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15 Best Things To Do In Kuantan, Malaysia

Going on a Kuantan trip and want to know all the best things to do in Kuantan, Malaysia? We have you covered! Below you will find our guide to the top Kuantan attraction places to visit so you can plan your ultimate trip.

Located on Malaysia’s east coast, Kuantan might not be a place you’ve heard much about – but I want to change this!

Kuantan is the capital of the state of Pahang and is actually the largest city on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. The surrounds make for a great place for a relaxing getaway. It takes just one hour to fly there from both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Among the most popular places of interest in Kuantan are its stunning beaches and waterfalls, but both the town and surrounding area offer a range of other interesting attractions worth adding to your Kuantan trip itinerary.

Below, you will find our top things to do in Kuantan blog with everything you need to know about the top attractions in Kuantan, interesting places to visit in Kuantan, Malaysia as well as the best place in Kuantan to stay for your ultimate holiday!!

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15 Best Things To Do In Kuantan

Here are the best Kuantan things to do. Read through and select the ones that fit your interests and timeframe.

Admire The Sunset From Bukit Panorama

For the best views of this area, the best place to visit in Kuantan is Bukit Panorama. 

Located a 45 minute drive from town, this is a must visit attraction in Kuantan Pahang and a rite of passage for visitors to this part of the world!

Bukit Panorama is located on top of a hill which is about 270 metres tall. The hike to the top starts from the Bukit Panorama Trailhead and follows a set of stairs. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour to reach the lookout.

The best views are at sunset – a weekend tradition in this area and perfect if you’re considering Kuantan what to do at night, but sunrise is equally beautiful if you’re an early riser.

Go On A Kuantan River Cruise

A Kuantan river cruise can take you to some interesting places in Kuantan Malaysia that you might not see otherwise. 

These river cruises will take you through a 500 year old mangrove forest reserve swamp and are fantastic for spotting wildlife like crocodiles, otters, lizards and monkeys, making this one of the Kuantan things to do for families. There are also special firefly cruises which prove to be very popular.

The river cruise stops at a fishing village, as well as a purpose-built wooden walkway where visitors can walk through the mangrove forest. 

Learn History At Sultan Abu Bakar Museum

The Sultan Abu Bakar Museum is another Kuantan interesting place housing a collection of Chinese ceramics, pottery and glassware dating back to antiquity. This is also one of the places to visit Kuantan to learn about the area’s rich history as well as its Sultan.

The building itself is interesting too having originally been built by the British, later becoming a palace, and today serving as a museum.

Address: Kampung Pancur, 26600 Pekan, Pahang

Explore The Keropok Lekor Factory

Keropok Lekor, also known as fish sausage, is one of the many delicious Malaysian dishes you’ll find in Kuantan – with a unique preparation process to match! 

One Kuantan place to visit is the Keropok Lekor Factory where you can watch the entire preparation process to see how this dish is made.

Address: Lorong Anak Air 2, Kampung Anak Air, 26060 Balok, Pahang

Relax In Teluk Chempedak Beach

Just 5km from town, Teluk Chempedak Beach is the perfect place to relax and worth adding to your list of Kuantan things to do.

This is a clean beach and suitable for swimming, surfing or just relaxing. There’s also quite a few fast food chains around here including McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks if you’re after places to go in Kuantan to eat.

If you’re looking to add this to your Kuantan itinerary you may want to visit during the week. It can be quite crowded on weekends, although the atmosphere is nice with a small night market and buskers too.

Visit Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah

Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah is a place found on all the top 10 things to do in Kuantan Pahang lists. This is a beautifully blue accented mosque. Visit to simply appreciate the architecture.

It is impressively large with a stunning tiled interior, stained glass and a tall roof. The mosque is mostly used for worship by the nearby university students. In the evening, a small market is held nearby.

Address: Jalan Mahkota, Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Pahang, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang

Have Picnic In Sungai Pandan Waterfall

Sungai Pandan Waterfall is one of the most popular things to do Kuantan offers. The waterfall is about 13km from the town center and close to the village of Kampung Panching.

Here you’ll find several cascading falls where you can take a dip in the cool and refreshing water, walk through the jungle and see it all from above on the suspended bridge.

There are some great facilities around here including gazebos and picnic areas, with a picnic one of the best things to do at Kuantan. Plus the water has fish that eat dead skin – a free fish spa!

Address: Air Terjun Sungai Pandan, 26250 Kuantan, Pahang

Explore Mini Zoo Park Teruntum

The best thing to do in Kuantan with kids is a visit to the Mini Zoo Park Teruntum. This is a modestly sized petting zoo complete with a big playground, pony rides and a mixture of local and exotic animals. 

Among the animals here are monkeys, deers, ostriches, cattle, bunnies and more. It’s also possible to buy food to feed the animals. Bikes are available for rental as well as ride-on vehicles for kids.

Address: Jalan Padang Golf, 25050 Kuantan, Pahang

Stroll Along Taman Esplanade

If you’re looking into what to do in Kuantan at night, I recommend a stroll along the Taman Esplanade. This is a pretty place to visit in the evening with a river view and some local cafes, restaurants and vendors selling food nearby. 

There isn’t much to see here but it is one of the attractive places in Kuantan.

Address: Jalan Tanah Putih, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang

Check Out Gua Charas

Another nice place in Kuantan is Gua Charas. This is a cave temple located 25km outside of the Kuantan town center and is worth a visit. The site is holy for both Buddhists and Hindus. 

At its tallest point, the cave reaches 355 meters. You need to climb a flight of stairs to reach the interior. Inside, there is a reclining Buddha statue and you’ll likely see some Hindu priests performing rituals. It can be a bit smelly inside thanks to an infestation of bats, but it’s still an interesting place to visit in Kuantan Pahang.

You can also climb the surrounding mountain if you’d like to explore further.

Address: Jln Gua Charas, 26090 Kuantan, Pahang

Enjoy The Scenic Views In Taman Gelora

Taman Gelora is a large seaside park making it quite a scenic spot. Recently, the park has become a bit rundown, but it’s still a top Kuantan town attraction especially on weekends. 

The most popular thing to do here is exercise or simply take a walk. There’s a jogging track and exercise equipment. There’s also cafes nearby and a toilet. 

With pine trees and a lovely seaside position, this is a nice place to visit in Kuantan.

Address: Jalan Dato Abdullah, Kampung Tanjung Api, 25050, Kuantan, Pahang

Visit Lao Zi Temple

The most unique Kuantan tourist attraction on our list is the Lao Zi Temple. Also known as Lao Tzu, Lao Zi was the Chinese sage accredited for composing the Tao Te Ching. 

The Lao Zi Temple is about 12km from the town center and is a large and interesting temple to visit. 

Here, they pay homage to Lao Zi with a 7 metre tall statue, as well as the Dragon Temple known as the Golden Dragon. This is the largest dragon statue in the country at 823 meters long! You can walk through the statue and read the signs on the wall.

Other chinese horoscope statutes are also here. It’s one of the most interesting attractions and among the best places in Kuantan.

Address: No. Lot 362 KM12, Taman Impian Ku, Darul Makmur,, Jln Sungai Lembing, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang

Walk The Black Sands Of Batu Hitam

The other beach in Kuantan is Batu Hitam and it’s worth visiting if you’re looking at what to do in Kuantan town. This beach is famous for its black sand which is the result of the sand mixing with black volcanic rock.

A nice sea breeze, interesting scenery and food stalls nearby makes it one of the nice places to visit in Kuantan Pahang.

Swim The Exotic Beaches Of Cherating

One of the top beaches near Kuantan is located in Cherating, a nearby Kuantan best place to visit. Cherating is home to this area’s first Club Med, so it’s no wonder this location is worth visiting.

It takes around 45 minutes to reach Cherating. The main beach is peaceful and often less crowded than Teluk Chempedak in Kuantan. There are both spots with shallow water – good for kids, as well as deeper water ideal for surfing. This is a popular surfing beach.

There’s also a beach cafe and food stalls nearby. The beach is easily among the top ten things to do in Kuantan Cherating.

Visit Cherating

If you’re looking to get outside of Kuantan, nearby Cherating has its own interesting attractions.

It takes around 45 minutes to reach Cherating from Kuantan, and while there isn’t an awful lot to do here, there are enough places of interest in Cherating Kuantan to make it worth visiting. 

The beach is a top attraction as already mentioned. 

There’s also the Cherating River with its own firefly sighting tours. There are a couple of companies operating other tours too, including night cruises.

Cherating Village is also worth wandering through – a small fishing village.

The Turtle Sanctuary is also worth adding to your list of things to do in Cherating Kuantan. The sanctuary was established to protect the native turtle species. April through to September is egg laying season, and from June to October you can watch the babies being released into the ocean – a special experience. 

What To Do In Kuantan, Malaysia Map

Best Place To Stay In Kuantan

Now that you know what to do in Kuantan, you’ll want to know where to stay in Kuantan. There is actually quite a good range of accommodation options to suit every budget. Whether you want to be in the town center or with better access to attractions on the outskirts, there is an option for you.

Below are my top three suggestions comprised of a budget, mid-range and luxury option.

BEST – Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort Review

The Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort is somewhat of a famous place in Kuantan being a world renowned hotel chain. This five star hotel is expertly positioned on the beach with a pool that also lines it.

The facilities at Hyatt Regency make it a place of interest in Kuantan Pahang in its own right. On-site is a wonderful lounge area for guests to relax, as well as a great fitness center and spa. It’s also located within walking distance to the gates of the Mini Zoo – great for families.

The rooms are actually the best part. Each has access to an outdoor area with a range of standard rooms, family rooms and suites to choose from. Every room includes WiFi, flat screen TVs, air conditioning, minibars and more. Parking is also free.

Click here for the latest prices.

MID-RANGE – Glex Hotel Kuantan Review

Glex Hotel Kuantan is probably the best option for families you will find, especially at this price point. This is an apartment style accommodation option with great facilities like full kitchens and dining areas, a playground and communal BBQ.

The accommodation is located close to the top things to do in Kuantan at night, and is a short walk from the Taman Esplanade.

All rooms are well-sized and there are multiple bedding options for different group sizes. Family suites include two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

There’s also an outdoor pool, spa, sauna and turkish baths, as well as free WiFi and free parking.

BUDGET – Kosma Business Hotel Review

Kosma Business Hotel is a great budget accommodation option if you want a well-priced hotel close to all the things to do in Kuantan town.

This is a basic facility with standard, family and deluxe rooms, each offering private bathrooms, desks and a TV. WiFi is also available throughout the hotel and is included.

A continental breakfast is served at this hotel, and there is also an on-site restaurant and room service. There is also a nice communal sitting area. Unfortunately parking is not available.

Click here to see all our recommendations for the best hotel in Kuantan.

How To Get To Kuantan

It’s easy to get to Kuantan by bus, taxi, plane or car. If you have your own car, great! This is the best way to get to Kuantan taking a 2.5-hour drive if you’re coming from Kuala Lumpur.

The next best way is in a private, long distance taxi. We can book a taxi for you with a safe and trustworthy local operator.

Click here for more details and prices.

If you need to take a bus, click here for the latest timetables and bus prices.

To see all the latest flights and prices, click here.

You can also hire a car to get you there by clicking here.

Kuantan With Kids

Kuantan is a lovely place to visit with kids thanks to its relaxing vibe and low key attractions. Most of the interesting places in Kuantan Pahang are kid friendly and welcoming towards families.

Some of the places to see in Kuantan that kids will enjoy are the Mini Zoo Park Teruntum, a wildlife spotting cruise on the Kuantan or Cherating River, and of course the beaches and waterfall.

This is a great spot and opportunity for families to simply relax and unwind!

Final Words

Kuantan is a lovely place to visit with a range of attractions to suit everyone. A few days here is more than enough to see everything in the list above.

While visitors often skip Kuantan for other destinations, there’s plenty of reasons to visit! I hope this guide has given you lots of ideas for what to do in Kuantan to make the most of your visit.

You can find all the best hotels in Kuantan here and exactly how to go to Kuantan from KL here or read more Kuantan travel guides here .

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

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By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is a certified Malaysia travel expert and can't get enough of travelling and talking about Malaysia since she first visited 21 years ago. She travels around Malaysia multiple times a year both alone and with her kids. She used to call Penang home and especially loves this food paradise. Sharon also has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and has been certified by Tourism Malaysia as a Malaysia Travel Expert. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to this amazing destination.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Most travelers pause briefly in Pahang's capital and Malaysia's second-biggest port to break up longish bus trips. This is a shame; while the city isn’t especially geared towards tourism, it is definitely interesting enough to warrant a day or two’s exploration. There's an excellent museum, plenty of great places to eat, decent accommodation choices and the nearby sands of Teluk Chempedak with upmarket resort accommodation and beach views. The vast mosque is also a fantastic spectacle when illuminated at night, the padang is huge and refreshingly cool in the morning and at late afternoon, while food markets set up nearby towards evening.

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