Flights to Ipoh, Perak

Ipoh, the capital of Perak, grew rich on tin mining and still wears that history in its colonial buildings, old shophouses and limestone hills riddled with cave temples. Today it is loved for its slow pace, street art and one of the most celebrated food scenes in Malaysia. Travellers from the south often book flights to Ipoh to skip the long drive up the North–South Expressway, and a weekend here is usually spent eating, wandering the Old Town and exploring the caves around the Kinta Valley.

About Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, Ipoh

Location

Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (IPH) lies on the southern edge of Ipoh, a short drive from the city centre. Being so close to town is one of its biggest advantages: you can land, collect your bag and be sitting down to a bowl of noodles in the Old Town before long.

Terminals

The airport is small, with a single terminal building used for all passenger flights. Check-in, security and the gates are all close together, so departing from Ipoh is quick and relaxed compared with Malaysia's larger airports.

Getting to and from the airport

Taxis wait outside the arrival hall, and e-hailing is readily available and is how most visitors reach their accommodation. There is no rail link to the airport. If you plan to see Kellie's Castle, the Tambun area or the cave temples, renting a car at the airport gives you freedom to explore the Kinta Valley at your own pace.

Direct and connecting flights to Ipoh

Ipoh has a small network, and the route that draws the most searches is the JB to Ipoh flight from Senai International Airport in Johor, which replaces a long day on the highway. Use the direct flight filter on Traveloka to see which non-stop routes into Sultan Azlan Shah Airport are running on your dates.

From Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh is close enough that many people travel by road or by the electric train service to Ipoh railway station instead of flying. From Langkawi, Sabah or Sarawak, compare a direct flight with a connection through Kuala Lumpur or a combination of flight and train, and choose whatever lands you closest to where you are staying.

When to fly to Ipoh

Ipoh is warm throughout the year, and its valley setting can make afternoons feel hot and still. Rain often comes as heavy afternoon thunderstorms, especially during the inter-monsoon periods around April and from October into November. Mornings are usually the best time for cave visits and walks through the Old Town.

The city fills up on long weekends, during Malaysian school holidays and around Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Deepavali, when food lovers and returning families arrive. Popular coffee shops can have long queues then. If you can, visit on weekdays, when the famous breakfast spots are calmer and flights to Ipoh are easier to find.

Popular places in Ipoh

Ipoh Old Town and Concubine Lane

The narrow lanes of the Old Town are lined with restored shophouses, souvenir stalls and cafes. Concubine Lane is the most photographed street, and colourful murals painted on walls around the area depict everyday scenes from the city's past.

Kek Lok Tong

This Buddhist cave temple sits inside a limestone hill in Gunung Rapat. Walk through the cool cavern with its statues and emerge at the back into a landscaped garden with a lake framed by dramatic cliffs.

Perak Cave Temple and Sam Poh Tong

North of the city, Perak Tong is known for its huge Buddha statue and wall paintings, with steps climbing up to views over Ipoh. Sam Poh Tong, south of the centre, is one of the oldest cave temples in the area and has a peaceful pond garden.

Kellie's Castle

Near Batu Gajah, the unfinished mansion of a Scottish planter stands among the trees, with tales of secret passages and ghosts. It is an atmospheric half-day trip from Ipoh.

Ipoh Railway Station

Built in the early twentieth century, the white railway station with its domes and arches is nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Ipoh. The grand building is still in use and faces a leafy square close to the Old Town.

Where to stay in Ipoh

The Old Town is the natural base for first-time visitors, with heritage stays, cafes and murals within walking distance. The New Town across the Kinta River offers more restaurants and a wider choice of accommodation. Greentown and Ipoh Garden are quieter residential areas close to shopping malls and dinner spots, while Tambun, surrounded by limestone hills, suits families heading to the theme park and hot springs there.

Food to try in Ipoh

Bean sprout chicken

Ipoh's signature dish pairs smooth poached chicken with short, crunchy bean sprouts dressed in soy sauce and oil. Locals say the city's mineral-rich water is what makes the sprouts so plump.

Ipoh white coffee

Coffee beans roasted with palm oil margarine produce a smooth brew served with condensed milk. It is the drink to order with toast and kaya at any old-style kopitiam.

Kai si hor fun

Silky flat rice noodles are served in a clear prawn and chicken broth topped with shredded chicken and prawns. It is a light, comforting breakfast found across the city.

Salted chicken

Whole chickens wrapped in paper and baked in salt emerge tender and fragrant with herbs. Many visitors take one home as a gift after a trip to Ipoh.

Tau fu fa

This soft, silky soybean pudding is served warm or cold with syrup. It is a classic snack to enjoy after a morning of exploring the caves.

Hungry for a trip to Perak? Search flights to Ipoh on Traveloka, filter for direct routes into Sultan Azlan Shah Airport and set a Price Alert for your dates. With e-tickets, Easy Reschedule and 24/7 customer service, your weekend in Ipoh can start the moment you land.