Ipoh Itinerary: Best Things To Do On A Ipoh One Day Trip!

Looking for the best things to do in Ipoh, Malaysia? You’ve come to the right place!

Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state in Malaysia, and a charming city to discover during your Malaysia itinerary. In Ipoh you will find beautiful temples, unique natural landscapes and fun shopping streets.

We visited Ipoh as a stopover on the way from Cameron Highlands to Georgetown, and while one day isn’t enough to see everything Ipoh has to offer, it gave us the opportunity to tick off the main highlights.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in, and discover the best things to do in Ipoh in one day!

About Ipoh

While Ipoh is often seen as a gateway to the Cameron Highlands, there’s much more to this city than being a jumping-off point.

In fact, there are plenty of tourist attractions in Ipoh. The capital of the state of Perak, Ipoh lies 150 kilometres to the north of Kuala Lumpur. 

Starting life as a village in the 1880s, Ipoh grew from its tin-mining fortunes and today is awash with colonial buildings, crumbling shop houses, and gardens – all on a dramatic backdrop of karst limestone hills. 

Even without the tourist attractions, one of the best things to do in Ipoh on a day trip is to simply eat!

Best things to do in Ipoh in one day

Concubine Lane

A trip to this part of the city is usually a must on every Ipoh day trip itinerary. You’ve probably seen this vintage-looking street on Instagram or Tiktok during your searches for travel inspiration.

The street has been known for sex workers and opium smoking dens since 1908, when it was called Yee Lai Hong (literally “Mistress Lane”) in Chinese. It grew with the booming local tin trade.

Today it’s a narrow street strung with lanterns and edged by heritage buildings housing old kopi tiam (traditional Malaysian eateries) and shops.

Grab a coffee, some of the best food in town, and watch the hustle and bustle go by, or duck into one of the shop houses to take a browse for souvenirs.

Kong Heng Artisan Market

Close to Concubine Lane, you will find the Kong Heng Artisan Market (open daily, from 10AM to 5PM). It’s within easy walking distance, a 10 minute walk away at most.

Another of the must-visit places in Ipoh, it’s a great spot for shopping and is an attractive destination in itself, being surrounded by the heritage architecture of the old town. 

Browse trinkets, antiques and locally produced crafts and grab a coffee or snack from one of the many kiosks.

Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village

One of the best things to do in Ipoh is to head to the Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village (it’s open 9:30AM to 5PM, but is closed on Sundays). The entrance fee is RM 20.

Located about a 20-minute drive from Concubine Lane, this cultural park is a fun spot to see some of the natural scenery of Ipoh, complete with traditional architecture, winding paths and dreamy waterways.

You can hire bicycles if you don’t want to walk, but either way it’s a fun place to explore for an hour or two. The karst cliffs and lush greenery make it feel like a real adventure.

I have to admit, we couldn’t really understand what was going on most of the time, as there were no signs or explanations anywhere. But the scenery is very beautiful, and with all the vintage memorabilia around, it was a fun place to explore.

Kek Look Tong

The picturesque Kek Look Tong is a mountain cave temple that uses natural stalactites and stalagmites as decorations. It reminded me a bit of Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.

The 12-acre religious site is set at the foot of karst mountains, with the entrance to the temple itself being the mouth of a cave.

The temple is dotted with Buddha statues and Confucian figures, but it’s really the cave itself that makes this a must-see if you’re wondering what to do in Ipoh.

There’s also a beautiful garden with a little river, where you can go on a short pedalo boat trip. It’s the best place to combine a cultural and historical visit with relaxing and beautiful nature.

You’ll find it a 7-minute drive (or Grab ride) away from the Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village. It’s open every day, 8AM to 4:30PM, and entrance is free.

Mirror Lake

This place is really cool. Just a few minutes’ drive from Kek Look Tong and you’ll be at the entrance to Mirror Lake (open 9AM to 6PM; admission RM 8).

It begins by walking through a tunnel cut through the karst limestone (an old mining tunnel), after which you’ll come out into a hidden lake surrounded by cliffs and lush greenery. There’s the option to take a boat trip out onto the water. 

Sam Poh Tong Temple

Next up on your Ipoh trip itinerary is a visit to the Sam Poh Tong Temple. From Mirror Lake it’s less than a 10-minute drive away.

Another temple set within a mystical cave, it was discovered in 1890 by a Buddhist monk, who decided it would be a good place for a shrine. 

Today it’s filled with statues, pagodas and even an ornamental garden. It’s open from 9AM to 4PM most days (no admission, but you can make a voluntary donation if you wish).

Perak Cave Temple

Opened in 1926, this impressive Buddhist temple (open every day, 8AM to 5PM) is around a 15-minute drive from the Ipoh Old Town.

Constructed within the limestone walls of the cave, the temple is home to colourful murals and a towering seated Buddha statue in the main hall – 12 metres tall! 

Wandering inside the cave, admiring the impressive natural cave formation, as well as the golden statues and beautiful artwork, was one of my favourite things to do in Ipoh.

But don’t limit yourself to just the cave! Don’t miss out on climbing 450 metres up the staircase for views of the karst hills and the city below.

As you proceed through the cave you will come out on the other side, here is where you’ll find a staircase leading up to the top of the temple mountain. Along the way you will find little pagodas and viewpoints.

The steps up are very steep, but the views are well worth it, and it’s a great way to round up your time in Ipoh.

Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur was my favourite temple we saw in Malaysia, but this was a close second.

How to get to Ipoh 

Getting to Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur is relatively simple. By car, it’s a straightforward route that takes around 2.5 hours to drive.

Public transport is also an option. You could travel by bus, which takes around 3 hours and costs from RM 20-27 (depending on the bus company). 

The train takes 2 hours 40 minutes from KL Sentral (tickets from RM 35). So an Ipoh day trip from KL is definitely doable.

A day trip to Ipoh from Georgetown (just over 150 kilometres away) is also easy. The journey takes 2 hours 15 by car.

You could also take the train from Butterworth Railway Station (near Penang) to Ipoh, which takes around 2 hours and costs from RM 32. Buses between Georgetown and Ipoh take just over 2 hours and cost around RM 28

How many days in Ipoh?

I would say that a one-day trip to Ipoh is enough. You could visit on the way to Cameron Highlands from other destinations (Kuala Lumpur or Georgetown, for example) to break up the drive.

It’s a cool city to explore for a day. This is actually what we did, as we visited Ipoh on the way from Cameron Highlands to Georgetown. It was the perfect place to break up an otherwise 4-hour drive.

However, you may be a little rushed doing absolutely everything on your Ipoh itinerary in one day, so you could also consider spending at least one night here if you want to explore at a more chilled-out pace.

Plus, from what we saw Ipoh had a very cool vibe, with lots of hipster western eateries, so you could easily spend longer here.

Where to stay in Ipoh

Here are some great places to stay in Ipoh for every budget.

Budget: The Brownstone Hostel & Space – Located close to the centre of Ipoh, this hostel is great for budget travellers, as it has cool common areas, spacious dorms and also private rooms available.

Click here to book your stay at The Brownstone Hostel & Space in Ipoh!

Mid-range: Ipoh City Executive Suite – This apartment is spacious, modern and has a rooftop infinity pool with epic views over Ipoh, all for an affordable price. What more do you need?

Click here to book your stay at Ipoh City Executive Suite!

Luxury: Banjaran Hotsprings Resort – Tucked away into the hills, this resort is a gem and great place to treat yourself. Imagine private pool villas, massages, cave restaurants and beautiful views!

Check out prices & availability at Banjaran Hotsprings Resort in Ipoh!

What to pack for your Ipoh itinerary

You don’t need much beyond your usual travel essentials, but here are a couple useful things you don’t want to forget for your Ipoh trip!

Waterproof jacket – even if you’re visiting in dry season, you will need one of these! We even went as far as rain ponchos, as it was just too rainy when we were there.

Adapter – depending on where you come from you might need one of these to charge your electronics. I like to use an international one so that it can work for multiple destinations.

Power bank – if you’re out and about all day you don’t want your phone to die on you just as you’re about to snap a great photo of the beautiful temples in Kuala Lumpur!

Waterproof shoes – if it ends up raining, you don’t want to get your feet wet! It’s also a good idea to pack flip-flops or a change of shoes, that way you can get out of your wet shoes at the end of the day (if you then head to the beach or waterfalls of Langkawi, you’ll need these then anyway!)

Do you need travel insurance to visit Ipoh?

After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.

You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your travel insurance with  Heymondo.

Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).

Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.

Plus, as a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance!

Click here to get your 5% off Heymondo travel insurance!

Final thoughts on my Ipoh day trip itinerary

There you have it, the ultimate Ipoh 1-day itinerary! Have you been to Ipoh before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ll admit that while I enjoyed visiting Ipoh, I recognise that it’s probably not the most exciting city in Asia. There are some cool views of limestone cliffs, pedestrian shopping streets and unique temples, but it’s not as wow as Bangkok for example.

It’s a great place to stop to break up the drive from Cameron Highlands to George Town, but I probably wouldn’t dedicate too long to it, especially if you have a tight Malaysia itinerary.

This is just my personal opinion. Other travellers see Ipoh as a beautiful hidden gem that is definitely worth visiting. While I agree that it’s a great place with lots of Ipoh attractions, I wouldn’t exactly define it as a must-see.

I hope you found my Ipoh itinerary useful, and that it helps you plan your day in Ipoh! If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

Enjoyed reading about doing a Ipoh one day trip? Pin it!