Top Things To Do In Kuala Terengganu – Everything you need to know

Terengganu is home to the longest coastlines and many beautiful islands in Malaysia like Prehentian and Redang Island. Many of you might have a chance to visit these scenic islands, but surely not many have been to Kuala Terengganu city, the economic and royal capital of the state of Terengganu.

Kuala Terengganu is known for its seafood delicacies, and panoramic beaches as well as being one of the few cities in Malaysia with a significant Muslim majority. Here, you can witness strong Muslim culture since more than 94% of the population is Muslim. However, Kuala Terengganu also offers such diversity as any other cities in Malaysia thanks to the sizeable local Chinese and Indian community. If you fancy a trip to explore the east coast of Malaysia, definitely add Kuala Terengganu to your bucket list of travel destinations. There are plenty of things to do in Kuala Terengganu, let’s check out in this article.

About Kuala Terengganu

• Kuala Terengganu is the administrative, economic and royal capital of the state of Terengganu. Nickname (KT)
• According to The Malaysian Census, Kuala Terengganu has a population of 406,317 (in 2010), which mainly consists of Malays with a population of 319,813, Chinese (11,617) and others. The same census shows that the population of Kuala Terengganu by religion is 96.9% Muslim, 2.5% Buddhist and others.
• Terengganu Malay is the most widely spoken. Not everyone speaks English as in Kuala Lumpur. So, pick up some basic local Malay will definitely make your trip be more interesting.

Where to stay

You are recommended to stay in the center of the city, closed to the China Town area, or nearby the beach if you fancy a ‘vacation’ trip. I stayed at DJ CITI INN HOTEL, which is located right in the heart of the city. The hotel is cozy and clean, and the staff is very helpful and friendly. After completing my booking on Booking.com, the staff reached me via a call to confirm the booking. On the day we reached Terengganu, they also texted me via Whatsapp to make sure everything is ok, and they also recommend us some good restaurants in the city and some places to visit. At first, our room got some noise from the air-con, but they were willing to let us switch to another room. Even though the room is small, the hotel is a bit old, my experience is quite okay.

Pros: nice location, walking distance to China Town, Zainal Abidin Mosque, many restaurants nearby (a yummy Thai restaurant just right behind the hotel), friendly staff and cleaner. There are iron, purified water refill, a small table available in the common area. Easy self-checkout.

Cons: the room is quite small, the hotel is a bit old, the facility – aircon needs to be maintained.

Star review based on my own experience:

• Staff: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Facility: ⭐⭐⭐
• Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Location: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out other top pick hotels in Kuala Terengganu in Agoda:

• J Suites Hotel (distance to city center – 1KM, walking distance to China Town)
• Permai Hotel Kuala Terengganu (480 meters to the beach, distance to the airport: 9KM)
• ARENA Boutique Hotel Kuala Terengganu (walking distance to China Town)
• Grand Puteri Hotel (distance to city center – 2KM, 14minutes walking distance to China Town)
• Hotel Tanjong Vista (5 minutes walk to the beach, 8 minutes drive to China Town)
• Paya Bunga Hotel Terengganu (distance to city center – 0.1km, 9 minutes walk to China Town)

How to get to Kuala Terrengganu

Option 1: Flight to Terengganu

Flight from KL to KT airport, Sultan Mahmud Airport (TGG) takes around an hour. After reaching Kuala Terengganu airport, you can catch a taxi back to your hotel. The in-driver app is available in Kuala Terengganu, but there are just a few drivers here. You can also hire a motorbike and ask them to deliver it to the airport. You can contact Kuala Terengganu Bike Rental Motor Sewa Kuala Terengganu for more info.

There are various websites allow you to search for the cheapest flights for your trip. Check out the trusted resources from Google Travel, comparison site/app like Traveloka, or Agoda. After checking for the best price, you can directly visit the official brand site to book or straight away book from these third-party sites.

Option 2: Bus From KL To Kuala Terengganu

Kuala Terengganu is easy to reach from anywhere in Malaysia. There is an airport where you can fly direct from Kuala Lumpur or you can catch a bus from many places around Malaysia (Penang/Ipoh/Kuala Lumpur, etc). Since there are rare flights to Kuala Terengganu, the bus might sometimes be a good alternative option for you. However, to be honest, this is not recommended:) especially for those who are carsick like me because the trip can be much longer than its 7-hour estimated time of travel.

The bus journey from KL to Kuala Terengganu takes about 7 hours, and buses leave every 30 minutes to an hour throughout the day. However, rush hour and traffic jam can make it much longer. You can check the bus schedule and buy ticket at easybook.com

If you own a vehicle, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu by car might be another good option.

How to travel around Kuala Terengganu

Rent a car/ motorbike:

Consider hiring a car or a motorbike to travel around Kuala Terengganu because most of the attractions are not within walking distance and it is hard to catch a bus/ taxi here. We hire a motorbike at Kuala Terengganu Bike Rental Motor Sewa Kuala Terengganu, the info below is updated in Feb 2022, please contact them for the latest update.

• Deposit: 100RM, or 50RM with student card
• Rental price: 50RM/ day. 45RM/day up to 2 days. 40RM/day up to 6 days.
• They can deliver/ pick up at the airport/ hotel for you with a small extra fee.
• You are advised to book the bike in advance since it can be unavailable on the day you arrive.

By public transport:

If you unfortunately can’t rent a car/motorbike, you can also use public transport. I use the In-driver app to catch a taxi, but there are only a few drivers in the area. Besides, there is a very special public bus called Cas Ligas Bus. It is roofed like a traditional Malay house, the bus’s entrance and windows are designed with beautiful and colorful wooden carvings. The bus will pass through most of the attractions in Kuala Terengganu. For more information on the Cas Ligas Bus price and bus stops, you can read here.

Where to eat in Kuala Terengganu

There are various nice places to eat in Kuala Terengganu, from local specialties, street food stalls to fine dine-in restaurants. I will list out some food truck and restaurants below for your reference.

• Foodtruck Drawbridge Terengganu: It’s the best place to explore local specialties and to dine in. There are varieties of foods at an affordable price, and many tables and chairs are available in the center for self-service. Visiting the food truck, you can also enjoy the best street food, the cool breeze air, nice music performance, and the beautiful view of the Drawbridge.
• Food Court Pasar Kedai Payang: we usually have lunch here. Lots of kinds of food are available from different kinds of rice, and noodles to fast food, western food, etc. After having your lunch, you can browse at the Pasar Payang for some local snacks, fruits, or souvenirs.
• Foodtruck Panoramik Kuala Terengganu: A small night market close to Pasar Payang. This is a good place for shopping for cheap items, there are many clothes and accessories stalls. Some street food stalls are available too.
• Restoran Aharn Thai: The restaurant is right behind my hotel:) which serves delicious Thai food. If you are a fan of Thai food, definitely add it to your list.
• Uncle Chua: This is a halal restaurant. There are 2 or 3 Uncle Chua around the city center, we visited 2 restaurants near the China Town. The place is cozy and spacious compared to other restaurants in the area. You can find most Malaysian traditional food here, western food is also included on the menu. Price is considered reasonable for a fine dine-in place.
• China Town: there are plenty of food courts and restaurants in China Town. If you can’t find a good restaurant, where there are plenty of options to choose from Chinese food, Nyonya food, Penang food Vietnamese food, Thai food, and so on.

Snap the best shot of the Crystal Mosque

• Entrance fee: Free – No entrance fees. For other activities at the Monument Park and River cruise, fee will be applied. You can find more information here.
• How to get there: It’s recommended to hire a motorbike/ car, or drive your own car because it is hard to hail a taxi in Kuala Terengganu.
• Dress code: Wear decent and non-revealing clothes if you plan to enter the interior.
• Nearby destination: Muzium Negeri Terengganu, Taman Tamadun Islam. But if you have your own vehicle, most of attractions in Terengganu is within 15-30 minutes away from each other.

The Crystal Mosque (also known as Masjid Kristal in local Malay) is located in the Islamic Heritage Park on Wan Man Island. It’s said that it’s one of the most beautiful Muslim places of worship in Malaysia. It was constructed from 2006 until 2008 and was officially opened to the public on 8th February 2008.

Built with unique materials, steel, glass, and crystal makes the Crystal Mosque become one of the must-visit attractions in Kuala Terengganu. The special crystal material of the mosque catches the natural light at different angles, and it reflects off the water, creating a sparkling and glowing effect, which makes a perfect art moment that all photographers would like to hunt for a perfect shot.

At the time we visited (2/2022), it was under maintenance, so we didn’t go inside. We visited on a rainy morning, there are not many visitors. The surrounded area and the lake view, everything gave me a sense of tranquility. I guess it can be more crowded on weekends or holidays.

You can take a stroll around the park to find the best spots to grab instagrammable shots of the mosque. There are a few souvenir and food stalls available in front of the mosque area. On the way to Crystal Mosque, you will pass miniature models of the Muslim world at the theme park, Taman Tamadun Islam. The monument park tour and river cruise package are available, you can check them out here.

Learn history at the Muzium Negeri Terengganu

• Opening time: normally from 9pm-5pm (Saturday-Thursday). Close on Friday. Please check the latest update here.
• Entry Fees: Malaysian citizens: RM 5 (Adults). RM 2 (Children). RM 1 (Students in uniform). Non- Malaysian citizens: RM 15 (Adults). RM 10 (Children). On the day we visited, there were not many people, so the staff gave us local price:))
• Nearby destination: Crystal Mosque, Taman Tamadun Islam.
• Museum website: http://museum.terengganu.gov.my/

Muzium Negeri Terengganu (also known as Muzium Negeri Terengganu in local Malay) is the largest museum in Malaysia, and also the biggest museum complex in Southeast Asia, said KL City Council. The museum is located on a huge area of ​​27 hectares. So prepare yourself to get lost in this enormous museum to discover Malaysia’s history.

The highlight of the place is definitely the buildings themselves, which are enormous, magnificent, and yet traditional architecture. The museum complex is made up of four separate buildings and several models of traditional houses. They were built on concrete stilts above a stunning botanical garden landscape and koi ponds. The natural environment in Muzium Negeri makes it pleasing to visitors. It would also be a great place for photographers or Instagram-ers to try their best shots.

In the main building, there are 3 levels, which differentiate each segment of the exhibition from the history of Terengganu. Here you will find 4 main galleries: Royal Gallery, an Islamic Gallery, a Craft Gallery, and a Natural Gallery. The Craft Gallery exhibits traditional textiles, batik prints, traditional handicrafts, weapons, Islamic arts, and more. Other galleries display the Terengganu royal family, petroleum, and the history of human development in Terengganu. Most of the signboards are in both Malay and English, there are a few only available in Malay.

Discover Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque

• Nearby attractions: Kuala Ibai beach.
• Main activities: Photography, foodie, enjoy the beach, picnic.
• How to get there: travel to Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque by your own vehicle is recommended since it is quite far from the city center, about 30 minutes drive.

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque (also known as Floating Mosque), is the first floating mosque in Malaysia. The mosque was constructed from 1993 to 1995 and was officially opened to the public in July 1995. And the mosque has become one of the main attractions in Kuala Terengganu. The mosque floats above the lagoon and is located nearby the sandy beach area, so visitors can at the same time, enjoy the beach. There are a lot of food stalls at the beach and other activities (there are bikes, sightseeing minibuses available to rent)

According to the KT City Council, the mosque’s modern architecture was created by a Terengganu Royal Prince and it is named after his mother. The mosque has its own beauty and uniqueness when it is painted with brilliant white color. From afar, you can see how beautiful it is when the white building is combined with the blue sky, garden decorations around, and how its reflection in the crystal water.

Wander around Chinatown

• Nearby attractions: Pasar Payang, Waterfront area, Drawbridge.
• How to get there: China Town is in the center of the city, you are recommended to stay at a hotel close to the center, so you can walk to the Chinatown.
• Main activities: Food hunting, Street Art hunting, Photography, shopping.

China town is also known as Kampung Cina in Malay, which literally means “Chinese Village.” Unlike the other China town in big cities like Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, Penang, or Singapore, the Chinatown in Kuala Terengganu is quite a humble little town. The sizeable local Chinese community in KT, which only accounted for 3.4% of the population, can be one of the reasons.

I visited Terengganu during Chinese New Year 2022, so I expected a lot of hustle and bustle on the trip. But it turns out there was not much to see in this Chinatown:), not all the stores were open. There are several restaurants, food courts, kopitiams (cafes), and a few small outlets in Chinatown. We have our dinner at Soon Kee restaurant, which served yummy Bak Kut Teh as the main dish. We also tried dim sum, Chinese fried rice, and noodles in the food court closed by the China Town’s entrance, Cheng Cheng Restaurant.

Moreover, there are several laneways filled with unique street art. Not so far from the China Town entrance, you will find a hidden tiny alley named Turtle Alley providing lots of information related to various turtles. The gallery aims to educate the public about the importance of marine conservation.

Besides, you can also find many traditional shops and houses built in Chinese architecture. There are two main Chinese temples here which are Ho Ann Kiong (built 1801) and Tien Hou Kong (built 1896) and both of them have been well preserved serving the locals and also Chinese travellers.

Browse at the Pasar Payang

• Nearby attractions: waterfront, Drawbridge, Chinatown
• Open hours: 7am – 6pm

Pasar Payang or also known as The Central Market is a 2-storey building located on the banks of the Terengganu River. At the time we visit, The Pasar Payang Market has moved into a large new building with everything on one level.

Pasar Payang offers visitors a variety of items to purchase ranging from traditional products such as batik, songket, and silk cloth, to grocery items like fresh fruits, and vegetables. It is also a good place to pick up some souvenirs, there are plenty of gifts, art items, and accessories here. Terengganu local snacks are abundant like kerepoks which are kinds of fish crackers, velvet tamarind, candies, cookies, etc.

The one that caught my eye was the turtle eggs. While they educate the public on how important marine conservation is, the turtle eggs are being sold openly in many stalls in Pasar Payang.

Browse at Foodtruck Drawbridge Terengganu

• Nearby attractions: Drawbridge
• Activities: Dining, photography, enjoy the cool breeze.

If you want to enjoy traditional local life in Kuala Terengganu then head to the Foodtruck Drawbridge Terengganu. This is a very big food street, it is popular among the locals and the visitors and is also known for its mouth-watering array of street food. Here you will find a range of street food stalls that sell delicious local snacks such as meat skewers, lok lok, satay, fruits, apom blik, chicken, and lots of western food as well. There are many tables and chairs available in the center for self-service. Visiting the food truck, you can also enjoy the best street food, the cool breeze air, nice music performance, and the beautiful view of the Drawbridge.

Take the best shot of the Drawbridge

• Opening hours for entering the walkways of the Drawbridge: Monday – Thursday (10am-7pm). Friday – Sunday (10am – 10pm). Closed 12.30pm – 2.30pm on Friday only. You can also check out the updated information here.
• Tickets price for entering the walkways of the Drawbridge: adults (RM8), children (RM5). For non-Malaysian: adults/children (RM10)
• Nearby attractions: Foodtruck Drawbridge Terengganu

Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge, also known as Jambatan Angkat Terengganu to locals, is built by crossing the mouth of the Terengganu River. As mentioned on Wikipedia, the bridge’s design was inspired by London Tower Bridge and it is the first drawbridge built in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. With its stunning design and architecture, the bridge is listed as one of the new tourist spots in Kuala Terengganu and a famous instagrammable spot. The bridge comes alive at night when it lids up with beautiful multicolored neon lights.

If you want to enter the walkways of the Drawbridge, you can buy tickets at the entrance. Take the elevator up to the gallery and the sky bridge and enjoy the Terengganu Drawbridge in another anger. There is nothing much in the gallery actually, but if you want to hunt for the best shot of the Drawbridge, it’s worth a try.

Other things to do in Kuala Terengganu:

Ride on Cas Ligas: One of the interesting things you will see in Kuala Terengganu is the Cas Ligas Bus. It is roofed like a traditional Malay house, the bus’s entrance and windows are designed with beautiful and colorful wooden carvings. The bus will pass through most of the attractions in Kuala Terengganu. I believe this is a good way to experience the city uniquely.

Visit Zainal Abidin Mosque: Zainal Abidin Mosque, also known as the White Mosque or the Big Mosque, is one of the oldest mosques in Terengganu. It is located right in the center of the city, you won’t miss it if you live around the China Town area.

Walk Along with The Waterfront Area: It is nice to take a stroll by the river, or it will be more perfect if you rent a motorbike and ride around this area at night to enjoy the cool breeze. A river cruise is available for you to visit the surrounding area. At night, there are some food stalls with various kinds of street food and fruits.

Enjoy the beach: there are many panoramic beaches in Kuala Terengganu. It is a great place to seek a good time enjoying the sun and sea.

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I’m Mai. I am thrilled to have you visiting my blog. Wish you a wonderful trip that is filled with lots of sweet and memorable moments. If my piece of writing is useful to you, you can invite me a coffee at beacons.ai/maivan. Lots of thanks!!