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An easy day trip from Kuala Lumpur and located around 6,000 feet above sea level, there are lots of things to do in Genting Highlands, the city within the clouds.
With incredible views and a wide array of indoor and outdoor attractions, Genting Highlands is popular with families, tourists and gamblers (as it is home to some of Malaysia’s biggest theme parks and casinos).
Arrive in style by cable car or shop ‘til you drop at the retail outlets. From tranquil temples to the world’s largest hotel, here is our guide to all the best Genting Highlands things to do in Malaysia:
You might like – Guide to Genting Highlands Premium Outlet shopping village >
Table of Contents
How to get to Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur
It is just over 50km from downtown Kuala Lumpur hotel to Genting Highlands via roads and highways, with the journey taking around 1 hour.
The Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highland bus runs frequently from several bus stations in Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral, Pudu Sentral or TBS) or you can book a Grab taxi or private transfer.
The bus to Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur city costs from just 10 MYR per person, whilst Grab taxis costs from 80 MYR to 100 MYR upwards.
In addition, you can hire a private transfer to take you from KL to Genting Highlands >
Read our detailed guide about getting from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands >
Try this – Genting Highlands day tour with Viator >
Genting Highlands accommodation
There are lots of good accommodation and hotel choices whilst staying in Genting Highlands including:
The First World Hotel
It is quite the experience staying in the world’s largest hotel room with over 7,000 hotel rooms, all with mountain views. View availability and rates >
Highlands Hotel
Popular 5 star hotel with onsite casino, spa, fitness centre, modern guestrooms and a range of restaurants. View availability and rates >
Genting SkyWorlds Hotel
One of the newest hotels in the Resorts World Genting complex (opened in 2023), is located footsteps away from Arena of Stars and SkyAvenue. View availability and rates >
Things to do in Genting Highlands, Malaysia
1. Genting Highlands Premium Outlet
Malaysia’s premier discount shopping center in the sky, Genting Highlands Premium Outlets is one of the best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur in a truly unique setting.
With around 150 designer outlet stores and big brands like Nike, Under Armour and Tommy Hilfiger at massive discounts, it is also one of the best things to do in Genting Highlands.
Attracting over 20 million shoppers annually and popular with overseas bargain hunters, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Genting Highlands Premium Outlets >
Try this – From Kuala Lumpur: Genting Highlands & Batu Caves Day Trip >
2. Awana Skyway
Arrive at the top of Genting Highlands in style (well, in a cable car anyway).
The most fun way to reach Genting Resorts and get incredible views of the valley, the Awana Skyway takes about 10 minutes to reach the top.
CK Travels tip – for the best views, try to get the right hand side of the cabin as you’ll get a better view of the Chin Swee Temple and theme parks on your ascent.
As it is subsidized and owned by Genting Resorts, the Awana Skyway only costs 10 MYR one way or 18 MYR return (the return ticket is valid for up to 72 hours).
For a little extra, you can even treat yourself to a glass bottom gondola – eek! Prices correct as of December 2023.
Book your Awana SkyWay Gondola Genting Cable Car Ticket with Klook >
3. Swee Caves Genting Temple
Easily accessible via the Awana Skyway cable car (it is included as a ‘free’ stop), the Chin Swee Caves Temple and pagoda have to be seen to be believed.
With breathtaking views and sublime shrines (including a HUGE Buddha), Chin Swee Caves Temple was built around 50 years ago and conceived by Tan Sri (Dr) Lim Goh Wong, founder of Resorts World Genting.
Be sure to visit the 9 storey pagoda that has over 10,000 blessing lamps plus the best views of the valley (free to enter and climb the stairs up).
Note that to get to the Swee Caves temple from the cable car, you have to navigate about 10 escalators and it takes about 15 minutes to get there so remember to factor this in if you are booked to return on a particular bus or group tour (so you don’t get left behind!).
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4. Sky Avenue / First World Complex
The highest shopping mall in Malaysia, Sky Avenue is part of the Genting World Resort and is home to dozens of shops, bars and restaurants both indoors and out.
With over 100 stores and big brands like H&M to Hugo Boss, this is a great place for retail therapy and then to reward yourself afterwards in one of the 40+ food and drink outlets.
If you fancy a little slice of Britain in Genting Highlands and some ‘traditional english foods’, you’ll find a very popular branch of Harry Ramsden’s fish and chip shop (just make sure you have mushy peas with your chips – you won’t regret it).
Nearby, there is also a small mall called First World Complex which has been recently refurbished.
You might like – Guide to Jalan Alor, KL’s popular night-market >
5. Genting SkyWay
So Genting Highlands has not one but two cable cars. Whilst Awana Skyway is the more commonly used (and where all the KL to Genting Highland buses drop off), this means Genting Skyway is usually a lot quieter (and is the back-up cable car when Awana closes).
Genting Skyway runs from Gohtong Jaya Station in the foothills to Highlands Station at the top and covers around 3.5km in around 15 minutes. It usually only operates during busy periods or when the other cable car is closed for maintenance.
You might like – Things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia >
6. Resorts World Roof Garden
For the best views and photo spots of the cable cars and Genting Skyworlds theme park, head up to the small rooftop space overlooking the entire site.
A popular spot – soak up the entire site or even get a unspoilt view of the world’s largest hotel (the First World Hotel).
This free rooftop space can be accessed by taking the stairs upstairs right next to the Highline Bar, in the outside part of Sky Avenue.
Try this – Genting Highlands day-trip and tour with Klook >
7. Genting Skyworld Theme Park
One of Malaysia’s biggest and newest theme parks located high in the sky and often enveloped with clouds, Genting Skyworld Theme park opened in 2022 and has 9 themed zones and over 25 rides.
There are several movie rides and attractions like Robot Rivets Town, Rio and Ice Age, plus live music, parades and character meet and greets daily.
Open from 11am to 6pm Wednesday to Monday, you can also visit the Gohtong Way section of the theme park for free from 6pm onwards when the rest of the park has closed.
Book your Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park Tickets on Klook >
8. Skytroplis Indoor Theme Park
With over 20 rides and attractions all under one roof, this is an all weather affair that is free to enter (with rides available as part of a one day unlimited pass).
So if you don’t have time for Skyworlds (or don’t want to pay their hefty admission fee), Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park might be for you.
From indoor carousels to pirate ships, a large Eiffel Tower to go-karts galore, Skytroplis Indoor Theme Park is fun for all the family.
If rides and games aren’t your thing, you’ll also find Genting’s only bowling alley, Genting Bowl on level 3 and Vision City Video Games Park on level 2.
Book your Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Ticket with Klook >
9. Go gambling at Genting Casinos
Boasting not one but two huge casinos on the clouds (with several small casino off-shoots), the two main gambling halls here are Genting Casino in Genting Grand Complex and SkyCasino in SkyAvenue Mall.
Genting was the first ever mainland casino opened in Malaysia and has been a mecca for gamblers and gaming enthusiasts from all over the world ever since.
Note you are unable to take any backpacks or bags into the casino so if you are just here for the day, it might be difficult to get in – you must also be over 21 years of age.
As ever, play responsibly and don’t bet your entire travel budget on red!
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Street food in Genting Highlands
If you are after a budget bite or cheap eats in Genting Highlands, there are a couple of street food halls and markets that offer dozens of dishes at for a few Ringgit:
10. Jom Makan Street Food
A small but very cheap food court, Jom Makan Street Food has five stalls selling traditional Malaysian dishes like nasi lemak and roti.
This is where we chose to grab a snack and had a huge tandoori chicken dish with roti and kopi to drink for around 15 MYR.
Highly recommended and delicious, plus you can also pay cash / use a debit card unlike a lot of other Malaysian food courts where you need to get a special payment card from the cashier.
You might like – Guide to Melaka’s famous Jonker Street Night Market >
11. Malaysian Food Street
Resorts World Genting’s most popular food court, Malaysian Food Street is a cavernous street food market themed to look like an old Malaysian hawker market – think washing lines, brick walls, vintage posters and wooden food carts.
With ample seating and huge choice, this is a tasty place for a quick bite if you don’t fancy going to the more expensive bars and restaurants in nearby Sky Avenue.
Malaysian Food Street has around 20 hawker food stalls like Penang Fried Kway Teo, Hainese rice chicken and cool as chendol.
You might like – Ipoh’s best cafes and coffee shops in Malaysia >
12. Genting Grand Complex / Vision City Video Games Park
‘Halo’ to this epic arcade featuring new and classic games like basketball, Mario Kart, Sonic all stars and more.
Geared towards families and younger gamers, this is a neon nirvana of games galore and even has a Japanese drumming machine. You can also win prizes too at carnival style side stalls.
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13. Sky VR
If the cable car up wasn’t exciting enough, time to travel into deep space at the SKY VR centre, located on the second floor of the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park.
Virtually one of Genting Highlands’s best things to do, navigate new worlds and have outer space adventures from the comfort of a 360 degree simulator – maybe just don’t eat too much in the food courts before-hand!
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14. Genting Gohtong Way
New for 2023, Gohtong Way at Genting Highlands is the best way to get a free glimpse of the SkyWorlds Theme Park without paying the hefty admission fees.
Open daily from 6pm (when the theme park closes), Gohtong Way is themed food and entertainment street where you can enjoy live music, see fountain shows and dine on delicious street food.
At Christmas time, there is a even a nightly snow cannon show so it feels very festive (and possibly the only place to see ‘snow’ falling in Kuala Lumpur at Christmas).
You can also try one of the theme-parks most popular rides, Genting SkyWorlds Night at the Museum: Midnight Mayhem – for 25 MYR.
Please note that Gohtong Way is closed on Tuesdays .
You might like – Things to do in Kuala Lumpur at Christmas >
15. Sky Symphony indoor show
Now this Genting Highland thing to do is a lot of ‘balls’ but in a good way!
The Sky Symphony is a free, immersive light and theatre performance (ish) that takes place every hour in SkyAvenue from 10am to 10pm (with a few bonus shows inbetween).
The set-up consists of over 1000 LED balls that move up and down creating scenes and characters in time to music with regularly changing shows.
For instance, we saw the Sky Symphony in December and it was all about Father Christmas and various festive characters.
The Sky Symphony is OK for free but you definitely won’t need to see it more than once.
Try this – Things to do in Genting Highlands with GetYourGuide >
16. Arena of Stars
The main musical venue and amphitheater in the area, the Arena of Stars plays host to international artists and touring bands and can seat up to 5,000 guests.
It is heavily advertised around the casino area and has hosted such icons as Sir Elton John, All 4 One and John Legend – current Arena of Stars shows and ticket information can be found here >
17. The First World Hotel
Even if you aren’t planning on staying in Genting Highlands, The First World Hotel is quite the sight and hard to miss.
Not only is it the world’s largest hotel with over 7,300 hotel rooms (now that is a lot of pillow cases!), the exterior looks as if it has been made from millions of big and bright Lego bricks.
It first opened in 2001, with vast extensions in both 2006 and 2014. Apparently Las Vegas kept opening bigger hotels but First World wanted to retain their ‘world’s largest hotel title’ so they continue to expand!
Room rates start from as low as £30 but expect to pay much more in peak periods.
Check out The First World Hotel in Genting rates with booking.com here >
18. High Line Roof Top Market
Talk about views with brews. Billed as Malaysia’s highest dining spot and restaurant, the High Line is a bar and food complex at the very top of Genting World Resort.
There are lots of choice of beers served in Brooklyn Brewery through to classic BBQ and burger dishes (or treat yourself to caviar and oysters).
High Line has lots of happy hour specials in the daytime including some REALLY cheap lunchtime food specials. Be sure to get there early to bag a coveted spot at the window or terrace that looks out over the mountain and theme park.
Try this – Glamz at Genting Glamping Experience with Breakfast >
19. Zouk Genting / Zouk Atrium
Dance the night away at Genting’s premier nightclub, Zouk Genting has five zones and epic bars under one roof.
We’d also expect partying at such high altitude will make the drink take impact quicker so a cheap night could be on the cards.
By day, the Zouk Atrium is also popular for shopping and lunch, with a big branch of Burger and Lobster to get the taste buds going.
Try this – Genting Highlands Tour plus Batu Caves, Batik & Pewter Factory >
20. Bona Cinema IMAX
If you are staying in Genting for several days and fancy a film, Bona Cinema is a luxury cinema in the heart of SkyAvenue that has an IMAX screen, plus Gold Class boxes that have motion control seats plus popcorn and soft drinks included.
A little piece of Hollywood in the Malaysian hills, pop-corn along to the Bona IMAX Cinema when you want to escape the mountain mist or rain showers.
Try this – Genting Highlands Day Trip from Kuala Lumpur with Skyway Cable Car Ride >
21. Swensen’s @ Genting Highlands
A famous ice-cream and soft serve company which we love, this happens to be both the only space-shipped themed ice-cream bar we know of. Plus Gentings Swensens is the highest branch of Swensens in the world!
The decor here is incredible and it kind of feels like dining on a sailing ship as opposed to a space-ship; sitting on the top deck also affords a great view of the hourly Sky Symphony show plus all the hustle and bustle of SkyAvenue.
Sundaes from Swensen’s @ Genting Highlands start from 18 MYR for 2 scoops of ice-cream.
Also unlike most of the Swensens we’ve been to around the world, this branch offers an extensive hot food menu (and we don’t just mean hot fudge sundaes).
Try this – The Yanne Onsen Spa Experience in Genting Highlands >
22. Studio K Karaoke
Go Korean in Genting Highlands at the Studio K Karaoke booth!
At Studio K, you can sing out classic songs to your heart’s content in the karaoke booth (some of which are on display to the public) – so you can have the real Hongdae Seoul style karaoke experience.
Studio K is located on the second floor of the First World Plaza.
You might like – Our ultimate guide to Korean Photo Booths >
23. Ripley’s Adventureland Genting
Believe it or not (see what we did there!?) but there are actually several different attractions and fun zones that you can enjoy at Ripley’s Adventureland in Genting – great for children or big kids (that means you, Mum and Dad).
Located on the top floor of Sky Avenue, these awesome attractions and activities at Ripleys include:
- Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
- Jurassic Research Centre
- Zombie Outbreak
- 4D Trick Art Museum
- Infinity Room
- Jungle Gym, SkyAvenue Genting Highlands >
- Eagle Landing Zipline >
The best value pass is the 5 attractions combo meaning you can visit Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, the Infinity Room, Jurassic Research Centre, Zombie Outbreak and the 4D Trick Art Museum all in for 88 MYR per adult.
Buy Ripley’s Adventure Pass in Genting Highlands with Klook or Viator.
24. Butterfly Wonderland
Get close to nature in this colourful and captivating attraction in Genting Highlands.
Butterfly Wonderland is home to hundreds of birds and thousands of butterflies that float around freely (and may even land on your clothes if you are wearing bright colours).
Next door, you can also make a bee-line (sorry not sorry) to Happy Bee farm and learn about honey production (you can even buy sweet honey souvenirs).
25. Formula fun by Kyatchi
We include ‘Formula fun by Kyatchi’ in our Genting Highlands things to do list as you may well have ridden a go-kart before but how about taking a ride in a robot? This indoor Genting go-kart track located by Ripley’s Adventureland has an automated ace up its sleeve…
Yes, here you can hire remote controlled robots and re-enact your favourite Transformers moments – it is meant to be for kids but hey, we won’t judge if you also want to jump aboard.
Our final thing to do in Genting Highlands
26. Genting Ten Caves of Hell
Certainly one of the more ‘interesting’ Genting Highlands things to do, the ‘10 Chambers of Hell’ cave sculpture trail is part of the Swee Caves complex and is one ‘bloody’ unique experience’ – quite literally.
The 10 Caves of Hell are free to visit are essentially grisly grottos cut into the side of the mountain depicting frightening yet slightly funny scenes of death, which some Buddhist worshippers happen to those who lived a life in sin after they pass away.
Potentially not suitable for very small children and reminiscent of an episode of Tom & Jerry, this is one to check out if you are already visiting the Swee Caves.
You might like – Things to in Melaka, Malaysia >
Other things to do in Genting Highlands
- Please note the SnowWorld Theme Park at Genting is temporarily closed as at December 2023.
- Enjoy succulent strawberries at strawberry farms dotted around Genting Highlands
How long should you spend at Genting Highlands?
There is so much to see and do at Genting that a full day is recommended, if you are unable to stay overnight. Allow a full day especially given 2 to 3 hours will be spent on a bus or Grab taxi.
Other Malaysia blog posts you might like
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Shopping Guide
- Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands Bus Guide
- Jalan Alor food street guide in Kuala Lumpur
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