Ipoh

Ipoh is a limestone-hill town between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, best known for cave temples and food. It suits travellers doing Malaysia by train who want one easy, cheap stop, and the pace is a welcome change after the capital. Weather is warm year-round; do the caves in the morning and save the cafes for the hot afternoon.

• See Kek Lok Tong and Perak Tong cave temples, built inside limestone hills on the city's edge — Kek Lok Tong opens onto a garden framed by cliffs, Perak Tong hides a steep stair climb with a city view at the top
• Walk the old town's mural lane and Concubine Lane, then have Ipoh white coffee at a kopitiam in the streets where it was invented
• Spend a day at Lost World of Tambun — theme park, hot springs and a mini zoo in one limestone valley, good with kids
• Eat at the hawker stalls around Jalan Yau Tet Shin in the evening; bean sprout chicken and fresh soy milk are the local orders

The ETS train from Kuala Lumpur takes about 2.5 hours and continues north toward Penang, which makes Ipoh the natural midway stop on a KL–Penang rail trip. Arrive in the morning, drop bags at a hotel near the old town, and you can cover the caves and cafes without a car — Grab handles the short hops to the temples.

Ipoh is also the usual road gateway to Cameron Highlands, about 2 hours up a winding hill road. If tea country is on your route, sleeping in Ipoh and heading up early beats the longer climb from KL.