In the north western of Ipoh and southeast of Georgetown, Penang, lies a town called Taiping. It’s the second largest town in Perak, after Ipoh, the state capital. As the historically significant town in Perak, Taiping is a home to a range of iconic museums, galleries, and natural beauties; Perak Museum and the Lake Gardens are several top sights of the town. Taiping is known as ‘the town of the firsts’, since it has the first museum, first railway, first English newspaper, and first zoo.
Dining options? No worries–Taiping is also a culinary melting pot; char kway teow, chicken rice, ais kacang, claypot noodles, wantan mee, and cendol are just a small sample. There’s a lot more to uncover, like the favorite local beverage, hor ga sai (a mix of tea, coffee, and condensed milk) and a charcoal-roasted coffee with unique aroma and flavor. However, we’ve only scratched the surface. Visit Taiping and experience the town’s diverse food scene firsthand!
Taiping isn’t only perfect for culinary adventures, but also pleasant stays. It’s ideal to lodge in areas offering convenient access to the town’s main attractions, dining options, and shopping hubs, such as Taiping Town Center, in the Lake Gardens, and Sentral Mall Area. Your Taiping adventure is calling! Finish your reading and you’ll be well-informed about how to navigate the town, what to do more, and where to stay.
Compared to other big cities, Taiping may have limited modes of transport. However, you still can get around the town by several popular transports, like:
From the major Taiping bus station, Medan Simpang Bus Terminal, local buses connect the town with nearby towns, villages, and districts within Perak at around RM 1,50 to RM 3, but the service may not be as frequent and extensive as in bigger cities. You can also travel for long distances, like Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang by buses from this terminal with fares, starting from RM 15 to RM 35.
Taxis in Taiping are commonly available in the town center, bus terminals, and near popular tourist spots: the Lake Gardens and Taiping Zoo. Expect to pay around RM 10 to RM 15 to travel within the town and to nearby towns, like Simpang. Remember to agree on the fares before starting the journey because taxis in Taiping generally don’t use meters.
E-hailing services are widely available in Taiping. It offers a convenient and flexible way to get around. Depending on the distance and demand, the fares for Taiping e-hailing transports range from around RM 5 to RM 40. Compared to taxis, this mode of transport is more reliable for tourists, as the fare is always calculated in the app.
Electric Train Service (ETS) in Taiping is the major train service connecting Taiping Railway Station with nearby towns or cities, like Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, and Ipoh at around RM 25 to RM 70 (depending on the class and time of booking).
Make sure you get your itinerary ready as you arrive in Taiping. If you don’t, take a look at several famous attractions in Taiping below to put on the itinerary:
Operational hours: 11 am to 6 pm (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday); 10 am to 6 pm (Friday to Sunday, as well as during school and public holidays)
Located on Bukit Merah Street, Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark is Malaysia’s largest waterpark. Take part in the exhilarating rides and water activities, like Family Splash Adventure, Racer Slides, Boomerang, and Giant Tube Rides with your kids and watch them beam with joy!
Operational hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily
Perak Museum is the first museum in the country and among the earliest built in Southeast Asia. It features ancient British architecture showcasing artifacts of ethnography, zoology, botany, and geology. You literally can discover anything in this museum, including the engaging past stories of Taiping.
Operational hours: 8 am to 10 pm daily
Want to spot the most beautiful area in Taiping? Look no further than the most-visited attraction in Taiping, the Lake Gardens. Situated on Pekeliling Street, the gardens not only offer you breathtaking views; it also provides many activities to do, such as cycling around the lake and having a sip of your tea and a bite of some treats in the nearby eateries.
Operational hours: open everyday from 8.30 am to 6 pm; and 8 pm to 11 pm (night safari)
Near Taiping Lake Gardens, you’ll find another most-visited destination in the town: Taiping Zoo. Housing around 1,500 animals from over 100 species, the zoo keeps the animals in naturalistic exhibits, with natural streams, lakes, and luxuriant greenery. If you want to encounter the animals being very active, take part in the zoo’s night safari. It’ll give you a one-of-a-kind experience of zoo visiting.
As you set your foot in Taiping, it’s advisable to choose the best accommodations, providing excellent services and facilities, for your convenient stays because sufficient rests are keys to peak performance. Then, when you get your body and mind energized, you’re ready for fascinating adventures in Taiping. Consider some hotels below for your restful nights:
1. Bukit Merah Laketown Resort – price starts from RM 126,26/night
2. Hermitage Boutique House – price starts from RM 150,00/night
3. Novotel Taiping Perak – price starts from RM 271,00/night
Plan a honeymoon or wedding anniversary with your partner in Taiping? The town boasts some recommended accommodations for your greatest romantic escape. Equipped with pools, massage, spa, sauna facilities, bars, and other amenities suitable for lovebirds, some hotels below are ideal for you to find the world of romance:
1. SSL Traders Hotel – price starts from RM 139,52/night
2. Raintown Cottage – price starts from RM 147,63/night
3. Sojourn Beds and Cafe – price starts from RM 35,10/night
Now, you don’t have to worry about going on a vacation to Taiping with your families because the town houses a range of family-oriented accommodations for your finest stay experiences with your loved ones. Taiping’s hotels for families are usually equipped with various room types and amenities catering the needs of family travelers, such as pools and children play areas; as well as located near kids-friendly destinations. Here are some recommended family lodgings, ranging from budget to luxurious ones, in Taiping:
1. Flemington Hotel – price starts from RM 183,50/night
2. Hotel Taiping Perdana – price starts from RM 147,38/night
3. Sense Hotel – price starts from RM 132,17/night
4. Legend Inn Taiping – price starts from RM 83,16/night
5. Louis Hotel Taiping – price starts from RM 83,31/night
6. Beverly Hotel – price starts from RM 123,15/night
7. Sentosa Villa Taiping – price starts from RM 236,36/night
8. Potato Hotel – price starts from RM 84,59/night
The most scenic spot in Taiping is the Lake Gardens, along with Maxwell Hill, Raintree Walk, and Larut Hill. Glad to know that you look for stays around those areas; in addition to the accessibility to them, you’ll be greeted by eye-pleasing vistas spanning before your eyes as you wake up in the morning. Below are the lists of accommodations in Taiping offering you with real beauties:
1. Hotel Furama Taiping – price starts from RM 93,78/night
2. Hotel Vistana Micassa – price starts from RM 180,91/night
3. Hotel Axis – price starts from RM 84,18/night
4. TT Dorf Taiping – price starts from RM 118,90/night
5. Tune Hotel Taiping – price starts from RM 139,19/night
6. Square Inn – price starts from RM 100,17/night
Taiping is a town nestled in the northwest of Ipoh and southeast of Penang. Despite the fact that it’s the second largest town in Perak, Taiping is served by the airport of Ipoh, Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. It’s also the nearest airport from Taiping; a 5-hour trip by train. Upon arrival, if you’re searching for a hotel, consider some accommodations adjacent to the airport, ranging from the budget to premium ones. Check out:
1. Hotel Pinji – price starts from RM 74,07/night
2. Symphony Suites – price starts from RM 329,17/night
3. Hotel Chariton Ipoh – price starts from RM 130,55/night
4. Seemsoon Hotel – price starts from RM 103,54/night
5. Merton Hotel Ipoh – price starts from RM 134,68/night
6. Impiana Hotel Ipoh – price starts from RM 240,67/night
7. Ipoh the Manhattan Suites Apartment by IWH – price starts from RM 277,99/night
8. Manhattan Hotel Ipoh – price starts from RM 181,47/night
9. Ritz Garden Hotel – price starts from RM 95,12/night
10. Bedrock Hotel – price starts from RM 445,29/night
All bargain hunters, listen up! You want to know how to tackle the best hotel deals for your trips in Taiping? Follow some tips below:
Planning to visit Taiping during peak seasons or public holidays is actually okay. However, you have to make sure to reserve your hotel stay in advance–it might be better to book 2-3 months earlier before your travel dates–to help secure a better rate.
It would be even better if you plan Taiping’s trips during the off-peak seasons, like weekdays, or outside of school holidays and festive seasons in Malaysia. It allows you to get cheaper accommodation rates, as well as flights and activity tickets!
When you’re serious about affordable trips, you have to put more effort in looking for deals and promotions. Keep an eye on flash sales or special deals often provided on Traveloka. Open the 'deals’ tab and discover several hotel promotions Traveloka has got for you! You can also look for combo deals, like ‘flight + hotel’ bundles that can result in savings.
Make sure to check out recent hotel reviews and ratings on Traveloka. Besides to ensure if the hotel meets your standard, going through the reviews and ratings helps you filter cheaper hotels which sometimes have hidden issues that can cost you in convenience and comfort–hence, despite their affordability, the hotels provide excellent value for money.
Make the most out of your Taiping’s vacation with Traveloka. Book flight, hotel, and activity and enjoy a seamless journey. A good news for Traveloka new users; enjoy an additional discount up to RM 250 for all travel products by using a coupon code “JOMJALAN”. Book your trips today and save big with Traveloka!
Total Accommodation | 53 Properties |
Popular Area | Bandar Taiping, Bukit Merah |
Popular Hotel | Novotel Taiping Perak, Bukit Merah Laketown Resort |
Popular Landmark | Taiping Zoo, Kaki Bukit Larut Waterfall |