Taiping Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting

When it comes to destinations in Malaysia, Taiping doesn't get as much attention as cities like Kuala Lumpur or Penang. But take a few days to explore this city's natural attractions and colonial buildings and it won't take you long to be charmed. 

You'll find Taiping hidden away in the state of Perak in northwest Malaysia. Known as "Rain Town", Taiping receives the largest amount of rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia. But don't let a few raindrops keep you away. The result is a lush, tree-filled city centre that is dotted with picturesque gardens, lakes, and swimming holes.  

This city is a nature lover's dream come true. You can spend your days cycling around the spectacular Taiping Lake Gardens, hiking to the top of Maxwell Hill, and cooling off in the natural Burmese Pool. And when it comes to history, you'll find that in spades here too. Walk along the Heritage Trail and you'll encounter 40 heritage sites, including the Clock Tower, Malay Mosque, and All Saints' Church. 

If you're planning a visit to Taiping, this guide's got your itinarary covered with all of the top attractions and activities, as well as a few handy tips to help you make your visit a memorable one. 

One of the reasons visitors love Taiping so much is because of the city's incredible Lake Gardens. Once a site for tin mining, the 160-acre area was transformed into Malaysia's first public garden in 1880. Today, you can explore the park's 10 beautiful lakes and impeccably maintained gardens. This is a lovely place to have a scenic picnic, embark on the "Raintree Walk", rent a paddleboat, or simply take keepsake photographs. 

There are quite a few attractions located within the Lake Gardens, with the zoo being one of the most popular. The zoo is home to over 1,300 animals and 180 species. Explore the 36-acre grounds and you'll come across incredible creatures, including elephants, zebras, tigers, macaques, and orangutans, as well as a wide range of birds and reptiles. It's well worth visiting at night to experience the Night Safari, which allows you to see the zoo's nocturnal animals in a whole new light. 

One of the most unique things to do in the city is to follow the Taiping Heritage Trail. This trail will take you to a whopping 40 heritage sites. You can tackle small sections of the trail at a time to slowly tick off all of the top attractions, including the Railway Station, Clock Tower, Perak Museum, and the War Memorial Cemetery, to name a few.

This is Malaysia, which means dining at a hawker centre is one of the best things to do in Taiping. You'll find the Larut Matang Hawker Centre smack in the middle of the city, not far from the Taiping Mall. This place has a seemingly endless number of stalls, making it the ideal place to sample local dishes, like wan tan mee, char kway teow, chicken rice, and Taiping popiah. 

Spritzer EcoPark is another nature-filled, family-friendly attraction in Taiping. You can spend your time touring the Spritzer manufacturing plant, teeing off on the 18-hole mini-golf course, watching your kids make crafts out of recyclable objects in the Kidz Zone, visiting the ancient Cactus Rock, and grabbing lunch at the STG Café. It's a wonderful place to spend a few hours with the whole family.  

In need of a caffeine fix? Then you'll want to make your way to the Antong Coffee Mill. Dating back to 1933, this just happens to be the oldest coffee mill in the country. Take the short tour and you'll have a chance to get an inside look at the traditional coffee-making methods, including their wood-fired roasters. The smell is heavenly and the coffee tastes even better. You'll definitely want to do a free tasting and take a few souvenirs back home with you. 

Housed in an impressive white colonial building, the Perak Museum is a must-visit if you want to learn a little bit more about the history and culture of Malaysia. The museum features four collections. You'll see skeletons and taxidermy of local fauna in the Nature Gallery, handicrafts in the Culture Gallery, wood pulp clothing in the Indigenous People Gallery, and handmade wares in the Clay Works Gallery. You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the Perak Museum. 

The Burmese Pool is yet another unique natural attraction in Taiping. Located on the outskirts of the Taiping Lake Gardens, the Burmese Pool is actually a series of natural rock-studded pools that are fed by the Batu Tegoh River. This is a popular spot to cool off from the tropical heat, so be sure to bring your swimsuit and towel. Do as the locals do, pack a picnic lunch, and make an afternoon of it. 

This is the "wettest town" in Peninsular Malaysia. The rainiest months are generally from March to May and from September to December. Avoid travelling during those times if you don't want to get wet. That being said, Taiping does experience its fair share of droughts during the summer months (June and July). The city's famous lakes have even dried up in years past, which is something to consider when planning your trip.

Taiping is located three hours from Kuala Lumpur and one hour from Ipoh. You can easily make the drive or hire a taxi to make the journey. A more budget-friendly option is to take the ETS (Electric Train Service), which takes 3.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur and 50 minutes from Ipoh. There are also plenty of buses that run from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh to Taiping. 

Luckily, Taiping is a fairly walkable city. Many of the top attractions in this guide are within walking distance of one another. If you need to get somewhere further afield or you're caught in a downpour, you can always hail a taxi using the Grab app.

This is "Rain Town". Bring an umbrella or a raincoat with you!

Located in the heart of the city,  Novotel Taiping Perak has everything you need for a comfortable stay. You'll be able to walk to attractions like the Taiping Lake Gardens and Taiping Zoo, so the location can't be beat. Plus, you'll have all of the shops and restaurants in the Taiping Mall right outside your door. 

At Novotel Taiping Perak you'll find a large outdoor pool with gorgeous mountain views, a fully outfitted fitness centre, a lobby bar, and an international restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Now you're equipped with everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to Taiping. Follow these recommendations and you're sure to have a blast exploring this underrated Malaysian destination.