The town of Kuantan (coordinates: 3°49′00″N 103°20′00″E) is the transport hub for the east coast of the peninsula. It is connected to Kuala Lumpur on the west coast by the Federal Route 2, as well as the East Coast Expressway (ECE), which serves as an extension of the older Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway.

Kuantan as the state capital and main commercial centre of Pahang spreads out on a promontory north of the Sungai Kuantan estuary. What used to be just another quiet town, is today a bustling metropolis. With easier access, land prices has soared and the moneyed investors are pouring into the region to grab valuable business opportunities.

The commercial centre of Kuantan has expanded tremendously in recent times, but still mostly clustered  around Jalan Besar, Jalan Mahkota and Jalan Tun Ismail. The most striking landmark in these parts is the resplendent structure of the Masjid Negeri (State Mosque). Built in1991, this pastel coloured building is one of the most impressive mosques in Malaysia.

Most people coming to Kuantan prefer to stay at the beach hotels and resorts, mostly located north of the town in Balok, Beserah, Sungai Karang, Sungai Ular or Cherating. Smaller budget resorts can be found along the Kuantan-Pekan road.

Beaches

The most popular beach in Kuantan is Pantai Teluk Chempedak (coordinates: 3° 49' 0 N  103° 22' 0 E). This area is packed with souvenir shops, food stalls, fast food outlets and the 5-star Kuantan Hyatt Hotel. Bounded on right of the area is a forest park, while further down on the left via a wooden walkway is the quieter beach of Teluk Tongkang. Its okay if you like crowds, but during weekends it can be overwhelming.

You could try other beaches further north, such as Pantai Balok, Pantai Batu Hitam, Pantai Chendor, or Pantai Cherating, which is a popular destination for backpackers since the 60s. However, be forewarned that Pantai Cherating (coordinates: 4°7'19"N 103°23'20"E) can get similarly crowded during holidays and weekends.

Accommodation:
Kuantan has no shortage of hotels and resorts to meet tourism demands. Hotels ranging from the basic to the luxury are located at strategic locations- strategic in the sense that exploring the town can easily be done on foot. For a list of Kuantan hotels, click here.

Food:
Food is wide-ranging and diverse in Kuantan, representing anything from local Malay, Chinese, Indian to European. For a local difference try the original Mee Chalong at a popular stall just before Beserah (coordinates:3°51'9"N 103°21'42"E). For fresh but basic Malay-style seafood, head for Tanjung Lumpur, east of the Sungai Kuantan across the bridge. Here, although most people converge on the green-themed Ana Ikan Bakar Petai, personally I would recommend the third stall - the one with the bright yellow table cover (coordinates: 3°48'21"N 103°20'26"E), where the fresh seafood is always well-prepared and the service not rushed.

Locals say the best satay in Kuantan is, of course, Zul Satay (coordinates: 3°49'0"N 103°20'22"E) on Jalan Teluk Sisek, just next to Hotel Vistana. But, then again this is subjective, no? The wait for service can be long during peak hours.

For breakfast with a difference, head for the Malay coffee shop on Jalan Mahkota, which serves the traditional lempeng kelapa. Not many places serve this these days, so try it. The coffee shop is located somewhere in the middle of the old buildings right opposite the flea market on the edge of the padang.

Shopping:
Four shopping malls cater for shoppers in Kuantan. The Kompleks Teruntum, which is the oldest, offers nondescript shops selling handicrafts, Malay delicacies and clothes. The latest and more upscale are The East Coast Mall (coordinates: 3°49'5"N 103°19'34"E), Kuantan Parade (coordinates: 3°48'17"N 103°19'23"E) and Berjaya Mega Mall (coordinates: 3°48'55"N 103°19'48"E).

Jalan Mahkota
This is the oldest street in Kuantan. It is still mostly lined with the original pre-war shop houses built in the 1920s. The one-way street continues its bustle daily with the old and new making up the soul of the town. Great nostalgic trip for those into things retro. Just walk down the five-foot way and observe the colours.

Jalan Besar
The road used to be known as 'Jalan Ikan Kering' (salt fish street) due to the numerous shops selling dried sea products. Today, most of the traders have moved out to the town's outskirts where ample land space allow better options for expansion.

Pasar Besar
This serves as an annex to the main Kuantan wet market. The place comes to life from early morning and again in the afternoons following the late catch from the seas. Plentiful and diverse, the plus factor is the freshness of the catch unlike the iced varieties that make their way to the other urban centres in the peninsular.

Kuantan River Esplanade:
The Kuantan Esplanade is a makeover of the old riverside public hangout that has held on to its popularity since the 1960s. Clean and airy, it is a great place to chill out in the afternoon or evening. For the fishing enthusiast, the 1.3km-long esplanade offers some good spots. Try the Kuantan River Cruise - tickets RM15 per person (minimum 5 persons). The pier is at the end of the esplanade.

Taman Gelora
This sprawling green park is located along the road to Teluk Chempedak. Locals love the place for recreational purposes, especially in the evenings when the place is crowded with joggers and visitors. It is one of the most serene places in Kuantan, with man-made lakes, shaded areas and its own but cluttered beachfront.

Muzium Tokoh:
Located next to the Pahang Tourism office and opposite the town padang (municipal field). It is a repository of artifacts and displays relating to the big names in the history of Pahang. Housed in a quaint white-washed colonial-style bungalow, it is worth a visit. Parking, however, could be a problem as most are always taken up by the staff of the museum and the other departments, which share the same area. So, by the time you find an available spot, its closing time!