Pekan Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

The Royal Town of Pekan is a sprawling town set on the banks of the Pahang River. Home of the royal family of Pahang, the city has a number of impressive buildings including the royal palace, a number of museums and mosques as well as a luxury hotel. Pekan also has an excellent food scene, with many restaurants and eateries as well as a range of local dishes. Find out more in this Pekan destination guide.

Short on time? Here are our Pekan Malaysia top recommendations:

Highlights: visit the local museums and enjoy the views along Pekan River Front.

Activities: book your Malaysia Tours with Klook.

Accommodation: we use Agoda to find the best hotels in Malaysia.

Flights: find cheapest flights with cashback on WayAway.
For cheap flights in Malaysia, we use AirAsia.

Airport Lounge Access: start your holiday the right way with Priority Pass.

Travel Medical Insurance: SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is the ideal choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads.

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What is Pekan Malaysia famous for?

Pekan is known for being the royal capital of the state of Pahang Malaysia. It is the home of the Sultan of Pahang and the royal family of Pahang.

Why you should visit Pekan Malaysia

As the Royal capital of Pahang, Pekan is a beautiful city with a number of interesting attractions to explore. We particularly enjoyed our stay at the upmarket hotel Ancasa Royale Pekan Pahang. Additionally, the Pekan food scene offers some interesting dishes that are unique to the area as well as a lot of favourites that can be found throughout the country.

Pekan Destination Guide: Know before you go

Basic info about Pekan Malaysia

• City name in other scripts – ڤکن (Jawi), 北根 (Chinese), பெக்கான் (Tamil)
• Language – Malay. Pahang Malay is the dialect spoken in Pekan. There are 10 dialects of Malay used throughout thought the country, with Standard Malay being the unifying language. English is also becoming more widely spoken in the country. However not everyone you meet will be able to speak English. Mandarin Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Tamil, other Indian languages as well as Creole are spoken by the various ethnic groups that live in Malaysia.
• Currency – Malaysian ringgit (MYR). This has been the official currency of Malaysia since 1967. Currency exchanges can be found in most cities and ATMs are also available widely throughout the country.
• Population – 121,158 (2020)
• Area – 2,352 km² (908 sq mi)
• District – Pekan
• State – Pahang
• Emergency number – 999
• Police number – 999

Utilities in Pekan Malaysia

• Electricity – Malaysia uses Type G power plugs. The country operates on a 240v supply voltage at 50Hz. Power outages are reasonably common in Malaysia.
• Water – the tap water in Malaysia is not generally safe to drink. Tap water is usually treated, but pipes may be old. Therefore most locals boil their water or use a water filter just to be safe.
• Toilets – sit-down flushing toilets as well as Asian style squat toilets are common in Malaysia. Toilets generally come equipped with a spray hose (sometimes referred to as a Muslim shower). The spray hose is like a European bidet and is used for cleaning personal areas as an alternative to toilet paper. All of the accommodation we stayed in throughout the country was equipped with the western style sit-down flushing toilets with spray hoses. Toilet paper is also usually provided. Don’t flush your toilet paper – use the bins provided. The use of bathroom slippers is customary and is provided in accommodation and sometimes also in public bathrooms. Public bathrooms often offer both sit-down and squat style toilets. Public toilets are common in Malaysia. The charge is usually around 30-50 sens.
• Telephone country code: +60

Where is Pekan Malaysia?

Pekan is in the Pekan district, halfway up the coast of the state of Pahang Malaysia. It is also the royal capital of the state of Pahang. Pekan is a coastal city on the South China Sea, near the Pahang River.

The closest city to Pekan is Kuantan, which is just one hour away by bus.

How to get to Pekan Malaysia

Pekan destination guide: Arriving by land

Pekan Malaysia intercity land transport

The main transport options for travelling overland to Pekan Malaysia are:

• Private vehicle
• Private transport operator
• Bus
• Bike

Driving to Pekan from within Malaysia

If you are driving to Pekan from within Malaysia, here are the travel times and distances:

• Kuantan, Pahang – 51 minutes (47km, 29miles) without tolls
• Kuala Rompin, Pahang – 1 hour 7 minutes (87km, 54miles) without tolls
• Mersing, Johor – 2 hours 1 minute (149km, 93miles) without tolls
• Johor Bahru, Johor – 4 hour 9 minutes (276km, 171miles) without tolls
• Malacca, Malacca– 4 hours 4 minutes (258km, 160miles) without tolls
• Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu – 3 hours and 11 minutes (254km, 158miles) with tolls or 3 hours 30 minutes (248km, 154miles) without tolls
• Kuala Lumpur – 3 hours 28 minutes (273km, 170miles) with tolls or 4 hours 57 minutes (301km, 187miles) without tolls
• George Town, Penang – 7 hours 47 minutes (611km, 380miles) with tolls or 10 hours 36 minutes (637km, 395miles) without tolls

Intercity trains to Pekan Malaysia

Pekan does not have a train station. The closest train station is at Mentakab, which is 2 hours drive away. Mentakab is a train station on Malaysia’s KTM East Coast Railway Line (also known as the Malaysia Jungle Train). This Malaysian railway line extends from Gemas to Tumpat, servicing the states of Pahang and Kelantan on the east coast Peninsular Malaysia. At Gemas it also connects to the west coast line which runs from the Singapore border, through Kuala Lumpur and up to the Thailand border. Train travel in Malaysia is a cheap and scenic way to see the country.

Malaysia train travel vlog

We spent about a week travelling along the Malaysia jungle railway, starting at Kota Bharu and stopping along the way at Kuala Krai, Dabong, Gua Musang and Kuala Lipis. Our train journey in Malaysia was a very memorable journey and we never expected to affect us so much. We share our Malaysia jungle train travel experience in the Malaysia travel vlog below. In this Malaysia vlog we show you how to travel Malaysia by train. We provide everything you need to know about travel by train in Malaysia, including Malaysia train costs, Malaysia train amenities, how to book trains in Malaysia as well as Malaysia travel tips so you can plan an amazing Malaysia trip for yourself.

Intercity buses to Pekan Malaysia

A common way to get around Malaysia is by using intercity buses. These are budget friendly and also the network is extensive. Intercity bus companies in Malaysia include KKKL Express as well as S&S International. Popular bus destinations from Pekan include:

• Kuala Rompin, Malaysia – travel time 2 hours. Tickets start from 7 ringgit one way.
• Kuantan, Malaysia – this is on the rapidKuantan number 400 local bus. Travel time 1 hour. Tickets are 4 ringgit one way and no change is provided.

Minivans to Pekan Malaysia

Another convenient and budget friendly way of getting around Malaysia is by minivan. We caught a minivan from Kuala Rompin to Pekan for 9 ringgit per person. The travel time was 2 hours.

Pekan destination guide: Arriving by air

The closest airport to Pekan is Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (Airport code KUA). This airport is 39km (24 miles) away.

Other nearby airports include:

• Tioman Airport (Airport code TOD). This airport is 112km (70 miles) away.
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Airport code KUL). This airport is 205km (127 miles) away.
• Senai International Airport (Airport code JHB). This airport is 207km (129 miles) away.

The national airline of Malaysia is Malaysia Airlines.

For cheap flights in Malaysia, we use AirAsia.

Pekan destination guide: Arriving by boat

Pekan is on the Pahang River, which is the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia. Additionally, Pekan is on the South China Sea. However we could not find any information about regular boats or ferries to Pekan.

Pekan destination guide: How to get around Pekan Malaysia

Walking in Pekan Malaysia

By far the easiest and also the cheapest way to get around Pekan is to walk. However the city is split by the Pahang River, so walking times can be lengthy if you want to visit both sides of the river.

Local buses in Pekan Malaysia

Local buses service Pekan.

Trams in Pekan Malaysia

Pekan does not have a tram system.

Local trains in Pekan Malaysia

Pekan does not have a local train line.

Metro trains (subway or underground) in Pekan Malaysia

Pekan does not have an underground train line.

Vehicle hire in Pekan Malaysia

A wide variety of vehicles can be rented in Malaysia. This includes:

• Electric scooters
• Bicycles
• Motorcycles
• Cars
• SUVs
• Boats

In Malaysia they drive on the left side of the road.

Hotel transport service in Pekan Malaysia

We stayed at Ancasa Royale Pekan Pahang while we were in Pekan and they were able to organise a driver to pick us up from the main part of town and drive us to the hotel as a complimentary service. We organised this through their Facebook page. However when we emailed them directly the people that responded were unaware of this service. So depending on who you speak to, you may or may not be able to organise this transport service through the hotel.

Taxis in Malaysia

Taxis are common in Malaysia. Fares are regulated and are usually metered. However taxi drivers in Malaysia do not have the best reputation, which is why alternative services like Grab are very popular.

In general your fare will include the following costs:

• The pickup fee or minimum fee – this is charged as soon as you get into the vehicle.
• Airport surcharge – this is an additional fixed fee for travelling to an airport.
• Price per kilometre – the rate is double between midnight and 6am.
• Price per hour – this is a price that gets charged when the taxi is stuck in heavy traffic.
• Surcharge for more than 2 adult passengers – this is an additional fixed fee.
• Surcharge for using the luggage compartment – this is an additional fixed fee.
• Surcharge for booking by phone – this is an additional fixed fee.
• Road toll charges

Check that the meter gets switched on at the start of your journey at the right rate. We also recommend bringing enough change in cash as drivers generally only accept cash and may not have change.

Alternatively, if booking in advance the fare may be a fixed price that is agreed on before the trip. Some taxis also operate on a pre-paid coupon system where the coupon is purchased from a counter at the airport.

It is not necessary or expected to tip taxi drivers in Malaysia.

Ride-share services in Pekan Malaysia

While ride-share services are available in Malaysia, they do not currently operate in Pekan. Grab is the main app based ride-hailing service in Malaysia. Other ride-share services in Malaysia include MyCar, MULA, DACSEE, EzCar, inDriver as well as the women only service Riding Pink. Uber no longers operates in Malaysia after Grab acquired all of its Southeast Asia assets. Lyft services only Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia via its Grab partnership.

Pekan Malaysia destination guide: Is Pekan Malaysia worth visiting?

If you are in the area, Pekan is a pleasant place to stop between Kuantan and Tioman Island. However we wouldn’t recommend going out of your way specifically to visit Pekan.

Pekan destination guide: How long to spend in Pekan Malaysia

Pekan is a prominent Malaysian town with plenty of history, food and culture to enjoy. It is well connected to the state capital Kuantan and there are a number of excellent beaches a short drive away. Moreover, it’s on the banks of the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia. It is perfect for a weekend away. We spent 2 nights in Pekan and enjoyed having some quality rest and relaxation at the luxurious Ancasa Royale Pekan Pahang. We particularly enjoyed their pool area.

Pekan destination guide: What to do in Pekan Malaysia

Pekan is a culturally rich Malaysian town with a few activities on offer. It has both free activities as well as paid activities.

Pekan destination guide: Free things to do in Pekan Malaysia

There are enough free activities in Pekan Malaysia to keep you entertained for a few hours:

• Muzium Sultan Abu Bakar
• Abu Bakar Palace (can only view it from the front gate)
• Pekan River Front (Pekan Pahang)
• Tanjung Agas
• Jeti Kuala Pahang
• Pantai Lagenda

Pekan destination guide: Paid activities in Pekan Malaysia

A number of attractions in Pekan Malaysia charge an entry fee:

• Muzium Sultan Abu Bakar – entry is 5 ringgit (as at 2022).
• Pahang State Museum
• Kelab Golf Diraja Pekan (Royal Pekan Golf Club)
• Campsite Pantai Pekan By The Sea

Weather in Pekan Malaysia

The climate for Pekan Malaysia is classified as tropical, with relatively uniform hot temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. The hottest month is May with an average temperature range of 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 9°0F) and conversely the coldest month is January with an average temperature between 24°C-29°C (75°F to 84°F). Malaysia has two monsoon seasons, but these monsoons affect different parts of the country at different times. The Northeast Monsoon, which is the wetter monsoon season and lasts from November to early March affects Pekan. Conversely Southwest Monsoon which lasts from June to September does not impact Pekan. The intermonsoonal period of March through to June is the hottest and most uncomfortable weather of the year in Pekan.

Best time to visit Pekan Malaysia

The best time of year to visit Pekan is from January to March when it is the least rainy and the weather is the most pleasant. However we visited Pekan in July and the weather was hot, sunny and great for enjoying a swim in our hotel pool.

Internet and mobile phones in Malaysia

Major internet and phone companies in Malaysia – Celcom, Digi, Hotlink (Maxis), U Mobile, UniFi Mobile, Tune Talk, Yes, XOX Mobile / ONEXOX, redONE, Yoodo, Telekom Malaysia and Time dotCom.

5G has been in Malaysia since December 2021. 2G will not be be switched off in Malaysia. 3G is was switched off in March 2022.

Malaysia is ranked 28^th fastest in the world for mobile internet speeds and 38^th fastest for fixed broadband. For Fixed Broadband the average download speed is 137mbps and upload is 56mbps (as at June 2024).

Cell phone SIM cards can be bought in a numbers of places throughout Malaysia. These include phone stores, in shopping malls, at bus stations as well as at airports. Some form of ID, such as a passport, is required in order to purchase a SIM card in Malaysia.

How much to budget for Pekan Malaysia?

Is Pekan Malaysia expensive?

Pekan Malaysia is a very affordable destination to visit. We were impressed at how far our travel budget stretched when we visited Pekan. We decided to splash out and stay at the nicest hotel in Pekan, the Ancasa Royale Pekan Pahang. This four star Malaysian hotel was much cheaper than what you’d pay for similar accommodation in other parts of the country.

Pekan destination guide: Daily spend for a couple travelling in Pekan Malaysia

As a rough guide, we recommend the following budgets for a couple:

• Low-budget daily spend – 150 ringgit per day for a couple will get you hostel accommodation, meals from bakeries and markets, local transport and free or cheap activities such as visiting markets and walking along the waterfront
• Mid-range daily spend – 300 ringgit per day for a couple will get you mid-range accommodation, local transport, restaurant meals and a few paid activities
• Luxury spend – 2000 ringgit per day for a couple will get you a premium experience, staying at luxury resorts, travelling by private transport, doing a range of paid activities and eating at high end restaurants

Pekan destination guide: Accommodation in Pekan Malaysia

Accommodation in Pekan Malaysia is more suited to the mid-range price range. Airbnb operates in Malaysia, however the range of Airbnb properties in Pekan is limited and quite a few didn’t have wifi included. There is one luxury hotel in Pekan which has a 4 star rating. One thing to keep in mind with hotels in Malaysia is that smoking in hotel rooms is often permitted.

Where to stay in Pekan Malaysia

We recommend the following accommodation in Pekan Malaysia:

• Best budget hotel in Pekan Malaysia – for low-cost accommodation in Pekan Malaysia we recommend Pekan Auto City Budget Hotel. This hotel is clean and well maintained. However the wifi is not the best.
• Best luxury accommodation in Pekan Malaysia – we highly recommend staying at Ancasa Royale Pekan Pahang. We stayed there during our trip to Pekan and were impressed with the size and comfort of the rooms, the delicious buffet breakfasts and the expansive pool area. Furthermore we thought the prices for this hotel were very reasonable for a hotel of this quality. We have a full review of Ancasa in our Malaysia travel vlog below.

How much is accommodation in Pekan Malaysia?

For short-term accommodation, a general price per night is as follows:

• Budget accommodation – 70-120 ringgit for a bed in a dorm. Alternatively, there are budget private rooms for 30-60 ringgit
• Mid-range accommodation – 80-120 ringgit for a private room
• Luxury accommodation – 200-400 ringgit a night for a luxury hotel
• Rental property – 185-300 ringgit a night for a fully furnished 3-4 bedroom home

Tourist tax on accommodation in Malaysia

From 1 January 2023 there is a tourist tax of 10 ringgit per accommodation per night in Malaysia. This tax is collected by the property. Permanent residents and Malaysian nationals are exempt from the tax. Furthermore the tourist tax does not apply to homestays and kampung stays registered with the Ministry of Tourism.

Pekan destination guide: Food in Pekan Malaysia

Being on the water, seafood is very popular in Pekan.

How much does food cost in Pekan Malaysia?

Our price guide for your food budget in Pekan Malaysia is as follows (prices as at 2022):

• Restaurant meal – 30-60 ringgit for a main dish
• Night market or hawker market food – 5-15 ringgit for a dish
• Ais kachang – 4-6 ringgit
• Coffee – 1.50-2.50 ringgit

Regional dishes in Pekan Malaysia

• Roti naik
• Nasi dagang
• Kuih bakar
• Ikan bakar
• Murtabak Pekan
• Murtabak Mawar
• Murtabak Mengkasar
• Puding Diraja
• Laksa Pahang
• Gulai Tempoyak Patin
• Gulai Asam Rong
• Gulai Patin Asam Rebus
• Ikan patin
• Ayam Golek
• Pulut Sotong
• Kuah Putih
• Pais
• Opor Daging

Cheap Eats in Pekan Malaysia

• Bakeries are a great place to get cheap and delicious food.
• Hawker centres in Malaysia are ubiquitous and have excellent budget friendly food. The variety of stalls available means that you have a good range of options to choose from.
• Night markets in Malaysia are another of our go to places for affordable and tasty food. There’s also usually stalls selling items like clothes, toys and shoes in addition to the food stalls.
• Street food is also a very common cheap eat option in Malaysia. You can often find street food around transport hubs as well as scattered in various places around the city.

Pekan Malaysia culture

Weekends in Pahang Malaysia

Which days are weekdays and weekend days vary in Malaysia depending on the state you’re in. In the state of Pahang weekdays are Monday to Friday and weekends are Saturday and Sunday. Keep this in mind as weekends can affect prices and availability (particularly for accommodation). Additionally weekends may impact opening hours as well as how crowded attractions are.

Pahang public holidays

Malaysia has one of the highest number of public holidays in the world. In total, there are between 18 and 20 public holidays observed in each state. This includes national holidays as well as state based holidays. Public holidays for the state of Pahang are as follows:

• New Year’s Day – 1^st January
• Chinese New Year’s Day – 1^st day of 1^st lunar month, in January or February
• Chinese New Year Holiday – 2^nd day of 1^st lunar month, in January or February
• Labour Day – 1 May
• Wesak Day (Buddha’s birthday) – May or June, date varies
• Hari Hol Pahang – 22 May
• Hari Nuzul Al-Quran – 17^th day of Ramadan, date varies
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa – the last day of Ramadan, date varies
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday or Hari Raya Puasa Holiday – day after the last day of Ramadan, date varies
• Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday (King’s Birthday) – 1^st Monday in June
• Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday – 30 July
• Hari Raya Qurban (Aidiladha) (Feast of the Sacrifice) – date varies
• Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year) – date varies
• Merdeka Day (National Day, Independence Day) – 31 August
• Malaysia Day – 16 September
• Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) – 12^th day of the 3^rd month of the Islamic calendar
• Deepavali – date varies, October or November
• Christmas Day – 25 December

National symbols of Malaysia

• Malaysia flag – 14 alternating red and white stripes with a blue canton with a yellow crescent and 14 pointed star. The Malaysian flag is called the Stripes of Glory.
• Malaysia coat of arms – two tigers supporting a shield with a yellow crescent and a 14 pointed star on top and a yellow banner with words that translate to “Unity is strength” written in both romanised Malay and Jawi at the bottom.
• National flower – hibiscus
• National bird – rhinoceros hornbill
• Malaysia national animal – the Malayan tiger

Malaysia pastimes

• National dish – nasi lemak
• Popular drinks – teh tarik, Ipoh white coffee, milo ais, sirup bandang
• National sport – sepak takraw
• Religion – 64% Islam, 19% Buddhist, 9% Christian, 6% Hindu (as at 2020)

Famous people from Pekan Malaysia

• Famous people born in Pekan Malaysia – former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, author Zakaria Hitam, actress Sarimah Ahmad, Sultan Abdullah of Pahang

Is Pekan Malaysia Safe?

Malaysia travel guide: Safety in Malaysia

We have spent around 4 months travelling extensively through Malaysia over two separate trips. In our experience the country is extremely safe. Malaysia ranks 19^th safest country on the Global Peace Index (as at 2023). As with any country, there are good areas and bad areas. Watch out for pickpockets and bag snatching particularly at crowded tourist attractions. In particular, when eating out don’t leave your bag, phone or wallet on the table or next to you where someone can quickly grab it and run away. Instead keep your belongings physically attached to you at all times. Make sure no-one is watching whenever you are entering pin codes and never lose sight of your credit card when making a purchase.

Malaysia travel guide: General safety considerations in Malaysia

Other general safety considerations for travel in Malaysia:

• Drinking water – tap water in Malaysia is not generally safe to drink. Tap water is usually treated, but pipes may be old. Therefore most locals boil their water or use a water filter.
• Mosquitoes – mosquito borne illnesses are a significant risk in Malaysia, particularly dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Malaysia is in the pre-elimination phase of malaria. While malaria is more of a risk in Malaysian Borneo, there have also been cases on the Malaysian peninsula. Take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
• Altitude sickness – Malaysia has areas of high altitude and therefore altitude sickness risk. If you visit high altitude areas in Malaysia, allow sufficient time to acclimatise. If you experience signs of altitude sickness, including headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite or shortness of breath, get help immediately.
• Road safety – Road accidents are a significant risk in Malaysia. While road conditions in Malaysia are generally very good, traffic is often very heavy. Furthermore drivers in Malaysia tend to speed up rather than slowing down for amber lights. We also found that roads in Malaysia are not typically built with pedestrians in mind, and footpaths often stop unexpectedly in busy areas.
• Water safety – take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect.
• Earthquakes – Malaysia experiences both regional and local earthquake activity. In an earthquake, stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls and anything that could fall. If inside, get under a table, desk or solid furniture and hang onto it. Cover your head and torso to protect from falling objects. If outside, stay outside and go to an open area away from buildings.
• Sun safety – Exposure to the sun can have adverse short-term and long-term effects on the skin, eyes and immune system. Wear sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
• Dogs – rabies from rabid dog bites is a risk in Malaysia. For more on dog safety while travelling, check out this video.

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

Malaysia Blogs

You can find our Malaysia travel blogs below.

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