18 things to do in Penang: a complete travel guide to Penang, Malaysia

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Penang, this post is for you. It contains 18 unique, cultural, and appetizing activities that you won’t want to miss while you’re travelling through Penang, Malaysia.

Penang is a Malaysian gem. Filled with cultural landmarks, appetizing street food, uncrowded beaches, and world-famous street art, Penang has no shortage of things to see and do. I’ve compiled 18 of the very best things to do into this post to help you plan the ultimate trip to Penang.

 

when to visit Penang ↴

You can expect tropical weather most of the year, but the best time to visit Penang is between November to January (winter) when the weather is mild and the monsoon season hasn’t arrived yet. Between December and February, visitors can enjoy a cooler-than-typical climate, though it’s still sure to be warm.

  • Summer | From March onwards, Penang’s temperatures rise and average in the 30Cs. If you can expect extreme heat and sun during the summer portion of the year. I wouldn’t recommend a visit during this time unless you aren’t bothered by oppressive heat.

  • Monsoon | September and October are the wettest months of the year. During these months, the city receives approximately 23 days of rainfall. I visited in October and the weather is absolutely fine apart from the afternoon thunderstorms and occasional gray skies.

  • Winter | This is one of the best times of the year to visit Penang. The temperature in winter hovers around 27C, but be warned that this is the peak season for tourists so there are likely to be crowds.

 

how to get to Penang ↴

Penang is located in northwest Malaysia. It’s frequented by travellers, and thus there are a variety of ways to get there. The most affordable option for getting to Penang is via bus. The problem is that while this is sure to save you money, it’s also sure to eat up a bunch of time out of your travel itinerary. The bus journey takes anywhere from 6-10 hours.

Alternatively, you can opt to book a flight! There are a number of budget airlines from Kuala Lumpur. I flew from KL to Penang and it was such a timesaver, not to mention a much more comfortable journey than the bus.

 
 

where to stay in Penang ↴

Penang has a variety of accommodation options to suit every traveller’s preference. From budget bunks to luxury resort stays, there are plenty of places in Penang for you to rest your head at night. Some of the accommodation in Penang that I recommend include:

Read more | DoubleTree Resort by Hilton

 
 

where to eat in Penang ↴

There is an abundance of good food to be had in Penang but, unfortunately, a majority of it isn’t vegetarian. However, at the time we were travelling through Penang, Luke hadn’t yet started eating a vegetarian diet so he got to try a lot of the city’s famous dishes. I also got to delight in the veggie curries, vegetable samosa, and other vegetarian goodies we happened upon along the way.

  • Hameediyah Restaurant | serves the oldest Nasi Kandar in Penang, heaping portions, limited vegetarian options

  • Pulau Tikus Ravi Claypot Apom | one of the oldest apom manis (a common food originating from India that resembles crepes)

  • Roti Canai Gemas Road | a local favourite breakfast spot known for its bowls of curry topped with a fried egg and shredded onion

  • Air Itam Sister Curry Mee | famous for its fresh cuttlefish chilli curry

  • Weld Quay Fried Snacks | a family-owned food stall located in George Town that sells a variety of fried foods including fried bananas, fried coconut balls, and fried peanut fritters

 
 

18 best things to see + do in Penang ↴

scout out street art

It’s basically an unwritten requirement that those visiting George Town trot around the UNESCO stop to soak up the interactive street art by famous artist Ernest Zacharevic. Zacharevic is a Lithuanian artist who made a real name for himself initially in 2012 when his incredible city murals gained immense popularity at the George Town Festival. Zacharevic isn’t the only artist with colourful urban art, but seeking out his fabulous works was the #1 thing on my list of “must-sees”. The art is scattered around George Town, making finding each mural a bit like a treasure hunt.

Travel tip: Downloading the free Maps.Me app on your phone will help you navigate where to find the murals, since you don’t need data or WiFi to use the app. It may cut out the “treasure hunt” aspect, but it also cuts out time in the heat.

ADMISSION | free

 

indulge in street food

Penang street food is not to be missed. Many local restaurants still serve the same food their family-owned establishments have been serving for centuries. Some of these treats live forever in my dreams, while others we found were more an acquired taste. Here are a few of the classic street foods you can’t leave Penang without trying.

  • Kaya toast | toast with soft-boiled eggs

  • Chee Cheong fun | soft rice batter served with spicy sauce

  • Nasi lemak | rice served with spicy sambal, anchovies, and peanuts

  • Roti canai | fried dough flattened and served with either eggs and curry or a sweet sauce

  • Oyster omelette | scrambled eggs mixed with chunks of sea-fresh oyster

  • Assam laksa| a Malay noodle soup flavoured with pineapple, tamarind, and mackerel

 

visit the Floating Mosque

Masjid Daerah Timur Laut (Masjid Terapung) was built on stilts on the ocean, which creates the illusion that it’s “floating” when the tide is high. The mosque that stands today wasn’t the original mosque in this area. In 1967, a smaller mosque was built and a decade later was expanded to accommodate more worshippers. Even after the expansion, the mosque quickly became too small for its patrons. Running out of land to further expand upon, the mosque was moved out to sea in 2003. Located at Batu Ferringhi beach, today a sunset visit to the “floating mosque” is both scenic and serene.

ADMISSION | free

 

marvel at Kek Lok Si

Kek Lok Si Temple was truly a highlight of my time in Penang. I’d never been to a temple quite like it. No, I’m not Buddhist. No, it’s not a traditional temple as far as dress code goes. And, yes, it is a very large complex you’ll want to take some time to visit thoroughly. The colours of Kek Lok Si in conjunction with its size and position on a hilltop make it something seriously cool and well worth a visit. 10/10 would do again.

Read more | Visiting Kek Lok Si in Penang, Malaysia

 

get your cake fix at China House

This George Town establishment is something of a local institution. Located on Beach Street, China House’s cake collection will have you immediately salivating. The café, which prides itself on being Penang’s longest (you read that right), charges a pretty penny for its cakes, but they are worth the spend. From chocolate pistachio to orange almond, you’ll find every variety of cake you can possibly imagine. I had a slice of the vanilla macadamia cake and it might have been the most scrumptious sweet cake I’ve had in Asia.

 

enjoy uncrowded beaches

Beaches in Penang are among the least crowded I’ve visited, which left me perplexed because every beach we went to was absolutely scenic. After grabbing a bite to eat at Miami Beach Café, Luke and I went swimming in the ocean almost every evening. You can sit in the sand and have a private picnic without the worry of souvenirs being shoved down your throat or other beach-goers invading your space.

ADMISSION | free

 

visit Little India in George Town

Fancy a vegetable samosa on the go? Good news! Delicious street food vendors selling impossibly affordable samosas and roti line every avenue of Little India. As you walk around, samosa in hand, you’ll see garlands of flowers in bright yellows and deep reds hanging from storefronts. Music plays from the many sari (also spelt saree) shops.

ADMISSION | free

 

eat at a hawker market

Trying local food is a great way to get a taste (pun intended) of the culture. A “hawker market” is an open-air complex commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Initially, hawker markets were built to provide more sanitary set-ups to traditional mobile food carts. Hawker markets are a great way to They were built to provide a more sanitary alternative to mobile hawker carts and contain many stalls that sell different varieties of affordable meals. There are multiple hawker markets in Penang that are brimming with scrumptious street eats sure to satisfy any craving you might be having.

  • New Lane Hawker Center | food trucks roll in and the street becomes entirely pedestrian-friendly

  • Chulia Street | one of Penang’s most popular markets, complete with indoor and outdoor food vendors

  • Cecil Street Food Court | an awesome spot for affordable, local eats

  • CF Food Court | once visited by the late and great chef and travel food writer, Anthony Bourdain

ADMISSION | free

 

explore Chinatown in George Town

Chinatown in Georgetown is filled with colourful lanterns hanging across alleyways and incense wafting through the streets. Wandering around Chinatown, you’ll inevitably stumble upon temples with intricate tile details and lines for street food vendors selling everything from shrimp dumplings to stir-fried rice noodles.

ADMISSION | free

 

visit Gerak Budya Bookshop

It can sometimes be difficult to find a good book in English in Asia, especially outside of hostels where travellers often ditch the extra weight of a paperback from their bags. Those travelling through Penang are in luck! Gerak Budaya Bookshop houses so many amazing collections of poetry and literature. They had a cover of The Great Gatsby I hadn’t ever seen anywhere and was dying to pick up, but that's when I noticed that the prices were steep. Despite the high prices, Gerka Budya is the place to pick up a page-turner.

ADMISSION | free

 

marvel at Penang’s mansions

Another must-do when visiting Penang is checking out its impressive mansions. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Manion, was the first in the area and is arguably the most popular. It was built in the 1800s by Tze, a merchant, to be his private home. Today, you can book a stay at the Blue Mansion, as the property has been turned into a boutique, luxury hotel. The mansion is so beautiful, it was featured in the movie, Crazy Rich Asians. Penang Peranakan Mansion is another stunning heritage property that houses over 1,000 artifacts and items that are historically and culturally significant.

ADMISSION | Blue Mansion: 16 MYR, Penang Peranakan Mansion: 20 MYR

 

Hin Bus Depot

The Hin Bus Depot was my absolute favourite little spot in Georgetown simply because it surprised me more than any place I’d been in Malaysia. Part open art studio, part hippie commune, Hin Bus Depot is like an open-air complex filled with vegan cafes, interactive murals, and artists in residence. The decaying walls of the old bus depot are slowly being overrun by greenery as though Mother Nature is making a graceful declaration of her ownership over the area.

Tip: On the weekends you can head to Hin Bus Depot for their market, where vendors make sell everything from Kombucha to plant-based baked goods.

ADMISSION | free

 

Penang National Park

Penang National Park is one of the smallest national parks in the world. It’s free to visit and a great way to spend an afternoon. Lace up your boots and hit up one of the national parks’ three main trails, all of which lead to scenic beach outlooks.

ADMISSION | free

 

Clan Jetty

Clan Jetty is a community of stilted homes that are over a century old, named after various Chinese clans. The main Clan Jetty has become highly gentrified and over-commercialized. However, if you venture a little further off the beaten path, there are areas within the community that offer unique insight into the culture of this community and the people who live there.

  • Hean Boo Thean Temple | a free-to-enter Chinese temple that appears to be floating on the water

  • Tan Jetty | a short walk from the main boardwalk, quieter and home to famous food stalls

ADMISSION | free

 

take a food tour

Luke and I both love food tours. They provide travellers with a wealth of information about not only the local cuisine but about the local culture and customs of a destination too. There are more than just a few food tours to choose from, but I recommend two locally-led tours that specialize in street eats.

 

unwind at Monkey Beach

Hidden away in Penang National Park is Monkey Beach, a relatively secluded beach with cheeky monkey visitors and snack vendors that can only be reached by boat or a hike through the national park.

ADMISSION | free

 

shop at Batu Ferringhi Night Market

During our stay at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, we took advantage of the free shuttle into Batu Ferringhi to peruse its night market. The night market is similar to most others throughout Southeast Asia. You can purchase souvenirs, postcards, and street food. It might not be on the top of my “Penang bucket list”, but it is worth stretching your legs with a walk around the market, especially if you are looking for a take-home trinket.

ADMISSION | free

 

catch a sunset up Penang Hill

Penang Hill offers travellers unobstructed views of the Malaysian coastline and island scenery. You can either hike up the hill or take the funicular (Asia’s longest and steepest), but no matter which way you ascend, you’ll be treated to stunning panoramic views sure to leave you in awe of the beauty that surrounds you.

ADMISSION | free to hike, or funicular tickets start at MYR 40

 

map ↴

Find all the best things to do in Penang, Malaysia on the map below.

Asia, budget travel, Malaysia, travelSilly Little Kiwi | Tara2018, asia, southeast asia, malaysia, penang, penang island, georgetown, street art, budget travel, travel2 Comments