penang travel fish

Top 10 Seafood Spots In Penang For A Feast Like No Other

Hello, peeps! It’s Friday and that means it’s time to pamper yourself with some delish seafood dishes. Surrounded by an abundance of seawater, Penang island is undoubtedly the right spot to savour fresh seafood. While the options here are plentiful, today we have curated the top 10 seafood spots in Penang that guarantee a smile on your face!

Top 10 Seafood Spots In Penang

1. weld quay (tree shade) da shu xia seafood house.

Originally located in one of the shophouses along Weld Quay, Da Shu Xia is no foreign to the locals. Even after moving to its current location at Lebuh Victoria, it remains a popular place to revive nostalgic flavours. Most popular for its Chu Char dishes, this is the spot with fresh daily caught seafood. Just in case you don’t know what to choose, we definitely recommend their Kam Hiong Crab In Bread!

Operating Hours: 11AM – 9:30PM (Closes on Wednesday)

Address: 177C, Lebuh Victoria, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang.

2. Khun De Thai

On a shopping spree but crave some delish seafood? Well, we’ve got your back. Located in Gurney Paragon Mall, Khun De Thai is a seafood spot with an impressive menu. Come here for Thai-style Steamed Fish, Salted Egg Prawns and more, but you definitely can’t miss out on their Claypot Glass Noodle Crab. Standing out with chewy glass noodles and large claw meat, are you hungry yet?

Operating Hours: 11:30AM – 2:30PM | 5:30PM – 10:00PM

Address: (located next to Lunarich), 163D-2-34, Gurney Paragon Mall, Gurney Drive, 10250 Penang.

Link(s): Facebook | Instagram

Famous for its cheap and affordable fresh seafood, can you believe that one crab is only RM4.99? Undoubtedly one of the cheapest places in Penang to go for crustaceans, it’s the Handcatch Seafood Platter and Sauna Prawns that you shouldn’t miss out on. The platter comes with lobsters, prawns, clams, petai, squid and more, while the Sauna Prawns are cooked on steaming hot stones!

Operating Hours:  3PM – 12AM (Daily)

Address: 401, Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang.

Link(s): Facebook

4. Ikan Bakar Din Kepala Batas

When it comes to Ikan Bakar or Grilled Fish, you definitely can’t leave out Ikan Bakar Din at Kepala Batas. Dished with an array of grilled seafood on their long table, simply pick your favourite and place them on your rice! In case you can’t decide on which seafood to choose, the Grilled Sambal Stringray what we recommend. Charcoal-grilled on the spot, their homemade sambal sauce just hits the spot!

Operating Hours: 11AM – 4PM (Closes on Thursday and Friday)

Address: 6735, Jalan Butterworth, Kampung Permatang Manggis, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang.

5. Perak Lane Fish Head Bee Hoon

Nestled along Perak Lane, this is an all-time favourite spot amongst locals. Serving a variety of charcoal-cooked dishes, the must-try dishes here are definitely the seafood porridges and noodles. Simply choose seafood toppings such as prawn, squid and pick your favourite noodles or porridge. If you’re lucky enough, don’t forget to try their Whole Crab Porridge!

Operating Hours:  3PM – 9:30PM (Daily)

Address: Lorong Perak, Jelutong, 11600 George Town, Pulau Pinang.

6. Sham Hammer

If a romantic seafood date by the sea is what you’re looking for, then Sham Hammer is the spot to go. Outdoor seatings that offer pleasantly cool sea breeze and beautiful view, this is the best location to get your hands on seafood. Most known for its Grilled Fish, fret not to try their Spicy and Sour Clams. Hitting on the sweeter note, many regulars come here for the Tom Yum Soup too.

Operating Hours:  5:30PM – 12AM (Daily)

Address: Gerai 46 Kompleks Selera Seri Pantai-SM Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, Bayan Lepas.

7. Big Crab Street Food

Standing out with a large crab attached to the building, Big Crab Street Food is a new addition to the food scene in Penang. A 2-story-building with over 25 stalls, come here for a simple hawker dish or level up your day with some fresh seafood. And just as the name suggests, you can’t say you’ve come here without trying their freshly steamed crab!

Operating Hours:  7AM – 12PM (Daily)

Address: 28, Fortune Park, Jalan Perusahaan Jelutong 2, 11600 Jelutong, Penang.

Link(s):  Facebook

8. Bali Hai Seafood Restaurant

Located along the long stretch of Persiaran Gurney, Bali Hai’s exterior boasts a classic Indonesian vibe. Serving a range of Dim Sum in the morning, many come here for the seafood during lunch and dinner hours. Offering crabs, lobsters, oysters and more, don’t be surprise to spot Empurau fish on the menu! If you don’t know what that is, let us warn you because it’s one of the most expensive fish in Malaysia.

Operating Hours:  6:45AM – 12AM (Daily)

Address: 90B, 90C & 90D, 90, 90A, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town.

9. D’Seafood Paradise

Located in Teluk Tempoyak, D’Seafood Paradise offers a great view of the beach, sea and hills. A good place to go for seafood and other local-style dishes, this is the kind of place to lets you choose your own cooking-style. Offering mostly Malay-style cooking, you can find Grilled Fish here too. Additionally, if you’re fond of Instagrammable spots, fret not to come here for the sunset!

Operating Hours:  12PM – 10PM

Address:  Jalan Teluk Tempoyak, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang.

10. Blue Reef Fish & Chips

Last on our list comes the Blue Reef Fish & Chips. A different style from the previous restaurants that we have mentioned, this is a place that offers Western seafood dishes. Most popular for its Fish & Chips that is crispy on the exterior and tender soft on the inside, what’s better is the freshness of the fish! So if you’re indeed missing some chips and fried seafood, fret not to hop over here to fix your cravings!

Operating Hours: 10:30AM – 10:30PM (Daily)

Address: 3A-G-20 Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, 10470 Pinang, Pulau Pinang.

Have You Tried Them All Yet?

Finally, we have come to an end for our list of ‘Top 10 Seafood Spots In Penang For A Feast Like No Other’. So if you’re indeed finding spots to satiate seafood over the weekend, here’s a list for you. Anyways, we hope you’ve enjoyed reading and don’t be shy to leave your thoughts in the comment box below! Above all, we hope everyone stays safe and see you in the next post!

Read Also:  Breaking News: Face Mask Is Compulsory In Public Areas Starting 1st August

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Penang, Malaysia: 6 must-try seafood restaurants

Header image courtesy of Jason Leung (via Unsplash)

Since Penang is an island, it only makes sense that seafood in Penang is as fresh as it gets. With so many seafood restaurants popping up all over the island, it’s hard to tell which ones are the good ones. We’ve compiled a list of unmissable seafood places in Penang that are worth a try—read on to find out which ones!

Song River Café

Famous among tourists and Penangites alike, Song River Café is an open-air hawker centre facing the sea. Its signature steamed fish bee hoon (fish steamed with rice noodles) is one of the most popular dishes, with a price tag ranging between RM12 to RM70 depending on the type of fish. Served with only soy sauce, fried garlic, and chopped chives, it might seem like a simple dish, but the taste is anything but.

Another signature dish that received raving reviews is actually not seafood, but the bitter gourd with fried egg (RM8.50 to RM17, depending on size). We never thought bitter gourd could be this good, but the vegetable comes off as refreshing while the egg’s runny consistency lends a velvety smooth mouthfeel with every bite.

Song River Café , 65, Gurney Drive, 10250 George Town, Penang | (+60) 12 492 7275

Dehappy Seafood Restaurant

Dehappy Seafood Restaurant might be slightly more expensive than the other restaurants on this list, but do not let that be a deterrent—the menu offers a lot of variety in the type of seafood available and also the preparation style. Our first personal favourite is black pepper French crab (RM20 for every 10 grammes), which is tossed with aromatic black pepper sauce, chillies, and spices. You’ll be tempted to lick the plate long after the crab is gone!

Coming in second is the mala prawn pot (RM48 to RM96 depending on size), cooked with Sichuan peppercorns, spices, and chillies. It used to come in a claypot instead of a metal pot, but rest assured that the taste remains superb. Last but not least, the braised noodles with prawns (RM30 to RM60) are perfectly cooked in a lightly savoury gravy and create the perfect flavour balance when all ingredients are had in one bite!

Dehappy Seafood Restaurant , 58, Jalan Macalister, 10400, George Town | (+60) 12 485 2388

Have you ever tried catching your own prawns? Hamisu is one of the few restaurants on the island that offers live prawn fishing. Once you have caught your fill, the staff will cook it any way you like (price varies according to size and amount of prawns caught). Hamisu’s signature dish is the sauna prawn (RM45 per dozen)—fresh prawns are cooked in a wok filled with charcoal and Chinese rice wine. The end result? You get the juiciest prawns that are bursting with savoury wine flavour, as well as a hint of smokiness from the charcoal.

Hamisu , 401, Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150, George Town, Penang | (+60) 16 961 0921

Keep scrolling for the rest of the list 👇

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Medan Selera Taman Free School

Tucked inside a small coffee shop just opposite Heng Ee School is a humble stall serving the best baked salted crab in Penang! Juicy on the inside and not overwhelmingly salted, the crab is best eaten with the chilli sauce provided by the stall. If you’re still feeling peckish, try the rest of the seafood they have, such as fish, prawns, and clams priced from RM3 upwards, depending on the amount ordered. Just how affordable is that?

Medan Selera Taman Free School , Taman Free School, 11600, George Town, Penang

Yob Siput Bakar

Since we’ve covered quite a number of Chinese seafood places, here’s a halal seafood place for our Muslim friends as well (non-Muslims are welcome, too, of course). If you’re a fan of shelled seafood, you’ll be in for a treat with Yob Siput Bakar. It specialises in serving all kinds of shelled seafood , such as mussels, sea snails, spiky shellfish, furry shellfish, and ordinary shellfish (RM5 to RM14 per kilogramme), as well as horseshoe crab (depending on seasonal availability). Although they can be served both boiled and grilled, we strongly suggest going for the grilled option. Yob Siput Bakar uses coconut shells instead of charcoal as fuel, imparting a unique flavour to its seafood. Definitely a great spot for those who seel to indulge in loads of molluscs on a budget.

Yob Siput Bakar , Jalan Akuarium, 11400, Gelugor, Penang | (+60) 18 222 9389

Fizzy Café Mee Udang Ketam

Fizzy Café Mee Udang Ketam is another Muslim-friendly eatery seafood fans will love. Its signature dishes are mee udang and shellrock, which is essentially a bucket of fresh seafood served on the table. Mee udang (RM15) is a plate of yellow noodles braised in sweet chilli sauce, accompanied by large, succulent prawns. Shellrock (RM70) is a set menu consisting of two large crabs, three medium prawns, 600 grammes of mixed clams, and some greens. It’s big enough to feed two to three diners, depending on your appetites. A food coma is imminent!

Fizzy Café Mee Udang Ketam , Jalan Bayan Lepas, Kampung Masjid, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Penang | (+60) 18 974 2272

Diana has been a lifestyle blogger since 2012. Her ‘kryptonite’ are good food, games, and all things furry (try luring her into a van with puppies, it will work). Currently a full-time digital nomad, you may find her working in a quiet corner of an obscure café, with a latte in hand.

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THE 5 BEST Penang Fishing Charters & Tours

Fishing charters & tours in penang.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Hiking & Camping Tours
• Fishing Charters & Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Soon Coastal Fishing

2. Pen Marine

3. SAFAR SAEID TRAVEL

4. YY Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd

5. Pen Marine

6. FH Travel

7. LHS Pinang Trans Services

Your Appetizing Penang Travel Guide – Delectable 3 days in Penang 

Update 2024 : Malaysia reopened its international borders on 1 April 2022. Get Malaysian government’s complete rules for travelers planning to visit Malaysia on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tourism website . I’ve also listed down the guidelines and compliances in this article on Kinabatangan River Wildlife Sanctuary . My guide to  Malaysia visa is recommended, too.

What to do in Penang in 3 days

• Introduction to Penang
• 3 days in Penang — My Penang itinerary to fun and food-filled trip to Penang.

Day 1 — Art, Street food, and historical places to see in Penang

Day 2 — Penang hill, Clan jetties, and a seafood dinner at hawker center with live music.

Day 3 — Penang National Park for nature or Hin Bus Depot for street art and Batu Ferringhi beach to end the day with a golden sunset and good food.

• Have only two days in Penang?

Important information – Planning your trip to Penang

Where is penang island, where to stay in penang city.

• How to reach Penang, Malaysia?

What is the best time to visit Penang Island?

Where to exchange currency in penang, what would be your penang trip budget.

• Resources to help you visit some of the Penang famous places.

Supplementary reads to this Penang Travel Blog

Introduction to penang .

After a short walk under the bright sun from the bus stand to my guesthouse in Georgetown at Lebuh Carnarvon, I put my bags in my room and went out for a stroll. For those who don’t know, Georgetown is the capital of Penang state or the Penang island.

I was famished after a long bus drive from Taman Negara, and Carnarvon street seemed like the right place to be. Little did I know that soon I was to be lost in the labyrinth of the streets of Penang flaunting exquisite art and some delicious Penang food .

The streets seemed empty, and I wondered if there were any tourists. A friend had questioned my Malaysia trip by saying that the only thing to see in Malaysia was Penang.

I found many more reasons to travel to Malaysia during my month-long trip to the gorgeous country, and, soon, I discovered a crowd of tourists huddled around visceral murals that were stuck to Penang street walls. Some pointed their Nikons towards the art murals, some jumped into the mural scene making it seem even more alive, and some, like me, stood on the side and wondered how Penang became Asia’s most thriving art and food capital.

Penang was acquired from the sultanate of Kedah and established as a British East India company colony by Francis Light in 1786. Georgetown was set up as the modern center of the island. Penang soon became the trading hub of Asia and attracted wealthy traders from India and China along with laborers from both the countries.

While you will see the grand Chinese-Peranakan Blue Mansion, the Peranakan Museum, and the Khoo Kongsi temple aging in the streets of Penang, you will also stumble into old South-Indian temples and grand mosques towering above the Penang city.

The cultural hot pot of Penang merged with Malaysia just before Malaysia’s independence in 1957. Almost after 50 years of post-colonial development, Georgetown was declared as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008.

This declaration flipped the future of Georgetown as the government of Penang further marked Georgetown and eventually all of Penang with historical and cultural street signs and real-life inspired murals.

These vibrant murals and the delicious potpourri of Indian, Chinese, and Malay food in Penang drew travelers from all around the world.

I also joined the parade of the tourists walking from one street to another and discovered the most thought-provoking and hilarious pieces of art in narrow Penang streets. And when I got tired of getting lost in the Penang street art, I gulped down bowls of Asam Laksa (a tangy fish soup) and found excuses to rush to the nearest Nasi Kandar joint to indulge in spicy fish curry and rice adorned with some crispy okra.

Though I spent 6 days in Penang, I was writing for a freelance client for about three of those days. But when I wasn’t writing , I let the streets of Georgetown and Penang overwhelm me. While walking, overeating, looking up to ancient temples and skyscrapers, hiking hills, watching sunsets on a beach, and getting shocked by the Chinese new year celebrations, I found a Penang that tempted me to visit her again.

And why wouldn’t I go? Batik painting shops and abandoned graffiti centers, ghost museums and surreal portraits on streets, live music bars and Chinese tea shops, high-end restaurants and rushed hawker stalls, organic spas and nature hikes, Hindu temples and protestant churches — Penang seems to be the sum up of an ideal travel brochure.

But for the moment I was happy to indulge in the ever-evolving art and food courtyard that Penang island is. So though I prefer slow travel, I tried to make peace with a 3 day visit to Penang.

In this Penang travel guide, I have put together the best things to do on your 3 day Penang itinerary. Let’s go.

3 days in Penang — My Penang itinerary to fun and a food-filled trip to Penang.

Day 1 of your penang trip.

Start your first day in Penang with eating and discovering the street art. The best place to overeat and stumble into art in Penang is Georgetown.

Though my detailed Penang food guide and Penang street art guide will take you through the street food and the art pieces in detail, I would suggest start walking towards Lebuh Chulia or Lebuh Armenian for these two have the most of the street art and murals in Georgetown.

Lebuh Keng Kwee has some of the must-try street food. Try the asam laksa and the world-famous chendol which is a sweet-coconuty soup made with green-glass noddles and ice shavings at the world-famous shops on Keng Kwee Street.

Insider Tip: If you love Asian food and are on a Southeast Asia trip, I suggest you visit the Inle Lake in Burma that has some amazing Shan food full of lemon, fish, and soupy noodles. 

Don’t forget to get into some side streets for hidden murals and delicious food.

With some food in your belly you can now see some Hindu and Chinese temples, mosques, and other historical places in Penang.

Some of the major historical and cultural places to go in Penang —

• Cheong Fatt Tze or the Blue Mansion — Named after a rich Chinese merchant who built the mansion as a home and office in the 19th century. 38-room minions with brilliant architectural design. Head off on a sunny afternoon to spend some time in the shade watching engraved furniture and old Chinese living style. You can check out their rooms and other services and timings here . 
• Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling — Build in 1801 by Penang’s first Indian Muslim settlers, the mosque stands tall and bright white.
• Kuan Yin Teng or the Temple of the Goddess of Mercy — Originally a temple devoted to the gods of the sea, now this ancient temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
• Sri Mahamariamman Temple — One of the rainbow-colored and figurine-engraved South-Indian temple in Little India. The temple was made by the Tamilians when they migrated to Penang in the 1800s to trade or work as laborers.
• Khoo Kongsi Temple  – Build in 1906, Khoo Kongsi is another clan temple in the center of Georgetown in Cannon Square. I recommend just walking past by this temple as I wasn’t very inspired by this one. But you can check out the events held at the temple here . 

Choose amongst these places as per your time and preference. I was more interested in staying outdoors and searching the street art or indulging with food and saw most of these above historical and religious attractions from outside.

You can also get an audio 4-hour Penang city tour that takes you through the popular Penang temples, Jetties, and mosques — GetYourGuide tour of Penang .

End your day with some spicy street food at Chulia night market or the Nasi Kandar Line Clear restaurant for some Nasi Kandar. Have drinks at Love Lane if you like. I just grabbed some beer at a local hawker center and watched the avalanche of tourists pour-over food stalls.

Just behind the Goddess of Mercy temple, Antarabangsa Enterprise is a good spot for some affordable drinks.

Another possible pit-stop — Chowrasta street market where Indian immigrants came during the British era and named the area Chowrasta — adapted from the word Chowk(junction) and rasta(way). But Chinese took over the Indians in 1860 and since then mostly Chinese house shops and street vendors run the place. Head here to see some live shopping and Penang food action.

Insider Penang Travel Tips #1 — Don’t miss the glassy Rainbow Skywalk in Georgetown. It changes colors soon before you notice.

Day 2 of your trip to Penang — Get out of Georgetown to get a panoramic view of Penang, hit the clan jetties, and watch a spectacular sunset with some great seafood and music.

Hike up or take the steepest train to penang hill, penang.

I highly recommend Penang hill for when I hiked up the hill, I could see Penang from a height and make some sense out of the modern-vintage fusion of Penang island. Grey-glassy skyscrapers towered over the city while from that height the real hustle-bustle of the Penang streets was missing.

Amongst the many routes that you can take to climb the Penang hill, I took the one that starts from the Penang hill gate near the train station. You can also get to the top of the hill from various paths that fork out from the Botanical gardens.

For doing the Penang hill hike or taking the train to the top of the hill, take a Grab or a bus to Air Itam or directly to Penang hill which is the last stop of bus number 203 or 204 running from the Komtar Bus Terminal.

Head towards the Penang hill gate, find a gravel road to the left of the train station and walk on. The guard might dissuade you from doing the hike claiming that the walk is steep, but the climb was safe and fun.

Depending on your speed, you would take about 2-3-4 hours to reach the top whilst going through a gravel road, staircases, and a jungle trail. The number of squirrels you spot on the trail would also determine how much time you take to complete the trek. If at any point you want to give up the hike, you can get to the nearest stop of the train that goes up the hill and take the train from there.

While coming down the Penang hill, I took the train as it had already rained much and the walks weren’t dry and fun to walk anymore.

Check out the official Penang hill website to see if any festival is going up at the hill.

Insider Tip:  Another gorgeous train ride to take is the  Circular train in Yangon, Myanmar

After getting down the hill (or even before climbing up) you can eat either the curry mee at Sister Curry Mee or the asam laksa at the Air Itam Asam Laksa (in the Air Itam market) as I described in my food guide to Penang also.

I skipped the Laksa but I ate a fabulous Ice Kachang at the top of Penang Hill in the Cliff cafe. The Peranakan couple with whom I did the trek told me that was the best place to have Ice Kachang.

You can also visit the Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple that was built in1891 and is close to Penang hill. As I trekked to the top of Penang Hill, I didn’t have enough time to visit the temple.

After watching the golden sunset from the Penang Hill, I took the return bus to Georgetown and walked towards the clan jetties.

The clan jetties are Chinese villages on the eastern coast of George Town. In the 1800s when the Chinese migrated to Penang to get their chunk of sea trade and work as laborers, many Chinese clans settled at the shore in stilt houses to avoid paying land taxes and to stay close to the coast to work.

Visiting the clan jetties was one of the many fun things to do in Penang. For not only you can see old Chinese stilt houses standing in the ocean, but you can also explore the by lanes of the jetties to find some great seafood being freshly sizzled out of lucky woks. The decoration of the balconies of the houses was particularly Chinese and gave great insight into the Chinese living style. Small almost-antique dusted-rusted cars lined the streets near the Jetties.

As a bonus, you will see some sea folklore murals painted on the walls near the jetties.

And to end the day, just hang out at the jetty food court for some live music, great seafood, and lovely banter with the locals.

From the Clan Jetties, you can go to Fort Cornwallis, which is what I did on another day, but I don’t feel like recommending it for there was nothing spectacular about the fort.

Day 3 in Penang — Fill the last day of your 3 day Penang trip itinerary with some nature, beach, and food or more street art, beach, and food.

You can choose to either go for more food or you can head for some nature.

For nature, either visit the Botanical gardens or go to the Penang national park . In the National Park, choose between many short and long trails depending on your time and mood.

From the Komtar bus terminal, take bus number 101 or 103 to get to the Park. A hike in the national park would only leave enough time for dinner which you can either have at Gurney Drive or Batu Ferringhi beach.

If you are not in the mood of a national park, spend your day discovering the street art outside of Georgetown in and around the Hin Bus depot area. If the day is a Sunday, find the Sunday market there and eat away. You can also head back to the clan jetties to see them during the day and get lost around to find more murals and street art there.

Now about Gurney Drive and Batu Ferringhi beach.

Gurney Drive is the North Eastern shore of the island. Though Gurney Drive is a cluster of imposing shopping malls, five-star hotels, and expensive homes, remember you are in Penang.

In the middle of all the luxurious hotch-potch, you will find the Gurney Drive hawker center that is said to have the best Rojak, amongst other things.

But I would prefer Batu Ferringhi beach to Gurney Drive any day.

Sea shacks on the beach, colorful parasails floating overhead, an option to eat from an assortment of seafood at the Batu Ferringhi night market — what more can you ask for?

Sit by the beach, watch the golden sunset while sipping a beer, and order that sweet and sour grilled fish you thought about all day long.

Have only two days in Penang? What can you do on a 2-day Penang Tour?

If you only have two days and thinking about what to do in Penang in two days, here are my best places in Penang to cut short this three-day itinerary to two days. 

• Follow the Day One itinerary for your first day in Penang. 
• Penang hill should be on your Penang to do list for you will get amazing bird’s eye view of Penang city from the top of the hill. 
• From Penang hill get to the Clan jetties or go to the Batu Ferringhi beach for sunset and seafood dinner.

If you are on a really short Penang one day trip, then just follow the Day 1 itinerary from above and you will get the essence of Penang. But one day isn’t enough to explore Penang, so if you can, do take out at least one more day for this gorgeous island.

Insider Penang travel tips #2 – Penang’s best Ice Kachang at the top of Penang hill in Cliff Cafe is another reason to visit Penang Hill.

Penang island is off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Penang comprises two parts — Penang Island and Seberang Perai, a small part on the mainland Peninsula.

On my Penang trip, I stayed in Georgetown and loved the area.

Georgetown is a cultural mix of Chinese, Malaysians, and Indians. If you are visiting Penang at a Chinese/Malay/Indian festival, you would definitely get to see a procession passing from Georgetown or Deepawali celebrations.

Georgetown is dense with street art, and you can always find some great hotels close to the colorful wall murals. From Georgetown, I could explore most of Penang by walking or the free shuttle buses that run frequently from there.

As per me, the best place to stay in Penang is Georgetown for it has all kinds of food, lively street art, culture, hip cafes and bars, and add anything else if you like.

When I went to Penang, I didn’t know about the many vintage and heritage hotels of Penang that has been constructed out of restored buildings that once housed a lineage of Chinese or Indian and Malay families. A lot of such heritage buildings now serve as hotels. I have picked the best of some of these cultural properties and have listed them here as per their price range.

Affordable stay options in Georgetown:

Just Inn, Georgetown – I stayed at Just Inn in Georgetown which is at the junction of Lorong Carnarvon and Lebuh(street) Carnarvon, a very happening street of Georgetown. When I visited Penang, the Chinese new year celebrations were going on and the entire procession walked past by us on Carnarvon street. What a sight! 

Just Inn has affordable dorms and private rooms. It is 5 minutes walking to Khoo Kong Si Temple and KOMTAR. I remember walking from Just Inn to all important locations of Penang either by foot or with the free buses that run throughout Penang. While some of the rooms were fan-cooled and some air-conditioned, I chose a fan room to save money. The ventilation of the room was so good that I never felt hot even during the month of November when temperatures were soaring in Malaysia.

The staff was very friendly and helpful. Just Inn also has a cafe that serves breakfast and is a great place to hang out.

I wouldn’t think twice before booking Just Inn again.

See the prices and book Just Inn here on Booking for your Penang trip.

Other affordable options in Georgetown that I would definitely consider for Penang.

My Guesthouse 109 – My Guesthouse 109 is an earthy-toned family-run hotel in Georgetown. The property offers air-conditioned double and queen rooms with shared and private bathrooms.

Known for its helpful owners, lovely cats, and an in-house washing machine to use, My Guesthouse gets booked weeks in advance. Oh, you can also help yourselves with free coffee and tea in the kitchen.

Find out the prices and book My Guesthouse on Booking .

Le Dream Boutique Hotel, Georgetown (Heritage Property)- La Dream is a modern Boutique hotel that comes with a rooftop spa and bar and free shuttle service around town. The property has double, quadruple, and king rooms furnished with all the amenities you might need.

The hotel provides a breakfast buffet, afternoon tea and snacks, and even free happy hours with complimentary wine.

You can have a look at the availability and prices of La Dream here .

WeLuv Travel Guesthouse, Georgetown – WeLuv is a very affordable property in Georgetown near the famous Laksa and Cendol stalls. The hostel offers double and family rooms with shared and private bathrooms.

WeLuv is recognized for its friendly staff who help out travelers in navigating Penang the local way.

Browse through the availability and prices of WeLuv Travel here .

Mid-range properties in Georgetown:

Ren I Tang Heritage Inn (Heritage Property) – Ren I Tang is another stunning vintage property that has been constructed out of a restored building. Equipped with timber flooring, wooden staircases, and Chinese roof tiles, the property offers courtyard, china, tub rooms, and lofts.

Ren I Tang is popular for its beautiful architecture, good breakfast, and the in-house museum. The hotel is at the borderline of affordable and mid-range.

Look at the availability and book Ren I Tang Heritage Inn here .

Jawi Peranakan Mansion, Georgetown (Heritage Property) – Well, the pictures of this restored Anglo-Indian mansion are enough to convince anyone to stay here. Jawi Peranakan offers double rooms, villas, and suites in the heart of Georgetown.

The property has an outdoor pool and is known for its friendly 24-hour desk. The hotel also provides a buffet breakfast.

Look at the pictures and availability of Jawi Peranakan here .

Note: I am putting this property under mid-range for the suites and villas are huge and can accommodate as many as 4-5 people.

Luxury stay options in Georgetown

Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Georgetown  (Heritage Property) – If you are looking for a colonial-style luxurious place, then Eastern & Oriental is the place. Known for its seaside pool and a bar, this hotel has fancy suites and in house restaurant with local and international food.

If you want to be at a cultural yet comfortable place close to the sea, then Eastern & Oriental seems like a really good choice.

See the prices and book Eastern & Oriental Hotel  here  on Booking.com.

Areca Hotel, Georgetown, Penang – Areca Hotel Penang is a restored heritage building that now serves as a luxurious hotel that comes along with a decorated lobby and a green courtyard. The decorations and furniture seem like from an old era and have antique looks.

Areca Hotel offers heritage rooms and family suites.

Check out the prices and availability of Areca on Booking .

Noordin Mews, Georgetown Penang (Heritage Property) – Noordin Mews is a boutique hotel that is also made out of a restored heritage building. Noordin Mews offers double rooms and suites with or without breakfast.

Known for the friendly staff and its quiet location, Noordin definitely seems like a place to relax and read in between Penang sightseeing.

See the prices and book Noording Mews here .

Stay options in Batu Ferringhi

Batu Ferringhi or Feringgi is a seaside locality of Penang. Needless to say, the Batu Feringgi beach is popular amongst locals and tourists to relax with ocean views.

If you are looking for some vibrant beach life after a few days of visiting temples and museums, get a seaside place in Batu Feringgi to watch the sun setting over an azure horizon along with some Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) and a Malaysian beer.

Some of the Batu Ferringi stay options

Rasa Motel  – Rasa Motel is an affordable property and is just about 3 mins walk from the Batu Feringghi beach. The hotel offers air-conditioned single, double, triple, and family rooms.

The property is known for its cleanliness, location, friendly owner, and budget prices.

Check for the availability and book Rasa Motel  here on Booking .

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang  – Shangri-La is Batu Feringgi’s luxurious resort at the beach that is set amidst a lush tropical forest. Equipped with swimming pools, a gym, and yoga Pavillion, the hotel offers all kinds of rooms with landscaped garden or ocean views.

Shangri-La has very friendly staff and even some beach chairs in its lush garden.

Book Shangri-La  here  for your next Penang trip.

If you don’t like these options, then  click here  to see some other stay options in Batu Feringgi.

Accommodation options in Gurney Drive, Penang

Gurney Drive is a high-class suburb of Penang dotted with tall buildings, luxurious malls, and skyscraper hotels.

If you would love to stay at Gurney Drive to experience the locality and the exquisite seafood at Gurney Drive hawker center, here are some luxury options to stay there:

G Hotel Gurney – G Hotel overlooks Gurney Drive, a popular seafront promenade featuring delicious local street food. Equipped with an outdoor pool and an in-house restaurant and bar, the property offers double rooms and suites.

Known for its friendly staff and a relaxing spa, G Hotel is a great choice for those looking for a comfortable stay in with an ocean view and abundant street food a stone’s throw away.

Check the prices and book G Hotel here .

G Hotel Kelawai – G Hotel is a luxurious hotel with a rooftop bar and is about 500 m from Gurney Drive. The hotel offers deluxe double, twin, and premium rooms with panoramic city views.

Known for its contemporary decor and friendly staff, G Hotel also has an in-house restaurant with local and international food choices.

Look at the availability and prices of G Hotel Kelawai here .

Accommodation options in Tanjung Bungah, Penang

I stayed at Tanjung Bungah for a day and didn’t appreciate the area much. Far away from both Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah was a quiet and expensive residential area by the beach. With minimal nightlife and no cultural insights, I think you should only go to this area if you have some work there.

If you are heading to Tanjung Bungah, check out Sea Lion by the beach which was a comfortable place to stay.

Sea Lion by the Beach  – Sea Lion by the beach is an ancient bungalow that is just 2 minutes away from the beach. The property has single and double rooms with shared and private bathrooms.

Some of the rooms also come with a patio, and guests can use the kitchen, too. I loved the ancient bungalow and the property manager was friendly and offered me toast and tea when I arrived really late at night and had nothing to eat.

Also, the large garden of the house is visited by many birds and cats.

Browse through Sea Lion’s pictures and book your stay  here on Booking .

Penang accommodations are of various kinds. From homestays to hotels to hostels to resorts to boutique stays to villas, you can opt for any kind of place. Now it is up to you to choose your Penang stay as per your budget, your preferred activities, and your comfort.

How to travel to Penang, Malaysia?

By Air – You can fly to Penang from many international or domestic airports. Getting to Penang is especially easy from Thailand or Singapore as you have direct flights to Penang from these destinations. Kuala Lumpur is also a good stop to take a flight to Penang.

By Train  – Kuala Lumpur Central station to Butterworth station in Penang (mainland) is connected by a direct train which takes about 4-5 hours. In Butterworth, get a ferry or take a bus to reach the Penang island. Taking a train to Penang seems like a fun option if you have some time on hand. I couldn’t get the train for I was first going to Cameron Highlands (CH) but changed my mind on the CH bus stand to continue traveling to Penang.

By Bus – A convenient option to reach Penang is by bus. Buses are comfortable in Malaysia and run on time. My travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang by bus took me about 6 hours.

Though I can imagine how travel in Penang can be always fun, visiting Malaysia in monsoon should be avoided.  

November to January: This is the best time to go to Penang as the weather is pleasant and dry.

February to April: Travel to Penang during these months for dry but warmer weather.

May to October: Wettest months of Penang. I traveled to Penang at the peak monsoon season in October. While I was hiking Penang hill, the rain beat down hard on us hikers. I did a lot of random treks even in the rain, but I was limited due to the slippery terrains. But I must admit that I enjoy rains, and I was happy to be in Penang during the monsoon. 

You should get a small amount of money exchanged into local Ringgits at the airport. This small money will help you get into the city by taxi or bus. Later on, go to one of the street shops in Georgetown to exchange more. I always exchange at local licensed shops instead of banks or bigger money changers as the smaller shops give better rates.

I always use my ATM cards to withdraw cash. Though I need to write a detailed guide on how to manage money on international travel, I take out enough money that I will survive for a week, at least, to avoid paying the bank charges on international withdrawals frequently.

You can explore Penang for as cheap as you like. But you can also splurge easily in Penang. Your budget would depend on your choices. 

Accommodation — Look at the accommodation options that I have mentioned above, and choose a place as per your budget. 

Meals — My biggest expense in Penang. Though food is generally cheap in Penang, I spent around 5-10 ringgits on each meal. Damn you fried fish.

Transportation — I took Rapid Penang buses or walked to most of the places to visit in Penang. The buses were cheap or free, and, of course, walking is free. If you take taxis, you would have to pay more. Don’t expect a transportation cost of more than 10 ringgits per day even if you take short taxi rides coupled with rolling on legs or wheels.

Tickets to attractions of Penang— Some of the things to see in Penang such as the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the temples, and the train ride to Penang hill would cost you a little bit. So keep those costs in mind while planning your budget.

Resources to help you visit some of the Penang famous places

Georgetown Penang street art map — Get the map here . A Penang tourist map by Penang government that lists the main Georgetown Murals and the street signs. The map doesn’t describe all the street art in Penang, like the next one, but this map talks about the history of Georgetown coming up as a tourist and art hub amongst other things.

Street art map Penang by Penang tourism board  — This one is my favorite as it is a detailed map to Penang art. This map tells the story behind all the major murals (by major I mean the popular ones as a lot of murals in Penang are good) and the description of all the 52 street signs in Georgetown Penang. You can get a hard copy this at the Penang airport and also at your hotel.

Georgetown Penang map covering the traditions and heritage of the Peranakan Chinese – and how they migrated to Malaysia. You must have heard of the Nyonya cuisine that is basically the food of Peranakan Chinese influenced by the local Malaysian food. Download or see this map here to read more about the Peranakan Chinese and their migration to Malaysia.

READ NEXT: What to eat in Penang —  Penang food guide

READ NEXT: A detailed guide to street art in Penang —  Penang street art guide

If you plan to spend some time in Malaysia, you should definitely check out Kinabatangan river, one of the two places to see Orangutans in the wild – Kinabatangan River Cruise Guide .

If you are still wondering whether to visit Malaysia — read some amazing things about Malaysia that would make you travel to Malaysia. 

Process of the Malaysia eVisa for Indians — Online visa to Malaysia  

Heading off to Bali after Malaysia? Check out my My Bali Travel Guide   – Best Things To Do in Bali and Beyond.

Are you clear about what to do in Penang in 3 days? Did you like my Penang guide? Let me know in the comments.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to products and services I love. If you choose to click through and make a purchase or a booking, I will earn a little bit at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

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60 Unmissable Things to Do in Penang: the Ultimate 2024 Penang Travel Guide

Here's a list of all the quintessential things to do in Penang as compiled after 10+ years living on the island. Don't trust any other website: this is the ultimate list you need to plan your perfect holiday on Malaysia's hippest island.

Penang is a small island, but it packs in a big number of great travel experiences. From peeking above the skyline from the top of 200-meters-high KOMTAR , to browsing the charming UNESCO-inscribed heritage streets of the city of George Town, admiring some of Asia’s best street art, relaxing on a beach , trendy Penang cafes, famous Penang restaurants , or losing yourself into a tropical jungle, “Penang has it all”, as locals like to say.

Here I’ve compiled  60 of my favourite things to do in Penang , all things I’ve personally done in my 13+ years living here. They include the most popular Penang attractions as well as ideas for where to go in Penang to get off the beaten track and see some interesting places. Trust me: you won’t find a more comprehensive & free Penang travel guide online!

I hear you: deciding what places to visit in Penang can be tough as there are so many choices of Penang attractions, but this article is the best place where to have a quick start and arrive with a clear idea of where to go in Penang so that you can hit the ground running.

The suggestions in my below Penang travel blog are organized into sections based on location and type of activities. You’ll have a George Town and Penang Hill section, a Famous Penang Attractions section, and an Offbeat Things to Do in Penang section for those who know the island well and want to experience something different.

To find out how to map out the below attractions for your visit, please start by seeing my articles on what to do in Penang in 3 days and visit George Town in 48 Hours . And if you are a night owl, here is a list of the best things to do in Penang at night .

Article Contents

Penang Travel Essentials

• Use Klook to get discounts and great deals for a lot of activities around Penang. I use it myself all the time.
• If you are looking to rent an apartment in Penang, start by reading my article on the best Penang Airbnbs .
• Penang has some great 5-star hotels and inexpensive boutique hotels for a special stay. But you can also find some great Penang Budget Hotels that are a great bang for your buck
• If you are a backpacker on a budget, I have a complete guide to backpacking in Penang
• If you are short on time, consider taking this half-day tour or this heritage tour .
• If you want a private car to take you around, check out this link
• There is much to learn about Penang food and Penang breakfast . There are some great cooking classes and food tours, like this and this street food jaunt
• If you are coming to Penang from Kuala Lumpur, check out this guide to know all the best ways to travel to Penang.
• If you want to discover the offbeat side of Penang, check out my complete guide to Balik Pulau .
• Likewise, there are many attractions in Seberang Perai that few people ever see.

When to Travel to Penang

Penang island lays in the tropical zone and is a destination you can visit year-round, regardless of the rainy season — roughly between September and December, but truth be told it never really rains all day, and it brings some respite to the heat.

But there are best months to visit Penang, for sure, depending specifically on the different festivals and religious celebrations you may witness. I have written a dedicated article to help you choose the best time to visit Penang .

And here you go, the list of the 60 Best Things to Do in Penang!

Best Things to Do in George Town, Penang

1 survey penang from the top of komtar.

At 232-meters of height, KOMTAR is the highest building in Penang and was extended in 2015 to reach 65 levels of height. I have written a guide to the many things to do at KOMTAR , the most popular of which is taking an elevator to the top floor to enjoy a walk on the Rainbow Skywalk, the highest glass bridge in Asia — not something you’ll want to try if you suffer vertigo. If you don’t, you may as well consider trying the Gravityz, an obstacle course with ziplines perched right outside one of KOMTAR’s top floors, and one of the highest sports platforms in all of Asia.

You can buy discounted Gravityz tickets on KLOOK here .

The views above George Town and Penang island from The TOP at Komtar are sublime, and the best time to come is right before sunset when the sun goes down, and the lights of the city flare up below you. There’s a restaurant here if you thought of bringing a date for a very special meal.

You can get discounted tickets for The TOP using this link — a good idea to avoid lines, especially on weekends.

2 Lose Yourself in Little India

In a way, Little India is the heart of George Town, set between Padang Kota and the Esplanade on one side, the Butterworth ferry on the other, all encased by the backpacker enclave of Chulia Street . There are many cool things to see and do in Penang Little India , from trinkets shops to some of the best Indian food island-wide. If you are craving for samosas, masala dosa, tandoori chicken, and all sorts of southern and northern Indian delicacies, you’ll certainly find more than a restaurant to tickle your fancy — and budget. Don’t miss Nasi Kandar , Penang local rice with curries, as Little India has some of the best.

Want to visit Little India on an atmospheric trishaw ride? Check out this 3 hours tour of George Town .

Don’t forget that Little India also has some important shrines, like the Sri Maha Mariamman temple, one of Penang’s main Indian shrines, and the Nagore Dargha Sheriff, the oldest Indian-Muslim shrine built in Penang. A visit to the last songkok-maker (traditional Muslim skullcaps) and the many goldsmiths here can provide hours, if not days, of exploration and entertainment. One district you shouldn’t miss.

3 Check out the famous Penang Street Art

Like it or not, Penang island has become better known for its Penang street art than its heritage. Well, what to do… we understand the modern man’s obsession with belonging and the Gram… The very first “murals” were a series of 50-something iron-rod caricatures realized to spruce up the most historical corners of the recently UNESCO-inscribed old George Town, but street art in Penang really exploded in 2012 after Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic created the “Mirror of George Town” series for the George Town Festival.

The 9 murals and installations depicted scenes of life on the island: the most famous today, “Little Children on a Bicycle”, was voted by the British newspaper the Guardian as one of the world’s best pieces of street art in 2013. The Insta-craze started shortly afterwards: it’s constantly repainted on the farther end of Armenian Street, where on weekends, hordes of tourists local and foreign literally queue up to get the same ol’ shot next to it like other millions of people have done before. Creativity, anyone?

I do believe that the commercialization and gentrification of Penang and the murals have ruined the local art scene , but some locals think otherwise. Regardless, any visit to George Town cannot be complete without having browsed at least a few of these popular murals. The wish is that the artworks would push tourists to understand and delve deeper into Penang’s history, but that’s, unfortunately, not something the average Joe on holiday wants. So go with an open mind and you know what to expect. Again, some of the art is stunning — it’s just us locals who have had enough, ahahah.

4 Try Penang Food at a Hawker Food Court

Penang was a food paradise well before Lonely Planet voted it as the best foodie destination in 2014. The variety and quality of Penang hakwer food (meaning, sold from a street cart, or inside of a hawker center, also called a food court) is mind-blowing and you really need time to get to try it all. I have written an article that lists the essential Penang food to get you started that’s a great help for those who don’t know what to eat here. But the best way is to simply trust your nose and gut, and go for what tickles your nostrils and eyes.

Even remaining in George Town, the choice is endless: from Chinese noodles of different kinds, like the popular char koaey teow, tasty curry mee , wan than mee, to Indian food and Malay nasi kandar, you won’t have to go far from your accommodation to find some great eats.

5 Visit the Clan Jetties

Set right on the water, the ancestral homes of the immigrant Chinese workers during Malaya’s colonial times have become somewhat of a tourist trap (avoid Chew Jetty on weekends), but they are a very scenic place, and a real opportunity to understand how life was in old Penang. History says that the Clan Jetties — each one called with one of the popular surnames of migrants from China, such as Tan, Chew, and Lee — were built to cleverly avoid paying a land tax imposed by the British colonial rulers. In fact, these big wooden homes are made on stilts over the water, so that their residents could have a reason not to pay the tax.

There has been a big deal of commercial gentrification going on here which someone called UNESCOcide , but a visit to the Clan Jetties really is a must. The homes have barely changed in a century, and the charm of walking above creaky wooden planks has remained unchanged. Until a few years ago, it was most charming to come here at night and soak the atmosphere, but as of late, the residents have imposed a 9 pm curfew to have some much-needed peace and quiet. Please respect that, but by all means, come here for a stroll — it’s within walking distance from the end of Armenian Street, where some of the most known Penang street murals are.

Want to get more out of this experience? Try this Penang self-guided audio tour , which includes a lot of history on the clan jetties.

6 Take a Trip on the iconic Penang Ferry

Penang Ferry opened in 1894 as the only link between Penang island and the railway to Singapore. Believe it or not, it’s still operating despite the two bridges connecting Penang island to Seberang Perai — the mainland part of Penang state.

Penang Ferry, now under the administration of Rapid Penang, remains a very romantic and interesting way to reach George Town for the first time. It’s a no-frills trip over a very basic ferry that reaches Penang in about 20 minutes — don’t expect any luxury, and bring a little sense of adventure.

Even if the original fleet has been substituted in the midst of 2020, this is the most interesting way to travel between the Malaysian mainland at Butterworth and George Town. I have already written a complete guide to taking the Penang Ferry so you may find all the timings, costs and details on that page. Rest assured that by floating across the Straits Sea, the view of George Town’s ever-growing skyline right in front of you, is an experience to have at least once on a visit to Penang island.

7 Visit one of Penang’s Night Markets

Food, trinkets, and cheery people: what’s best doing on an evening, after your fill of great Penang food such as the famous Penang Laksa? Night markets are simple yet celebrated places where you can get away from tourists and have a more down-to-earth local experience. This article tells you about the best Penang night markets , when they open, where they are, and what you can buy there. It’s best to go on a light stomach, so that you may enjoy a bowl of local food as you browse for home appliances — souvenirs are not sold around here.

8 Go for a Trishaw Ride

Trishaws were the main form of transportation in old Penang, and today, the 200-something last remaining trishaw drivers are a real living heritage. It may be a bit touristy, but sitting for a half hour or more as the man cycles you around town, oftentimes dispensing some insider secrets that only street-savvy men like himself know, is a delightful Penang experience.

To make sure you get a fair price and a trishaw at the best time to suit your holiday (consider that right before sunset, let’s say starting at 6.30 pm, is a very good time to see George Town switch gears into the night), we recommend you book your trishaw ride in advance using KLOOK at this link . Avoid surprises and get the best bang for your buck.

9 Have a night out at one of Penang’s famous speakeasy bars

We have already compiled a list of 30-something things to do in Penang at night , and visiting a speakeasy bar is definitely a good one. Fancy finding your drink by hitting a Wing Chun dummy like Ip Man, pushing a hidden partition in a dimly-lit shopfront, or maybe even entering through a refrigerator? Well, Penang has got you covered.

Exactly what it means, “speakeasy” hints at the world of hidden bars and secretly hushed entry passwords. The whole thing has been done to death in Penang, in the sense that now there are more secret bars than one can handle, BUT some of them are pretty good for a chilled night, and most make a fun surprise for friends who have come to meet you from outside town.

The first to launch the trend was Magazine 63 , an Old-China-themed bar with waiters dressed like Chinese coolies and booze served in traditional rice jars. There are many now, the most notable being Out of Nowhere, accessed by a refrigerator, the cool Backdoor Bodega, a really small and funky place that doesn’t sell drinks, but drink-themed pins, and 12 Senses, with its fun martial art-themed tricky entry stunt. Definitely try one if you feel like having a night out.

10 Party with Backpackers on Chulia Street and Love Lane

Once the thriving home of the Indian community of Penang and a lane for mistresses and prostitutes, the intersection of Lebuh Chulia and Love Lane is Penang’s equivalent to any cookie-cutter backpacker haven on Southeast Asia’s Banana Pancake Trail. It’s certainly OK for a night out: you’ll find plenty of bars and some of Penang’s most famous western restaurants , all peppered with coin laundromats and everything else a foreigner needs to feel closer to his kind and the comforts of home. But if it’s a local experience you are looking for, you may better look elsewhere — the majority of locals don’t really go drink here.

This said the place is OK for a stroll, grabbing a bite in a casual, shabby-chic atmosphere, and meeting travelers passing through.

11 Check out a Museum (or even 25, if you fancy…)

After street art, George Town has seen a proliferation of… museums. Yes: and there are more than we can remember. From the Wonderfood Museum, with its quirky larger-than-life replicas of Penang’s most famous dishes — a good place to go in Penang with Kids —, to the Ghost Museum and the Insta-focused 3D Trick Art Museum, where you’ll be able to reach the highest level of selfie enlightenment, the choice is endless — and often poor.

If there is one museum that we feel like recommending that has to be Penang House of Music , set inside of KOMTAR. Curated by local musician and connoisseur Paul Augustin, the House of Music offers a unique insight into another of Penang’s main creations: popular music. Did you know that P. Ramlee, the father of Malaysian pop music, was born in Penang? His legacy has inspired decades of Malaysian rock and roll, hard rock, rock kapak, metal and punk, and you’ll find all the roots here. Starting from traditional bangsawan to the age of the radio, the British influence, and the arrival of rock and roll, Penang House of Music is a delightful introduction to all things that rock in Malaysia. Don’t miss it.

Famous Penang Tourist Attractions you Should Visit

Given its rich history, Penang has a lot of important buildings, temples, and clan houses that testify to its rich ethnic and historical legacy. Many are in George Town, but other parts of the island also treasure some very stunning places you should try to visit.

12 Kek Lok Si Temple

Penang’s most striking temple is Kek Lok Si, perched on a side of Penang Hill, and hosting a 36.57mt-high statue of Goddess of Mercy Kwan Yin. It’s the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia, and it’s particularly nice to visit right before Chinese New Year (in Jan/Feb every year) when it’s decorated with hundreds of beautiful red lanterns and colourful LED lights. For more information, read our ultimate guide to visiting Kek Lok Si Temple , and don’t forget to stop at Air Itam market to try one of Penang’s best laksa .

You can visit Kek Lok Si comfortably as part of this tour of George Town.

13 Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

The Blue Mansion of Penang tycoon millionaire Cheong Fatt Tze is a beautiful example of Straits Chinese architecture and one of George Town’s most iconic buildings. You can come here for a tour, but also eat at their fine dining restaurant Indigo, or stay overnight in one of their beautifully decorated rooms — certainly one very atmospheric way to spend a night in town.

The place is super photogenic and was used as a set for many films, which as of late include the popular mahjong scene in the blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians .

You can book a discounted tour of the mansion, a night stay, and included breakfast spread via our partners at KLOOK. Click here for details

14 Penang Peranakan Mansion

This green-hued heritage house in Little India is the place to come learn about the mixed ancestry of the Peranakan, or Baba-Nyonya — people of mixed Chinese and Malay blood. This 19th-century mansion has been now turned into a very interesting museum housing 1000-something objects and furniture of the time. This building also contains the Penang residence and office of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee, who normally lived in Taiping , where you can see exquisite Chinese carved wooden doors and Scottish ironworks. A very interesting time journey to learn about a lesser-known Malaysian culture, and a very atmospheric place that, no wonder, is often hired out for events or used by local photographers to set up pre-wedding shoots in Penang .

Want to know more about Penang heritage with a knowledgeable local guide? Check out this perfect half-day tour .

15 Fort Cornwallis and the Esplanade

Perched on the easternmost corner of George Town along the walkable Esplanade, Fort Cornwallis was built in 1786 century by the East India Company helmed by Captain Francis Light to protect the island from attacks by the pirates of Kedah, on the opposite side of the coastline. It’s the largest standing fort found in Malaysia, although the cannons that can still be seen here never engaged in combat during its history. There is also a lighthouse next to it, the second oldest in Malaysia, which is an interesting sight to see.

These days the Fort has transformed into one of Georg Town’s best spots for an atmospheric drink. There’s a 5RM entry fee, but if you have a drink at any of the several bars and bistros, keep your receipt and you’ll exit free of charge. There’s also the fine-dining restaurant Kota where you can get a variety of foods, from high-tea to tapas, Western and Asian cuisine. The menu’s speciality is Baba-Nyonya style, and the ambience is casual chic — we believe it’s a better choice for a special dinner than an expensive afternoon drink.

Next to the fort is Padang Kota, a well-tended grass expanse next to a sea-facing walking promenade and Penang’s impressive colonial City Hall. This is a very nice place to come for a stroll or while away time at sunset. Many Malay families come here for picnics, too, so you may join in the fun.

16 Visit Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

The grandest Chinese clan house in Malaysia sits inside a courtyard off Lebuh Cannon and is one of Penang’s most important sights. It is a part of the goh tai seh (five big clans), the Khoos from Xiamen in the Fujian province of China, that formed the backbone of the Chinese immigrant community in Peninsular Malaysia. Located at the center of granite-paved Cannon Square, the clan house’s intricately carved pillars and gilded curved roof with four towering stone carvings are a real sight to behold.

These days, Khoo Kongsi can be visited with a small entry fee, and it is also often used as the backdrop for events such as lion dance on stilts or Chinese opera and martial arts showcases when access to Cannon Square is free of charge.

17 Take a peek at Southeast Asia’s Oldest Anglican Church

Sitting at the center of a well-manicured park at the end of Kapitan Keling Road, St. George Church is a 19th-century Anglican church and the oldest found in Southeast Asia. Opened in 1819, it celebrated 200 years of uninterrupted service in 2019.

A visit is very recommended: the church has an interesting neoclassical facade resembling a Greek temple topped by a pointed tower upon which the cross dominates above the quaint green surroundings. If you go inside, you’ll be able to walk on a mezzanine and see the whole building from a vantage position. The ancient organ here can still make some proud sounds, so try to time your visit during a service.

18 Visit Penang’s stunning Town Hall and City Hall

Set on the left side of Padang Kota, Penang City Hall dominates over the Esplanade with its white-washed Victorian facade, neo-baroque colonnades and arched windows, and a characteristic rooftop silhouette. Opened in 1903, today the Town Hall houses the Penang Island City Council offices and was built to expand the space of the adjacent Town Hall, completed in the 1880s. The Town Hall is George Town’s oldest municipal building, and back in the day also used to be the place where the ruling Europeans congregated for their social events. In 1999, the Town Hall was one of the settings for the movie Anna and the King .

Walking along this road today, you can’t avoid feeling a sense of grandeur as the two buildings, still in perfect condition, exude a prominent sense of history and are a delight to photograph, too.

19 Take a Stroll on Armenian Street

Armenian Street has become George Town’s tourist center, lined with all sorts of little trinket shops, art galleries, cafes, and the infamous “Little Children on a Bicycle” mural jotted at one of its ends. But come after dark, and the place still retains the charms it had just a decade ago: a beautiful narrow street punctuated by some of George Town’s most important clan houses and temples. Not counting the charming Armenian Park, a very nice green space to sit on a bench and ponder life passing by for a while.

Penang’s Armenian Street had great historical significance because, after starting as a Malay settlement, in the 19th century it changed into being inhabited by a majority of Armenian and Chinese, giving the area a distinct multi-cultural character that has come to define Penang. It was here that in 1910 Sun Yat-sen organized the Penang Conference in the house that today still functions as his memorial museum in Penang, raising the $8000 which served to topple the Qing Dynasty in China.

Don’t forget to visit the Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, another beautiful Penang clan house that was recently renovated and has an ample garden and a double-story Chinese-temple-like main building, and the Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, also known as Poh Hock Seah , that traces back to 1844. Set inside a gated courtyard, this temple testifies to the history of the Penang Riots of 1867, open warfare on the streets that led the British to ban all Chinese clan associations as “secret societies”. On the ground floor of this temple, you can still see the concealed entry of a tunnel that members could use to leave or access the premises undisturbed. On the first floor, a wooden mezzanine towers above the courtyard and there’s a beautiful shrine to the patron deity Sin Long Siang Tay with wooden carvings painted in gold.

The Choo Chay Keong Temple — also fondly called Yap temple — set opposite the Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple on the corner of Cannon street is another remarkable building with intricately carved stone pillars and a striking emerald green gilded rooftop.

20 Pray at the Goddess of Mercy Temple

In George Town proper is the Goddess of Mercy temple on the edge of the very interesting Penang Little India . Fronted by a square where devotees go pray and light up joss sticks, it’s one of George Town’s oldest temples and was built in 1728.

Legend says that during the Japanese occupation of Penang in World War II, no bomb could ever destroy it because of the goddess Kwan Yin. Today it’s a great place in George Town to come see Chinese devotees pray and observe a whole world of characters, from the long-term beggars to the Hare Krishnas who bring them free food, to the old aunties selling joss sticks and predictions for the Chinese New Year ahead. It’s also very photogenic, too, with its open square and two ash burners that tower in front of the gates like black stone guardians.

21 See one of the world’s largest reclined Buddhas

Penang wouldn’t be the smorgasbord of cultures it is if it didn’t have at least one Thai Buddhist temple, and the Wat Chaiya Mangalaram in Pulau Tikus is the most important, oldest Malaysian Siamese temple in the state. The main feature here is the 32-meter-long reclined Buddha statue, one of the largest in the world, that lays over a columbarium where the burnt ashes of the cremated are housed. There are stupas and other colorful statues of Yaksha and other mythical creatures.

The temple is a focal point of Thai celebrations such as Songkran and Wesak Day in honour of Lord Buddha. Just in front of it is the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, another very important in Penang, with its striking collection of Buddha statues that imitate the Buddha figure as depicted around the world, from Cambodia to Afghanistan to India and beyond.

22 Soak the colonial charms of Beach Street

Beach Street runs from Fort Cornwallis all along the coast, encasing George Town, and historically was one of the oldest streets in George Town. Established in 1786, it quickly became one of the most thriving streets for business in old Penang. Part of that legacy is of course still visible today in the string of beautiful buildings — most converted into banks — that line both sides of the street, making it a magnet for couples on their pre-wedding photoshoots. A few notable to remember are India House, the Beach Street Fire Station, the Whiteaways Arcade, the George Town Dispensary, and the Khoo Si Toon Keng Tong Kongsi, a lesser clan house of the Khoos.

In the past few years, the street parade Occupy Beach Street came to enliven this area on Sundays, bringing in all sorts of arts and stalls where locals sold their wares. One of the main access points to  Penang Little India  is also along this famous road.

23 Experience Islam at the Masjid Kapitan Keling

The Masjid Kapitan Keling in central George Town is a special mosque, and not only because of its magnificent black domes, sleek architectural style, and white walls. It’s mainly because it was built in the 19th century by Indian Muslim traders in the multi-ethnic port of Penang. Its significance within the UNESCO-inscribed old city of George Town is that this was the first Islamic institution built in the city’s Tamil neighbourhood. “Keling”, in fact, was a Malay term to indicate persons of Indian origin, and even if today it is considered a racist slur, at the time it wasn’t.

You can visit the Masjid Kapitan Keling mosque outside of praying times when volunteers will be happy to show you around and answer your questions. Penang is very hot, but don’t worry, for if you will arrive without proper long clothes, the volunteers will be offering you a tunic to cover up and be allowed inside the Masjid’s grounds. Please don’t get impatient if some may go beyond their duty trying to convince you to convert to Islam.

24 Climb to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Waterfall Temple

Set on a flank of Penang Hill in close proximity to Moongate and the Botanic Gardens, the Waterfall Temple, with its striking white gopuram, may be the most beautiful of Penang’s Indian temples. For this reason, it is often the backdrop of pre-wedding photoshoots in Penang.

This temple is the epicentre of the dramatic Tamil festival of Thaipusam, when local devotees, with lips and cheeks pierced by skewers in honour of the Lord of War Murugan, walk barefoot from the centre of Penang Little India  and end their pilgrimage here. This is a very busy and yet spectacular time to visit, but you can come any other time, and enjoy the peace of the surroundings sheltered by nature.

25 Tuck toes in the sand at Batu Ferringhi

On the northern side of Penang, Batu Ferringhi beach was once a hippie hangout and today harbors most of the island’s high-end hotels and resorts. The area is frankly touristy and overdeveloped, but the beach, which is public but accessed from the hotels, is still one of Penang’s most visited — albeit not the cleanest among all other 20-something Penang beaches .

Still, I think you should visit Batu Ferringhi at least once, maybe to have a sundowner at one of Penang’s famous beachside hotel bars, or even better, to catch a purple Penang sunset this part of the island is very famous for. Leave the watersports for the Arabian tourists and you’ll be fine.

READ MORE Best Hotels in Batu Ferringhi

26 Marvel at Penang Floating Mosque

The Floating Mosque is Tanjung Bungah’s most iconic sight. Opened in 2007 and built on stilts over the sea with great choreographic effect, it came to be this way to accommodate the larger number of Muslims where there was no space on land. Non-Muslims can appreciate this mosque best at sunrise and sunset when its prominent minaret and colorful rooftop glitter against all the hues of pink, red and yellow.

27 Play Monkey at ESCAPE Theme Park

This theme park in  Teluk Bahang  is perfect for a full day of action-charged activities. It’s a beautiful set of ziplines (pulleys connected to stainless steel cables, and attached to the trees) set into a patch of rainforest for maximum play effect. Kids and adults can come here to play together, climbing platforms and swinging like monkeys across some of Teluk Bahang’s most pristine canopy. Escape also has a newer park, too, Escape Adventureplay, that’s a good alternative to the beach, with water slides and all those fun water activities. The park has the world’s longest mat waterslide, a staggering 1,111 meters long and a full three minutes long, suspended among the trees.

It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and closed each Monday for maintenance. Check more on Escape’s Official Website There are several categories of tickets and online discounts, starting at RM97 per child up to 12 years old and seniors, while adults pay RM147.  If you want an RM17 discount , you can buy your Escape Tickets online from our partner Klook  at this link .

28 Learn about World War II History at Penang War Museum

Malaysia’s own War Museum  in the southern Penang district of Batu Maung testifies the Penang’s history of occupation by the Japanese during World war II. But even if the museum’s management doesn’t like to admit it, Penang War Museum is better known around the world for having been portrayed in several documentaries as a “haunted museum”.

These are certainly urban legends, but what is true is that Penang really succumbed to marauding Japanese troops right at this fort, that the British built on Bukit Hantu (literally and ironically, it translates to ‘Ghost Hill’). National Geographic featured Penang War Museum among the most haunted places in Asia, telling the spooky story of merciless Japanese colonel Suzuki and the prisoners of war he tortured and killed here – the bullet holes in the walls serve as a grim reminder.

But beyond the spooks, a visit to the Penang War Museum today should be a good lesson to learn about the resilience of local Penang people against the invaders. It also offers a 100 Feet Underground Tunnel that’s guaranteed to test your nerves.

29 Have a Go at the Snake Temple

This temple situated only 3km away from Penang Airport was built in 1850 in honour of Chor Soo Kong, a famous Buddhist monk and healer. Devotees come here as far as Singapore, Taiwan, and China to pray to him, but the place has become somewhat of a tacky tourist attraction because of the tame snakes that are found there. Legend says that Chor Soo Kong used to shelter snakes inside of this temple and that after his death, they started to come on their own. What is true, however, is that a few snakes are always hanging on wooden poles set at the sides of the main altar. Don’t come with high expectations, but by all means, the place makes for a good photo opportunity.

30 See Penang Avatar Secret Garden

Did you know that Penang has a place that looks like the Tree of Souls of the blockbuster movie Avatar? It’s Penang Avatar Secret Garden in Tanjung Tokong, a place that has become a very popular attraction. The main thing to see is the landscaped park set on the hill behind the Thai Pak Koong temple. Its centrepiece is, of course, the big “Tree of Souls” decorated with LED strings. It comes alive as soon as darkness falls. The tree soars above a life-sized checkerboard, and there are stairs and a wooden boardwalk to complete a quick circuit around the tree and back down. I have written an ultimate guide to visiting Avatar Penang Secret Garden you will find very useful.

31 Take a dip at Monkey Beach

Perched on the westernmost corner of Penang Island in the beautiful Penang National Park , Monkey Beach is one of Penang’s most popular beaches. It takes its name from the population of macaques that live in the forest behind the crescent of sand, but these days you’ll probably see more day-trippers than primates, to be honest. The tourists have brought development, and there are a couple of bars here like Lazy Boys Cafe and Tiger Monkey Bar & Leisure where you can buy cocktails and stay for sunset — and also camping, too, at Lazyboys, where you can also rent A-framed huts. Swimming technically is not allowed all over Penang because of the box jellyfish hazard which can be deadly, but people usually dip at Monkey Beach. Do so at your own risk.

You can hike to Monkey Beach from the entrance of Penang National Park (remember that a group of more than 10 people need to get a guide from park headquarters) or, if you are unfit, lazy, or in a rush, can get on one of the shared boats that ply the route as soon as they fill up. They should cost RM50 per trip to share among passengers.

If you want to do it all in comfort from George Town, we recommend taking this Monkey Beach tour on KLOOK that offers pick-up from your hotel.

READ MORE – Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monkey Beach

Best Things to Do on Penang Hill

Straddling the central part of the island, Penang Hill was a colonial hill station and is the best place to feel the nature of Penang today. Hikers will love leaving George Town to spend hours, if not days, trawling the dozens of paths that crisscross the hill. For those who just want to have a trip to the top, a funicular train whisks visitors up in a few minutes. Read our ultimate list of the best things to do on Penang Hill , too.

32 Enjoy Penang Nature at the Botanic Gardens

At the bottom of Penang Hill, and within walking distance from Moon gate, are Penang Botanic Gardens founded in 1794. They are said to be the closest gardens to a city centre in the world, as they are only about 10min drive away from George Town — you can take a Grab car there . It’s a perfect place to stroll and observe some of the region’s, and the world’s, diverse flowers and trees.

A circular paved road goes around the Gardens and is popular with local joggers. You can take a walk and spend time in the many gardens and greenhouses that host a variety of endemic plants. For those who want to have a quick experience of the forest, a staircase leaves the gardens to Station 46, a popular rest stop for hikers. It’s a climb and you’ll get drenched in sweat for sure, but the views of the trees are superb.

33 Take the famous Funicular Train up Penang Hill

The original trains that have whisked passengers from the bottom to the top station of Penang Hill since 1923 have been upgraded in 2011, but getting up this hill station by train remains one of Penang’s main attractions. The train takes less than ten minutes to go up, sometimes stopping at the Middle Station en route, where in the past it was necessary to switch trains. The views over the thicket, Air Hitam and George Town in the distance are unique from this rail track. To be honest, at 30RM the ticket is quite steep for tourists, but the other option is walking up — and that will take you more than two hours one way. Here is our ultimate guide to visiting Penang Hill.

You can buy train tickets online on Klook to save time at the bottom of the hill where queues are normal, especially on weekends.

34 Fly across Penang’s Oldest Forest on a zipline

Penang Hill has a very cool zip line, the 5-course Flight of the Colugo zipline. Developed to give guests a feel for one of Penang’s oldest rainforest canopies — a staggering 130 million years old — this new attraction sends visitors gliding above the thicket like flying lemurs (the “colugo”, as the name suggests).

The complete Flight of the Colugo experience consists of a 5 zipline course which can be completed in about an hour. The cost is RM105 per person and includes equipment rental and guides. The “Honeymoon Zip” is a quick teaser on a single tandem zipline, and costs RM32 including tax. It’s an exciting 80mt-long single tandem zipline over a 5mt-high drop that gives guests one first look at the beautiful rainforest.

35 …and then visit the rest of the Habitat

Flight of the Colugo zipline is a part of the Habitat, an interesting forest walk along a colonial irrigation path that crisscrosses Penang Hill’s best-preserved patch of rainforest. I have already written an article on 7 good reasons why you should visit the Habitat Penang Hill but in brief, it has Penang’s highest viewpoint at the Curtis Crest walkway, and a 230-meter-long canopy walkway, the Langgur Way. It soars 40-meters above the forest floor underneath, and it’s been built entirely tree-friendly, without using any direct rigging of the steel cabins on the tree bark.

You can buy a discounted Habitat entry ticket on KLOOK to avoid queues and save some ringgit.

36 Have a power hike to Station 5 via Moongate

There’s nothing better than hiking to feel the mesmerizing power and sounds of Penang Hill’s forest. A popular Penang Hill hike starts at Moon Gate , the former entrance to a millionaire’s home. You can follow a concrete staircase up to the hill, which we don’t recommend, or strike off on a very interesting side jungle path that is called Wild Boar Trail. I have written a detailed guide on how to hike to Moon Gate Station 5 , a popular hiker rest stop, via the Wild Boar Trail.

Moderately fit people should complete the hike in 30–45 minutes one way, allowing some time to rest and enjoy nature and the free gym machines at Station 5. It’s best then not to strike off later than 5.30 pm to return down to Moon Gate before dark.

37 Take the Penang Hill Hiking Trail that Only Locals Know About

Tourists take the funicular train up, while local hikers love to get up to Penang Hill , or at least to the Middle Station, on foot. There is one beautiful hike I have described in this article that will take you from the Hye Keat Estate up to Penang Hill Middle Station.

The trek is completely paved and it’s possible to do it also by bicycle or small motorbike, but we believe that walking it is absolutely the best way to go. The views from the top are amazing, spanning from Kek Lok Si Temple to George Town and across the Straits Sea to Bukit Mertajam and Kedah state .

38 Find a slice of Myanmar on Penang Hill

You would think you just stumbled upon the Golden Rock of Kyaiktiyo in Myanmar, but no, you are on Penang Hill , walking from Hye Keat Estate to the Middle Station. You can’t miss them: take a side path on your right, and you’ll soon find yourself on a side of the hill filled with dozens of golden Burmese stupas. They are part of a small Buddhist Temple here, and are a very nice hidden spot to visit on Penang Hill — and tell your friends you have been to Burma instead!

Things to Do in Penang for Nature Lovers

39 discover penang national park.

The northwestern corner of Penang island is enveloped in the thick jungle and beaches of the world’s smallest national park at Teluk Bahang . A visit here offers a few interesting hiking trails, monkeys, beaches, and a lot more, including one of the world’s few meromictic lakes — meaning a lake where fresh and saltwater don’t mix but coexist in layers.

Penang National Park is a perfect place to see and experience the wild side of Penang, the other side of the moon compared to the hectic streets of George Town.

40 Look for some strange and cute Malaysian Animals

The jungles of Penang hide at least 13 species of Malaysian animals including rare ones such as the flying lemur, the Sunda slow loris and the giant red squirrel. Some of them, like the long-tail macaques, are pretty easy to spot, but you must be very lucky to find others. The Botanic Gardens and Penang Hill are the obvious places to start looking — but remember that, whatever you find, keep your distance and don’t disturb them in their habitat. Most importantly, do not feed monkeys or any other animals. If you do, you are just an idiot tourist who doesn’t know anything about nature and the world beyond a shopping mall, and there are no excuses for your ignorance!

41 Meet a million butterflies at ENTOPIA

Formerly called Penang Butterfly Farm, ENTOPIA is one of Teluk Bahang’s best attractions. Read our full review of ENTOPIA here . In brief offers a much larger space to observe insects, creepy crawlies and other small animals. Take your time to stroll inside Natureland , a living garden vivarium with 15,000-odd free-flying butterflies, or browse the Cocoon , two floors of learning exhibits, and indoor activities all dedicated to insects and bugs. It’s a great place to visit in Penang with kids  but is certainly also educational for people of all ages.

Admission prices are RM69 for non-Malaysian adults, and RM49 for children and seniors, and include an all-day access pass. But we are sure you’d love to use a 10RM discount by buying your Entopia tickets directly from our partner Klook .

42 Enjoy the Rainforest at Taman Rimba

Right next to ENTOPIA is Taman Rimba, a 32-hectare natural park that serves as a great introduction to Penang and Malaysia’s rainforest. The park is equipped with all sorts of picnic areas, a forestry museum, and a decent number of hiking trails, some of which connect with other hiking circuits via Laksamana Hill until Penang Hill. The beauty of Taman Rimba is certainly its lush forest, some of the thickest in Penang. You can consider swimming in one of the many holes here, or bring a tent and camp overnight. Arrange your stay at the park headquarters.

43 Relax at one of Penang’s Best Beaches

Penang is an island, of course: to be frank, Penang beaches are not the best in Southeast Asia, but there are definitely a few hidden gems worth visiting. For example, on the southern side of Penang island, the areas of Balik Pulau and Teluk Kumbar have some quiet, long beaches such as Pantai Pasir Panjang and Gertak Sanggul, with their interesting fishing community and great seafood.

On the northern side of Penang, Batu Ferringhi beach was once a hippie hangout and today harbours most of the island’s high-end hotels and resorts. Penang National park at Teluk Bahang has more opportunities for nature and a few famous beaches like Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut, which have a small turtle sanctuary. Read more details on our detailed guide to Penang’s 20 Best Beaches .

44 Visit the Tropical Spice Garden (and take a cooking class)

Set in a beautiful location between the sea and a forested hill, the award-winning Tropical Spice Garden is a collection of tropical plants curated by local artist Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson. The garden is not only perfect as a location for pre-wedding photography , but also to take your kids on a discovery tour of some of Malaysia, and Southeast Asia’s, rarest species of plants.

Their Poison Garden is a very instructive walk among poisonous plants, whose uses and misuses are richly described with educational panels. We suggest you get an audio tour for yourself and your kids, in order to maximize your fun and learning experience. You can also participate in their guided day or night walks.

Don’t forget the Tropical Spice Garden’s cooking classes, limited to 8 people to maximise learning and give you a hands-on education to create some of Southeast Asia’s best dishes. You can book your spot here.

To enter the Tropical Spice Garden, adults pay RM31 for an audio-tour, while kids up to 12 years old pay RM18. To get your advanced and discounted audio-tour ticket please buy tickets online from our partners at Klook

45 Hike to Penang’s second-tallest peak, Bukit Laksamana

Soaring between Penang Hill and Penang National Park at Teluk Bahang, 805-meters-high Bukit Laksamana is the second-highest peak in Penang and a hiker’s delight. You can start your hike at Taman Rimba, Chin Farm in Batu Ferringhi, or Penang Hill itself. If starting from the northern side of the island, you’ll have to endure a steep incline all the way up to the Laksamana peak. The views from Eagle Point are incredible and worth the sweat and sore muscles.

46 Chase Supertrees at Cherok Tokun Nature Park

Right across the bridge in Bukit Mertajam is Cherok Tokun Nature Park, an expanse of wilderness with a bunch of less-trawled hiking trails. One of the best reasons to come here is to look for one of the four giant trees hidden away in the reserve. Contrary to Penang Hill, Cherok Tokun has some of Penang’s biggest and oldest trees, amazing natural sights that any nature lover wouldn’t want to miss. Don’t forget to check out the other great hiking in Penang Mainland , also called Seberang Perai. Want to explore it more? Stay at one of Bukit Mertajam’s best hotels .

And if you want to know more, our ultimate guide to Cherok Tok Kun has everything you need to know to hike this beautiful nature reserve.

47 Explore Balik Pulau

By far, the island’s most natural and unspoilt area remains Balik Pulau in the southwest corner of Penang. This is where you will find fishing villages, unspoiled beaches, a lot of nutmeg, durian and banana trees, some of Penang’s best and most famous laksa and a pace of life which is the opposite of hectic George Town.

READ MORE — 28 Great Things to Eat, See and Do in Balik Pulau

Balik Pulau is also ideal for cycling and relaxing, and also has a couple of hiking trails, such as the 3-mile circuit at Kalan Pondok Upeh. It’s a good idea to base yourself here if you are looking for a quiet and more natural experience of Penang island.

48 Ride Horses at Countryside Stables

Located in Balik Pulau not far from the serene Malindo Beach, Countryside Stables is a horse farm where guests can visit and ride horses in some of Penang’s most beautiful surroundings. The farm has miniatures horses, Pure Bred Arabian Horses, Polo Pony, Thai, Myanmar and Malaysian ponies, donkeys and deer, and is a perfect place to spend a day out with your family and children or, if you are a rider, come enjoy a stroll on horseback.

49 Enjoy a waterfall

Penang’s jungles are dotted by a number of beautiful waterfalls where you can take a refreshing dip. The most famous may be almost vertical Titi Kerawang Fall in Balik Pulau , but there are others around the island. The Penang Botanic Gardens waterfall, which used to be one of the most famous in Malaysia, and is unfortunately closed to the public today. But you can still go check out the very beautiful Chin Farm waterfall near Batu Ferringhi, or the 25-meter-high fall behind the Mutiara Indah apartment in Bukit Gambir.

Offbeat Things to Do in Penang

If you have arrived all the way here, you certainly have seen and done a lot of things in Penang and you need something lesser-known and refreshing. The following are a few ideas we consider perfect for those who want to scratch the surface and dig deeper into Penang than most.

50 Take a trip to Bukit Mertajam

Few people know that right across the Penang bridge is Bukit Mertajam (fondly called “BM” by locals), a very overlooked town that has a lot of great things to do and amazing food to eat. Don’t forget that BM is a place where you can experience Penang life without the beautification and massive gentrification that has spoiled George Town. If you didn’t know much about Bukit Mertajam, I have written an article that lists all the best things to visit and the best food available in this offbeat Seberang Perai town.

51 Visit a Haunted Hotel on top of Penang Hill

The Crag Hotel is a beautiful property set in a stunning location in the secluded northern part of Penang Hill. The Crag Hotel was first opened by the Iranian-Armenian Sarkies Brothers in 1895, was then leased as a boarding building to Penang Uplands School and remained operational until 1977. In 1991 it was used once again as a set for the movie “Indochine”, but since then it has stayed closed — well, abandoned, for you can certainly go visit the premises today.

The latest news was the Crag Hotel was waiting for a much-needed 300-room eco-hotel upgrade which, for the moment, still seems a far-fetched opportunity. Next to the Crag Hotel is also the beautiful building that housed the Penang Uplands school.

Like with every abandoned property in Malaysia, locals believe the place is haunted by ghosts. I’ve heard a man say that a couple of food sellers with no home used to stay here at night, and they lamented hearing muffled cries, something definitely otherworldly. Whether you come here by braving the steep and wild hiking path via Botanic Gardens or Bukit Olivia, or by walking after you get off the Penang Hill Funicular Train, a visit to the Crag Hotel is a dive into old Malaysia — the furniture, the quirky English-written signboards abandoned on the floor, and the larger-than-life abandoned bathrooms, something scary in itself, make a visit to remember.

52 Marvel at Frog Hill, the Jiuzhaigou of Penang

Also called “Bukit Katak”, Frog Hill was an offbeat place in Seberang Perai, the mainland chunk of Penang State, that got famous thanks to the usual work of Instagram hype. Also called Lombong Kampung Guar Petai, Frog Hill Tasek Gelugor, or Guar Perahu, Frog Hill is an old tin mining site where water is collected into a series of pools crisscrossed by red earth ridges. It’s an otherworldly scenery of jagged red rocks emerging from viridian pools. Some people said that Frog Hill is like the “Jiuzhaigou of Penang” — quite an overstatement, but let the locals be proud of their backwoods.

READ MORE — A Complete Guide to Visiting Frog Hill

Frog Hill is absolutely stunning at sunrise, but you gotta get up pretty early to catch it. Indeed Frog Hill is roughly 30 minutes north of Bukit Mertajam , set at the end of a road that goes through a small village called Kampung Jarak Atas. Remember that the road to Frog Hill is not paved and gets often muddy, so don’t come here unprepared in the rainy season — good footwear and sandals you can quickly wash up are essential.

53 Discover Soundmaker and Penang’s underground music

Few people know that Penang had a music history — Malaysia’s most famous singer and actor, P. Ramlee, hails from here — and fewer know that the island has an underground music scene. Set on the first floor of a nondescript building in Bishop street, Soundmaker is the island’s longest-running alternative rock club. From punk to metal, hip-hop and alternative, you’ll find something up your alley here.

Soundmaker is also a good place to go meet Penang’s musicians, especially the owner Cole Yew , a multi-instrumentalist and the man who knows everything that’s rocking in Penang.

54 Pay a visit to the Jewish Cemetery

For a bit of unknown history, Penang Jewish Cemetery , the oldest single Jewish cemetery in Southeast Asia opened in 1805, is a quirk find in Jalan Zainal Abidin. First of all, it proves the existence of a Jewish community from almost as far back as when Penang was colonized, and second, it has some beautiful stone graves and interesting tombstones. The most recent tomb is from 2011, allegedly the last Jewish lineage on Penang island until now.

55 Explore Penang’s Yoga and Health Underworld

Penang may not seem like the right place, but it has quite a few places for yoga and wellness . The most accessible is Wholey Wonder on 61 Jalan Gurdwara, which has a vegan restaurant and yoga studio. Just next door, the garden of Hin Bus Depot hosts the fun acro-yoga sessions (a bunch of very flexible people striking acrobatic yoga poses to introduce the art to passersby) as part of their Sunday Pop-Up Market.

Another well-known studio is Sunalini yoga, set in a George Town shophouse along Hutton Lane. Classes are small and run by enthusiastic iyengar-style yoga, which places attention on detail, precision and alignment in performing the right posture (asanas). The Space, located in the expat-centric area of Tanjung Bunga, is an intimate, cozy studio offering traditional yoga sessions (RM45/US $ 10 for walk-ins), and other special classes such as prenatal and childbirth yoga, stretching sessions, chakra yoga, and yoga for kids. They also run Kundalini Yoga sessions on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 10 am.

56 Shop and Meet Artists at Hin Bus Depot Pop Up Market

This former bus depot has done so much to give a voice and space to Penang and Malaysia’s visual artists. Its rotating art and photo exhibits have definitely filled a hole in the island’s social and cultural life. Not only that, but they also organise a great pop up market (Saturday 11 am- 6 pm and Sunday 11 am- 5 pm) where EVERYONE can set up shop and sell ANYTHING by paying a mere RM44 (USD11) for the space. It’s certainly one of the coolest alternative shopping experiences in Penang .

From second-hand books to plants and flowers, home-made drinks and jewellery, and unique artist postcards there’s something cute, tiny and artsy for everyone at Hin Pop Up Market . And the best thing is, the stalls change mostly every week.

57 Explore Jerejak Island, a former Leper colony that’s too big to dismiss

You certainly have seen it, as it lays like a sleeping crocodile right in front of Queensbay: Jerejak Island. Set between Penang island and the mainland, Jerejak was once a quarantine station during British colonial times and has been staying semi-dormant until now.

A few years ago there was plan to develop it as Penang’s outdoor and recreation hub, but nothing really came to fruition. You can, however, take a ferry over from Bayan Lepas and even overnight at the Jerejak Resort. The island offers a bunch of useless Insta-worthy places such as a rainbow pier, giant swings and bird nests, and a stairway to nothing. What’s good, on the other hand, is trekking and cycling around the island.

58 Explore Penang by Bicycle

It may seem counterintuitive once you have seen Penang’s horrible traffic gridlock, but the island is a good place for cycling, too. For starters, the whole eastern coast from Karpal Singh Drive all the way to Penang Airport is connected by a cycle lane, whose two trunks connect at Queensbay Mall. A more experienced cyclist may want to attempt a full 83-kilometer round island circuit: if you are not that dedicated, you may break down this route into the Northern circuit, going from George Town all the way to Batu Ferringhi following the coastal route, or explore the Southern shore at Gertak Sanggul.

The interior of Balik Pulau is covered with paddy fields and small country roads that are a delight to cycle. If getting there on a bike sounds daunting, check out the Audi Homestay, a nice place to base yourself in Balik Pulau, which also has plenty of bikes for rental. And don’t forget that using a bicycle is also a good, quicker — but much sweatier — way to appreciate all of George Town’s nooks and crannies.

59 Take a herbal sauna or realign your chakras at Bodi Heart Sanctuary

Set on a stunning natural location at the bottom of Penang Hill, Penang’s Bodi Heart Sanctuary is an oasis of (Buddhist) meditation that few people know about. The center organizes meditation courses and international events hosting monks from as far as Myanmar, India, and around the world, but you can also just come to have a stroll and relax in its beautiful gardens.

One of the perks is their herbal steam sauna open to the public for a donation of RM10. It’s a very soothing experience to while away an afternoon in a part of the island that very few people know about.

60 Learn Silambam, an ancient South Indian martial art

Silambam Nillaikalakki, a form of stick-fighting martial art, originated more than five thousand years ago in the Kurinji mountains of South India and is one of Penang’s lesser-known heritages. It arrived with the Tamil migrants and survived in Malaysia, being mostly forgotten in favor of other types of Silambam in India.

Master Anbanathan has been teaching this art for decades from a rooftop in the Bali Rakyat of the Taman Tun Sardon area of Gelugor. The group meets almost daily from 7 pm to 9 pm and everyone is welcome to come to learn and experience the art. You can have more information on the Penang Silambam Nillaikallaki Group website .

Well, that sums up my list of the best things to do in Penang. I hope you’ll use them to plan a beautiful trip to Penang. To be fair, I couldn’t include everything, but if you feel I’ve made a major omission, please let me know in the comments below.

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Penang trip blog — the super penang travel guide for a penang budget trip for the first-timers.

The island of Penang, derived from its former name Pinang in Malaysian, is a great place to add your travel bucket list if you intend to explore other places in Malaysia beyond Kuala Lumpur. Penang is a miniature cultural world of Malaysia , modern and ancient that I have felt right from the first time I arrived here. Penang is not only has the vibrant and gentle of George Town with beautiful murals , but also a land of art, stylish coffee shops and a rich culinary culture . So, are you planning a budget trip to Penang (Penang budget trip) and don’t know what to do in Penang? Let’s check out our wonderful Penang trip blog (Penang travel blog, Penang blog) with the fullest Penang travel guide (Penang guide, Penang budget travel guide) from how to get there, what to eat, where to stay to help you make a perfect Penang itinerary on a budget!

• Penang travel blog — The fullest Penang guide for first-timers
• Exploring Penang – Things to do & what to see in The Pearl of the Orient of Malaysia
• Penang Malaysia things to do — 9 awesome things to do in Penang from cooking curries to zip-lining
• Penang travel tips — Some best tips for traveling and dining in Penang Island, Malaysia
• Penang itinerary — How to spend 3 days in Penang?

Penang trip blog: How to get to Penang?

There are many different ways to get to Penang

If you depart from Hanoi and want to get directly to Penang, the plane is the best means, although usually you still have to transit in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, domestic flights of Malaysia are very cheap with Air Asia or Malaysia Airlines, round-trip tickets for Kuala Lumpur – Penang route are sometimes down to under $45. From Penang there are also some direct flights from other Southeast Asian cities such as Yangon, Bangkok or Singapore.

Getting from the airport to the city

The simplest and fastest way is still take a taxi, but to save money you can take the bus. The airport is about 20km from the center of George Town (because visitors often love to book hotels here) and note that the traffic in Penang is crazy. The street is very nice but there are also many vehicles, the waiting time for red light is too long leading to traffic congestion.

The shuttle bus from the airport to the city is parked just outside the arrival hall of the airport, under the bus company that operates all of public transport here, called Rapid Penang. You can take bus number 101 to enter the city, the fare is only 2.7RM, but sometimes the bus takes more than 1 hour to get to city. In the return trip, you also catch this bus to back the airport, but very bad luck. I spent for an hour to wait but no see any bus 101 to return to the airport, finally, I was so panic, and have to catch a taxi for RM35 (bargained from RM40). The taxi ran so fast, it took only about 30 minutes to reach the airport although the road is quite congested. (1 USD → 4.115 RM).

If you getting to Penang from Kuala Lumpur or other Malaysian cities

Because Penang is located not far from the mainland but also has a large bridge across the sea connecting mainland and the island, so alternative flying, there are many other ways to visit the island.

• By train: It takes 10 hours from Kuala Lumpur to get to Jalan Bagan Dalam and stop at Butterworth Railway Station in the mainland near the ferry station, to get to the island you have to take a taxi or take a ferry. The ferry runs from 6AM to 12:30 PM every 10 minutes with a trip and takes about 20 minutes to reach the island, the ticket price is also very cheap, only 1.5RM and the return trip is free.
• By bus: There are some buses from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, the traveling time takes about 5 hours and usually to the end stop is Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal near the airport. You can book tickets through the website: 12go.asia .

Penang budget trip: Getting around on the island of Penang

Rent a motorbike to travel on the island.

Although the bus frequently runs on the island, but I recommend renting a motorbike to seft-drive to take initiative. The price of motorbike rental in Penang is also affordable, but gasoline in Malaysia is so cheap, the gas price is only 2/3 of the gasoline price of Vietnam.

There are many motorbike rental shops along the Lebuh Chulia street, I rented one from an old guy with long hair and tall. This man looked quite fierce and seemed to be careful, deliver a motorbike to me and giving very detail instructions, telling me to go carefully and take care of his motorbike. The rental price depends on the type of motorbike, the cheapest one is Dream (a type of gear motorbike). I rented a scooter that was still very new at RM29 / day, too cheap, but it was very new one and good quality.

Regarding the traveling by motorbike on the island, you should note that Malaysia has a law on the left side of the road opposite to Vietnam, so you need to get acquainted gradually. The road in Penang must be said to be very beautiful, the traffic is consciously organized, when you park at a certain point, remember to park the motorbike correctly, there will often be very clear directions. Only one crazy thing about riding a motorbike in Penang is a lot of traffic lights, but the waiting time is super long, at the large intersections the waiting time can be up to 2.5 minutes at a time.

Walking in George Town

George Town is also quite large but you can still easily walk to visiting and eating. In the center of George Town, there are many good shops, eateries, suitable for walking, in addition, the Street Art area is also very good for strolling.

Penang blog: Where to stay when traveling to Penang?

George Town: Of course, because this is the center of all services on the island. Room rates here are also quite cheap and close to the night markets, super rich food. This area is about 40 minutes from the airport by car.

Batu Ferringhi Beach Area: This area concentrates many resorts and 5-star hotels, about 45 minutes drive from George Town. Passing the traffic jam area in center, you will reach the section running along the very beautiful and quiet mountainside road. You can find, check rates, reviews and book hotels in this area on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Also you can refer to The Frame Guesthouse ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) that I stayed when I came to Penang, this is a hostel located on Lebuh Chulia Street in George Town old town, mainly for backpackers in dirty chic design style but very clean. The space in the hostel is quite airy, mainly European backpackers, so it is very comfortable to stay. Price range 35RM / bed in a mixed room with 6 beds, breakfast included.

Read also: Best areas to stay in Penang — Top 5 best places to stay in Penang for the first-timers.

In addition, you can refer to one of the best Airbnb in Penang: Beautiful Cosy.Mountain View.Swim Pool at $16/night or 好评中！Seaview CleanCozy Suite WiFi+Netflix 海景套房@安居小岛 at $29/night.

–> Airbnb link discount up to $35 for the first booking here: https://www.airbnb.com/c/anht5185

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Penang hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com  or Airbnb.com.

Penang travel guide: Discover Penang cuisine

It is no coincidence that I titled the article that “traveling to Penang a week is not enough”, in addtion to so many tourist attractions, one thing will keeps you in the city – this beautiful island is cuisine. Penang has a wide variety of traditional Muslim dishes, Malaysian street-food, and many restaurants and cafes with its own unique dishes, which a week to try is not enough.

Regarding street food, where bustling and most famous is in Chulia Street, the eateries here are open until 12 pm with the countless street foods such as:

• Char Kway Teow 炒 粿 條 (Fried flat noodles): Fried egg noodles with shrimp and bean sprouts.
• Koay Teow Th’ng 粿 条 汤: A type of soup cooking with meat, fish and rice noodles.
• Penang Assam Laksa (Assam Laksa/Spicy & Sour Fish Noodles): A famous traditional dish in Penang with mackerel stewed in a broth with tamarind, lemon, chili and shrimp, extremely rich in flavor.
• Penang Rojak: A typical salad of Penang with peanuts, squid and a few thin slices of pineapple.
• Nasi Kandar: A Muslim dish, if you are not familiar, it will be quite difficult to eat, it is characterized by the main orange color of curry and spices.
• Curry Mee: A very popular dish in Penang, the main ingredients are egg yolk noodles and vermicelli, shrimp, scallops, squid, tofu and meat and main ingredient of curry sauce.

In addition, you can also enjoy some dishes in the cafes, because each shop has their own signature dish. For example, Mugshot cafe with Bacon egg bagel is quite famous.

Penang trip blog: Getting around the attractions in Penang on a motorbike

List of main attractions you can note as below:

Wandering in Chulia Street – The bustling street in George Town

Referring to George Town, everyone thinks of Chulia because this is the main street which concentrates many cafes, restaurants and street food, especially bustling at night. If you love nighlife, you can not ignore the bars here, with vibrant live music, delicious drinks and beautifully decorated.

Around the George Town area, there are many other attractions, if you have time to wandering you can visit such as St. George’s Church, Little India,.. Remember to rent a Trishaw, the signature vehicle in Penang for your group to riding around the streets and take photos.

Take pictures in the Street Art neighborhood

This seems to be a symbol of George Town with many murals on large walls stretching across many streets. Coming to Penang, you couldn’t help but take pictures with these funny pictures.

Tip: The paintings on the wall may be located on different streets, you can see on the map quite clearly, but some pictures have been removed and replaced so don’t be too surprised if you do not find the picture you are looking for. Some of the paintings are located in the streets farther than you have to drive around to see.

Take a train up Penang Hill

Every big city always has a place for you to stand on it and see the whole city view, Penang Hill is such a place. On Penang Hill is an entertainment complex similar to Ba Na Hill in Da Nang, although not as large, with restaurants, gardens and a quite romantic love lock bridge. The highlight of Penang Hill is the train that takes you to the top of the hill, not a cable car but a small train going up on a steep rail.

How to get there: Getting to the foothills of Penang Hill, buy a ticket, priced at RM30 / adult.

Tip: You should come here in the afternoon and can stay until evening to see the shimmering city whe it lights up. Coming here in the morning, if the bad luck meets the foggy day, we cannot see anything. Train time is 6.30 am – 11 pm.

Food Street of Gurney Drive

This neighborhood next to Chulia Street is Penang’s street food paradise. Here sell almost all the typical street food of Penang, open from morning to midnight at very cheap prices. In addition, near Gurney Drive, there is the busy shopping district of Gurney Plaza, which concentrates a lot of high-end fashion brands, if you are a shopping fan, you can not miss this place.

Also regarding the food street, you can consider adding Viva Local Food Haven, which is a truly culinary paradise. Here is almost a foodcourt-like gathering area with a campus of about 1000 square meters, each eatery have a small stall around and in the middle of a dining table for visitors. Diners order their food, then they will bring it to their table, the number of restaurants as well as a lot of dishes for you to choose.

Kek Lok Si Temple

This is the largest temple in Penang quite close to Penang Hill, so if go to Penang Hill, let combine this place into one itinerary. Although not as large and majestic as the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Kaohsiung – Taiwan, Kek Lok Si is also one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia. The temple is located on a mountain top that is not too high to be able to ride a motorbike, standing here can overlook the sea, high-rise buildings in Penang.

Batu Ferringhi Beach

This beach is located in the northwestern part of the island, where luxury resorts and 5-star hotels are concentrated. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive from George Town depending on traffic conditions, but in general the mountain road is very nice. Batu Ferringhi Beach has a long sandy beach, but due to the lack of rich flora as in Langkawi Island, so mainly people come here to walk, swim and playing games such as parachuting, jet skiing…

Right near this Batu beach, there is a night market selling a lot of things, but mostly miscellaneous items like clothes, hats or bags … in general, the things are not very nice and you have to bargain hard, otherwise, walking around the street is also fine.

Visiting old houses

Penang is a city with a long-standing culture, and is a busy trading hub for hundreds of years, so on the island there are still many ancient houses with high cultural values. Ancient houses such as Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion or Peranakan is currently opens to visitors, entrance tickets at around 15RM. These houses bearing ancient Indian or Chinese architectural styles that are well worth a visit.

ESCAPE Adventureplay and Penang Butterfly Farm

ESCAPE Adventureplay Park is located quite far from the city center, must go through Batu Ferringhi beach and is a place for those who love to play adventure games and are eager to explore. There are a number of games, both traditional and modern, such as walking on stilts, bungee jumping, rope walking, …

Right near the amusement park is the Penang Butterfly Farm. The flora here is extremely rich and green, is a good environment for flowers to grow as well as thousands of colorful butterflies living on nectar. This farm opened in 1986 with a campus of nearly 1 hectare also acts as a research center for butterflies.

Chew Clan Jetties Floating Village (Clan Jetties Of Penang)

This floating village located on the east coast near George Town, built in the 19th century by migrants from Fujian, China, used to be a busy trading port. Currently the houses in this area are protected as cultural heritage. Come here to visit to walk on jetties, to immerse yourself in people’s daily life and buy cute souvenirs.

In addition to the main attractions mentioned above, you can visit the night market in Tanjung Bungah area, Penang National Park, the administrative building of Penang City Hall, … That is to say, eating and playing in Penang is not enough for a week, even at first glance, the island is not too large. If you want to experience the delicious Penang cuisine, stylish cafes or the typical old houses of Penang but limited time, you need to make a reasonable itinerary and schedule, so you will not miss the must-see spots on your journey.

Bonus: Map of attractions in Penang.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Penang you can refer to

• Private Penang Airport Transfers (PEN) for Penang
• Private City Transfers for Penang and Surrounding Cities
• Shared Penang International Airport (PEN) Transfers for Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi
• Explore Georgetown
• Penang Hill and Temple Sightseeing
• Penang Heritage & Street Food Tour
• Georgetown Scenic Night Tour
• KL TravelPass (Metro Card) in Kuala Lumpur
• [SALE] 4G Prepaid SIM Card (MY Airports Pick Up) for Malaysia
• 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for Malaysia

Are you looking for more top things to do in Penang: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Penang travel blog — The fullest guide for a budget trip to Penang of Malaysia . And Penang in 1 day: Let’s check it out here.

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Penang Itinerary: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Short Trip

A trip itinerary for Penang can be a tiresome thing to plan because there’s so much to see and do! And this is even if you just limit your itinerary to George Town!

We have been to Penang several times and still haven’t seen everything.

These itineraries are suitable for first timers (based on our opinion) but if you have been to Penang before, check out the itinerary for longer durations!

Table Of Contents:

Penang Itinerary

• For The Family

Best Time To Visit Penang

Where to stay in penang.

The classic Penang itinerary usually includes the following highlights (listed here in no particular order):

• Penang food
• Penang Hill (and The Habitat)
• Kek Lok Si Temple
• Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (or The Blue Mansion)
• ESCAPE Theme Park
• Khoo Kongsi
• Penang Street Art
• Clan Jetties of Penang
• Batu Ferringhi

Keeping this in mind, you can experience the food, heritage, culture, and nature. There are also plenty of family-friendly activities in Penang.

How Long To Stay In Penang

Honestly, you can’t see much in 1 day. Or 2 days, for that matter!

3 days is the best duration to see the top attractions in Penang! So, try to consider this into your two weeks Malaysia itinerary !

Still have doubts? Read on!

Penang Itinerary – Day 1

Sometimes, you just have less than 24 hours before you must go elsewhere. And that’s okay, just keep in mind you’ll probably want to come back to Penang again!

Hopefully, you’re visiting on a weekday and not a weekend. Else you must be wary of heavier traffic and longer waiting times at popular hawker stalls.

For your first day, aim to spend the whole day in George Town , a UNESCO World Heritage Site ! As we said before, there are already so many things to do in Georgetown Penang .

• Make your way to the historic centre of Penang, George Town!
• Depending on how much time you’ve got, you can find Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi .
• Stroll (or hop on a trishaw ) along Penang’s heritage streets, Armenian Street and Love Lane where you can spot some street murals too!
• Continue to Little India

• Have lunch in Little India ( Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant )
• If you have time to spare, step into the  Sri Mahamariamman Temple
• Next, admire the lovely Penang Peranakan Mansion (Read our detailed guide on Penang Peranakan Mansion ). Or have some giggles while learning about Malaysian cuisine at the  Wonder Food Museum  instead!

• Chew Jetty or Tan Jetty – There are many clan jetties of Penang but these two are the most picturesque!
• Dinner option 1:  Village Fish Head Bee Hoon  at Pengkalan Weld!
• Dinner option 2: Enjoy street food at Kimberly Street

Note: Don’t stay out too late! You’ll need an early start for the next day in Penang!

Penang Itinerary – Day 2

Day 1 follows the previous itinerary. But on Day 2, it’s time to visit the main attractions in  Ayer Itam , Penang – Penang Hill  and  Kek Lok Si Temple !

These are very famous attractions so try as much as possible to visit on a weekday instead. Otherwise, queues are likely.

First night in Penang: Stay anywhere between George Town and Ayer Itam . Especially if you want to see the sunrise at Penang Hill !

• Go to Ayer Itam – If going by public transport, allow at least 2 hours . If you have a car, it takes 30 minutes from George Town !
• Start early if you want to hike up to Penang Hill from Penang Botanical Gardens or you can take the train up (preferably before 8am ).

• The main attraction at Penang Hill is The Habitat with guided nature walks, a long canopy walkway, and a spectacular 360 degrees viewing platform (Open daily from 9am – 7pm, with last entry being at 6pm),  Curtis Crest !
• To beat the crowds, try to complete your visit before noon ! Then, it’s on to Kek Lok Si Temple !

• You can head over to the nearby Air Itam Sister Curry Mee for lunch before your temple visit! Or the Penang Air Itam Laksa (Only open on weekends)
• Explore Kek Lok Si Temple (Approximately 1-2 hours required)

After sweating a lot, go for some refreshing cendol at Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town.

And if you have extra time on your hands, you can visit more museums like the Upside Down Museum, Glass Museum, or hunt for some murals.

• Freshen up at your hotel.
• Dinner option #1: 888 Hokkien Mee at Lebuh Pesgrave
• Dinner option #2: Time to try some more of that delicious Penang food at Kimberley Street Night Market ( kway chap, char kway teow )

• Hit the scenic Straits Quay Marina Mall – always good for a harbor stroll, coffee, or a nightcap!

Read more: 11 Best Night Markets In Penang – Monday To Sunday (Especially #5)

Penang Itinerary – Day 3

Add this plan to the previous 2-day itinerary if you’re staying in Penang for 3 days.

Day 3 allows you more time to appreciate George Town and its British colonial past . And to see at least one of Penang’s prominent beaches !

Start the day with a tour of notable structures around Penang! And as evening approaches, make the journey to  Batu Ferringhi .

Second night in Penang: Stay anywhere in  George Town

After breakfast in Penang , venture around George Town to see Penang’s British colonial buildings and other famous landmarks :

• Goddess of Mercy Temple Penang
• George’s Anglican Church
• Penang State Museum
• Penang High Court
• Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower
• Fort Cornwallis

Note: You can do this 20-minute walking route in reverse to avoid visiting Fort Cornwallis at mid-day when it’s usually very hot and sunny!

• Have lunch in George Town . (e.g. Esplanade Park Food Court for Hameed Pata Mee Sotong !)
• Visit the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple
• Travel to and have a tour of Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque
• 10 minutes’ drive away is Batu Ferringhi beach where there are kayak, jet ski or banana boat rentals ( Waverunner Beach Chalet ).
• Before Batu Ferringhi Beach, you can visit the lesser known and quieter  Moonlight Bay. It isa 6 minutes’ drive away from Batu Ferringhi Beach.

Note: Facilities and maintenance at Moonlight Bay are lacking though.

• Dinner option #1: Romantic garden setting at Restaurant Ferringhi Garden
• Dinner option #2: Long Beach Café Food Court  ( Char kway teow , satay, fresh seafood, etc)
• Browse the Batu Feringghi Night Market (Open from 7pm )
• Or choose a beautiful bar in Batu Feringghi for sunset viewing (BoraBora bar)
• Retire early to be fully rested for the next day!

Penang Itinerary – Day 4

After 3 days of checking out George Town , Ayer Itam and Batu Ferringhi , it’s time to head to the west coast of Penang! Or more specifically, Teluk Bahang.

Note: Teluk Bahang is 8 minutes’ drive from Batu Ferringhi. Or 30 minutes by public transport.

Third night in Penang: Stay in Batu Ferringhi

4 days in Penang gives you an extra day to fully immerse yourself in more nature-related places of interest in Penang! Like Penang National Park !

• There are boat operators who are obviously exploiting tourists who don’t want to hike through Penang National Park to see the beaches.
• Furthermore, despite the entrance fees imposed, some parts of the park (namely Monkey Beach and hiking trails) need repair.

• Have breakfast or take your breakfast with you to Penang National Park ( Open from 8am ). Decide ahead whether you’d like to hike through the park or take a boat transfer .
• At the entrance of the Penang National Park, register before you start your hike ( 1 to 1.5 hours with moderate fitness) or get on the boats!
• At Monkey Beach ; Climb up to Muka Head Lighthouse to get the blood flowing! Go for a dip in the shallows. Or sit down to a picnic.

• Take a boat ride to Pantai Keracut (Turtle Beach) to stop at the turtle sanctuary and glimpse the meromictic lake ! Penang National Park closes at 5pm.
• If you get back around 3pm, you still have time to take a peek at Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm (Closes at 5pm)

Note: Another attraction that you can check out in this area is the Tropical Fruit Farm (also closes at 5pm).

• Of course, you can always stop here and call it a day!
• Or, you can see where the locals enjoy their evening walks at Teluk Bahang Dam (Closed at 7:30pm )!
• Dinner option: Tai Tong Seafood Restaurant (Typical Chinese seafood restaurant but price is higher than average)

Penang Itinerary – Day 5

If you still have energy for an additional day to the earlier 4 days 3 nights itinerary, this last day will ensure some unforgettable experiences in your memories of Penang!

Fourth night in Penang: Stay in Teluk Bahang

Spend most of the day at Escape theme park trying out the high-rope obstacle course, slides, zip lines and more!

Keep the last 3 hours for getting to the airport and as a buffer for any unforeseen circumstances.

• It’s a 1-hour drive from Teluk Bahang to the Penang International Airport. Or 3 hours by public transport!
• There is a tropical fruit farm worth stopping on the way to the airport, especially in durian season! Allocate 30-90 minutes to visit!

Suggestions For Family-Friendly Itinerary

Visiting Penang with kids in tow need not be complicated! The following places will enable your kids to unleash their pent-up energy too.

Theme Parks

• Adventure Zone (Batu Ferringhi)
• Adventure Play at Escape Theme Park (Teluk Bahang)

And here are some family-friendly venues that have educative value:

Education Venues

• Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm (Teluk Bahang)
• Tech Dome at KOMTAR Penang

And the following places are great for the whole family to sightsee. Although those with knee problems will have difficulty exploring the whole area.

Landmarks/ Penang Attractions

• Penang Hill and Funicular Railway
• Kek Lok Si Temple (Ayer Itam)

Other Interesting Places

• Hard Rock Hotel – The variety of pools and slides here almost feels like a water park!
• Penang Museums (Teddyville Museum or Wonder Food Museum)

Read more: Penang Nightlife – 23 Best Things To Do In Penang At Night

The best time to visit Penang is towards the end of the year. Think mid-November to mid-February ! This is when daily temperatures are more favorable and there is festive cheer in the air!

At the same time, do expect more crowds and higher prices for accommodation.

The rest of the year in Penang is  warm and humid  with  minimal variation  except for the amount of rain.  Rainy season  is typically between  May to April  and  September to mid-November !

It’s hard to decide where to stay when there are so many options!

We’ll make it a little easier for you with this appealing selection of the best hotels in Penang !

1. Budget Option

1.1. zen rooms eden parade.

An affordable hotel in Batu Ferringhi with  clean rooms  and a  strategic location  close to eateries, a  convenience store,  and a  night market !

Check best price on: Agoda

1.2. Chulia Mansion

In the midst of George Town attractions, the elegant rooms and fine details at Chulia Mansion are an alternative if The Blue Mansion ( Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion ) is out of your budget!

1.3. Eco Capsule Resort, Teluk Bahang, Penang

Although unsuitable for families with young children or elders, Eco Capsule Resort is simple rustic living without having to do away with air-conditioning!

It’s close to the main Teluk Bahang attractions too!

If you’d like other budget options, check out our list of the top budget hotels in Penang for our choice recommendations!

2. Mid-Range Option

2.1. areca hotel penang.

Location-wise, you will be getting your money’s worth with this hotel as it is in George Town close to shopping centers ( KOMTAR ), eateries as well as China Town !

Rooms are  beautiful, cozy, and clean .

2.2. Lost Paradise Resort

Big rooms , Bali vibes and a delightful outdoor infinity pool with sea views ! The only downside is there’s no private beach!

10 minutes’ drive from Batu Ferringhi !

2.3. JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La

Next to KOMTAR , this high-rise hotel delivers when it comes to service!

Recent renovations , food haunts, modern rooms , a swimming pool and a fitness centre are all reasons to book Hotel Jen Penang!

3. Luxury Option

3.1. cheong fatt tze mansion.

A  heritage mansion  turned into a  boutique hotel  in  George Town ?

At The Blue Mansion, you’ll be treated to Peranakan luxury , delicious breakfast and complimentary evening tours !

3.2. Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang

It’s a short drive ( 3 minutes ) from Rasa Sayang to Batu Ferringhi.

Even so, get ready to be spoilt with wonderful service and surroundings at this 5-star hotel with its own private beach !

3.3. G Hotel Gurney

G Hotel Gurney is a clear first choice for keen shoppers ( Gurney Plaza ) and it is walking distance to Gurney Drive Hawker Centre !

You will likely return for the classy environment and great service !

Further reading:

How To Get From Penang Airport To Georgetown (4 Easy Ways)

• How To Get To Penang Island From Kuala Lumpur (KL)
• Best Way To Travel From Langkawi To Penang (All Methods + Cheap Option)

This complete Penang itinerary guide starts with a basic 1-day plan. You can extend it to a 5-day, 4 nights plan easily to cover George Town, Ayer Itam, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang!

There is enough to keep you busy from morning to night if you’re wondering  what to do in Penang  in 3 days!

You might want to look at our full Penang guide too.

Read more: 13 Best Penang Souvenirs – What To Buy In Penang

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Penang › Attraction

Teluk bahang fishing village.

Almost every family in this humble fishing village, located on the northwest tip of the island past the resorts of Batu Feringgi, survives by fishing the waters around Penang. There's not much to see here except the fishing jetty, which is busiest in the early mornings, when the fishing boats return with their catch. Most visitors come only for the nearby attractions, which are listed below.

Here you'll find the Penang Butterfly Farm (830 Jalan Teluk Bahang; tel. 04/885-1253; adults RM20, children RM10, free for children 4 and under; daily 9am-5pm), a .8-hectare (2-acre) landscaped area that is home to more than 4,000 flying butterflies from 120 species. At 10am and 3pm, there are informative butterfly shows. Don't forget the insect exhibit -- there are about 2,000 or so bugs.

Nearby is the organic Tropical Spice Garden (Lot 595 Mukim 2, Jalan Teluk Bahang; tel. 04/881-1797; www.tropicalspicegarden.com; adults RM14, children RM8; daily 9am-6pm). Once an abandoned rubber plantation, this garden features native species in their natural landscape, while incorporating found and recycled materials. There are trails to explore the gardens, along with indoor displays, a visitor's center with a spice museum, gift shop, and cafe overlooking the sea.

Also in the area is the touristy but interesting Penang Batik Factory (669 Mk. 2, Teluk Bahang; tel. 04/885-1284; www.penangbatik.com.my; free admission; daily 9am-5:30pm), where you'll see a batik printing demonstration followed by a trip to the factory store.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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The Village

Teluk Bahang is a busy fishing village in the northwest corner of Penang. There is a jetty and a shallow inlet where small fishing boats are moored.

The village was originally a strip of wooden houses along the beach front but has since expanded inland. A few blocks of low cost housing have been added. These were painted gleaming white when I first visited this bay in 1995 but now in 2011 they look shabby and weather stained.

Being only 5km from  Batu Feringgi  and located on the main road which circumnavigates the island of Penang, the village is a popular stopping off place for visitors looking for seafood or wishing to access nearby  Penang National Park .

There are a few simple restaurants here including  Fishing Village Restaurant  which has received favourable reviews.

There is a  long sandy beach  in this bay where fisherwomen can be seen scraping the surface to look for shellfish. The beach is suitable for walks or sunbathing but the sea is not very clean for swimming as  sewage  from the village is said to discharge here and also there can be lots of  jellyfish .

There used to be an upmarket hotel on this beach, the  Mutiara Beach Resort . I stayed there in 1995 when it was still quite new. Even then I don't recall swimming in the sea but the hotel had a nice swimming pool so we did not miss the sea too much.

When I passed the hotel building recently in December 2011 it was boarded up and appeared to have been closed down for several years. I wondered whether the hotel had been damaged in the tragic 26 December 2004  tsunami  which affected this part of Penang but my research tells me that the hotel was only slightly impacted. I guess it must have closed down for other reasons and its future looks uncertain. Seems a shameful waste!

Nearby to Teluk Bahang

There a number of attractions in the vicinity of Teluk Bahang:

Penang National Park . The entrance to this park is in the village itself. In addition to the usual rainforest trails, the park boasts some unspoilt beaches such as Monkey Beach and Kerachut Beach which can only be accessed on foot or by boat.

Penang Butterfly Farm . I visited this park way back in 1995 and remember having an enjoyable time but I admit we did not go back on my recent visit as we have been to similar butterfly parks in KL and Cameron Highlands not so long ago and my kids are all 'butterflyed-out' for the time being. (Since replaced by Entopia , a must-visit butterfly farm).

Tropical Spice Garden . This is one of the top attractions on the Penang tourist trail and of particular interest to first time visitors to a tropical country who may not have seen exotic spice plants before.

Penang Toy Museum .

Teluk Bahang Dam . This dam and reservoir is located close to the National Park and enjoys scenic surroundings. The  Penang International Dragon Boat Festival  is staged here annually. In 2012 it will be held from 30th June to 1st July.

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Penang Itinerary: The Best 3 Day Travel Guide You’ll Love

This super-detailed Penang itinerary will guide you through the best sights and things to do during your 3-day stay on this stunning island.

Plus, I’ll share with you must-try foods on the island that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

So, let’s check out my Penang 3-day itinerary below for the best places to explore and eat in this amazing island ! 🙂

Day 1: Wonder Food Museum, Peranakan Mansion, The TOP Penang and Others

Day 2: street art, kek lok si temple, penang hill and others, day 3: teddyville museum, entopia, escape penang and gurney plaza, ways to save on penang attraction tickets, penang itinerary 3 days map, the best places to stay in penang, how to get around penang, airport transportation services, have more days in malaysia, related posts.

Kickstart your Penang itinerary in the beautiful and colorful Georgetown. There are lots of spots to explore here , from museums to mansions. You’d also come across different religious and cultural sites.

And of course, I’ll recommend the best places to eat in the area . So, ready yourself for a fun-filled trip!

1. Wonder Food Museum – 1 hour (9:00 AM to 10:00 AM)

If you’re looking for a fun morning activity to include in your Penang schedule , make sure not to miss the Wonder Food Museum .

Inside this unique gallery are impressive food-themed creations and interactive installations.

Be amazed by the oversized food sculptures and life-sized local cuisines displayed around the tables . There’s so much to uncover in each section that highlights the history and culture of Malaysian dishes .

One of the famous exhibits in the museum is the Penang Asam Laksa . Take a closer look at this famous dish and marvel at the realistic designs.

Surely, this is a great way to learn more about the country’s rich culture and food history.

Ways to Save Money on Tickets: Get your Wonder Food Museum tickets online and save up to 13% OFF the regular price!

2. Penang Peranakan Mansion – 5 hours (10:00 AM to 11:30 PM)

No itinerary of Penang is complete without a visit to the Penang Peranakan Mansion. This cultural spot is helps you understand the history of the Peranakan people.

So, enter this beautifully-restored structure and get to know more about the Malay and Chinese heritage .

Walk around the mansion and discover its culture through the antique furniture and stunning carvings . There are also plenty of traditional textiles and clothing on exhibit.

a. Inner Courtyard

Wander around the inner courtyard and get mesmerized by the gorgeous architectural designs. These are highly recommended for backdrops.

So, if you’re looking for a photogenic background, this is such a good choice .

b. Dining Hall and Kitchen Area

Walk into the dining hall that is filled with breathtaking furniture and cultural pieces . The area itself is another gorgeous location for some photography sessions.

c. Family Hall

Continue the tour inside the family hall where lots of historical charms are displayed all over the walls. There are also several furniture pieces around this section that add up to its beauty.

d. Bridal Chamber and Bedroom

Drop by the bridal chamber and for sure you’ll love the colourful interiors. From the beds to the tables, there’s so much to unravel here.

3. Penang Little India – 15 minutes (11:30 PM to 11:45 PM)

Carry on with the adventure as you explore Penang Little India . This is somehow the same as Singapore Little India, which gives you a peek at the Indian heritage .

While wandering around, you’d be surprised at how well the Indian culture blended with Malaysian customs.

Check out the breathtaking murals and architectural styles. And don’t forget to visit one of the local stores that sell handicrafts, textiles, and jewelry pieces.

4. Goddess of Mercy Temple Penang – 15 minutes (11:45 PM to 12:00 PM)

Before taking your lunch, stop by the Goddess of Mercy Temple or also known as the Kuan Yin Temple . This was built during the 17 th century , making it the oldest Taoist temple in Penang .

Aside from its historical significance, the temple’s architectural style is also a stunner. See the beautiful paintings and sculptures within the temple .

And, don’t miss the large statue of Kuan Yin that is located in the main prayer hall .

5. Kapitan Keling Mosque – 10 minutes (12:00 PM to 12:10 PM)

Another famous religious location is the Kapitan Keling Mosque . Visit this mosque that was built by early Indian Muslim settlers .

Because of its cultural roots, this is acknowledged as one of the key sites that made George Town a UNESCO world heritage site .

6. Bee Hwa Café or Hameediyah Restaurant (Lunch) – 50 minutes (12:10 PM to 1:00 PM)

Option 1: bee hwa café.

Dine in at Bee Hwa Café , which is a long-running restaurant with over 20 years in service .

Some of their bestsellers are the Koay Teow Th’ng (Penang Chicken Soup) and White Curry Noodle.

They also offer Char Koay Teow, Hokkein Noodle, and Fried Rice. Each of these costs RM 6. But if you are on a tight on budget, the most recommended choice is their White Curry Noodle .

Option 2: Hameediyah Restaurant

If you’re looking for another option, there’s Hameediyah Restaurant . This is a famous eatery that offers a variety of delectable Malay cuisines .

Check out their signature dishes like Chicken Biryani Rice (RM 16), Fried Noodle (RM 7), and Beef Rendang (RM 17) .

7. Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion – 1 hour (1:00 PM to 2:00 PM)

After your lunch, spend some time at Cheong Fatt Tze . It’s quite easy to spot this structure because of the vivid blue color of the lower section.

Aside from the gorgeous hues, the architectural design of the mansion itself is breathtaking . No wonder it earned the coveted UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award .

The beauty of the mansion extends inside the premises, where you’ll find a glimpse of Chinese and Western cultures.

Explore the hallways and get dazzled by the distinctive ornaments and decorative floors all over the place.

8. Penang 3D Trick Art Museum – 5 hours (2:00 PM to 3:30 PM)

Don’t miss the fun as you visit the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum . This is a famous artsy destination for families and groups of friends who want to experience art like no other.

Here, you can pose with the 3D art installations and showcase your acting skills . Try to be as creative as possible and be surprised with the result.

And since there are lots of art pieces around, for sure you won’t run out of photography ideas !

Smart Saving Technique: Buy your 3D Trick Art Museum tickets online and enjoy a discount of up to 21% OFF the original price!

9. Clan Jetties of Penang – 30 minutes (3:30 PM to 4:00 PM)

Keep exploring and you’ll come across the Clan Jetties of Penang . It is nestled along the beautiful waterfront of Georgetown.

This traditional village once served as the home of the early Chinese settlers back in the 19 th century.

One of the unique features of the Clan Jetties is the vibrant way of living. As you step into the wooden walkways, you’ll be transported to how these immigrants lived in the past.

Capture the colorful surroundings with your family and friends. And for sure, you’ll experience a unique culture through the rustic houses with elaborative designs.

Breathe in the fresh air that surrounds the Folklore by the Sea mural. And of course, take a photo of the cultural mural on one of the houses on the stilt .

10. Dark Mansion – 3D Glow In The Dark Museum – 1 hour (4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

Discover the Dark Mansion and be amazed by the fascinating 3D art installations. This top-rated museum is filled with paintings and optical illusions that radiate in the dark .

During your visit, make sure you snap a photo of Edgar Muller’s masterpiece . The artwork is recognized to be the biggest glow-in-the-dark painting in the world .

Since there are 5 themed attractions in the museum, you’d certainly enjoy your time here.  So, snap a lot of photos and have fun .

Money-Saving Tip: Don’t miss out on exclusive online offer – book your Dark Mansion museum tickets here and save up to 30% compared to buying on site!

11. The TOP Penang (Rainbow Skywalk & Obervatory Deck) – 5 hours (5:00 PM to 7:30 PM)

When planning an itinerary for Penang, be sure to include The TOP Penang. Towering at 816 feet, this is considered the highest entertainment building in Georgetown .

And with its soaring height, it’s a popular location to capture the entire cityscape .

a. Indoor Observatory Deck

Head to the observatory deck, which is located at level 65 of the tower. This is a favorite spot among locals and visitors who want to catch a bird’s eye view of the island .

While on top, you’d be able to see top tourist sites like Gurney Drive, Penang Hill, Penang Bridge, and Penang Jetty .

b. Rainbow Skywalk

Watch the sunset while wandering around the Rainbow Skywalk.

However, this might not be for the faint-hearted. It’s because the observation deck comes with a glass bottom . This means you can also see the buildings if you look below!

Clever Strategies for Saving Money: Why pay full price at The TOP Penang tickets? Buy your tickets online here and get up to 10% OFF!

12. New Lane Hawker Centre or Village Fish Head Bee Hoon (Dinner) – 1 hour (7:30 PM to 8:30 PM)

Option 1: new lane hawker centre.

Dig into New Lane Hawker Centre and enjoy a hearty meal! You won’t be disappointed with the options here, from noodles to barbecued foods.

Some of the most popular dishes are the Charcoal Seafood Char Kuey Teow (RM 9), Loh Bak (RM 15), and Wonton Noodles (RM 6.50).

Satay is also recommended, and this comes in either pork (10 sticks – RM 14) or chicken (10 sticks – RM 13). Other tasty dishes include chicken wings (RM 3 per piece), fried oysters (RM 13), and a lot more!

Option 2: Village Fish Head Bee Hoon

The second option would be the Village Fish Head Bee Hoon . This is highly suggested if you’re looking for a Tom Yum noodle soup paired with fried fish fillets .

Fascinatingly, you can pick your preferred ingredients to be added to the soup . Some of the options include fish balls, prawns, meatballs, eggs, sausages, and the like .

The price starts around RM 15, depending on your chosen ingredients.

The second day of this plan begins at Penang’s most iconic street art murals.

You’ll also stop by some cultural sites, temples, and local restaurants . And of course, this is the day when you’ll visit the scenic Penang Hill .

1. Penang Street Arts – 30 minutes (9:00 AM to 9:30 AM)

Start your day by checking out the “Brother & Sister on a Swing” mural. This is one of the striking paintings that portray the lifestyle of the early settlers.

Also, make sure not to miss the other wall paintings in the area. Check out the remarkable “Auntie Selling Soya” as well as the “Hoola Hoop Basketball” designs. Lastly, see the nostalgic “I Want Bao” art.

2. Street Arts and Floating Colorful Umbrellas – 30 minutes (9:30 AM to 10:00 AM)

Continue with the cultural escapade as you stop by the “ Kids on Bicycle” . This section is quite popular in Penang and is visited by many tourists all year round .

Aside from this street art, you’d also come across the “Boy on Motorbike” and “Boy on Chair” murals. Completing the list is none other than the “Floating Colorful Umbrellas” .

3. Armenian Street – 20 minutes (10:00 AM to 10:20 AM)

After seeing the murals, navigate around Armenian Street . This historic pathway shelters a number of antique buildings in Penang .

Here, you’d find the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi as well as the Choo Chay Keong Temple.

The building walls are also fringed with gorgeous artwork embellishments that add up to the charms of the place.

And while walking around, don’t forget to shop from one of the traditional shops . There are plenty of unique handicrafts and ornaments perfect as souvenirs .

4. Choo Chay Keong Temple – 10 minutes (10:20 AM to 10:30 AM)

Pay a visit to Choo Chay Keong Temple , which is an important religious site in the island . Finding this shrine is quite easy. It’s because of the Chinese architectural design that exudes all over the temple’s exteriors.

The dragon pillars and the intricate elements on the front porch also make the shrine eye-catching. So, try to be creative and use the beautiful facade as your photo background .

5. Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi – 30 minutes (10:30 AM to 11:00 AM)

Keep on with the morning exploration and uncover the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi . This spectacular Chinese temple was built by the Khoo clan in the 19 th century .

As part of the most powerful Chinese clans in the past, they created a temple that stood the test of time.

Admire the magnificent exteriors with intricate roofs and ornamented pillars.

And, before you enter the breathtaking temple, look closely at the stone carvings of lions and dragons. These creatures were believed to protect the shrine from bad spirits and bring in fortune.

As you enter the temple, you’d be captivated by the golden interiors engulfing the premises.

Scan the main altar and discover different ceramic and wood sculptures. There are also plenty of mural paintings displayed around the walls.

6. Upside Down Museum – 5 hours (11:00 AM to 12:30 PM)

One of the top attractions on a Penang itinerary is the Upside Down Museum . Unlike typical museums, this is highly interactive because of the uniqueness of the art pieces .

All the displays and designs are positioned upside down. This means that you need to showcase your creativity to capture the essence of the art.

Equipped with themed rooms, you’d have lots of opportunities to highlight your skills here. Explore the living room, kitchen, and bedroom and take all sorts of photos.

The staff members will assist you with taking photos and offering helpful tips on how to pose correctly in the upside-down environment.

7. Mural – “Love on Bicycle” – 5 minutes (12:30 PM to 12:35 PM)

Before taking your lunch, swing by the Love on Bicycle mural . This is another favorite street art among locals and travellers alike. So, try to photograph this location as you pass by the area .

8. Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul – 10 minutes (12:35 PM to 12:45 PM)

Take a break and head to Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul to try their best-selling dessert . This is such a perfect treat that you wouldn’t want to miss.

The dessert contains green pandan-flavored noodles with shaved ice and sweetened coconut milk . It also comes with some red beans . You can get this delicious dessert for only RM 4.50 per cup .

9. Joo Hooi Café (Lunch) – 45 minutes (12:45 PM to 1:30 PM)

Now, for your lunch, go to Joo Hooi Café . Brimming with traditional vibes, this café is definitely a great location to relax while eating some local dishes .

Their best-sellers include the Penang-style Char Koay Teow (RM 8.50), Laksa (RM 7), and Lor Bak (RM 10 to RM 15).

You may also want to try their Crispy Fried Chicken Drumsticks (RM 6 per piece) and Crispy Chicken Skin (RM 6 per cup) .

10. Kek Lok Si Temple – 5 hours (2:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

After a hearty meal at the local café, it’s time to discover the Kek Lok Si Temple . As a famous Buddhist temple in Penang, many tourists visit this location .

a. Main Prayer Hall and Grand Hall

When you enter the temple, you’d be surrounded by magnificent carvings and stunning murals . These decorations blend well with each other, making the temple more attractive.

b. Standing Buddha, Seated Buddha, and Beautiful Garden

There are also several Buddha statues inside and outside the shrine .

Aside from the religious sculptures, the temple contains a number of scenic gardens . Here, you can unwind and take some photos of the lush scenery and vibrant flowers .

c. 7-Tier Pagoda

While wandering around the gardens, make sure you drop by the 7-Tier Pagoda . This towering structure is one of the key parts of the temple .

d. Goddess of Mercy

Perched on top of the hill is a breathtaking bronze statue that would surely catch your attention. It was made to honor the Goddess of mercy and compassion, Kuan Yin .

Standing at 30 meters tall , this spectacular figure is considered the country’s largest statue . Because of its soaring height, you need to ride the Sky Lift to reach the hilltop.

Alternative Solution: Join this famous Bus Tour in Penang. It covers Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill! 🙂

11. Penang Hill – 5 hours (4:30 PM to 8:00 PM)

Visiting Penang Hill is a must-add to your travel plan when exploring the island. It’s a well-known destination that lets you explore up to the peak of the hill .

So, here are some of the spots in Penang Hill that should be included during your visit.

a. Viewing Deck

Be one with nature as you unwind at the viewing deck. This is a scenic location for relaxation and simple conversations with your loved ones.

b. Sky Terrace

If you want to listen to some live music, move to the Sky Terrace. Aside from the romantic vibes, this place also serves tasty snacks .

For only RM 32 each, you can buy a Cheesy Chicken Burger, BBQ Chicken Burger, or Fish Burger.

Additionally, they have Twister Fries, Cheesy Wedges, and Smoked Cocktail Sausage. Each of these costs RM 20.

c. Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple

The next destination would be the Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple , which is made in honor of Lord Murugan .

Navigate around the area and marvel at how this religious site has been preserved for many years.

Even as one of the oldest Hindu shrines in Penang , the beauty of the place still remains. Look closely at the vivid designs and capture its charms with your camera.

d. Gate House Bel Retiro

Did you know that the Gate House Bel Retiro is considered one of the most prominent properties in Penang?

This was constructed during the 17 th century as a tribute to the governor of the island. Because of its elegance, the structure is quite popular when it comes to picture-taking .

e. Astaka Cliff Café

Another remarkable dining spot in the area is the Astaka Cliff Café .

Uniquely, this nestles on a cliff, so you’d get panoramic views of the towering hills of Penang while eating your food. So, order one of their delicious meals and capture the gorgeous beauty of Penang Hill.

Apart from meals and snacks, you’d also love the selection of hot and cold drinks.

They have fresh juices, hot coffee, tea, and more, ranging between RM 2.50 to RM 6.50 . The Ice Kacang is a must-try dessert too. It costs around RM 6 to RM 15 , depending on the flavor.

f. The Habitat

Finish off your adventure in this hill resort by strolling around The Habitat .

This is the best place to capture the beautiful rainforest in its purest form. Since the site quite extensive , you need to allocate at least an hour here .

12. Keat Seng Restaurant (Dinner) – 1 hour (8:00 PM to 9:00 PM)

Spend your dinner at the Keat Seng Restaurant , which is located nearby the Penang Hill Lower Station . You can choose from the array of local dishes as well as some Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cuisines .

Their best-sellers include the Hokkien Mee (RM 6), Fish Fillet Noodle Soup (RM 11), and Fried Oyster Omelette. Other options are the Tau Foo, Tomyam Noodle Soup, and Curry Mee.

Your itinerary’s last day is the perfect time to explore some of Penang’s famous attractions . These include TeddyVille Museum , Entopia , and Escape Penang .

And after the fun-filled day, you’d be capping off the trip at Gurney Drive Hawker Center and Gurney Plaza .

1. TeddyVille Museum @ Batu Ferringhi – 1 hour (9:00 AM to 10:00 AM)

Commence your day with a trip to the TeddyVille Museum . This is a perfect choice for those travelling with kids or anyone who loves teddy bears.

The museum offers an impressive collection of charming and cuddly bears in various colors and sizes .

And uniquely, there are some teddy bears that are dressed in local costumes to portray different cultures . So, go around the exhibits and meet these cute figures. Pose with them or use them as your backdrop .

2. Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm + Lunch – 2 hours (10:20 AM to 12:20 PM)

After your teddy bear encounter at the museum, it’s time to unravel the beauty of Entopia Penang . The place houses more than 60 different butterfly species . At present, they have over 15,000 butterflies .

They also have an extensive collection of insects, reptiles, and more . Check out their habitat one by one and unravel their unique features through the compartments.

Stroll along the lush garden bursting with beautiful flying creatures. There’s also a small waterfall inside the farm that is very scenic .

And during your trip, try to revisit the life cycle of a butterfly or get to know more about the characteristics of these insects.

Aside from the exhibits, the farm also offers a lot of interactive learning programs and fun educational activities. So, if you’re with kids, this is a great opportunity for them to learn more about these animals.

How to save on entrance tickets? Take advantage of online offer and book your Entopia tickets online to enjoy up to a 10% discount.

Lunch (Tapestree Café @ Entopia): Take a break and have your lunch at Tapestree Café. This dining spot offers a wide selection of tasty Asian and Western snacks and meals.

You can try their Chicken Rendang with White Rice (RM 26), Chicken Chop with Fries (RM 26), or Chicken Rice (RM 24).

If you want a lighter meal, they have Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Chicken (RM 24) and Fish & Chips (RM 26).

3. ESCAPE Penang Theme Park – 5 hours (12:30 PM to 6:00 PM)

After filling your stomach, embark on a journey to ESCAPE Penang . Visiting this theme park is a must, especially for those with a penchant for outdoor fun.

Ready yourself for an exciting adventure loaded with thrilling activities. Try the world’s longest zip coaster and experience the thrill as you travel through the breathtaking nature scenes at a fast pace .

There are also water slides for adults and kids. If you have the guts, take on the world’s longest tube water slide . And of course, the obstacle courses are totally fascinating.

So, make sure you don’t forget to add ESCAPE Penang to your must-go list  to experience a day of fun and excitement.

Discounted Entry Tickets: Why pay more on-site? Book your Escape Penang tickets online to get cheaper prices!

4. Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (Dinner) – 1 hour (6:30 PM to 7:30 PM)

Following a fun-filled day at ESCAPE Penang, it’s best that you eat dinner at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre . Here, you have lots of tasty food options according to your liking .

If you’re craving some noodles, you can try the Prawn Noodle (RM 6.50), Asam Laksa (RM 5.50), or Char Koay Teow (RM 7) .

Fried and grilled foods are readily available too like the Fried Oyster (RM 18) and Lok Lok (RM 1.30 per stick).

5. Gurney Plaza – 2 hours (7:30 PM to 9:30 PM)

Complete your trip by shopping at Gurney Plaza , which is located within the Gurney Drive section of Penang. This offers an impressive variety of shops, making it one of the favorite spots among shopaholics .

Go around the massive mall and visit different luxury shops and local stores. There are heaps of clothing lines, fashion brands, beauty items, and skincare products .

And of course, dining is not a problem here. You’d find several fast-food restaurants and cafes around to satisfy your needs.

Some of the most recommended dining areas are Ippudo Ramen and Sushi Tei as well as Din Tai Fung and Canton-i Restaurant .

If you’re considering a trip to Entopia Penang, The Top Komtar, and Escape Penang, the combined cost of tickets would be RM 269.10 (For Malaysian) and RM 283.50 (For Non-Malaysian).

However, with the Penang Multi-Attraction Pass , you can enjoy all these attractions for just RM 220 (For Malaysian) and RM 225 (For Non-Malaysian), saving you RM 49.10 (For Malaysian) and RM 58.50 (For Non-Malaysia) . The more people in your group, the more you can save on your overall expenses .

The Penang Multi-Attraction Pass offers flexible options such as a 2-Attraction, 3-Attraction, or 4-Attraction pass . This pass cover up to 9 tourist spots in Penang . For more details, just check out the link below.

Also, gives you the freedom to pick and choose which attractions to visit and when to visit them , depending on your preferences and schedule.

• Check out Penang Multi-Attraction Pass here

The map above is created by me to make it easier for you to understand my 3 days trip in Penang .

Although there are lots of options at hand, the best area to stay in Penang for tourists is Georgetown .

The place itself is brimming with advantages. Below are some of the key elements that make this highly recommended for tourists:

• Culture and History: As a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’d be surrounded by all sorts of colonial structures and cultural charms. These include museums, temples, street murals, and more.
• Abundance of Dining Options: Of course, the food choices here are top-notch. You’d love the street food scene that is filled with fast-food restaurants, local eateries, and hawker stalls. So, if you’re craving some local and international dishes, it’s easy to find a place to eat.
• Proximity to Key Sites: Since it’s situated in the heart of Penang Island, you can conveniently visit one attraction to another. It’s a strategic base point when exploring different tourist sections.
• Vibrant Night Scene: Lastly, the nightlife scene here is outstanding. You can enjoy the night at some cafes or restaurants. There are plenty of bars in the area too.

Recommended Hotels in Georgetown

• Sunway Hotel Georgetown : This 4-star hotel is just a minute’s walk to New Lane Hawker Centre. It’s also 5 minutes away from The TOP Penang, providing easy access to attractions in Georgetown. Plus, you won’t have a hard time booking a grab car in the area.
• Eastern & Oriental Hotel : If you’re looking for a historic and scenic accommodation in Penang, this is the best choice. Fringed with rich history and cultural elements, this luxurious hotel offers a lot of sophisticated rooms.
• Hotel NEO+ Penang : For travellers on a tight budget, this 3-star hotel is the answer to your needs. It’s an affordable accommodation with comfortable rooms. On top of that, it is situated close to Sunway Hotel.
• OZO George Town : This is another recommendation that provides cosy and modern rooms. It also comes with a rooftop pool that is a perfect spot to wind down after your day-to-day activities.

1. Grab Car

One of the most convenient ways to explore the island is by booking a ride through Grab Car . This is highly suggested if you want a competitive and clear pricing. To use this, you just book via the mobile app .

2. Join a Guided Tour of Penang

When it comes to cheaper transportation, the best option would be to join guided tours .

Apart from its affordability, tours are very convenient . It’s because the tour company prepares your agenda to save time and effort .

And since you’d be guided by the locals, it’s a great way to learn more about the island’s history and culture . As of this writing, there are 2 popular guided tours available in Penang – Guided Tour 1 and Guided Tour 2 .

The first option covers the Kek Lok Si temple and Penang Hill attractions . On the other hand, the second tour brings you to Georgetown .

3. Car Rental with a Professional Driver

For a more personalized trip, you may rent a car with a professional driver. This is highly suggested if you want to tailor your schedule at your own pace and discover Penang with no restrictions from tours.

Plus, this is a remarkable choice if you hate long taxi and public transportation queues . It could also be a great option for those travelling with kids or even groups of friends .

You may check out the private car services here and find out more about the current car hire prices for half and full day services.

4. Rent a Car and Drive Yourself

If you know how to drive, then you can rent a car and explore the island on your own . This is the best choice for those who want to visit the top tourist spots and even some hidden gems in no hurry .

Moreover, renting and driving a car is a commendable choice for groups and families. For reference, try to check out car rental online and see the car rental options available.

1. Rapid Penang

The Rapid Penang is one of the two airport transportation options.

This public bus ride operates from 6:00 AM to 11:15 PM , with a frequency of every 60 to 80 minutes . As to the bus fare, it’s currently priced at RM 4 per person .

If you choose this, you just ride Bus 102 from Penang Airport to Georgetown . The travel time would probably reach an hour or so .

Although this is a good choice, I do not recommend this if you have lots of luggage . It’s because the bus does not have enough space for storage .

2. Private Airport Transfer by Car or Van

If you prefer door-to-door transportation , it’s ideal that you book a private airport transfer . This is very convenient , especially for those who want seamless transportation from the airport to your hotel .

Since this is a direct transfer, you won’t have to deal with lots of stops . Plus, you can choose either a car or a van, depending on your preference .

So, try to check out the private airport transfer here and pick the vehicle that best suits your needs.

If you’ve got extra days in Malaysia, don’t hesitate to explore Genting SkyWorlds in Genting Highlands or Kuala Lumpur . These two are spectacular places that also deserve a visit.

Genting Highlands is recommended if you love theme parks, shopping malls, and casinos.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur is very popular because it’s the capital of the country. So, it’s filled with modern structures and cultural landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers, Merdeka Square, and Batu Caves.

And of course, the vibrant and diverse food options make it more exciting to visit!

Thank you for taking the time to read my complete Penang holiday itinerary . I hope this article will be a useful resource for you in planning the perfect trip to this wonderful island. 🙂

Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: Your Ideal 5 Days Trip in KL Guide

20 Best Genting SkyWorlds Rides Guaranteed to Wow You

Bangkok Itinerary: The Best 5 Day Trip Guide for Reference

1 thought on “penang itinerary: the best 3 day travel guide you’ll love”.

Thanks Josh, I must say yours is by far the best n most comprehensive guide of Penang! Thank you!

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Fish Lane (Lorong Ikan), George Town

Fish Lane, George Town, Penang

Map of lorong ikan, penang.

Getting there

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia

Getting a real estate agent in penang.

Pros and Cons of Moving to Penang

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From ‘ugly’ to lip-smacking fish fingers

Tuesday, 04 Jun 2024

Related News

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Eateries charging more for seafood, poolside ramadan spread of flavour-packed classics.

Chefs at work: Fabiane (left) and Suguna showing how they fillet the keli. They then mix the meat with seven secret herbs to give their fish fingers a classic, spicy Malaysian oomph.

GEORGE TOWN: Some fish get a bad name just because they are ugly and a prime example is the whiskered Malaysian catfish or ikan keli.

Although inexpensive, easy to farm, and packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, the keli is sometimes seen as a poor man’s protein because some consumers dislike the taste of freshwater fish while others are turned off by the keli’s whiskers.

Recognising the nutritional value and sustainability potential of the keli, two food technologists – Suguna Migeemanathan and Joshua Fabiane of the University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOW) – have devised a method to turn keli meat into crunchy, spicy fish fingers.

Their fish fingers won two gold medals at the Penang International Invention, Innovation and Design Competition in 2021 for Best Product and Best Promotional Video.

“We were looking for a sustainable food product based on fish protein. We settled on the keli because it has been a Malaysian food fish for generations but lost its popularity due to misconceptions,” said Suguna, the project’s principal researcher.

The duo are lecturers at UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts.

She said their research proved that the keli was hardy and cost-effective to cultivate, on top of being nutritionally on par with other “more glamorous” fish.

Even better, lab analysis showed that the keli had negligibly low levels of mercury, a common problem shared by nearly all wild-caught fish, which can have alarming levels of this toxic substance, depending on species.

While the keli can be skinned, filleted and de-boned much like any other fish, the challenge was developing a way to mince the meat into paste.

Because unlike lean fish meat, which is commonly processed into balls and cakes, the keli flesh is juicy and fatty.

Suguna and Fabiane have developed a proprietary method to mince keli meat, which is then moulded and breaded into fish fingers.

Their process, combined with seven secret herbs, gives their fish fingers a classic, spicy Malaysian oomph, while those with milder taste buds can opt for the “original” flavour.

“From the beginning, we wanted our fish fingers to be not just tasty and nutritious but also to come from a sustainable source. We don’t want to strain wild fisheries,” he said.

Fish farmers in Malaysia produce 30,000 tonnes of the keli annually, according to data from the Fisheries Department.

The department has a decades-long keli aquaculture consultation programme and even supplies the first batch of fingerlings free to farmers who are just starting the programme, using only local species instead of invasive types such as African catfish.

“On Penang island alone, there are five aquaculture sites producing keli,” said Fabiane.

After a pause caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the duo obtained a commercialisation grant from UOW Malaysia last year, and the fish fingers, branded Nutrilele, are sold as fish finger wraps and fish and chips on the Penang campus. Frozen fish fingers are also sold to home cooks.

UOW Global Enterprises group chief executive officer Marisa Mastroianni said UOW Malaysia was eager to collaborate with corporations in the food production sector to share its innovations.

“Every nation needs stable, sustainable food production systems, and supplying protein deserves special emphasis.

“Our lecturers are also researchers, and our campuses around the world support their work, especially those that can potentially increase sustainability,” she said.

Tags / Keywords: keli catfish , fish fingers , suguna migeemanathan and joshua fabiane , university of wollongong malaysia

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‘Terrifying’ staring fish shocks onlookers: ‘New fear unlocked’

A man strolling along a stretch of sand in Singapore has stumbled upon a creature some have described as the stuff of nightmares.

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An unusual fish was discovered washed up on shore in Singapore — and people want nothing to do with it.

The long-nosed stargazer was found buried face-up in the sand within shallow water, open-mouthed with its bulging eyes peering toward the sky.

Dennis Chan shared a clip of the discovery to Instagram in a wild video that garnered 53.3 million views and 1.2 million likes as of Monday morning.

“An uncommon and fascinating sight, these quirky fish bury themselves in the sand with only their heads exposed, seemingly gazing at the stars while waiting for unsuspecting prey,” Chan told What’sTheJam.

“They are similar to stonefishes and scorpion fishes, which means they also possess venomous spines that can deliver painful stings.”

Chan filmed the creature from different angles, and in each one it appeared to be looking up at the sky — until the fish seemed to start gulping water and burrowed itself farther down into the sand.

According to FishBase, there are more than 50 species of stargazers found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans — and one stargazer genus, the Astroscopus, has organs that produce electricity.

The bizarre fish is sometimes spotted on the Northern shores of Singapore, typically buried in the sand with just its eyeballs popping out.

People viewing the clip were terrified and disturbed by Chan’s “pretty terrifying” find.

“Unfind it,” one person urged.

“I’ve never despised an animal … before this one,” a user commented.

“This is now my sleep paralysis demon,” a commenter wrote.

“I would die if I was walking in the water, stepped on that, looked down and saw that. Like, literally pass away,” another said.

“I hate this fish,” someone declared.

More Coverage

“When they say plenty of fish in the sea, this is what they look like,” another quipped.

“New fear unlocked,” one added, no doubt echoing many others’ thoughts, too.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission

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An independent travel guide to Malaysia

Stunning, ethnically diverse Malaysia is Southeast Asia's unsung holiday hero, offering travellers a huge range of attractions. Mix and match a trip that includes lush jungle trekking, chilling out on white-sand beaches, amazing snorkelling and diving, gastronomic adventuring and immersing yourself in a colourful cultural heritage.

On this page

• Alternative

With the bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur midway between the UNESCO-listed towns of Penang and Melaka, and also just a few hours by bus from the sprawling Taman Negara National Park, many of Malaysia's highlights are both affordable and easy to reach.

Our Malaysia travel guide is here to help you get the most out of each of your trips to Malaysia, beginning with the simple guidelines below aimed at first-time travellers to the country.

Absolute highlights

Most first-time travellers to Malaysia stick to the peninsula, but if you have the time and are after a greater understanding of the country, a visit to Sabah and Sarawak is equally worthwhile. East Malaysia contains many of the country's most beautiful national parks.

Penang : Malaysia's second largest island, Penang is also its most developed, with the eastern coast dotted with high-rises and crammed with holiday resorts. Travellers who have experienced beaches elsewhere in Asia will probably be unimpressed with the most popular beach spots, but the island's real attraction lies in its culture, history and cuisine —the food really is something.

Taman Negara : The superlatives come easy when it comes to Taman Negara National Park . The old-growth forest here, mostly untouched by humans, is believed to be more than 130 million years old, making it the oldest primary forest in the world.

Perhentians : Long renowned for their coral reefs and clear waters, the Perhentian Islands are a highlight for their snorkelling, diving, attractive beaches and remote, semi-untouched feel and appearance.

Popular destinations

Langkawi : Nearly the size of Singapore, Langkawi is surrounded by beautiful beaches and towering limestone karsts. This beauty inspired their official 2012 tourism slogan, "Naturally Langkawi" .

Kuching : Situated in eastern Sarawak, Kuching is the most populous of all the cities in the state and, arguably, also the best place to be a tourist in the whole of Malaysia, due to its size, quality of accommodation, day trip options and museums.

Kuala Lumpur : The modern, bustling and lush-green capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a testament to the Southeast Asian nation clawing its way in recent decades out of the developing world and into the WiFi-enabled modern one.

Kinabalu Park : Borneo is known for its abundant natural wonders, but Kinabalu Park may just be the most spectacular. The main attraction is Mount Kinabalu, a 4,095-metre monster of granite that takes the title of the tallest mountain in Malaysia by a long shot.

Melaka : Midway between the capital cities of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and at the mouth of the Strait of Melaka, a crucial shipping route connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, Melaka has been a centre of trade and cultural exchange for more than 600 years.

Alternative destinations

Pangkor Island : The word Pangkor is said to be a derivative of the Thai “pang koh”, which means beautiful island—and yes, this gives a hint of what Pangkor Island is like, with sandy shores and surrounding emerald waters.

Sipadan : When you’re diving at Sipadan it’s not a question of whether you’ll see large pelagic species like manta rays, sea turtles, barracuda and sharks, but how many.

Kinabatangan River : For the most accessible wildlife adventure in Sabah, the Kinabatangan River , Sabah’s longest, offers easy packaged experiences. Known for its remarkable wildlife, you are almost guaranteed to see one or several of Borneo’s endemic species in the wild here.

Danum Valley : If Borneo conjures up images of pristine jungle filled with haunting sounds and hidden wildlife, the incredible Danum Valley Conservation Area is probably one of the reasons why .

Kuala Terenganu : If you have time up your sleeve, Kuala Terennganu is worth at the very least an overnight stay or, for some, far longer.

Nature lovers

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park : A short boat ride from KK, the five islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park offer squeaky white sands, azure waters and hiking trails though areas of old growth forest and mangroves, with an abundance of wildlife both below and above the waters.

Mantanani Islands : Three little blips on the radar form the Mantanani Islands, about 40 kilometres northwest of Kota Belud. Mantanani Besar, Mantanani Kecil and Lungisan are your quintessential alabaster-fringed tropical archipelago, reef ringed and sitting in crystal-clear aquamarine waters .

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre : Orange apes are Borneo’s big drawcard, and possibly why you’re in Sabah. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre cares for “people of the forest” who have been orphaned or injured due to deforestation or previously illegally kept as pets.

Trek Taman Negara : The opportunity to go trekking for a few days in the oldest primary forest in the world is the reason you'll be heading to Taman Negara .

Climb Kinabalu : There’s something about Mount Kinabalu—its awesomeness, its grace, its spirit—so it’s no wonder so many people are drawn to climbing Malaysia's tallest mountain .

Dive Sipadan : The islands around Semporna hold a treasure trove of riches below their jewel-toned seas, with the biggest drawcard being Sipadan , one of the world’s best dive sites and made famous by Jacques Cousteau. Sipadan and the other islands are not only limited to divers—it’s possible to snorkel here, too.

North Borneo Railway : Confession time: we like trains. We have to admit we were a little bit excited to travel on the historical North Borneo Railway, but you don’t have to be a trainspotter kind of person to enjoy the romance of a steam train. The North Borneo Railway isn’t a regular train service, although a regular service does follow the same route, but rather a tourist attraction recreating the historical era of steam travel .

Surf Cherating : A sleepy seaside community, Cherating is known for its turtle population, surf and more recently kiteboarding. It will appeal to those seeking a no-frills, affordable beach break.

Cooking courses and food walks : When it comes to food and food walks, Malaysia is none too shabby .

Eastern Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo see their wettest period between November and February. The west coast of the Peninsula sees the wet between May and September. The climate is hot and humid year round—regardless of whether it's raining or not!

How long to go for

With as little as two weeks you can take in some of the highlights of peninsular Malaysia—say Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang and an island, but the peninsula really deserves three to four weeks as with that long you could take in both coasts plus Taman Negara.

East Malaysia can be a bit more time consuming. We'd say Sabah certainly deserves two weeks , with neighbouring Sarawak being worth another three to four weeks .

If you are planning a longer stay, it pays to familiarise yourself with Malaysia’s visa rules .

What it will cost

Your budget will depend very much on your style of travelling . If you’re comfortable in simple accommodation, eating street food, not drinking too much alcohol, travelling using cheap transport and steering clear of heavily touristed (and so more expensive) destinations, you can survive on around US$20-25 per day—maybe a couple of dollars less if you’re especially frugal and travelling as a couple.

Most independent budget travellers tend to spend more. That air-con room is tempting, as is the pool and WiFi, latte and occasional VIP bus or short domestic flight. All these conspire to push daily budgets up to a more comfortable US$35-45 per day.

If your tastes veer more towards the luxurious, then Malaysia does offer good value — especially in the accommodation stakes, with resort-style and boutique hotels in the US$100-$150+ mark scattered across the country. Food and entertainment costs can rising accordingly. Likewise, you can also spend north of a thousand dollars per day for truly luxurious settings—think private pool villas and so on—flying everywhere and fine dining. We can’t speak of this personally though!

What to watch out for

Malaysia is a very safe country. While petty theft is a problem in the major tourist centres, violent crime against foreigners is rare. Use your common sense when out in the evening and stay in control. If you feel threatened, especially in a bar or club environment, leave. Credit card fraud is the most likely problem you may encounter—keep an eye on your credit cards at all times and while not always feasible, try not to let them out of your sight. Check your statements after your trips carefully.

When visiting the Semporna and Sipadan area in Sabah, you may be alarmed by the security presence. Over the last few years, terrorist incidents have occurred, and in response the Malaysian government has established military and police posts on islands and other tourist destinations. Most travellers enjoy the world-class diving here without peril. As with anywhere, check the current security situation with your government’s embassy before you plan and depart on a trip, and be sure to have comprehensive travel insurance .

Roads in Malaysia can be nerve-wracking at times. The roads are generally of a good standard, so people, even those who are not particularly talented drivers, tend to drive extremely fast. Penang in particular seems to be home to a resident population of drivers who care little (if at all) for pedestrian safety. Keep your wits about you and do not assume a driver has seen you, nor that they will necessarily slow down even if they have seen you.

Always, always, always wear a helmet when on a motorbike in Malaysia.

Having adequate travel insurance cover is essential .

Malaysia has extremely strict anti-drug laws yet it is not unusual to see locals smoking weed—especially in Kuala Lumpur. Pot along with a raft of other drugs are illegal in Malaysia and you do not want to be caught with them. Complete strangers offering to sell you drugs should be treated with the upmost suspicion. Duh!

If you wouldn’t do it in your home country because it is stupid, why do it in Malaysia?

Popular destinations in

Bako National Park Gunung Mulu National Park Kinabalu Park Kota Kinabalu Kuala Lumpur Kuching Langkawi Melaka Miri Pangkor Island Penang Perhentian Islands Sandakan Semporna and Sipadan Island Taman Negara See all destinations in Malaysia

You Should Skip The Fish Special At A Restaurant, According To Anthony Bourdain

I f you're going to a restaurant on a Monday night, there's one entree you'll probably want to avoid ordering, according to the late, great Anthony Bourdain. Back when he was just starting his career, one of the first pieces of advice the famous culinary personality doled out was to avoid the Monday fish special. Per his reasoning, it may not be the "freshest" cut.

If you're a Bourdain fan, you may still be following this advice — among his other wise tidbits. Up until his death in 2018, Bourdain was always insightful and savvy about restaurants, culture, and people, starting with the revelations in his 2000 memoir and exposé, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly," and continuing into his multiple TV series, such as "Parts Unknown."

In his debut book, as well as a prior  New Yorker article in 1999 entitled, "Don't Eat Before Reading This," Bourdain came across as someone who understood and spoke the truth about restaurants and the food industry — including what not to order. At the time, he had worked in eateries for more than 20 years, with the last decade spent as a frontline chef. 

Even today — a quarter-century later — avoiding Monday fish dishes is a mantra many diners still keep in mind, even though new insights have come forward.

Read more: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oysters

According To Bourdain, Monday Fish Specials Aren't Always Fresh

Among the bombshells Anthony Bourdain revealed in his New Yorker article was his perspective on Monday night fish specials. "If you like four-day-old fish, be my guest," Bourdain wrote. 

He revealed that chefs order seafood on Thursday night to sell over the weekend, when the restaurant is busiest. The chef's goal is to complete that entire seafood order by Sunday night, since there are no weekend fish deliveries. However, if the order isn't used up over the weekend, the fish that diners get with their Monday meal is left over from that original Thursday order. 

That means your Monday fish entree has been languishing under variable conditions for four days, and its quality ultimately depends on how vigilant the presiding chef was over the weekend. "When a kitchen is in full swing, proper refrigeration is almost nonexistent," Bourdain said, explaining that cooks constantly open and close the refrigerator door to access other items. He noted that the best, freshest fish comes in on Tuesday, so it might be ideal to wait a day to get fish at a restaurant.

Bourdain did, however, negate his reasoning in a passage in "Kitchen Confidential," saying he'd always try the grilled lobster at "an open-air barbecue shack on the Caribbean," even where he could see flies and knew the refrigeration was dubious at best. Because, after all, how often would he be able to travel to the Caribbean to eat the fresh fish there? 

Bourdain Somewhat Retracted His Advice Later In Life

In an Insider Tech interview in 2016, Anthony Bourdain actually retracted his earlier sentiment on Monday fish nights. He reflected that the New York City market and restaurant scene was much different than it had been 16 years prior when he first wrote his article.

Bourdain maintained you should still be cautious if trying the mussels on Monday (or any night) at a local pub — in "Kitchen Confidential," he cited careless storage issues and possible spoilage as reasons to stay away from the shellfish dish. But, by and large, people know more about food, eat a larger variety of fish, and expect more from restaurants than they did back in the day, he shared. The way people eat fish and even the temperature people prefer fish to be at is no longer the same, he also explained.

Bourdain pointed to the rise of sushi  as a "really important point in the development of American gastronomy," that has helped educated people on what fish should look and smell like. Sushi's rise has made diners open to eating fish raw, the way other cultures around the world have always done, he also said. This makes it harder for restaurants to get away with low-quality goods. "Regrettably, 'don't eat fish on Monday' is going to be on my headstone," he concluded. "But it's almost two decades later. Things have changed. Eat the damn fish."

Read the original article on Food Republic