Hacks for maximising public holiday long weekends in Malaysia — share yours
by Zack Muhamad·May 23, 2026
Malaysia has some of the most public holidays of any country in the region. Using them strategically is an art.
Core strategy: Identify public holidays that fall on Tuesday or Thursday — one day of annual leave creates a 4-day weekend.
2025 opportunities I've already booked:
- Thaipusam (Jan) falls on a Thursday this year — one day AL for a 4-day run
- Wesak Day on a Friday creates an automatic long weekend
- Merdeka + Aidiladha proximity in August/September is always worth checking
Flight timing tip: Book the outbound flight for the morning of the holiday, return the last day. Avoid the post-holiday Sunday evening flight — it's always expensive and packed.
For domestic trips: Train (ETS to Ipoh/Penang) is often better than flying for anything under 4 hours. Cheaper, no airport drama, city centre to city centre.