Best Areas to Stay in Langkawi, Malaysia

Pantai Cenang is the main tourist hotspot and most popular beach in Langkawi.

Part of its popularity is most likely due to its 2 km long stretch of white, fine sand.

Located in the southwest of the island, this area of Langkawi is everything you could expect from a seaside resort. It has a great number of restaurants, bars and live music venues, as well as shops, malls and all kinds of hotels.

If you’ve been to many of the so-called “popular” beach areas in Southeast Asia, you’ll notice that Pantai Cenang is different in the sense that is still pretty laid-back and less crowded.

Other than the beach, Cenang also packs quite a punch when it comes to attractions. From Temonyong Night Market to the Underwater World Aquarium and duty-free malls, there’s always something to do in Pantai Cenang.

This area also offers quite a selection of accommodation catering to all traveller types and their budgets. Here, you can find boutique hotels, swanky resorts, mid-priced bungalow villas and backpacker-friendly inns.

Pantai Cenang is also the departing point for a myriad of tours and day trips to other islands and the national parks up north.

Pantai Cenang is the best area to stay in Pulau Langkawi for beach lovers, families and those looking for the best nightlife and restaurants on the island.

As we mentioned above, the northwestern tip of the island is home to many of its natural attractions.

One of the unmissable sights in Langkawi is no doubt the Langkawi Skybridge, a 125-metre pedestrian bridge at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang. It can be reached by taking the Langkawi Cable Car to the top station, where an inclined lift takes visitors from the top station to the bridge. This eco-friendly structure offers incredible views over the tropical rainforest landscape of Pulau Langkawi and the sea.

The area around the bridge offers unique hiking opportunities, waterfalls and close contact with nature.

The bottom station of the Langkawi Cable Car is home to the themed shopping area known as The Oriental Village and is located close to the Pantai Kok beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

Pantai Kok and nearby Telaga Harbour Park offer top-notch hotels and resorts, as well as some restaurants and bars.

This area is far more secluded than Pantai Cenang, and it also feels more exclusive and far less touristy, so it’s a great alternative when considering where to stay in Langkawi.

You’ll find the coastline in this area is dotted with some of the most luxurious resorts in Langkawi. For more budget-friendly accommodation, you’ll need to look around further south.

Pantai Kok is located only a 15-minute drive from the airport and you can also catch a ferry from/to Koh Lipe (Thailand) from Telaga Harbour.

The northeastern tip of Pulau Langkawi is arguably the least developed and wilder side of the island.

Centred around the Ayer Hangat Village, this part of Langkawi is popular for its hot springs, wild beaches and secluded luxury resorts.

Tanjung Rhu Beach, located in the northernmost portion of the island is particularly beautiful thanks to its clear waters, white sands and the view of some rocky karst formations in the background, which give it a James-Bond-movie vibe.

Other lovely beaches worth visiting in the area include Black Sand Beach and Teluk Yu (Shark Bay).

Keep in mind that the north of Langkawi is still under development and it’s still lacking in infrastructure.

Other than maybe the Ayer Hangat Village and Teluk Yu areas, you’ll have a difficult time finding banks, shops and even restaurants unless you stay at one of the luxury resorts.

Kuah is the main town on Pulau Langkawi.

It is also where the main jetty terminal is located so if you’re travelling to Langkawi by ferry, chances are you’ll be going through Kuah at some point.

The fact that Kuah lacks beaches means that it is mostly overlooked by tourists, who prefer to head straight to Pantai Cenang or Pantai Kok.

That said, this old fishing village offers a more local experience and is home to some attractions and historical places worth visiting.

The main places of interest in Kuak are Legenda Park, the Al Hana Mosque, Pisang Handicraft & Art Village and the town’s Night Market.

Kuah is also the main gateway to explore the centre of the island and Gunung Raya Mountain.

Another great thing about Kuah when considering the best location in Langkawi is the fact that, because it is less tourist-focused, you’ll probably find cheaper accommodation here than anywhere else on the island.