Top 25 Kelantan Attractions (2023)
Kelantan, located in the northeast of Malaysia, is a rural state that is also known as the Land of Lightning. Considered as one of the most conservative states in Malaysia, this state is a place rich with Islamic heritage. With an abundance of things to see here, here are the top 25 Kelantan attractions that you should not miss out on.
Bachok
1. Melody Beach (Pantai Irama)
Melody Beach is regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in Kelantan. Located in Bachok (which is near to the capital city), this beach gets very busy over the weekend as many will come to de-stress and unwind. Not only that, festivals are also held here quite frequently. With many facilities available here such as food stalls, toilets, organised car park, changing room and playground, it is not hard to understand why this is one of the top Kelantan attractions.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
2. Melawi Beach (Pantai Melawi)
Located 17 minutes away from Kota Bharu, this is a seaside paradise surrounded by casuarina trees. Compared to Melody beach, this beach is much quieter, ideal for those who prefer a more serene environment. Nonetheless, due to the close distance to Kota Bharu, many city dwellers will come here during the weekends for picnic or even a barbecue party.
If you prefer to stay here for the night rather than head back to the city, you will be glad to know that are many hotels and chalets nearby.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
3. Siti Aishah Jelawat Big Market (Pasar Besar Siti Aisyah Jelawat)
If you are looking for the freshest fruits and vegetables, this morning market is where the locals go to get the freshest food for their daily needs. Located in the town of Bachok, this is the best place for you to experience the local culture and its local cuisines. The goods sold here are reasonably priced, so you can choose to do your shopping here instead of a shopping mall.
Operating Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 3:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
Dabong
4. Fish Cave (Gua Ikan)
This more than 100 million years old cave is located around 7km away from the Dabong town. This Kelantan attraction got its name from the large number of fish that you can find swimming here. If you are looking to explore this cave, you can hire a guide nearby to show you the way as this cave is quite complex for you to navigate on your own.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to tour rates
5. Stong Mountain (Gunung Stong)
Stong Mountain is one of the favourite Kelantan attractions for the experienced hikers. With a peak of 1,422 metres, it will take you a period of almost two days to reach the summit, with the option of a break in Baha Camp, a campsite located at the top of Jelawang Waterfall. Once you arrive at the top, you will be greeted with a terrific view of the South China Sea and the nearby islands.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to tour rates
6. Kenerong River (Sungai Kenerong)
Located not too far from the Stong Mountain, this river is a pleasant place to spend the afternoon away from the city. There are many activities you can do here, such as white water rafting, kayaking or just a simple dip in the cold refreshing waters. If you want to have a more immersive experience, you can consider camping here at the designated campsite by the riverbank.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Gua Musang
7. Kuala Koh National Park (Taman Negara Kuala Koh)
Another one of the many natural Kelantan attractions, this park is part of Malaysia’s national park and serves as another official entry point to the national park, which covers almost 4,343 square kilometres of area. Located not too far away from the city, this is a paradise for nature lovers as you will get to do activities like bird-watching, fishing, nature photography and jungle trekking. Besides the exotic floras and faunas that can be found here, you will also be greeted with beautiful natural landscape such as a series of caves, mountains and streams.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to tour rates
Kota Bharu
8. Sultan Ismail Petra City (Kota Sultan Ismail Petra)
This area is named after the late Sultan Ismail Petra who is the 28th Sultan of Kelantan. During this reign, he is known to be very close to the people of his state. Over here, you will be greeted with a majestic gate and some cool street arts which make this one of the hottest Kelantan attractions. Along this stretch of road, you will also be able to find other heritage monuments such as Jahar Palace, Bank Pitis and many more.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
9. Ar-Rahman Mosque (Masjid Ar-Rahman)
This mosque is located 7 km away from the Sultan Ismail Petra airport and its a magnificent building with very intricate architecture. The design of this building took inspiration not only from the Kelantan culture but also from Turkey, Yemen and Indonesia. As for the structure of the building, it was built using only the highest quality teak and timber wood.
Operating Hours: Daily, 5:00am – 3:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
10. Royal Clock Tower (Menara Jam Tambatan Diraja)
Located near to the Kelantan Merdeka Square, this Kelantan attraction is not only a clock tower but also a small observation deck within the city. With the height of 150 feet above the ground, you will be able to see the town and the nearby Kelantan River from the top. For a more beautiful view, you should visit this clock tower during the night to see the night sky lighted up by the city lights.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
11. Customs Museum (Muzium Adat Istiadat)
Built to be a palace, this place was later converted to become a museum in 1992. In this museum, you will be able to find out more about the Malaysian and Kelantan customary. Among the things that you will be able to see are the remnant of textiles, copper collections, pieces of jewellery and also clothes that are put up for public display.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:45pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – RM2 | Child – RM1
12. Craft Museum (Muzium Kraftangan)
This Craft Museum was built in 1991 and it is one of the first Kelantan attractions constructed to preserve the crafts of the local people. Housed in a magnificent building, this museum was built with the Malay tradition in mind, with intricate floral carvings and wooden floor terraces. By visiting this place, you will be able to see batik, embroidery and handmade woven materials.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:45pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – RM2 | Child – RM1
13. Kelantan State Museum (Muzium Negeri Kelantan)
As another one of the many historial Kelantan attractions, this place initially served as the Kota Bharu City Council office which was later refurbished and made into a museum in 1998. Another level was added to the building to allow more space to share the rich history of Kelantan to all the visitors of this place. You will get to see the ‘wayang kulit’, a traditional puppet-shadow show that is accompanied by singing and story narrations.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:45pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – RM2 | Child – RM1
14. Bank Kerapu War Museum (Muzium Perang Bank Kerapu)
This building is an important part of Malaysian history. Beyond just surviving World War 2, this building was also the first trading bank in Kelantan. During the Japanese colonisation, this building was also used as their headquarters. Now, this museum is a World War 2 memorial building and it is open six days a week to allow visitors to see the many war artefacts that were used over the years.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:45pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – RM2 | Child – RM1
15. Siti Khadijah Market (Pasar Siti Khadijah)
Siti Khadijah Market is one of the many markets that are available in Kelantan, but what makes this place unique is women manage most of the stores. This market is one of the must-visit places for visitors who want to discover more about their culture and to learn about the local fresh produces and also handmade crafts. With so much to see and do here, you are recommended to visit this place in the morning as it is livelier with people.
Operating Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 6:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
16. Senok Beach Lighthouse (Rumah Api Pantai Senok)
Located at the tip of Senok Beach, this lighthouse stands tall on a rocky foundation and enveloped by the sea. There are not a lot of lighthouses in Malaysia, so this is something that you should not miss out on when you are in Kelantan. Another reason for you to visit this place is the amazing sunset view that awaits you.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
17. Kota Bharu Street Art
Located among the alley of Medan Ilmu Kota Bharu, you can find many illustrations are inspired by the Kelantan and the Malay culture. The drawing of the Middle Eastern carpet on the floor is simply breathtaking for its colours and intricate design. If you are looking for a place to take great pictures, this is one of the places to visit.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
18. Jeram Mengaji
Located 6km away from Selinsing, this is the locals’ favourite place during the weekends. It is a gorgeous place surrounded by lush greeneries and people will come here for a picnic and also a splashing good time in the cold refreshing waters. The streams here are not too deep, making it perfect for children to play in.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Pasir Puteh
19. Whispering Breeze Beach (Pantai Bisikan Bayu)
This Kelantan attraction is a very serene and peaceful beach with an enchanting shoreline and soft sandy beach. Used to be one of the most popular beaches due to its beautiful and clean beach, there are less people visitng this place in recent times. Many locals will still come to this place during the school holidays as this is a perfect place for the entire family to relax and bond.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
20. Tok Bali Beach (Pantai Tok Bali)
Located 16km away from Pasir Puteh city, this beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Kelantan. There are Casuarina trees along the bank of the beach to provide shade to those who are visiting here. However, it is not recommended for you to visit the beaches during the monsoon season, usually from October to mid-March, as the sea will be very rough.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Rantau Panjang
21. Sultan Ismail Petra Silver Jubilee Mosque (Masjid Jubli Perak Sultan Ismail Petra)
This mosque is very unique for its architectural design and the construction costs around RM8.8 million. Resembling the Niujie Mosque in Beijing, this is a Chinese-styled mosque that is able to accommodate up to 1,000 devotees at any one time. Spanning across 3.7 acres of land, you will not find any other mosque with a similar design in Malaysia.
Operating Hours: Daily, 5:00am – 3:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
Tanah Merah
22. Guillemard Bridge (Jambatan Keretapi Guillemard)
One of the oldest railway bridges in Malaysia, this steel bridge is located in Kusial. At 600 metres long, it is the longest railway bridge in Malaysia. What makes this bridge even more impressive is the fact that it has been standing strong for almost a century, though a part of it has to be reconstructed after it was destroyed to prevent the advancement of the Japanese army during the World War 2.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
Tumpat
23. Kite Museum (Muzium Wau)
As one of the many Kelantan attractions constructed to preserve its traditional crafts, a ‘Wau’ museum which also means kite museum was built to educate and showcase the variety of beautiful kite’s from different states. During your visit here, you will get the opportunity to learn how to make one of them.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Wednesday, 8:30am – 4:45pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – RM2 | Child – RM1
24. Sri Tujuh Beach (Pantai Sri Tujuh)
The name Sri Tujuh Beach comes from the seven bays that were discovered in this area. Located in Tumpat, this beach is one of the local’s favourite spots which you can tell as it constantly has many visitors. There are also hotels and homestays available in this area if you are looking to stay for a night or two.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
25. Suri Island Floating Market (Pasar Terapung Pulau Suri)
Suri Island Floating Market is one of the few floating markets in Malaysia. Though not as impressive as the one that you can find in Bangkok, you can still find a number of boats parked by the bank of the river, selling merchandise and groceries by locals. If you want to get something cheap while enjoying a unique experience, this is the place to be.
Operating Hours: Saturday, 10:00am – 12:30pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
As Kelantan is one of the most religious states in Malaysia, you can be certain that you will be exposed to the Islamic culture. You can see how this religion has a significant impact on the state by witnessing in the buildings that are built within the area. Apart from the magnificent buildings, there are also many natural Kelantan attractions that you should definitely not missed out on.