Things to Do in Genting Highlands
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About Genting Highlands
Genting Highlands sits at 1,865 meters above sea level, about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur, and it exists purely as an escape from the tropical heat below. This is Malaysia's only legal casino resort, built into the hills starting in the 1960s by Chinese-Malaysian tycoon Lim Goh Tong, and it has since ballooned into a strange, compelling mix of gaming floor, theme park, shopping mall, and cool-weather retreat all stacked on top of a mountain. The temperature hovers between 15-25°C year-round, which is reason enough for many Malaysians and Singaporeans to make the trip on weekends just to wear a jacket.
What makes Genting genuinely worth visiting is the sheer density of things crammed into a small footprint: Southeast Asia's largest indoor theme park (Skytropolis), an outdoor park with rides suspended over the hillside, a casino that runs 24 hours, and the SkyWorlds theme park that finally opened after years of delays. The cable car ride up — Awana Skyway — is one of the best reasons to come here even if you skip everything else, gliding over rainforest canopy with views that stretch to KL on a clear day. It's kitschy, foggy, occasionally chaotic, and unapologetically commercial, but it doesn't pretend to be anything else.
This destination suits families with kids who want theme park thrills without a long-haul flight, couples looking for a cheap and easy weather change from KL, and gamblers (Malaysian Muslims are legally barred from the casino floor, so it draws largely from Chinese-Malaysian and international visitors). It's less suited to travelers wanting authentic cultural immersion or quiet nature time — this is resort tourism, dense and loud, with the natural setting mostly serving as a backdrop and a cooling system.
Good to Know
- Bring a light jacket or sweater — even in tropical Malaysia, Genting sits cool enough that most visitors underdress on their first trip
- Book Awana Skyway tickets online in advance, especially for weekends, to skip long queues at the base station
- Malaysian Muslims are legally prohibited from entering the casino floor and it's strictly enforced — visitors should carry ID as checks do happen
- SIM cards (Maxis, Digi, Celcom) are cheap and available at KLIA airport on arrival; signal on the mountain can be patchy in some indoor areas
- Tipping isn't customary or expected in Malaysia, including at restaurants and for drivers, though rounding up for good service is appreciated
- Fog can cause the cable car to pause operations temporarily — build slack into your schedule rather than planning a tight same-day return
- Ringgit (MYR) is the only accepted currency on-site; cards are widely accepted but bring some cash for hawker-style food stalls
- Theme park queues are shortest right at opening or in the last two hours before closing
