Exploring Perak: The Best of Ipoh City Travel Tips & Nightlife Guide

With this all-in-one ultimate Ipoh travel tips & guide, we will take you to a whole new level of the best sight-seeing and travel around the historical Ipoh city.

If you are looking for a place with rich traditions and history but still want to get the best of its places, food and entertainment, then you might want to visit Ipoh City. During the 19th century, Ipoh City became famous in mining. The ‘Town Built on Tin’ as the locals would call it, Ipoh City once was a rich tin-mining industry in the British colonial era. Immense fortune was made during these times, and most of its architectural façade was inspired by British architectural design. Some of these edifices are still present in the city today, such as the Railway Station, the Town Hall and the Court House.

In the 1970’s, the rich tin-mining industry collapsed, and progress stopped because of the downfall of the industry’s pricing. On May 1988, the city was granted its city status. The beautiful Kinta River is what separates the Ipoh Old and Ipoh New towns. If you have visited Penang Island and saw those wall art murals, yes you can find it in Ipoh too. The wall art murals by Ernest Zacharevic can be found in certain areas around Ipoh Old Town.

Ipoh City is Malaysia’s third largest city and is known as the gateway to the Cameron Highlands. The Capital City of the Perak state, this city is populated by over 710,000 people. Today, this city is famous not just for its history, but of the beautiful places and delicious food hangouts it has to offer.

Travel & Sightseeing

The best way to experience a city is to live like a local, blend in and breathe in your adventure; and that is true for this city. You can get around the city by bus, train or cab and get to see their famous landmarks.

Kellie’s Castle
Half an hour from the historic city’s center, this uninhabited mansion is believed to be haunted. Owned by the civil engineer and rubber plantation owner William Kellie Smith, this mansion was built in 1915. The said castle consisted of a wine cellar, 14 rooms, a small shaft for lifts, and a flat rooftop. There were no maid’s quarters, possibly because the castle was not completed in the first place, as William Smith died of sickness in 1926. The castle has a covered passage connection to the old mansion, but many believed there were other secret chambers on that abandoned masterpiece.

Tempurung Cave
Also known as Gua Tempurung, this majestic cave is the largest limestone cave in the whole of Peninsular Malaysia. The cave is believed to have existed about 10,000 years ago (8,000 B.C). It has 5 enormous domes that looked like coconut shells. You are sure to feast your eyes on the remarkable stalagmites and stalactites and other rock formations that are sure to capture you.

Kek Lok Tong
In the 1920’s, Kek Long Tong Temple was a place of worship. Found in Gunung Rapat, South of Ipoh, the Temple cave is a tourist attraction situated on a 12-acre site. Various Buddhist figures and Chinese deities are featured on the central altar inside the cave.

Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands was named after the explorer Sir William Cameron who mapped the place in 1885. Today, this place is a paradise of vibrant flower fields, tea plantations, museums and other religious sites.

Gunung Lang Recreational Park
With a land mass of 30.35 hectares, this park consists of man-made cascading waterfall on top of a limestone hill with a boardwalk of 2 kilometres, overlooking the swamp and lookout towers. It also has a picturesque setting of the limestone hills of Gunung Bilike and Gunung Lang.

The Nightlife

After your day tour, you can always continue the fun at these cool clubs.

House. Music Club.Live Band Ipoh
This incredible club is a club for countless music and fashion, and yet also a host for celebrity appearances, fashion shows, DJ performances and live bands. Ipoh’s best comes to this place, and you’ll find it at Jalan Sultan Idris Shah.

S.O.S – Sensation of Sound
If dancing is your thing, you can always drop by the S.O.S club, where the best DJ’s play the greatest music. Located in No. 15-17, Jalan Raja Ekram, Ipoh City.

Hashtag Bar & Bistro
If you want to wander about on the Festival Walk, then you can always check out Hashtag Bar and Bistro. It is a pub with live bands and nice food.

Paradigm Cafe & Bistro @ Ipoh Greentown
If you want an open floor for your flair for singing, then this is the place to be. Found in Ipoh Greentown, the place overflows with beer, billiards, and great sounds.

Getaway & Relax

The Banjaran Hot Spring Retreat
Experience ‘Zen mode’ at one of Malaysia’s Luxury Spa Resort, The Banjaran Hot Spring Retreat. When you feel a little exhausted from your tripping, you can always feel relaxed at The Banjaran Spa & Wellness Centre. Located at No. 1, Persiaran Lagun Sunway 3, Sunway City Ipoh.

Lost World of Tambun
Lost World of Tambun is an amusement park especially for families who need a holiday getaway during festive seasons or on normal weekends. Leave the hectic work behind, relax and have fun!

Places to Eat

Food is fuel, and so, if you want to continue on your journey, let’s fill those empty tanks with tummy-filing meals from these incredible restaurants.

Restaurant Lou Wong Tauge Ayam – Ayam means chicken, and this place offers the best chicken rice meals in Ipoh.
Kuetiau – Famous for their Ipoh Chicken Rice and Hor Fun (rice noodles mixed with stir fried meat and vegetables).
Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken – This restaurant is famous for its salted chicken.
Sin Eng Heong – The most famous Ipoh Kaya Puffs are found here – the puffs are so soft they melt in your mouth.
Kedai Makanan Nam Heong – If you are looking for the best White Coffee, then this is a must try place.

Ipoh is a brilliant place full of beautiful stops and sceneries. Take time to explore this wonderful city for it is all worth it.

Perak Location Map