Top Things To Do In Ipoh

Straddling the Kinta River is the capital of Perak, Ipoh, a sleepy city where crumbling shophouses with fading calligraphy stand next to grand colonial edifices and hipster cafes share space with old-school kopitiams and hawker stalls; a city where the present seems to meld into the past in art-filled lanes, in temples pocketed in limestone karsts, in the emptiness of abandoned shophouses. Check out the top 15 things to do in Ipoh.

IPOH / MALAYSIA

A city on the banks of the Kinta River, Ipoh (pronounced: ee-poh) isn’t a stop for most travellers to Malaysia. And that is a mistake because Ipoh is the kind of city that inspires, a city that can overnight become your muse. The past and present collide in the streets of Ipoh to create an artist’s canvas. Ipoh’s heydays as the bustling heart of Malaysia’s tin mining industry are long gone but the city is coming to life again, in a completely new avatar. The city council is restoring colonial-era shophouses and buildings; they are being transformed into boutiques, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, and event spaces. Walk along one of Ipoh’s streets and the abundance of photo opportunities will baffle you: Dilapidated buildings showcasing a hotch-potch of European, Brutalist, and Chinese architecture, countless kopitiams where you can sip white coffee from porcelain cups painted with Chinese motifs, colourful street art gracing every nook and cranny, hawker stalls dishing out noodle soups in the most beautiful ceramic bowls…there’s so much happening on the streets of this city and so many things to do in Ipoh. We travelled to Ipoh after visiting Kuala Lumpur and Cameron Highlands and fell in love with the city. Keep at least 2 to 3 days in Ipoh to discover all the things to see and do in Ipoh.

Top Things to Do in Ipoh

• Start your day at a Kopitiam
• Tour the Concubine Lanes
• Stay at a Heritage Hotel
• Marvel at Murals
• Stroll along the Kinta River
• Visit the Han Chin Pet Soo
• Fill up on Dim Sum
• Explore Kong Heng Square
• Visit 22 Hale Street Heritage Gallery
• Go on a Food Walk
• Tour the Cave Temples
• Go on a Photo Walk
• Visit the Night Market in Ipoh
• Shop at the Sunday Flea Market on Memory Lane
• Walk the Ipoh Heritage Trail
• Dine at Tong Sui Kai

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Things to Do in Ipoh

From heritage walks to tasting the delicious local fare, from visiting cave temples to taking riverside strolls, there are lots of things to do in Ipoh. Don’t skip Ipoh on your 2 weeks Malaysia trip plan.

Start your day at a Kopitiam

If you know us, you know that we love a good breakfast on our trips. Breakfast at a kopitiam is undoubtedly the top thing to do in Ipoh! Some kaya toast and creamy egg tarts with a cup of white coffee one morning and I hooked to the one meal I had skipped forever. Ipoh is full of old-school kopitiams (coffee shops) like Nam Heong, Sin Yoon Loong, Sin Yoon Fong, Lim Kopi, Thean Chun, Ah Chow, and Yee Fatt where you can enjoy a traditional Ipoh-style breakfast. If you want something more filling, order a bowl of spicy Curry Mee or a plate of Char Kuay Teow with shrimp and fried duck eggs.

Tour the Concubine Lanes

Ipoh’s Concubine Lanes— there are three of them namely Lorong Hale (Wife Lane), Lorong Panglima (Concubine Lane), and Market Lane— have an interesting history. According to local oral history, a Chinese tycoon named Yao Tet Shen bought houses for his wife and his concubines on these lanes when Ipoh was being rebuilt after a fire that razed the town in 1892. In other accounts, the pre-war houses along the lane housed the concubines of Chinese tycoons and British officers. Most of the buildings had fallen into disrepair till the city council decided to renovate the heritage structures that line these narrow lanes. Today, the lanes with their murals and Chinese lamps are amongst Ipoh’s most visited attractions. Cute cafes, stores selling souvenirs and mini cacti, pop-up stalls serving a host of snacks from ice balls to roasted chestnuts, eateries, and artists’ galleries all cater to the numerous tourists who flock to these lanes daily.

Stay at a Heritage Hotel

In Ipoh, the local council together with enterprising locals is slowly restoring the city’s heritage architecture. Most of these heritage houses feature antique furniture, original tilework, and intricate woodwork as was popular in those days. In Ipoh, you can stay at painstakingly restored Chinese shophouses such as the JQ Ban Loong Boutique Hotel (we stayed here and the service was excellent) and eclectic Straits-style townhouses such as the Sarang Paloh Heritage Stay. If you are looking for a more modern accommodation, WEIL Hotel and The Horizon are both highly rated.

Marvel at Murals

Going on a mural walk is one of the top things to do in Ipoh. Most tourists visiting Ipoh religiously track down Ernest Zacharevic’s murals. Originally there were seven of them– the hummingbird, kopi-O, old uncle with coffee cup, paper plane, evolution, trishaw, girl with stool and birdcage, small kopi-O — of which the last two no longer exist. But Zacharevic’s murals are not all; local artists have filled the town with some amazing street art. In Ipoh’s new town, there’s a street named Mural Lane where you can see some amazing artwork depicting local life, cultures, festivals, and traditions. If you love chasing murals, you must also visit George Town in Penang on your Malaysia trip.

Stroll along the Kinta River

No matter which part of Ipoh you are staying at, you will end up walking across the bridge over the Kinta River a couple of times for the river is the dividing line between Ipoh’s old and new towns. A few kilometres north of the Concubine Lanes is the Kinta River Walk, a stretch along the Kinta River that has been spruced up with lights and pop-up stalls to draw tourists. Bicycles and tricycles are available for rent and you can also watch the locals fishing in the river. The colourfully lit bridges offer a lovely frame for the craggy limestone cliffs and pockets of jungles that adorn the horizon. On the weekend we were visiting, there was a food and music festival and we ended up spending a few hours by the river sampling a variety of dumplings, oyster omelettes, and more. There were shops selling local artwork and handicrafts.

Visit the Han Chin Pet Soo

The Han Chin Pet Soo or the Hakka Miners’ Club is an important landmark in Ipoh’s history. The museum has an impeccably preserved collection of artefacts from when the building served as a club for Chinese tycoons from the mining industry. The guided tour is one of the top things to do in Ipoh and will take you through Ipoh’s history, Hakka Chinese immigration to Malaysia and Singapore, tales of Ipoh’s affluent pre-war inhabitants, and the history of the building. You can learn about the life of the mine owners, their opium and gambling addictions and about the many Chinese women who migrated to Ipoh to become mistresses to these tycoons. Beautifully restored furniture including Belgian mirrors and hardwood artefacts adorn the rooms. The original tile work and the curved windows on the first floor have been painstakingly restored. Entry is free; there is a donation box where you can donate towards the upkeep of the building.

Fill up on Dim Sum

The best things to do in Ipoh revolve around food! In Ipoh, locals love to go for a long, lingering breakfast at dim sum restaurants. Foh San, a two-storey restaurant, is famous for its delicious dim sum. Try the century eggs, black pepper sui mai, duck dumplings, salted egg custard, meat floss roll, and supreme prawn dumplings with some Chinese tea on the side. If you still aren’t full, cross the road and drop in at Restoran Chef Fatt for the pork bao and fried sui kow or the tourist-friendly Ming Court for more dumplings. Ordering can be somewhat complicated especially if you don’t speak the local language at all. Watch closely how the locals order and try to follow. You can pick up your dim sum of choice at the counter or choose from the selection that the servers bring on trolleys.

Explore Kong Heng Square

Kong Heng Square is Ipoh’s hipster heart. Choc-a-bloc with boutiques, hip cafes and eateries, and artists’ stalls, the industrial-chic complex draws crowds of millennials, both locals and tourists, daily. You can browse books at Book Xcess, a bookstore built within an abandoned bank vault, or stop for an ice ball at Bits and Bobs. Book Xcess also has a museum where you can check out some of the works of a local filmmaker, Yasmin Ahmed. Housed in a colonial-era shophouse, the very Instagrammable Burps & Giggles serves excellent coffee, desserts, and sandwiches. Or, you can stop by at Plan B for some Melbourne-style lattes. The square also has a barbershop, a tribute to Ipoh’s many Indian barbers, and a lot of independent stalls selling souvenirs and handicrafts. Artworks by local artists are all around the place. And if you love staying in the middle of all this action, consider booking a room at Sekeping Kong Heng which is housed in what was once the Ipoh dramatists’ hostel. On the ground floor is Kedai Kopi Kong Heng, another of Ipoh’s gems.

Visit 22 Hale Street Heritage Gallery

But first, stop to eat the kaya toast at the Dong Café @Hale Street. Unlike the kaya toast at every other place, here they cut the butter into columns and arrange them, in between two slices of perfectly toasted bread, like Jenga blocks. In the gallery upstairs, you can catch a glimpse into the lives of Ipoh’s affluent Chinese population in the pre-war days. Exquisite hardwood furniture with lacquer and mother-of-pearl detailing, porcelain kitchenware, artwork, silk fabrics and dresses, and various other artefacts are arranged neatly in “rooms” inside resembling an opulent Chinese “house.” They also hold events, so check out their calendar.

Go on a Food Walk

Malaysia charms with its food, and it is obvious that food walks are some of the best things to do in Ipoh! Ipoh regularly ranks as one of Malaysia’s top destinations for foodies and it will take you only a few hours in the city to understand why. There’s so much deliciousness in Ipoh, that you’ll start wishing you had space, a lot more space, in your stomach! Start your day with some of those amazing egg tarts at Hong Kee Egg Tart. Or, if you are in the old town, drop in at Nam Heong for a piping hot bowl of Curry Mee or order the Dan Zhi at Sin Yoon Loong. Then walk to Foh San in the new town of Ipoh for their excellent dim sum. And onwards to Big Foot restaurant to try their Yong Tau Fu and Ipoh-style Laksa. Cool down with a bottle of “snow beer,” an Ipoh speciality particularly popular at Kafe Sun Yoon Wah and Restoran Frens Corner or buy an ais kepal (flavoured ice ball) from Bits and Bobs. For lunch, there’s Ipoh’s famous salted chicken and the beansprouts chicken. Later in the evening, settle down on a stool at Tong Sui hawker stalls and order a plate of Wantan Hor, some Chee Cheong Fun, and Chicken Rice. End on a sweet note with a gigantic bowl of Ais Kacang. Or, if you still aren’t full, get yourself a plate of rojak.

IPOH FOR VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS: Ipoh can be somewhat difficult for vegetarians. Try the thosai and banana leaf curries at Sri Anand Bhavan. Plan B, though a tad expensive, has an array of salads. Most kopitiams and hawker stalls will make you a vegetarian char kuey teow or mee goreng but enquire ahead if they cook with pork lard. The hipster cafes in Kong Heng Square all have vegetarian and vegan options. Sadly, we found no vegan options at all at any of the three dim sum places we tried. For vegetarians, there’s the salted egg custard at Foh San.

Tour the Cave Temples

There are about 30 Buddhist and Taoist shrines in Ipoh, some hidden in caves and others clinging to limestone karsts in the mountains surrounding the city. The Sam Poh Tong Temple is the largest such cave temple in Malaysia and also the most visited. Climb the 240 steps to the entrance and you’ll be rewarded with mesmerizing views of Gunung Rapat. Nearby, there’s the Ling Sen Tong Temple with a gigantic statue of the Buddha and the Nam Thean Tong Temple. All three can be reached on buses T34 and T37 that run from Medan Kidd. The Kek Lok Tong Temple is located in one of the most majestic caves in the region; it is located further to the east and you’ll have to book a Grab to get there. To the south is the Guanyin Cave where there is a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin Tong. A visit to the cave temples is a must on any things to do in Ipoh list.

Go on a Photo Walk

Ipoh is a photographer’s delight! Straits-style shop houses are everywhere in Ipoh; some of these have been restored, others stand witness to the passage of time. Pastel walls, louvred windows, colourful doors, and hand-painted shop signs make for interesting photos. The dilapidated ones have a charm of their own; walking through the streets of Ipoh reminded us of the forgotten alleys of North Calcutta where many a mansion stands gathering dust today. Besides oriental architecture, Ipoh has several colonial buildings that were commissioned by the British government. Most of these buildings are located in the old town and are a part of the Ipoh Heritage Trail. Ipoh’s new town presents an eclectic blend of the past and the present. Check out the 1950s theatres, dilapidated office buildings and hotels, terrazzo floor mosaics, and arched five-foot ways. If architecture isn’t your jam, visit one of the many coffee shops or tour the Concubine Lanes where you can find countless opportunities for street photography. At night, head over to the night market, camera in tow!

Visit the Night Market in Ipoh

Ipoh’s vibrant night market is the best place to try some of Ipoh’s unique dishes and also indulge in some shopping. There are a host of shops selling clothes, counterfeit designer watches, bags, shoes, and much more. We highly recommend popping into the Purple Cane Tea Shop for one of their seasonal jellies; we tried the matcha and caramel flavours and both were heavenly! They also serve a variety of teas and stock everything that you might need for a tea ceremony. There are also a number of biscuit shops where you can buy baked goodies, mooncakes, and buns. For dinner, order a plate of beansprout chicken at Restoran Tauge Ayam Ong Kee or the blanched baby octopus at Tuck Kee then get some Tau Fu Fah for dessert.

Shop at the Sunday Flea Market on Memory Lane

One of the more unique things to do in Ipoh is to visit the Sunday flea market on Memory Lane. The market is choc-a-bloc with sellers selling vintage Malay memorabilia including hand-painted tiffin boxes and Chinese porcelain, British-era goods, second-hand clothes, and food and drinks. At one of the stalls, we spotted a lovely gramophone and boxes of old records. At another, there was a pair of hand-painted Hungarian clogs. Laid out on tarpaulin on the sidewalks were melamine plates, cutlery, and numerous knick-knacks.

Walk the Ipoh Heritage Trail

The Ipoh Heritage Trail takes you past Ipoh’s magnificent colonial buildings. There are 30 buildings, almost all in the old town, marked on the Ipoh Heritage Trail map that you can pick up at your hotel. Some of the most remarkable ones are the Arlene Building (Chung Thye Building), Hong Kong & Shanghai Building, Dramatists’ Hostel, Birch Memorial, Perak Hydro Building, Han Chin Pet Soo, Perak Koo Kong Chow Association, and the S.P.H. De Silva Building.

Dine at Tong Sui Kai

What better way to end a list of the best things to do in Ipoh than with more food? Post sundown, the strip of hawker stalls at Tong Sui Kai becomes Ipoh’s most happening attraction. Tong Sui Kai literally translates to “Dessert street” but you get a lot here besides desserts. Locals flock to the stall for the mixed fruit ABC, a dish of cut fruits topped with a scoop of ice cream and other toppings, but you can also try some of Ipoh’s iconic dishes like the Ipoh-style Laksa, Wantan Hor, Hokkien Mee, Rojak, Curry Mee, Blood Cockles, and Char Kuey Teow. Grab a stool, order from different stalls, and set up a spread!

Ipoh is poised to become one of Southeast Asia’s hippiest cities but if you want a taste of the old city with its crumbling, moss-ridden buildings, go now. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience to watch a city being resurrected, lovingly, one broken patch at a time by individuals and organizations who are head over heels in love with it. There are so many things to do in Ipoh! We spent three days in Ipoh– barely enough to scratch the surface– so, give yourself at least a week and walk, walk a lot through its streets and lanes for there’s no better way to explore a city than on foot.

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