Malaysia in December: weather, where to go and where to stay

December and the winter holidays are among the busiest times for Malaysia on our site, mostly for stays of one or two weeks. But in December the weather is not the same everywhere: depending on the coast you pick, you get sunshine or monsoon rain. Here is where to go, what to avoid and how to plan your stay.

At a glance

• Weather: hot and humid all year, around 30 °C during the day, with frequent showers.
• Where to go: Langkawi and Penang on the west coast, entering their driest season, and Kuala Lumpur.
• Where not to go: the east-coast islands (Perhentian, Redang, Tioman), in the middle of the monsoon.
• How long: about ten days lets you combine Kuala Lumpur and an island.
• Booking: early, as the year-end is in high demand.

December: two coasts, two climates

Malaysia has two monsoons. The northeast monsoon blows roughly from November to March, bringing heavy rain and rough seas to the east coast of the peninsula (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang). This is why many resorts on the Perhentian, Redang and Tioman islands close for the season and boat services are reduced or stopped.

The west coast is the opposite. In Langkawi and Penang, December to February are usually the driest months of the year and the start of the beach high season. Showers can still happen, but they tend to be short.

In Borneo (Kota Kinabalu, Kuching), the end of the year is rather the wettest period: keep Borneo for another season if the beach is your priority.

Kuala Lumpur in December

Kuala Lumpur can be visited all year. It is hot and humid, and showers often come in the late afternoon or evening: keep the mornings for outdoor sights (Batu Caves, Putrajaya, KLCC Park) and plan indoor visits for later in the day, such as the Aquaria KLCC aquarium, the Islamic Arts Museum or the Bukit Bintang malls. Our guide Things to do in Kuala Lumpur suggests a day-by-day plan.

For your hotel, Bukit Bintang suits shopping and evenings out, KLCC suits views of the Petronas Towers and the park, and Chinatown suits tighter budgets. Details are in Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur. For cooler air, Genting and the Cameron Highlands are reachable from the capital: see Genting and Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur.

Langkawi or Penang for the beach?

Langkawi, a duty-free archipelago of 99 islands, is the island for beaches and rest: Pantai Cenang, the cable car and the Sky Bridge, boat trips through the mangroves. It is the easy choice for a honeymoon or a holiday with young children.

Penang is about George Town, its UNESCO-listed old town, street art and street food, with Batu Ferringhi beach in the north of the island. Our comparison Langkawi or Penang helps you decide.

A 10-day plan for the holidays

• Days 1 to 4: Kuala Lumpur (Petronas Towers, Bukit Bintang, Batu Caves, Putrajaya).
• Day 5: domestic flight to Langkawi, about an hour, or to Penang.
• Days 6 to 9: beach, cable car, mangrove boat trip or George Town.
• Day 10: back to Kuala Lumpur and flight home.

With only a week, keep it to two stops at most: Kuala Lumpur and one island.

Entry rules and payment

Entry rules depend on your nationality. For Algerian citizens, in principle no visa is needed for a short tourist stay, and the Malaysian embassy in Algiers asks travellers to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before the trip. Rules can change: check the current conditions with the embassy or the official website before you travel. We do not sell visa services.

Hotel prices rise as the holidays approach. On our Hotels in Malaysia page, enter your dates to see live rates in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi or Penang. Moving your arrival by a day or two can change the price, so compare several dates. From Algeria, you pay in dinars (BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly agency), without a bank card. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

Still choosing a country for the end of the year? Read Where to go in December from Algeria and Bali or Malaysia.