Pantai Cenang
First-timersThe main beach, with hostels and bars.
Langkawi city guide
Things To Do In Langkawi
A duty-free island of beaches, rainforest and mangroves near the Thai border, with a cable car to a curved bridge above the jungle and cheap beer.
27
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 5,080 reviews
99
Islands
Duty-free
Cheap alcohol
Geopark
UNESCO-recognised
The duty-free island
Langkawi is an archipelago of ninety-nine islands off Malaysia's north-west coast, and the main island is covered in rainforest, with beaches along its western shore. Its geology is recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
It is duty-free, so alcohol and chocolate are cheap, unlike the rest of Malaysia.
A car or scooter is the way to explore. Three or four days is right.
Where to stay
Pantai Cenang, on the west coast, is the main beach and has most of the hostels, restaurants and bars. Pantai Tengah, just south, is quieter. Kuah, the main town, has the ferry terminal and duty-free shopping, but no beach.
Pantai Tengah
QuietA quieter beach just south.
Kuah
TransportThe main town and ferry terminal.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 9 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Langkawi
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands off the north-west coast, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark for its ancient rock formations.
The SkyCab cable car climbs Gunung Mat Cincang to views over the islands, and the Sky Bridge, a curved suspension bridge hanging over the rainforest, is reached from the top station. Go early, before the crowds and the clouds.
Boat trips through the Kilim Geoforest Park take you through mangroves and limestone cliffs, past bat caves and fish farms, to watch eagles. Island-hopping trips visit Dayang Bunting, with its freshwater Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, and Beras Basah's beaches.
Pantai Cenang is the main beach, with water sports and sunsets. Tanjung Rhu, in the north, is a quieter, more beautiful beach. The Seven Wells waterfall, Telaga Tujuh, has natural pools to swim in.
Free things
Free things to do in Langkawi
The beaches are free, and so is sunset on Pantai Cenang. The Seven Wells waterfall is free to hike to.
Tanjung Rhu and the island's quieter beaches are free, and driving or riding around the island's roads past paddy fields is free, apart from the fuel.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Langkawi
Langkawi's restaurants serve seafood, Malay and Thai-influenced dishes, and food for travellers. The night markets, held in a different village each night of the week, are the best place for cheap food.
Try ikan bakar, grilled fish with sambal, and laksa Langkawi, a local version with a thick fish broth.
A meal is €2 to €8.
Nightlife
Going out in Langkawi
Langkawi is duty-free, so alcohol is much cheaper than in the rest of Malaysia. Pantai Cenang has beach bars with sunset drinks, fire shows and live music.
A beer is €1.50 to €3, among the cheapest in Malaysia.
Getting around
Getting around Langkawi
Langkawi International Airport has flights from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore. Ferries run from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah on the mainland in about one to one and a half hours, and from Penang in about three; in season, boats run to Koh Lipe in Thailand.
Public transport is very limited. Rent a scooter or car, which is cheap, or use Grab.
Costs
What Langkawi costs
Langkawi is mid-priced, but duty-free shopping and alcohol make it cheaper for drinks. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €35.
The SkyCab is the main ticket, around €15 to €20, and island hopping €10 to €20. A scooter is about €6 to €8 a day.
Foreign visitors pay a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, added to accommodation bills.
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR or RM); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 5 ringgit to the euro. Cards and e-wallets work widely in cities; carry cash for hawker stalls and smaller towns.
Safety
Staying safe in Langkawi
Langkawi is safe. On scooters, take care on the roads and wear a helmet.
The sea is calm from December to March and rougher from May to October. Jellyfish appear at some times of year; ask locally before swimming.
Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arriving.
Emergency number is 999.
Day trips from Langkawi
Islands, mangroves and a Thai island across the water.
Island hopping
Lakes and beaches on the outer islands.
Kilim mangroves
Mangroves, eagles and bat caves.
Koh Lipe
A small Thai island.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The LIMA air show comes to the island in some years.
December to March
Dry season
Langkawi
Calm seas.
Some years
LIMA
Langkawi
An air and maritime show.
Hostels
Where to stay in Langkawi
The top-rated places to stay in Langkawi right now, live from Hostelworld.
Pondok Keladi Langkawi Guesthouse
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Home Sol Guesthouse
Dorms from €7 a night
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Rembulan Langkawi
Dorms from €9 a night
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Bed Attitude Hostel Cenang
Dorms from €5 a night
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Bunga Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
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The Kasbah Langkawi
Dorms from €7 a night
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The Cottage Langkawi
Dorms from €8 a night
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Arch Dormitorio Langkawi
Dorms from €18 a night
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Gecko Guesthouse
Dorms from €5 a night
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When to go
December to March is driest.
Jan
Dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Good
May
Rainy
Jun
Rainy
Jul
Rainy
Aug
Rainy
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Peak
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in ringgit locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Langkawi travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is alcohol cheap in Langkawi?
Yes, Langkawi is duty-free, so beer and spirits are much cheaper than in the rest of Malaysia.
How do I get around?
By rented scooter or car, or Grab; public transport is very limited.
How do I get there?
By flight, or by ferry from Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah or Penang.
Can I go to Thailand from Langkawi?
Yes, ferries run to Koh Lipe in season.
How many days do you need?
Three or four.
When is the best time to visit?
December to March, when the sea is calmest.
Is the SkyCab worth it?
For the views over the islands, yes; go early before clouds roll in.
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