Ipoh (Malaysia)🇲🇾
🌏 Smiths On Tour: Our family trip to Ipoh, Malaysia – caves, cats & curry on banana leaves
Hello from Ipoh! If you haven’t heard much about it, you’re not alone. Nestled right between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, this charming Malaysian city is often skipped by travellers rushing between the country’s big hitters. But for our little family of full-time travellers – Mum, Dad, and our tween adventurer, Tilly – Ipoh turned out to be one of our favourite stops in Malaysia.
With its cave temples, lush limestone cliffs, buzzing night markets, and unforgettable food, Ipoh is full of surprises – and we can’t wait to share them with you!
📍 First impressions: why Ipoh deserves your time
Unlike the hustle of KL or the tourist buzz of Penang, Ipoh has a slower, more soulful vibe. It’s the kind of place that lets you breathe a little deeper. The city was once one of the wealthiest in Southeast Asia during the tin mining boom – and that legacy still shines through in its grand colonial buildings and historic streets.
Now here’s something cool: Ipoh gets its name from the “pokok ipoh” tree, a local tree whose sap was once used by Indigenous peoples to poison blow darts. Don’t worry – it’s just a fun bit of history now, but Tilly’s been absolutely fascinated by it as part of her worldschooling!
In fact, she’s been keeping a travel journal and learning all about how geography, culture and language blend together here. Every city we visit gives her something new to explore, and Ipoh has given her more questions than answers (which we love).
🌙 Ipoh night market adventures (and falling in love with a cat)
We started our Ipoh adventure the way we always do: finding the local food! The Ipoh night walking market (Gerbang Malam) is packed with sizzling street eats, glowing lights, and the irresistible buzz of locals doing their evening snack rounds.
The shawarma here? Hands down the best we’ve had in Asia – juicy, flavour-packed, and wrapped in warm bread that just melts in your mouth. We may have gone back for seconds... and thirds. No judgment here.
Tilly, meanwhile, fell head over heels for a stray market cat she named Ginger. She begged us to take him home (standard), but alas, life on the road isn’t ideal for whiskered companions. Heart: broken. Logic: wins.
We ended the night on a sugar high from coconut tarts and pandan cakes. Honestly? Ipoh’s dessert game is strong – even if you’re more savoury than sweet.
If you're looking for the best night market in Ipoh, Gerbang Malam is open nightly and is a great introduction to local Malaysian street food culture.
🦎 Worldschooling in action – monitor lizards, river life & jungle views
One of the absolute wildest moments of our stay in Ipoh was seeing Asian water monitor lizards swimming in the river near our hotel! Tilly spotted one first (of course) and shouted, “Crocodile!” – and to be fair, at nearly 1.5 metres long, it really did look like one at first glance.
After some quick research, we learned that these giant reptiles are completely normal in parts of Malaysia – not dangerous unless threatened, and they actually help control pests like rats and snakes. Tilly was absolutely buzzing when she spotted one in the nearby river to the hotel!
Their snake-like heads and long, flicking tongues make them super distinctive. If you’re staying near any of Ipoh’s rivers or parks, keep your eyes peeled – they’re fascinating to watch.
Tilly’s fun facts about Asian Water Montior’s!
🍛 From banana leaves to white coffee – Ipoh’s food scene
If you love trying new flavours, Ipoh’s food scene is going to be your happy place. The city is known for its white coffee– a creamy, lightly roasted blend sweetened with condensed milk. We tried ours in a tiny kopitiam (traditional coffee shop), and it was absolute heaven. Even Tilly approved (with a decaf version, of course!).
Another must-do? Banana leaf curry meals. We tried ours in Ipoh Parade Mall – a giant leaf covered in rice, vegetables, spicy dhal, chutneys, and crispy papadoms. For less than £2, it was a feast.
If you’ve got picky eaters, malls are a great way to ease into more local flavours. There’s a good mix of Western, Japanese, Korean, and Malaysian food – so there’s something for every little (and big) tastebud.
And yes, we caved and got bubble tea too.
🕍 Perak Cave Temple – climbing history (and a lot of stairs)
Ipoh is full of cave temples carved into limestone hills, and one of the most accessible is Perak Cave Temple. We only had time for one, but what a choice! It’s peaceful, colourful, and full of surprises.
Inside the cool cave walls, you’ll find vibrant murals, Buddhist statues, and incense smoke curling through the air. There’s a steep staircase that leads up the limestone rock to panoramic views of Ipoh – over 400 steps, in fact. Tilly gave it her best effort, the August heat had her melting halfway up and she did have a bit of a wobble… but she got to the top! Proud!
From the top looking one IPOH!
Still, even at the base, the temple is stunning. And yes – they serve free Chinese tea under the shaded entrance! A lovely touch after exploring in the heat.
Did you know? The limestone hills of Ipoh are over 250 million years old and are home to a number of hidden temples, caves, and tunnels that are still being explored today.
🏞️ Where we stayed – jungle views and the best hotel pool (ever)
Our accommodation in Ipoh was hands down our favourite so far. We stayed at Sunway Onsen Hotel, right next to the Lost World of Tambun Waterpark – and it felt like staying in an Avatar movie set.
We had a two-bedroom apartment with pool access, a washing machine (hallelujah!), air con, and even a gym and sauna. The rooftop infinity pool overlooked jungle-covered limestone cliffs – we honestly didn’t want to leave.
Yes, there was some construction next door (they're building a new mall), but it didn’t affect us at all. The views and peaceful vibe made it more than worth it.
We paid around £300 for 7 nights – a little over our usual budget, but an absolute steal for everything included. It was perfect for families looking for comfort, nature, and a bit of luxury.
If you're looking for family-friendly hotels in Ipoh, Sunway Onsen is ideal – especially if you're planning a trip to the Lost World of Tambun.
Our view from our hotel balcony…. outstanding!
🐒 When plans go sideways at Gunung Lang… but monkeys save the day
As part of our quest to explore all that Ipoh has to offer for families, we headed to Gunung Lang Recreational Park, a spot well-known for its limestone cliffs, landscaped gardens, and tranquil lake. We'd read that you can hop on a short boat ride across the lake to a mini-island park with lookout towers and walking trails – a perfect afternoon plan for a travelling family like us.
But, well… not everything goes to plan when you travel full time with kids!
When we arrived, the boat service was completely shut. We’re not sure if it was because of August being rainy season in Malaysia, or just an off day – but the whole area was quiet, and the adventure we'd hoped for just wasn’t happening.
Still, in true worldschooling family style, we made the best of it. We grabbed a quick bite from the only food stall open (honestly, we wouldn’t recommend the food), but then… the monkeys came. And wow – they came from everywhere. Trees, rooftops, pathways – like they were putting on a show just for us.
The café staff tried to shoo them away with sticks, but these little guys were determined to get hold of someone’s noodles. It turned into absolute chaos (and the best kind of entertainment). We ended up just sitting there, watching them interact, steal food, tease each other, and generally monkey around.
Tilly was in her element – observing animal behaviour in real-time, outside the walls of a zoo or a textbook.
For me, it was a dream come true. I’ve always imagined sitting in nature surrounded by monkeys, just watching and soaking it all in – and here it was, on a day that hadn’t gone to plan. A little wild, a little unexpected, and completely unforgettable.
So while our Gunung Lang boat trip didn’t happen, we still highly recommend visiting this spot if you’re looking for free things to do in Ipoh with kids, or just a quiet place to sit and connect with Malaysian nature and wildlife. Sometimes, it’s the unplanned moments that make the journey truly special.🚗 Getting around Ipoh (without a car)
We didn’t hire a car in Ipoh – though we did miss the freedom. Instead, we relied on the Grab app (Malaysia’s Uber equivalent), which was cheap, reliable, and super easy to use for rides and food delivery.
For fellow Brits: you don’t need an International Driving Permit to rent a car short term in Malaysia – your UK license is accepted. But if you’re coming from a non-English-speaking country, it’s worth checking the rules before you arrive.
We may look into hiring a car for our northern Malaysia adventures, but for Ipoh, Grab worked perfectly – especially with a tween in tow and August heat to manage.
🎨 Exploring Concubine Lane – Joe’s solo street art stroll
While Tilly and I chilled at the hotel one afternoon, Joe took himself off to Concubine Lane – Ipoh’s most famous heritage street. He came back buzzing about street art, coffee shops, and lovely locals.
The name comes from legends that wealthy tin tycoons once kept their mistresses in houses along the lane. Today, it’s a charming mix of past and present, full of colour and personality.
Joe wandered, chatted, and snacked (of course) – and said it was a must-do for anyone wanting to experience Ipoh’s artistic, cultural side.
👨👩👧 Final thoughts – why Ipoh is perfect for families
Would we recommend Ipoh for families? 100% yes.
If you're the kind of family that enjoys:
✅ Exploring nature without crowds
✅ Discovering real local culture
✅ Affordable food adventures
✅ Unique temples and architecture
✅ Friendly locals and chill vibes
Then Ipoh belongs on your Malaysia itinerary.
It’s easy-going, fascinating, and full of hidden gems. And best of all? You get the feeling you’re somewhere real – not just ticking boxes on a tourist trail.
💡 Family travel tips for Ipoh
📱 Use the Grab app for rides and food – easy and budget-friendly
💦 Stay hydrated – it’s humid even when it looks cloudy
☕ Try white coffee at a traditional kopitiam
🛕 Visit at least one cave temple – even just for the views
🦎 Keep an eye out for monitor lizards near rivers
🧳 Book your hotel near the Lost World of Tambun for easy waterpark access
🥡 Eat in the malls if your kids are fussy – then branch out
🎒 Bring comfy walking shoes – especially for cave temple climbs
🛺 Don’t miss the night market – food, fun, and even the occasional cat!
