Many visitors flock to Penang for its world-famous cuisine (especially its street food), but this town in Northwest Malaysia offers so much more than just food, although its dishes are definitely worth the trip too.
The striking blue Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion offers a peek into the merchant era of this port city, while Chulia Street allows you to sample the best of Penang’s dishes. Batu Ferringhi has some of the best sunsets on mainland Malaysia, and Love Lane is where you can see old colonial houses. Here’s the full list of the top things to do in Penang, with extra fun activities like boat rides by Chew Jetty, and admiring views from Penang Hill.
PS: This is specifically about Penang Island, not the whole Penang state, which consists of Penang Island and the neighbouring area on mainland Malaysia.
What are the top things to do in Penang?
1. Old Town
Visiting Georgetown (Penang’s Old Town) is a must. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a unique blend of Malaysia’s multicultural background, and today it’s known as the country’s hotspot for gastronomy.
Some of the best things to do in Penang’s Old Town are:
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (a former Chinese merchant house), painted in bright blue colours
- Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a museum showcasing Penang’s Peranakan heritage
- Chew Jetty, a waterfront area with houses built on stilts, though now it’s a touristy area with souvenir shops and restaurants
- Love Lane to see old colonial houses
2. Beaches
Although Penang’s beaches are not the main attraction and are nothing compared to the nearby Thailand beaches up north, or the beaches of Sabah in East Malaysia, you can still experience spectacular beach sunsets in Penang. The most popular beach is Batu Ferringhi, a somewhat large beach where locals gather on weekends and at sunset.
Fun fact about my time at Batu Ferringhi: I got stung by a huge brown jellyfish there and almost died from it. I ended up at the hospital 5 hours later, where the doctor told me I had waited too long and was about to fall into a coma.
3. Sample traditional Malaysian food
You can’t go to Penang and not sample Malaysian food; that would be almost criminal. Some of the most popular dishes to try are curry laksa and Penang laksa, though you should also look for popular Malaysian dishes like nasi lemak, banana leaf rice, chicken rice, and mee goreng, to name a few.
While there are plenty of street food stalls all over Penang, a few notable spots are:
- Merlin Nasi Kandar
- Pitt Street Koay Teow Soup
- Lebuh Kimberley night market
- New Lane Street Hawker Centre
- Chulia Street for street food and night market
- Line clear Nasi Kandar
4. Culture: temples and mosques
One of Penang’s selling points is its multicultural mix, although that’s true of everywhere in Malaysia and is not unique to Penang. Malaysia is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Indigenous groups, which is reflected in its religious buildings and sites.
Some of the top things to do in Penang for a cultural and religious experience are:
- Visiting Kapitan Keling Mosque, a mosque built in 1801 in Moorish style
- Visiting Kek Lok Si temple, a Buddhist pagoda and one of the largest in Southeast Asia
- Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, a Hokkien clan temple
5. Art
The streets of Georgetown are filled with murals and artwork that show Penang’s creative side. My favourite stops on my Penang itinerary for art include:
- Penang street art at Lebuh Armenia: this is where you’ll find the two most famous murals. Keep in mind that these two spots get quite crowded, so go early in the morning for photos
- “Love Me Like Your Fortune Cat” painted by ASA, Artists for Stray Animals
- “Little Children on a Bicycle” by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic
- The Unique Penang Art Gallery, where you can write a future letter to yourself. They also sell paintings and handicrafts.
6. Nature: national park and views
Two of the best things to do in Penang for nature-filled adventures are:
- Penang National Park: a protected area that includes mangroves, forests, and an abundance of wildlife like turtles, dolphins, dusky leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, and more. You can hike in the area or enjoy a boat trip, just make sure to bring plenty of water and food. Just don’t feed the animals and take your trash with you.
- Penang Hill for views. You can hike or take the cable car up.
7. Fun activities
Unsure what to do in Penang with kids? There are so many family-friendly activities to choose from, including the 3D trick art museum, the Tropical Spice Garden, where you can learn about spices and plants that have shaped Malaysia’s culture (it’s also really cool at night), the National Park, and boat tours at Chew Jetty.
What I skipped in Penang and why
- Avatar Penang Secret garden attraction at Tanjung Tokong beach: reviews say it’s just one tree with lights
- 3D trick art museum: this isn’t unique to Penang, and I wasn’t really interested
- Skyscrapers like Top at the Komtar: not my cup of tea
- The Entopia Butterfly Garden: reviews say that the place looks neglected, and the other animals besides butterflies are not cared for well
- Cat Beach Sanctuary: I love cats (I adopted 2 myself), and I love visiting animal rescue places that take care of stray animals (side note: I would never visit cat or dog cafes that aren’t rescue cafes; there are so many issues with those). But I skipped the Cat Beach Sanctuary because of the terrible reviews from volunteers who spent time there, saying that the cats are severely neglected and live in filthy conditions, and the owner of the place isn’t operating the sanctuary ethically. I have no proof of that, but it turned me off from wanting to visit in the first place.
Your Penang itinerary, organised in 4 days
Day 1: Georgetown
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (former Chinese merchant blue house)
- Love Lane for old colonial houses
- Lunch options nearby:
- Merlin Nasi Kandar
- Pitt Street Koay Teow Soup
- Kapitan Keling Mosque
- Penang street art at Lebuh Armenia
- Chew Jetty
Day 2: a mix of culture and nature
- Penang Hill in the early morning to avoid the heat and humidity
- Kek Lok Si Temple
- State mosque
Day 3: culture, beach, and food
- Tropical spice garden around lunch
- Batu Ferringhi in the late afternoon until sunset
- The small night market near Batu Ferringhi (Pasar Malam Batu Feringghi)
Day 4: Nature at Penang National Park
- Spent the day exploring the park and enjoying the sounds of nature. Wear sunscreen and natural mosquito repellent.
Top things to do in Penang: FAQs
- How many days do you need in Penang?
Penang is relatively small, so 3-4 days are enough to explore leisurely and thoroughly.
- What is Penang known for?
Penang became famous for its tasty cuisine after gaining international attention in the media (specifically travel publications like CNN Traveller).
- When is the best time to visit Penang?
Penang can be visited year-round, though it’s best to avoid September, October and November due to the rainy season.
- Where is the best place to stay in Penang?
This depends on where you plan to spend most of your time. Georgetown is an excellent place to stay if you plan to explore the city more, especially if you’re looking for cultural experiences and city life. If you want a more beachy or nature-filled stay, look for places near Batu Ferringhi.
- Do you need a car to visit Penang?
I didn’t rent a car in Penang because I used a mix of Grab for calling car rides, or public transport. Renting a car in Penang can be convenient if you want more freedom to explore at your own pace, but compare the best prices for car rental in Penang first.
