Kelantan is a very small state which occupies a land mass of barely 15,000 square miles with a population of about 1.3 million people. While there is only one major settlement (Kota Bharu), Kelantan also enjoys a border with Thailand, and there is a lot of scenic beauty – especially if you get the chance to go through the jungle railway.

Things To See & Do In Kelantan

The main city of Kota Bharu is the main city in Kelantan, with an airport and the usual offerings of banks, eateries, night markets and shopping centres that you would expect to find in most Malaysian cities. There are also one or two good places for museum lovers to visit – Bank Kerapu, Istana Jahar and Museum Islam are among the more popular offerings.

You can see cultural shows at the buzzing Gelanggang Seni too. Shopaholics are well catered for – the central market is the place to find fresh produce but shopping for tourists who are after souvenirs are best found at Bazaar Buluh Kubu or KB Mall.

Outside of Kota Bharu, you can visit the Masjid Kampung Laut, which happens to be an ancient mosque that dates back to the 17^th century. The Jelawang Jungle Park is also quite a stunning natural place to visit – there are some intriguing attractions within from mystical caves to lush waterfalls all set amidst a jungle backdrop.

While Kelantan is not especially known for it’s beaches there are a couple of very nice ones – most tourists head toward Pantai Irama, Pantai Cahaya Bulan or Pantai Seri Tujuh.

Hotels, Guesthouses & Other Accommodation In Kelantan (Malaysia)

Given it’s size, there isn’t exactly an abundance of accommodation within Kelantan, and many of the hotels and resorts tend to be concentrated within the capital Kota Bharu. Here are a few of the hotel listings that are popular:

Renaissance Hotel Kota Bharu (Expensive)

Grand Riverview Hotel (Expensive)

Perdana (Standard)

Suria Hotel (Standard)

Juita Inn (Standard)

Dynasty Inn (Standard)

Ideal Travellers Lodge (Cheap)

Temenggong (Cheap)

Pantai Cahaya Resort (Cheap)

Restaurants & Places To Eat In Kelantan

A lot of the eateries within the state of Kelantan can be found within the capital of Kota Bharu – that’s not to say there’s nothing available elsewhere.

In the capital, there are a couple of classy restaurants – notably Four Seasons which serves up a variety of West & East dishes or the Renaissance which offers pricey set meals in opulent surroundings. If you’re on a strict budget, you may need to opt for one of the many other restaurants such as Ships (seafood as well as other fare), Medan Usahawan (Malay) or one of the other places offering fairly inexpensive (yet decent) fare.

In the Hotel Perdana is the highly regarded Golden Jade Chinese Restaurant – the menu offers a good selection of both Western & local Malay/Chinese cuisine and is well worth a visit.

Outside the main city, the beaches along Pantai Cahaya Bulan, and Pantai Seri Tujuh have some reasonable eateries to check out.