Penang

Sights

• George Town old town – Shophouses, temples and mosques – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Street art – Murals and wrought-iron figures tell the town's story along the lanes.
• Clan Jetties – Stilt villages of Chinese clans built over the water.
• Khoo Kongsi – An ornate clan house with rich carvings.
• Kek Lok Si – One of Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist temples, on the hillside above Air Itam.
• Penang Hill – Up by funicular for cooler air and views.
• Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion – The «Blue Mansion» of a 19th-century merchant.

Food & nightlife

• Hawker centres – Penang is considered Malaysia's street food capital – try Gurney Drive.
• Char Kway Teow – Smoky stir-fried rice noodles with prawns and cockles.
• Assam Laksa – A sour fish noodle soup with tamarind – Penang's classic.
• Little India – Banana-leaf curries, sweets and teh tarik.

Day trips

• Penang National Park – Jungle trails to quiet coves such as Monkey Beach.
• Batu Ferringhi – A beach and night market on the island's north coast.
• Ipoh – Limestone hills, cave temples and famous white coffee on the mainland.

Good to know

When to go

December–March

Getting around

An airport on the island, plus bridges and a ferry to the mainland; in George Town go on foot, by trishaw, bus or Grab.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary.

Power

Plug type G, 240 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)

Plan your trip to Penang together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Malaysia

• Kuala Lumpur
• Langkawi