Penang is an island in the northwest of Malaysia famous for its street art, foodie culture and national park. Penang really does have a bit of everything, from the white sand beach to historical houses to Tamil-fusion dishes. Most travellers may only spend a day or two admiring the street art in Georgetown before heading to other destinations in Malaysia or Thailand. However, Penang has so much more to offer than just Georgetown if you take the time to properly explore the island.
How Many Days to Spend in Penang
How many days you choose to spend in Penang depends greatly on whether you’re only interested in seeing the main area of Georgetown or whether you want to hike in the National Park. You can easily fit all of the sites of Georgetown into two full jam-packed days. If you also wish to do some hiking in the Penang National Park and go to the beach, allow four very full days. If you’re travelling at a leisurely pace, 5-6 days would allow you to have relaxed days.
How to get to Penang
Although Penang is an island, there is a highway crossing, so there are plenty of bus routes connecting the mainland to Penang. There is also an international airport on the island, with direct flights from Penang to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. For purchasing bus tickets in Malaysia, www.busticketonline.com has the greatest range of bus companies.
How to get to Penang from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur to Penang is a super popular route, so many bus companies operate between the two spots. Services depart daily every 30 minutes from 6:30 am- midnight. The journey takes around 5 hours with rest and bathroom stops, costing between 34-50 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($7.50-$11.50 USD). Most buses depart from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) in Kuala Lumpur and arrive at Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal in Penang. If you can, try asking the bus driver to drop you in Georgetown at the Komtar Tower bus stop. Otherwise, you will have to get a second bus from Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal to Georgetown.
How to get to Penang from the Cameron Highlands
There are a few bus companies that operate between the Cameron Highlands and Penang, such as GJG Express, C.S Travel & Tours and Unititi Express. The journey takes 5 hours with rest and bathroom stops and costs 35 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($8 USD). Buses depart daily at 8:30 am, 9 am, 2:30 pm and 3 pm, depending on your choice of company. If you’re staying in Georgetown, try and book a bus that will drop you at Komtar Tower or ask your driver to stop there. Otherwise, you will have to get a second local bus or a grab to get to Georgetown from the main bus terminal in Penang.
How to get to Penang from Langkawi
Given how geographically close Langkawi and Penang are, you would think getting between the two locations would be simple. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the ferry between the islands no longer operates. You can get fairly cheap flights with Air Asia. I got a flight with 20kg of checked baggage for 100 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($22 USD).
The alternative way to get to Penang from Langkawi is to get the morning ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis. Cuti Cuti Langkawi Ferry is the company that operates the ferry that takes around an hour and 15 minutes. From the ferry port in Kuala Perlis, you’ll need to walk 5 minutes to the bus terminal. From the bus terminal, you can catch a bus from Kuala Perlis to Penang, which takes around 3 hours. You can book this at the terminal or online on the Red Bus Site. Make sure if you do book online, you allow extra time to transfer, or in case the ferry is running late, which it often is.
How to get around Penang
Penang, and Malaysia in general really, is very public transport and walking friendly. In Penang, you can walk almost anywhere around Georgetown, and they have a great bus system for getting further afield.
Getting around Penang on foot
Georgetown is easily accessible on foot and has some really pretty walks due to the famous street art scattered around the city. There are sidewalks pretty much everywhere and pedestrian crossings to cross main roads in the city.
Getting around Penang by bus
If you need to get to sights outside of Georgetown, such as Batu Ferringi Market, Penang Beach or Penang National Park, the bus is your best bet. The bus system is pretty easy to navigate as it runs in a large loop around the island. So, provided you make sure you get in the right direction (there are only two directions), you can’t get lost. Make sure you have small change for the bus as the drivers won’t give you change.
Getting around Penang by Taxi and Grab
Taxi and Grab are not super easy to find in Penang, particularly if out of Georgetown. Getting to sights like Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple, Grab is the easiest way to get there. However, finding a car for the way back can prove really tricky. You may have to wait a while for a Grab and have a few cars cancel on you. So make sure you plan ahead for this.
What to do in Penang
There’s no shortage of things to do in Penang, from hiking to street art tours to eating amazing food at one of the many night markets. You could easily spend a whole week in Penang and not run out of things to do.
Street Art Tour
Probably one of the most famous things to do in Penang is to walk around and explore street art. Georgetown is famous for its numerous spots around town featuring different kinds of street art. You can do a walking tour or hire a guide to show you all the street art. Alternatively, you can just walk around the streets, admire the street art, and read the signs explaining the history behind the art. Some of the main spots you can’t miss are: Muntri Street, Weld Quay, Jalan Penang, Leith Street, Ah Quee Street and Armenian Street. It should only take around half a day to walk to all the street art spots, and that’s if you’re taking your time and stopping for photos a lot.
Take a tour of the blue mansion (Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion)
The Blue Mansion, its proper name being the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, is a famous historical house in Georgetown, Penang. It’s really well maintained and a very instagrammable spot due to the bright blue painted walls. You can book a tour of the mansion online, including an audio guide for 24 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($5.50 USD).
Khoo Kongsi Clan House
Another famous historical house in Georgetown with beautiful architecture and lots of information about the history of Penang. Khoo Kongsi Clan House is 10 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($2.30 USD) to enter. It takes less than 1 hour to explore, including plenty of time to read all the information, take photos and admire all the artefacts.
Clan Jetties
After you’ve explored the street art of Georgetown, make sure you walk down to the Clan Jetties. The Clan Jetties are a series of boardwalks representing the historical families of Penang. The jetties feature things like street art, traditional cafes and restaurants, historical monuments and even temples. The most popular is Chew Jetty, but if you have the time, it’s worth walking down a few of the jetties. They’re free to enter and just a short walk from the centre of Georgetown.
Kek Lok Si Temple
A must-do in Penang! Kek Lok Si is a large Buddhist temple up on a hill with stunning architecture and panoramic views of the island. There’s also a short cable car that you can use to reach the top, where there is a massive 36-metre-tall statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Entry to the temple grounds is free, but there is a charge to use the cable car of 5 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($1.10 USD). If you would prefer not to ride the cable car, you can walk up the hill on the side of the road (it’s pretty steep, though). To get to Kek Lok Si Temple, you can catch the local bus or get a Grab. It was a bit tricky getting a Grab home, as there were not many drivers in the area, so we had to wait a while.
Penang Hill
Strongly recommend heading up to Penang Hill in the late afternoon and then staying for sunset. Penang Hill is a very lush and green area where you can see monkeys and other wildlife. You also have panoramic views of the island. To get to Penang Hill, you can either walk or catch a cable car. The walk is around 2-3 hours uphill from the Botanical Gardens. Alternatively, the cable car costs 30 RM Malaysian Ringgit ($6.80 USD). If you’re up there at sunset, I highly recommend watching the sunset from the back of the Hindu Temple.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
Batu Ferringhi Beach is one of the nicest beaches on Penang Island and is located halfway between Georgetown and Penang National Park. The easiest way to get there is via bus. You can swim at Batu Ferringhi beach, but at your own risk as there can be jellyfish. Follow the advice of the locals; if you don’t see them swimming, better not to swim. Jellyfish stings can require hospitalisation and can even be fatal, depending on the number of stings and type of jellyfish. My recommendation for Batu Ferringhi Beach would be to buy a few drinks from the convenience store and go for the sunset, as opposed to swimming. After the sun has set, make your way to the Batu Ferringhi Night Market for dinner.
Penang National Park
If you’re interested in hiking or seeing some of the nature of Penang, I highly recommend completing either or both of the main hikes in Penang National Park. The two main hikes are the hike to the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary and the hike to Monkey Beach, with the option to hike further to the lighthouse. Both hikes begin at the Penang National Park Office, where you have to register for which hike you are doing. The local bus runs directly to and from the National Parks Office, so it’s easy to get to. Alternatively, if you’re staying in Teluk Bahang, you can walk to the entrance. All hikes are free, but be wary of locals trying to charge you a fee to enter the National Park at the office; this is a common scam.
Getting to Penang National Park by boat
Alternatively, you can visit both beaches without hiking and by getting a boat both ways. Boats cost between 100-200 RM per boat return ($22-$44 USD), which is split between how many people you’re with. Boats can have up to 10 passengers on them. Make sure you arrange with the boat driver what time you would like them to pick you up and get their details. Another option is hiking one way to your end destination, relaxing on the beach and then getting a boat on the way back to the Penang National Park Office. We arranged with one of the shop owners on monkey beach for his friend to drop us back after hiking the way there.
Jellyfish Warning
One thing to be wary of at both Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut is the jellyfish. They have a lot of large jellyfish, which have painful stings but usually aren’t fatal. However, they also have small blue jellyfish, which are incredibly dangerous if they sting you. Always speak to the locals at the beach before swimming to ascertain the risk on any given day, or just avoid swimming altogether in Penang National Park.
Hiking to Monkey Beach, Penang National Park
Monkey Beach is the most popular hike in Penang National Park as it is the easiest. There is a boardwalk for most of the way, with small sections being a dirt track with ropes to help you scramble down. When I went, the boardwalk was rotted and in bad shape, as no repairs had been done for years during the pandemic. It should be much better now, but be wary of holes in the boardwalk and sections where it may be less than stable. The route from the Penang National Park Office will take you first to Pantai Teluk Aling, where you’ll walk along the beach past an abandoned mansion overtaken by monkeys. Enter at your own risk, the monkeys are super aggressive, and the structure seemed very unstable. After Pantai Teluk Aling, you walk through the forest until you arrive at Monkey Beach.
At Monkey Beach in Penang, there are lots of food and drink shacks around. Beware of the monkeys though, they will steal your food or even rubbish if you don’t throw it in the bin straight away. There are locals around with slingshots who shot rocks in the direction of the monkeys if they are getting too close or aggressive. After Monkey Beach, you can hike to Muka Point Lighthouse to view the surrounding coast from higher ground. This hike will take you around 2 hours one way.
Hiking to the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary
The alternative hike, or if you’re a keen hiker, you may do both, is the hike to the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary. This hike will take you inland from the Penang National Park Office, as opposed to the Monkey Beach hike, which takes you along the coastline. After leaving the Park Office, you will head to the Canopy Walkway, which is a 200-ish metre-long canopy walkway. If you’re scared of heights, you can pass underneath or around the walkway. The trail is mainly dirt, with some steps and some ropes to help you along the way. After the Canopy Walkway you head to the Meromictic Lake, which is just a fancy way of saying a lake that has both saltwater and freshwater in it.
After the lake, you will arrive at your final destination- Pantai Kerachut, where the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary is. Pantai Kerachut is a relatively untouched beach, and there will be barely any other people there, as most people just hike to Monkey Beach if entering the Penang National Park at all. They have a small Turtle Conservation Sanctuary here with small amounts of information about the protection of sea turtles, but it’s very small. There are no food and drink vendors on Pantai Kerachut, so make sure you bring your own food and drinks.
Warning
Be super wary of the monkeys, which are just as aggressive here as they are on Monkey Beach, but usually, there are no locals around to help you if they get too close. Pantai Kerachut is a great place for sunset if you fancy hiking back in the dark or you have pre-organised a boat to pick you up after sunset. Make sure you pre-organise a boat transfer at the National Park Office, as chances are there will be no one at Pantai Kerachut to help you.
Malaysian Cooking Class at the Spice Gardens
Highly recommend this whether you are someone who loves to cook, a foodie, or just looking for something to do. The cooking class at the spice garden is one of the best cooking classes I’ve taken in my travels. You cook dishes like Nasi Lemak, Pisang Goreng and Rendang Curry, and they cater to different dietary requirements like vegan and vegetarian. After the class, everyone sits together and has a family-style meal in the Spice Gardens. The Spice Gardens themselves are cool to walk around, and they have many beautiful flowers and plants. The class is a little bit more expensive than the average cooking class in South East Asia, costing around 175 RM Malaysian Ringgit per person ($40 USD).
Where to stay in Penang
90% of people heading to Penang will stay in Georgetown as it’s the main area and close to a lot of tourist spots. There also aren’t really too many hostels outside of Georgetown. I would highly recommend staying in Georgetown for at least two nights; however, if you want to do the other side of Penang, stay a night or two in Teluk Bahang. Teluk Bahang is a tiny little town with few tourists, but it’s super convenient for visiting the National Park, Penang Beach, Batu Ferringhi Night Market and the Tropical Spice Garden. You can book all accommodation here.
The Frame Hostel
The Frame Hostel is a clean and modern flashpacker hostel in the heart of Georgetown. Think big security lockers, hot showers, powerful AC, sockets, and nightlights in the bunk. It’s a really comfortable place to stay in Penang; however, the common areas were not very social. The hostel doesn’t do events, so it’s quite hard to meet people as a solo traveller.
Rope Walk Guesthouse
Rope Walk Guesthouse is another hostel in the middle of Georgetown, with as much of a social vibe as you’re gonna get in Penang. They have super cosy common areas, and there were always people chilling and down for a chat around. The facilities weren’t quite as modern or clean as Frame Hostel, but it had a bit more personality in my opinion.
Eco Capsule Resort
I loved staying in a private capsule here! Eco Capsule Resort is in Teluk Bahang, so I wouldn’t recommend staying here to explore Georgetown. But it is a great location to use as a base for hiking in the National Park. The bathrooms are shared, but for a reasonable price, you get a little private capsule in the forest with AC.
Where to eat in Penang
The food in Malaysia, in general, is top-notch, and Penang is no exception to the rule. Due to the different cultural influences in Penang throughout history, they have many unique fusion dishes. It is so easy to find delicious food in Penang, and there’s markets and foot stalls on every second corner.
Penang Night Market
The Penang Night Market is a roving market. This means the market is located in a different spot in Georgetown, depending on the night of the week. They have a night market at Kimberley Street and at Batu Ferringhi Beach every night of the week; otherwise, you can find the updated Penang market schedule with locations below:
- Monday: Macallum Street Night Market in Georgetown
- Tuesday: Tanjung Bungah Night Market, which is 20 minute’s drive outside of Georgetown towards Batu Ferringhi Beach
- Wednesday: Farlim Night Market, which is 25 minute’s drive outside of Georgetown, near Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple
- Thursday: Bayan Baru Night Market, which is 25 minutes south of Georgetown
- Friday: Jelutong Night Market, which is 10 minute’s drive south of Georgetown
- Saturday: Batu Lanchang Food Trucks, which is 10 minute’s drive south of Georgetown
- Sunday: Paya Terubong Night Market, which is 25 minute’s drive outside of Georgetown, near Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill
Some of the dishes you should try at the night markets are Kuih Kasui (perekenian dessert), Penang famous samosa, Apam Balik (savoury pancake) and Char Kiuh Car (a noodle dish).
Nasi Kandar at Deens Maju
Deen’s Maju is a famous restaurant in Penang specialising in Nasi Kandar, a Tamil fusion dish originating in Penang. The restaurant is very basic and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. Nasi Kandar is a rice dish accompanied by a number of different sides like fried chicken, various curries and fish dishes. It’s a great dish to eat as you get to try a number of different flavours and curries in one meal. One thing to note is that it is not vegetarian or vegan-friendly as they don’t do meat-free alternatives.
Coffee Lane
Another great cafe right in the centre of Georgetown that does great coffees, pastries and other breakfast foods. They are a small cafe mainly doing takeaway and don’t have much seating. However, the food and coffee are well worth it.
Yins Sourdough Bakery and Cafe
As the name would suggest, they’re famous for their homemade sourdough and other bakery goods. Yin’s Cafe is a cult classic in Georgetown and is always busy. Their food and coffee are delicious, so it’s well worth the wait for a table.
Urban daybreak
The place to come for your smashed avo on toast or full English breakfast fix! Urban Daybreak offers all-day breakfast and brunch options in their very aesthetic cafe. They’re a little pricey but worth it if you want to treat yourself to a good brunch with top-tier coffee.
Teksen Restaurant
One of the most highly-rated restaurants in Penang, and for good reason. Teksen Restaurant is in the centre of Georgetown and specialises in Chinese Malay cuisine. Given how popular it is, there is usually a queue, particularly at dinnertime. If you can, try to go for an early lunch to avoid having to queue in the heat. All of their dishes are delicious, but they are particularly famous for their pork dishes!
Nightlife in Penang
The nightlife in Penang is pretty tame compared to other parts of South East Asia. However, there are still plenty of fun places to drink and dance. It’s not really the place where everyone goes out every night, but on the weekend, it really picks up.
Love Lane
Love Lane is a laneway filled with cool bars and pubs. They also have fire performances on the street most nights. Out of all the bars, Micke’s Place has the best vibes and drink prices, in my opinion.
The original Reggae Club
One of the best dive bars in Penang! It’s just down from Love Lane. Most nights, they have a street vendor serving Mediterranean food like falafels, so you can order from the stall and take your food inside. They serve really well-priced drinks, and they have a chilled-out vibe.
Canteen
If you want to go dancing, Canteen is the place to be. They have live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and they have a bit of a dance floor going. Canteen is probably the closest place you’re going to get to a proper backpacker club in Penang.
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