Many of Penang’s numerous colonial buildings were built between 1786 and 1957. The time when it was directly or indirectly under British rule. Some of the churches in Georgetown look pretty much the same as their counterparts found in English towns and villages.

However, when I was exploring George Town the entire place felt like it belonged to a completely different nation. Not to Malaysians. The Penang Island population is divided between ethnic Malays, Chinese, Indians, and minority groups. Thus you can find Chinese temples, and mosques coupled with the influence of British architecture.

Since 1957 Penang has been an important state in the Federation of Malaysia. It has a lustrous, fertile landscape with highlands in the interior and a picturesque coastline. It is a popular holiday destination for Malaysians and overseas visitors alike and has a wealth of hotels for all budgets.

How to Get to Penang

If you’re on a backpacking trip in Malaysia, then the cheapest way to get to Penang is by bus. Most long-distance buses that run from the mainland to the island have intense air conditioning. So you may want to pay a few pennies more for a one-hour flight when traveling from Kuala Lumpur. Otherwise, it will take up to 6 hours for the bus to reach Penang from Kuala Lumpur.

At the same time, navigating Bayan Lepas International Airport is exceptionally easy. While it serves international flights from Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, etc, the airport is rather small. So it was a matter of minutes before I found my way out the glass doors. What I did next was hopping on the Rapid Penang bus into town for under 3 MYR (70 cents). Bus lines 102, 306 and 401E allow you to reach George Town really quickly.

Another safe and convenient option (especially if you travel by car) is to take a ferry from Butterworth (located on the mainland). This old fashioned crossing takes about 20 minutes (which is longer than going over the bridges) but way a lot more interesting. Attention: get there before rush hour!

Getting Around Penang

Once you reach Penang, getting around becomes easier because of the variety of transportation options available to you. There are two main bus stations are at Komtar Complex and at Weld Quay.

Local taxis are plentiful and generally reliable. However, I encountered situations when drivers are reluctant to use the meter. I tend to avoid such taxis and use Grab or Uber as both these apps offer super cheap prices, especially if you need to get to George town from the airport. There is also an efficient bus network that runs throughout the island including the popular tourist destinations such as Penang Hill and Taman Negara.

While you can easily get around George Town on foot (as I did most of the time), the weather regularly gets hot here. On such days, it is better to consider other means of transportation. Rental bicycles and trishaws are popular forms of transport around George Town.

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In Georgetown, it is still possible to hail a tricycle rickshaw (Trishaw). Today these are tourist curios but they are a remnant of Penang’s colonial past. I used their services on a tour around the city — you can see the street art, heritage houses, and other attractions — for around MYR 50 an hour.

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In the tourist area, it is possible to hire a car or more inexpensively a scooter. The scooters provide an excellent option for touring the island, but of course, I recommend always wearing a safety helmet as the law requires it. In Malaysia, they drive on the left side of the road and the standard of driving is generally good.

Best Time to Visit Penang

While the country is generally hot and humid year-round, the best time to visit Penang is between November and the end of January. Like many other destinations in Southeast Asia, Penang sees a lot of sunny days during these months. December-January is peak tourist season right across Malaysia, from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, with great weather all around the country. The temperature rarely falls below 25 degrees Celsius and is often in the thirties. You should wear a hat and adequate sunscreen and ensure you drink enough water to keep hydrated.

Georgetown Penang weather conditions are, for the most part, comfortable, without being too hot or too humid. There’s little to no rainfall, and the beaches can get packed quickly.

If you want to avoid crowds and can stand occasional showers, then June to October would be a good time as well. During these months the annual monsoon rains begin to fall. But in general, the island will usually see a few hours a day of showers, and the remainder of the day will be dry. When it comes to outdoor activities and sightseeing, it pays to carry an umbrella and wear shoes that won’t slip. September and October see a lot more rain. These are the wettest and the most humid months in Penang, which can get up to 18 or 19 wet days.

Language and Currency

Bahasa Melayu is the national language of Malaysia. It uses the Roman alphabet and it is quite easy for the travelers to learn some useful words and basic phrases, which will delight the friendly locals. The nature of the diverse population means that you are just as likely to hear Chinese or Tamil spoken. English seems to be the second language of most people in Penang and it is widely used and understood.

The currency of Malaysia is the ringgit and notes come in denominations of 1,5,10,20,50 and 100. Most of the tourist areas have exchange booths where rates are clearly shown. You will need your passport if you are changing banknotes. I have heard some occasional issues with withdrawing money from local ATM. Be sure sure to have a spare credit/debit card or cash in the case that your main card doesn’t work.

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Top Things to do in Penang: 3-Day Penang Itinerary

How many days in Penang? Three full days in Penang gave me enough time to see as many cool things this island has to offer as possible. I was able to see Kapitan Keling Mosque and Masjid Negeri – State Mosque of Penang and see much of the capital’s street art. I stayed mainly in George Town but if you want to explore Penang’s jungles, beaches and green spaces would definitely take a longer time. Here’s a sample 3-day itinerary suggestion to help you plan your trip. If visiting George Town is your primary goal, then you could easily do it in just 2 days.

Penang Travel Guide: Day 1

1. Explore George Town

Georgetown is a very interesting city with bustling streets of colonial style shops. It is easy to get a sense of history as many of the shop facades have not changed in years. Of course, the goods for sale have kept abreast of the times. Elaborate fabrics and batiks are good souvenirs, as are locally made bags and local Art in its different forms. There are several old bookshops and shops which sell curios from Georgetown’s interesting past.

A large number of local people are Muslims. Therefore, you will hear the Imam’s call to prayer reverberating across the city at frequent intervals. Muslim women, of course, wear the hijab and in Penang, you will also see some women who choose to wear a burka and veil their faces. Religious groups in Penang live harmoniously alongside each other.

Penang Travel Guide: Day 2

2. Fort Cornwallis

Overlooking the city is Fort Cornwallis which was built by the British in the late 18th century. The fort‘s original purpose was to look out to sea for possible invaders. Nowadays you can examine ancient weaponry and wander into the underground prison cells to get a sense of what life might have been like for the poor souls locked up in the stifling heat. There is also an aged lighthouse and a coffee and souvenir shop.

3. Get up to the Top of Penang Hill

On my second day in Penang, I decided to take a hike up the Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera). The hike is steep uphill and fairly tiring. There were several times when a handful of scooters and SUVs passed me by but I saw no other hikers going up (I met a few coming down). If you’re feeling adventurous, there are various hiking routes, some start near the entrance to Penang Botanic Gardens.

For a panoramic view of Georgetown and the surrounding countryside, you can also take the historic funicular railway. The funicular railway makes make the journey a lot quicker and easier. First operated in 1923, it has been modernized but at the top, you can see some of the original carriages and view photographs of Colonial Penang.

4. George Town’s Street Art

Another side of George Town’s culture is all about street art. The entire city of George Town is a street art lover’s paradise, with different murals juxtaposed against the facades of pre-war historical buildings. These fascinating works of art are scattered throughout the neighborhoods of the port town. If you don’t want to spend an entire day hunting them down or if you’re short on time I’d recommend getting the exact location on Google maps. Or hire a trishaw on the spot instead.

5. Visit the Clan Jetties

The clan jetties are floating villages with wooden walkways, Chinese shops, and houses on the Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld). Since the mid-nineteenth century, when Chinese immigrants start coming to Malaysia, the jetties facilitated the immigration process for new folks arriving from mainland China. These folks often worked at the docks as fishermen and helms. To make their work easier and safer, they built their homes close to Penang docks.

Nestled on the eastern coast of George Town, it takes 10 minutes on foot from Komtar. The trishaw costs only a few ringgits. You can also take a Rapid bus ride from the center of Georgetown, bus numbers 307, and 401E. Come here early in the morning to witness the Chinese People preparing food and praying at the temple.

Penang Travel Guide: Day 3

6. Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple

Talking about Penang Island destinations, I couldn’t have skipped Kek Lok Si Temple. Located just a stone’s throw away from Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the country. You shouldn’t consider it as a tourist attraction though. It’s a working temple, there are plenty of Buddhist rituals and ceremonies going on. The most prominent landmark within the complex is the Kek Lok Si Pagoda.

Kek Lok Si temple is a potpourri of architectural styles that combined in a wonderful manner Chinese, Thai, and Burmese elements. Another reason to see it is that these unique types of architecture, reflect local cultural, geographic, and economic forces.

The temple itself makes for a good day trip from George Town if you enjoy visiting temples. If you travel from there, take a 201, 203, or 204 bus on your half-hour ride to Air Itam. The entrance is free (though you may be asked to donate pennies as a gesture of goodwill). The temple is open from 9 am to 6 pm.

Where to Stay in Penang

There are two main sections in the state of Penang – Penang Island and Seberang Perai. Many visitors to Penang stay in one of the hotels in the tourist beach strip of Batu Ferringhi or Tanjung Bungah (a more budget option) to the north of the island. Here there are hotels to suit all budgets with most of the famous luxury chains represented.

If you are a nature lover and you want to stay away from the downtown area, you can get the perfect accommodation in Bayan Lepas. On the contrary, if you come to experience the unique and exotic street food culture, go shopping, and sightseeing, I’d recommend staying at Gurney Drive.

If you want a taste of the past, however, you could visit the now aging but still luxurious Eastern and Oriental Hotel (The E&O). The E&O opened 1885 and it still strives to show off something of the elegance of the British Colonial era – even down to the dress of the waiters – starched white shirts and shorts and pith helmets. Call in for afternoon tea and you will be transported to another era. It’s one of the best hotels on Penang Island.

• The Parkroyal Penang Resort is a good family-friendly mid-range option (Batu Ferringhi).
• The Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Resort is all about the luxury experience.
• The Old Penang Guesthouse and the Summer Terrace are budget-friendly options nestled within traditional Chinese-style houses.
• Campbell House is situated on Campbell Street, one of the main roads within George Town’s heritage neighborhood. This mid-range hotel is a converted heritage house, offering historic vibes but with more luxurious rooms and amenities.
• Both WeLuv Travel Guesthouse and the Frame Guesthouse have a super-friendly staff, comfortable beds, and clean rooms.

Where to Eat in Penang

The nature of Penang’s diverse population has resulted in a good choice of restaurants but the island is particularly famous for its street food. There are many places to try this but perhaps the biggest with the most choice can be found in Georgetown’s Gurney Drive. Well-known Malaysian street dishes include fried rice cake strips, spicy coconut noodle soup, and oyster omelets.

If you want a beach holiday in fertile surroundings with the opportunity to explore the past, then Penang is for you.