the public as they’re still functioning temples.
The ones we’ll share are next to each other, so you can easily walk between them. They’re all very different, so we’d recommend visiting them all. There’s no cost to enter any of the cave temples.
Our top tip: be respectful and wear modest clothing.
Sam Poh Tong Temple
This is a Buddhist temple and the most popular of the Ipoh cave temples. It features a serene fish pond full of intricate rock carvings and is really peaceful to walk around. Head through the temple carved into the cave and out to the back, where you’ll find ‘Mystery Temple’ built into the cliff. There’s also a turtle enclosure where you can buy food and feed the turtles. We didn’t do this, as it looks like quite a sad enclosure and felt like it’s just a way to make money.
Nam Thean Tong Temple
The gate and entrance to this Taoist temple are vibrant bursts of colour – a stark contrast to the vertical cliff it’s built into. Venture inside the cave to the temple where there’s an altar, colourful paintings and statues of gods. Outside, walk over a zig-zagging path and bridges over water, leading to a colourful pagoda and shrine with colourful deities.
Ling Sen Tong Temple
Ling Sen Tong Temple is a Taoist cave temple and the most vibrant and brightly coloured of the three. The courtyard is littered with colourful statues, which are mostly mythical figures from Chinese folklore. They’re eye-catching and look quite cartoon-y. This was our favourite of the Ipoh cave temples.
Getting to the Ipoh Cave Temples
The easiest way is to book an Ipoh Cave Temples tour, which inlcudes pick up and drop off at your hotel and also a visit to Tasik Cermin (more on that later).
Alternatively, use the taxi app Grab, which is relatively cheap. The cave temples are a 15-minute drive from Ipoh Old Town, so a taxi should cost around 5 USD.
Or, for the cheapest option, take buses A34 or A37 from Ipoh to the main road where you’ll see the bright Ling Sen Tong Temple. This will take about 30 minutes.
Discover Vibrant Contemporary Street Art; best things to do in Ipoh
We mentioned at the start of this guide that Ipoh is nicknamed ‘Penang’s little brother’, and one of the reasons why is the street art.
Particularly around Ipoh Old Town, you’ll notice many colourful and contemporary murals on the walls of timeworn buildings. If you’ve visited Penang, you’ll probably recognise the unique style of Ernest Zachareviv, who’s responsible for much of the street art there. Pieces are fun, interactive and full of joy and usually feature 3D objects like bicycles and scooters. However, whereas in Penang you may have to queue for a while to get a photo, in Ipoh, the street art is much more undiscovered.
Spend some time wandering the old town streets and see what you discover. Look down small alleys and behind construction sites, as art will appear in unexpected places. Market Lane is one of the best places to visit in Ipoh for street art.
Check out Mural Art’s Lane in Ipoh New Town. This is a lot quieter than Ipoh Old Town, as not many make the trip, although it’s only a 10-minute walk.
You may feel like you’re lost or gone the wrong way, but it is in fact a narrow back alley full of street art depicting history, stories of Malay culture, traditions and daily life. You’ll see some of them look brand new, whereas some, you can tell, were done a long time ago.
Visit the Spectacular Tasik Cermin; Ipoh hidden gems
One of the best Ipoh hidden gems is the secret lake, Tasik Cermin, nestled at the base of magnificent towering limestone cliffs.
Hop on a boat and glide peacefully amongst spectacular natural beauty while admiring the huge vertical cliffs towering above you.
It’s also named ‘Mirror Lake’ as, depending on the time of day, there are striking reflections of the cliffs in the water. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case when we were there, but we could still appreciate the beauty and serenity of this unspoiled landscape.
To reach Tasik Cermin, walk through Miner’s Tunnel. This was excavated by Hakka Chinese miners in the 1900s to transport iron ore via minecart on a rail system.
You can access the lake between 9am and 6pm.
There’s also a petting zoo, which was a bit weird and very sad-looking. It’s just another way to make money, so please don’t visit it. It’s so hot, and the animals are in small confined areas just for people’s amusement.
Go Shopping
One of the most fun things to do in Ipoh is to go shopping. Ipoh Old Town is full of gorgeous, unique shops, and it’s well worth spending a couple of hours browsing them. I don’t particularly like shopping; however, after a few days in Ipoh and Penang, we had to buy another suitcase to get everything home!
What to Wear is a Malaysian clothing brand selling beautiful, high-quality garments. There are several stores in Ipoh, and I kept going back to buy more.
One of the most unique shops in Ipoh is a book shop called BookXcess. It’s housed in an old bank where you hunt for your next book among bank vaults and safety deposit boxes.
Check out Kong Heng Market for jewellery, books, accessories and souvenirs. These items are mostly handmade by local vendors and will be a real conversation starter when you get home.
Concubine Lane is one of the best places to visit in Ipoh for shopping. The shophouses are home to chic boutiques with stalls lining the street selling clothes, accessories, hats, shoes, books, games and much more.
Drink the Best Coffee in Ipoh
Ipoh White Coffee has become world-famous in recent years, and today, Ipoh is recognised as one of the top coffee towns in the world. So, it goes without saying that one of the best things to do in Ipoh is to enjoy some coffee.
Ipoh White Coffee dates back to the 1800s, to the tin-mining boom during British colonial times. The Hainanese immigrants weren’t a fan of the bitter Western-style, so they adjusted it to suit their taste. This involved lightly roasting the coffee beans in margarine, making it milder with hints of caramel. It was also served with sweetened condensed milk to enhance the coffee’s flavour, creating a unique taste.
You’ll find some of the best coffee in Ipoh from:
- Nam Heong Coffee Shop
- Ah Chow Kopitiam
- Old Town White Coffee
- Sin Yoon Loong
- Chang Jiang
Our top tip: at least once on your Ipoh itinerary, you have to start your day with kaya toast and white coffee. Kaya toast is toast with coconut jam and butter – SO delicious and goes wonderfully with the coffee.
Have a Drink in a Hidden Bar; best things to do in Ipoh at night
Walking past the weathered buildings in Ipoh Old Town, it may come as a surprise that some of these are home to secret bars perfect for a stylish evening out sipping on cocktails.
One of the best things to do in Ipoh at night is a bar crawl to some of these hidden bars.
One of the best hidden bars in Ipoh is Caina Bank. Head up some nondescript stairs, open a vault door at the top and step inside to a cosy, fiery red glow with Chinese decor.
Cocktails are creative and unique with Asian-inspired flavours. We weren’t sure what to drink, so the bartender asked us about our tastes and made us something to suit – both were delicious.
Tiga Cocktail Bar is another lovely, hidden cocktail bar. It’s a nod to the past with inspiration taken from the days when properties in Ipoh had a back lane entrance. These backstreet rooms were often rented out as noodle or soup bars for extra income. The decor is nostalgic and features items from the past.
Taste Some of Malaysia's Best Food
Thanks to how multicultural Ipoh is, the city has a wonderful and diverse food scene blending Malay, Indian and Chinese influences.
There’s a variety of eateries from cheap street food stalls and bustling hawker centres to no-frills, open-air cafes and upmarket restaurants. There’s something to suit every taste and budget.
Some must-try foods in Ipoh are:
- Nga choi kai: probably the most famous food in Ipoh is the chicken rice and beansprouts. The most popular place for this dish is Restoran Tauge Ayam Ong Kee, however, it’s become very touristy, so prices are hiked and the food standard has slipped. We’d recommend an unknown spot among tourists, Ann Xin Taugeh Chicken. The meal is simple and flavourful, the staff are friendly, and there’s a lovely atmosphere and some cool art on the walls.
- Dim Sum: dim sum is incredibly popular for brunch and lunch in Ipoh. Some of the best spots for dim sum are Yum Cha House, Hibiscus Cuisine and Zhen Hi Hao Dim Sum Restaurant.
- Nasi ganja: this is translated to ‘drug rice’, which the locals have nicknamed as it’s so addictive. It’s nasi kandar, which is a spiced rice and curry dish, and so delicious. One of the best places to eat in Ipoh for nasi ganja is Kedai Kopi Yong Suan. Expect a long queue, but it goes fast and it’s worth the wait.
- Ipoh curry mee: Ipoh’s version of laksa. However, it uses less coconut milk and uses fragrant spices and stock. It’s a noodle dish which you can either have dry or as a soup and comes with things like chicken, prawn, barbecue and roast pork and beansprouts.
- Hakka mee: flat egg noodles with beansprouts, minced meat, soy sauce, fish sauce, chilli and garlic-ginger sauce.
- Asam laksa: a fish broth that’s tangy, sour and spicy served with thick noodles – an absolute must-try!
- Tau fu fa: a must-try Chinese dessert. It’s velvety, silken tofu and often flavoured with brown sugar syrup.
- Snow beer: not a food, but Ipoh is known for snow beer – not too sure why. Beer is poured into a frozen glass, which gives it a smooth texture, and it’s very refreshing. One of the best places to visit in Ipoh for snow beer is Kafe Yoon Wah, near Concubine Lane. It’s great to have with salty food such as salted egg fried squid.
Stroll Along the Kinta Riverwalk
To end our list of the best things to do in Ipoh Malaysia, is strolling along the Kinta Riverwalk. Walking along the peaceful river surrounded by trees and lush greenery is the perfect way to end a busy day in the city.
You can also hire a bike and cycle along it if you’d like to explore further than walking.
Along the Kinta Riverwalk, you’ll also see art installations, cafes, food stalls and restaurants lining the river. At the weekends and evenings, you can also enjoy cultural performances and live music.
That rounds off our best things to do in Ipoh. Continue reading for everything you need to know for your visit.
Everything You Need to Know to Visit Ipoh
Where to stay in Ipoh
The two main areas to stay in Ipoh are New Town and Old Town. It’s around a 10-minute walk between them, so wherever you stay, you’re within walking distance of the top things to do in Ipoh (except the cave temples).
We stayed at the Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites, which was a lovely base for a few days. Set along the Kinta River, you can enjoy a lovely walk back after a busy day exploring. It’s also nice to stay out of the city’s hustle and bustle, but very near.
The breakfast was also unreal! One of the best buffet breakfasts we’ve ever had! So many different options and everything was so flavourful, fresh and delicious.
Hotel recommendations in Ipoh:
- Luxury: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
- Good-value luxury: WEIL Hotel Ipoh
- Mid-range: Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites
- Budget: De Quinton Hotel
The best time to visit Ipoh
The best time to visit Ipoh is between November and February during the dry season. Although there’s less chance of rain, Malaysia is a tropical country, so you may still experience some.
We visited in February, and most evenings there was a thunderstorm with a torrential downpour that lasted about 30 minutes. It’s just an excuse to pop in somewhere for a drink or bite to eat while it passes.
How long to spend in Ipoh
We’d recommend spending 2-3 days in Ipoh. Spend one morning at Tasik Cermin and the cave temples, and 1-2 days exploring Ipoh Old Town, trying as much food as you can, sitting in cosy cafes, soaking up the historical charm and shopping for clothes in the trendy boutiques.
How to get to Ipoh
Getting to Ipoh is super easy. From Kuala Lumpur, it’s a 2.5-hour drive and from the Cameron Highlands and Georgetown Penang, it’s 2 hours.
The main express bus station in Ipoh is Terminal Amanjaya, about 12 kilometres from Ipoh Old Town. From here, you can jump on bus T30a, which takes 20 minutes to the main area. Alternatively, use the inexpensive taxi-hailing app Grab.
Getting around Ipoh
The majority of the best things to do in Ipoh can be seen by walking. You’ll only need transport to reach the cave temples. You can either book a tour with hotel pick-up and drop-off, take buses A34 or A37 or use Grab.
Anything else to know
We found that many of the restaurants in Ipoh Old Town weren’t open in the evening – except for Kafe Yoon Wah. This may have just been when we were there, as apparently, it’s quite vibrant in the evenings. We stayed from Sunday to Wednesday, which may have been why.
As with everywhere in Malaysia, be aware that sugar is in pretty much everything, and we mean a lot of it! We had to ask for no sugar to be added as everything was so sweet (including cucumber water!).
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best things to do in Ipoh Malaysia. If you have any questions or other recommendations, please leave a comment below.
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