Kuala Terengganu



Kuala Terengganu is the administrative capital, royal capital and the main economic centre of Terengganu, on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. The city is also the main gateway to many of the state's tourist destinations, including Kampung Cina, Pasar Besar Kedai Payang, Terengganu State Museum, and Batu Buruk Beach. Even though the city is not spared from modernity and development, Kuala Terengganu retains strong Malay influences that are intermixed with other cultures from its long history as a port.

Understand
Kuala Terengganu is about 440 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur. The city sits at the estuary of Terengganu River, facing the South China Sea.

It had a population of 426,500 in 2020.

By bus




From Kuala Besut the bus timetable is erratic: approximate timetable is 7AM, 8:30AM, 10:30AM, 1PM, 2PM and 4:30PM. The bus stop in Kuala Besut is in the village near the market square (around 1 km from the jetty). The yellow bus (SP Bumi) can actually be picked up along the main road from the jetty. Turn left at the end of the jetty and walk to the end of the main road, bus will stop on the corner just before the bridge. Service is limited on Friday, usually one in the morning and another at lunch time.

By car
Kuala Terengganu is the terminus of the East Coast Expressway from Kuala Lumpur via Kuantan, taking about 5 hours to cover the distance of approximately 450 km. There are plans to extend the East Coast Expressway onward to Kota Bharu, but for now, you must travel by regular country roads with traffic lights and lower speed limits; it should take you approximately 2.5-3 hours to cover the distance of about 160 km.

Get around

 * The only way you can get to the town from the airport is by taxi
 * The local municipality provides buses that roam around the town up to Kuala Ibai, Taman Tamadun Islam and a few other attraction areas.
 * The market jetty has ferries to Seberang Takir (70 c) and Pulau Duyung (70 c).
 * The Seri Malaysia jetty has a ferry to Pulau Duyung (1RM).

Do

 * Go to the Pasar Payang (Big Bazaar) and the covered open-air market across the street and buy some delicious fresh fruits.
 * Ride a special bus called Bas Bandar, beautifully designed mirroring a moving traditional house
 * Take a short small boat trip from Kuala Terengganu jetty to the fishing village of Seberang Takir, which will cost you RM1. The jetty is located beside the floating restaurant in front of Terengganu Tourism office at Pasar Besar Payang.
 * Catch some local foods in one of the Night Markets in the city:
 * At the park near Dataran Shahbandar jetty on weekend nights
 * On Pulau Warisan behind Jalan Kapung Cina
 * In front of the City Hall (MBKT) along Jalan Sultan Ismail on Friday nights

Eat

 * Keropok lekor, a kind of fish sausage served with sweet chili sauce, is a must-try.
 * Many traditionally prepared Malay cakes (kuih) are sold in Kuala Terengganu - among other places, in the Pasar.
 * Laksa Terengganu, the state's version of the pan-Malaysian spicy noodle soup
 * Nasi dagang, the most famous dish in Terengganu, is often served as breakfast or lunch at small stall and restaurants. This is a dish of delicious sweet and spicy sauce with glutinous rice.

Drink
You can find locally popular fruit juice in a big mug known as "air buah gelas besar". Many choices of fresh fruit juice are available. You can find it in Seberang Takir (about 5 km from KT on the road heading to Kuala Terengganu airport). It operates from 5PM to midnight.

You can also buy a variety of different fresh fruit juices, coconut water, etc. from vendors outside the Pasar Besar in Kuala Terengganu.

There are reportedly no more than 10 bars in the city. Kris n Cheng, near the waterfront, has pleasant owners and is good for darts, drinks and light singing.

Locals are mostly made up of Muslims, but you can find alcohol supplies in the most Chinese restaurants around Chinatown. Do not drink publicly as this will often offend locals. You can drink at restaurants or back at your hotel room.

Budget
In Kuala Terengganu, you will find all types of hotels from top range to small Chinese basic places.
 * Awi Yellow House (or "Rumah kuning") in Pulau Duying. Visitors stay in a wooden bungalow on the river (stilt house) and have a shared kitchen. The place is very quiet, friendly and you live with flowers, boats, etc. There is a night market near the bridge every Friday.

Go next

 * Kota Bharu 3-hour bus ride north.
 * Kuantan 3-hour bus ride south.
 * Pulau Redang - one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia and a scuba diver's paradise.
 * Pulau Perhentian - cluster of islands known for their excellent scuba-diving, snorkeling and jungle trekking.
 * Pulau Kapas - Just an hour's trip from Kuala Terengganu, this is where locals go to relax and unwind. Great place to unwind with few backpackers and no parties.
 * Lata Cemerong (Cemerong waterfalls) - Remote, very tall waterfall in a (near) pristine forest at Pasir Raja. Only accessible after an hour's trekking through difficult terrain, the waterfall is located at Hutan Lipur Cemerong (Cemerong Recreation Park). One trail at the park leads to Cemerong; the other leads to the 1108-metre Gunung Berumbun. Park contains shower, camping and lodging facilities. About 100 km (2 hours by car) south of Kuala Terengganu & 40 km (an hour) from Dungun.