Introduction To Terengganu

The eastern state of Terengganu encompasses an area of 13,000 square miles with a population of just under one million residents. There are quite a few interesting islands off the mainland to explore here, such as Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang. Visitors to Terengganu also have a variety of sights and activities to enjoy such as snorkelling, taking in lazy and beautiful beaches, jungle trekking and of course setting about the main city of Kuala Terengganu.

Historically, Terengganu was officially recognised as a Malay state in 1724 prior to which it was a solo trading region. In the 1900’s it was taken over by the British until 1948 when it rejoined as a state of Malaysia.

Things To See & Do In Terengganu

The city of Kuala Terengganu has a fair bit to interest tourists – there are the usual night markets that are to be found in practically all Malaysian settlements. There’s also a well developed Chinatown that has some good oriental restaurants, not to mention some interesting buildings – the Zainal Abidin Mosque has some interesting architecture to it. Also worthy of note within the capital of Terengganu is Princess Hill which offers some excellent vistas of the region. You can also catch an interesting cultural show at the cultural theatre.

Above - A Market In Terengganu’s Chinatown Area (Footage From Youtube)

Nearby the city, the Kompleks Museum Negeri is one of the largest in Malaysia and holds thousands of superb artefacts and exhibitions – for natural beauty, the Tasik Kenyir Lake and Sekayu Falls are closeby to Terengganu.

Good beaches are not difficult to find in the region – Rantau Abang, Dungun and Paka are among the best.

There are also some picturesque, traditional fishing villages in the area – Batu Rakit lies north of the main city and there is a good array of eateries as well as a nice beach here. Alternatively, Merang is another though not quite as eye catching to the tourist.

There are a couple of small islands that are off the main coast of Terengganu – most notably Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Perhentian, both of which can be reached by a fairly quick boat ride. Both islands offer hotels and accommodation should you wish to stay here.

Hotels, Guesthouses & Other Accommodation In Terengganu (Malaysia)

There are quite a few places to stay in Kuala Terengganu, and other places also offer a decent variety of accommodation types. Here are a few choices:

Kuala Terengganu

Grand Continental (5 Star)

Primula Beach Resort (5 Star)

Primula Park Royal (4 Star)

Gem Beach (3 Star)

Motel Desa (3 Star)

Seri Malaysia (3 Star)

Awi’s Yellow House (2 Star/Guesthouse)

Other Hotels In Terengganu

Kenyir Lakeview (5 Star)

Aryani (4 Star)

Awana (3 Star)

Strawberry Kijal Resort (3 Star)

Best Western (3 Star)

Sutra Beach Resort (3 Star)

Tanjong Jara (3 Star)

Restaurants, Café’s, Bars – Places To Eat & Drink In Terengganu

Most hotels and resorts offer fairly well created Malaysian meals every night, but there are various places to eat and drink in Terengganu.

As you may expect, there are a couple of good Chinese restaurants like Tian Kee and Golden Dragon in the heart of Kuala Terengganu. Seafood places are also prevalent if you stroll around the main city area and there is a Curry house too if you fancy something spicy. As in most Malaysian cities, there is a hawker centre where you can lap up some traditional Malay food on the cheap.

Other places you may wish to have a snack at are the Travellers Café, or the Guan.

Shopping possibilities do exists here too – the Noor Arfa Craft Complex offers some interesting handiworks, and there’s a lot of variety in the Central Market too.