Even though it’s the third-largest city in Malaysia, I like to describe Ipoh as a fascinating but sleepy town. Compared to the hustle and bustle you feel in most cities, Ipoh is only home to around 700,000 people – so it never feels too wild.
And I’m into it. In a big way.
Ipoh serves up delicious food, rich culture and a vibrant arts scene. You can’t visit this charming little city without trying their good ol’ Ipoh white coffee. Served with condensed milk – this coffee is one for the sweet tooths out there.
The city is also known for its natural beauty; from limestone caves, lush mountains and relaxing hot springs. Many of which you’ll find Buddhist temples have been built in.
Deciding where to stay in Ipoh can be a tricky task as it’s not a highly touristy spot (as of yet). If you’ve never visited the city, it can be difficult to find out where in Ipoh will be best for you.
But don’t you worry about a thing! I’m here to hold your hand, pour you a white coffee and help you through your decision-making process. And I’ve made things super easy for us…
I’ve compiled the top areas to stay in Ipoh based on your travel budget or interest. You’ll find the best places to stay and things to do in each area too! You’ll be an expert on the city of Ipoh in no time.
So, without further ado. Let’s get into the good stuff and find the best spot for you in Ipoh.
Where to Stay in Ipoh
Not too fussed which area of Ipoh you stay in? Check out our favorite accommodation in Ipoh.
M Botique Hotel Station 18 | Best Hotel in Ipoh
If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Ipoh for nightlife, food, or culture, this is a great choice. Ihas spacious rooms, an on-site restaurant, and all the modern amenities you could want from a 4-star hotel. Restaurants and shos are a short walk away.
Majestic Suite 3 | Best Luxury Airbnb in Ipoh
With enough space for up to six people, this is one of the best places to stay in Ipoh if you’re traveling in a group. It’s a short walk from local restaurants and shops and offers sleek, modern facilities. There’s also a fully stocked kitchen, infinity pool, and mountain views.
Majestic Ipoh Homestay | Best Airbnb in Ipoh
This top-floor condo is totally private, so it has amazing views of the city. It has enough space for up to seven guests and also boasts a gym, pool, and free parking on site.
The property is ideally located close to the city’s coolest attractions and best restaurants.
Ipoh Neighborhood Guide – Places to Stay in Ipoh
Old Town
Ipoh’s Old Town is a cluster is historic colonial buildings. This is the part of the city that’s focused on tourism, and you’ll see that the moment you arrive. The Old Town is filled with trendy cafes, modern hotels, and lots of tourists and travelers enjoying great prices on their early morning coffee.
Gunung Rapat
Gunung Rapat is slightly away from the center of the city, which makes it a good choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Ipoh on a budget. This is where you’re more likely to find cheaper accommodation and restaurant options, as well as a quieter atmosphere.
Tambun
The final area on this list is Tambun. This neighborhood is in the north of Ipoh and the best choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Ipoh for families. This is where you’ll find a big water park to keep the kids entertained in the heat.
Ipoh isn’t a very large city, but it is a little hard for outsiders to traverse. To help you figure it out, we’ve figured out the three best areas to stay in for a variety of travel styles and budgets.
If it’s your first time in Ipoh, then go for the Old Town. When you stay in this area, you’ll have the best shops and restaurants within walking distance. There’s a fair amount of English in this area too, which should make it easy for you to get around.
Gunung Rapat is perfect for travelers visiting Malaysia on a budget. This is a little further out of the city center but still offers easy access to several key attractions.
Finally, Tambun is a great choice if you’re deciding where to stay in Ipoh with kids. This is where you’ll find the local water park, as well as other family-friendly attractions.
Ipoh’s 3 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in
Now, let’s take a look at each of these areas in more detail. We’ve included our top accommodation and activity picks in each, so you know exactly what to expect.
1. Old Town – Where to Stay in Ipoh for your First Visit
- COOLEST Thing to Do in Old Town – Explore the 19th-century Taoist temple known as Nam Thean Tong Temple.
- BEST Place to Visit in Old Town – Memory Lane on Jalan Lim Bo Seng, for great shopping and souvenirs.
Ipoh’s Old Town is a cluster is historic colonial buildings. This is the part of the city that’s focused on tourism, and you’ll see that the moment you arrive. The Old Town is filled with trendy cafes, modern hotels, and lots of tourists and travelers enjoying great prices on their early morning coffee.
The Old Town is easily the best choice when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Ipoh for your first visit. And because the city is so small, you won’t have any trouble getting outside of it to see the beautiful jungle and the other tourist sites.
Regalodge Hotel Ipoh | Best Hotel in the Old Town
This reasonably-priced hotel in Ipoh sits ight in the city center, close to a huge number of restaurants and shops. It has a restaurant and spacious rooms with wifi and modern decor. The hotel also provides laundry and dry cleaning services if needed.
Majestic Premier Suite 1 | Best Luxury Airbnb in Old Town
This suite is one of the best places to stay in Ipoh if you like a little luxury. It’s in a prime location right in the center of Old Town and has private parking, a balcony, and a fully-equipped kitchen. The building has a gym, gardens, infinity pool, wading pool, and 24-hour security on-site.
Bit Suite Majestic H27 | Best Airbnb in Old Town
This two-bedroom apartment is right in the heart of Old Town, close to all the top attractions. It has a warm, family feel as well as a pool, fully-equipped kitchen, and free parking spot.
Things to See and Do in Old Town:
- Admire the Birch Memorial Clock Tower.
- Enjoy a boat ride and check out the waterfall in the Gunung Lang Recreational Park.
- Learn about the history and founding of the city at Ipoh World At Han Chin Pet Soo.
- Eat dim sum on Jalan Leong Sin Nam, otherwise known as ‘Dim Sum Street’.
- Play sports or just wander around in nature in D R Seenivasagam Recreational Park.
- Learn about the city’s mining past at the Han Chin Pet Soo museum.
- Wander the streets and take photos of the amazing wall murals.
- Walk the Ipoh Heritage Trail, which will take you past most of the historic buildings in the city.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REI2. Gunung Rapat – Where to Stay in Ipoh on a Budget
- COOLEST Thing to Do in Gunung Rapat – Spend a day at Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village for culture displays as well as great hiking and biking.
- BEST Place to Visit in Gunung Rapat – Kek Lok Tong, one of the most famous Buddhist cave temples in the area.
Gunung Rapat is slightly away from the center of the city, which makes it a good choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Ipoh on a budget. This is where you’re more likely to find cheaper accommodation and restaurant options, as well as a quieter atmosphere.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll be bored in Gunung Rapat. This area contains several famous cave temples that should be on any list of what to do in Ipoh. So, make sure that you take the time to check them out.
OYO 89490 Hill Times Inn Hotel | Best Hotel in Gunung Rapat
Located close to the heart of Gunung Rapat, this budget offering is convenient and fairly basic. It’s close to the local caves and the rooms have private bathrooms, air conditioning, and wifi.
Family Home | Best Airbnb in Gunung Rapat
This bright and uniquely decorated home sleeps up to eight guests. It’s completely private and has all the modern amenities you’ll need for your stay at a budget-friendly rate.
After 90s Guesthouse by Verve | Best Luxury Airbnb in Gunung Rapat
Up to 12 guests can stay in this luxury Airbnb, making it ideal for groups or families visiting Ipoh on a budget. It’s within walking distance of lots of places to eat, relax, and shop, and has a garden on-site.
Things to See and Do in Gunung Rapat:
- Explore the ancient Guanyin Cave, dedicated to the Buddhist goddess of mercy.
- Look out for ghosts at the 17th century Kellie’s Castle.
- Have a meal at Jun Japanese or Hainanese Restaurant.
- Explore the limestone caves of Sam Poh Tong Temple.
- Go hiking, kayaking, or biking near Small Mirror Lake.
3. Tambun – Best Neighborhood in Ipoh for Families
- COOLEST Thing to Do in Tambun – Take in the views from the hill that holds the Perak Cave Temple.
- BEST Place to Visit in Tambun – The Lost World of Tambun theme park for the kids and for hot springs.
The final area on this list is Tambun. This neighborhood is in the north of Ipoh and the best choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Ipoh for families. This is where you’ll find a big water park, as well as several natural hot springs where you can cool off from the heat.
Tambun is removed from the city center, but there are still plenty of restaurants and accommodation options here. It’s also closer to the forest area, so you can spend more time in nature!
Sunway Lost World Hotel | Best Hotel in Tambun
This hotel is a great choice for families visiting Ipoh. It offers direct access to the Lost World Theme Park and complimentary use of the hot springs. With a terrace where you can enjoy breakfast and large rooms with garden views, it’s the ideal oasis away from the busyness of the city.
Opposite Lost World | Best Luxury Airbnb in Tambun
Whether you’re staying in Malaysia for one night or longer, check out this beautiful bungalow. It sleeps 10 guests across for bedrooms, perfect if you’re traveling in a group. It offers a full kitchen, parking, laundry facilities, and Wi-Fi.
Tulip’s Homestay | Best Airbnb in Tambun
For a real homey feel and a great price, check out this apartment. It’s ideal for families and groups and boasts air conditioning and guest parking. You’ll also have access to the building’s facilities during your stay, such as the swimming pool, basketball court, and 24-hour security.
Things to See and Do in Tambun:
- Try some of the native pomelo fruit.
- Make sure you try some white coffee, one of the local inventions.
- Have a meal at Uncle E Corner, The Yihe Roast Duck, or Ray of Hope Ipoh.
- Head out of the city and take a tour or go spelunking at Tempurung Cave.
- Throw in a line at fishing camp Lombong Timah Ulu Kinta.
- Enjoy some of Malysia’s awesome hiking in the Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve.
- Relax in the air conditioning and enjoy some relaxing shopping in the Aeon Mall Ipoh Klebang.
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!FAQs about Finding a Place to Stay in Ipoh.
Here’s what people usually ask me about the areas of Ipoh and where to stay.
What To Pack For Ipoh
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hotel Packing list for even more top packing tips!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for Ipoh
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the Where to Stay in Ipoh
There are loads of awesome places to stay in Ipoh. And with such good prices, you should seriously think about trying one of the more luxurious offerings! This will make your stay in the sultry, historic city of Ipoh just that little bit extra special.
If you’re still unsure where to stay in Ipoh, we recommend Old Town. This area provides the best insight into the city and its culture and is full of shops, restaurants, and activities to keep you entertained throughout your visit. It’s also a great base for exploring the city’s other neighborhoods.
- Check out our ultimate guide backpacking around Malaysia.
- Swing by our super epic backpacking packing list to prep for your trip.
- Our in-depth Southeast Asia backpacking guide will help you plan the rest of your adventure.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
