Best Things To Do in Penang
This post may contain affiliate links (of companies I book through). This means I may receive a small commission if you book through them. You can read the disclaimer for more information.
Planning a Trip? These sites make it so easy!
Things To Do in Penang
Penang is known for its beaches, street food, and Georgetown, its well preserved cultural capital.
Historical Heritage
Founded by Captain Francis Light of The British East India Company in 1786, Georgetown became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia.
Due to its well-preserved cultural and historical heritage, parts of Georgetown were added to the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 2008.
There are more than 1700 historic buildings within the Georgetown Core Zone. Many heritage traders still exist and you can see examples of signboard carvers, pastry bakers, kapok pillow makers, and shoemakers along with many more.
There are too many places to see to list them all but Penang Tourism has lots of different maps available to download that show all the attractions and places of interest.
Penang Street Art
One of the best ways to explore Georgetown is to follow the street art trail. The murals here have become world-famous and there is plenty to see. The Tourism Bureau has street art maps to download and plan your route.
My tip is to get there early (before 9 am) so it’s not too hot and to avoid the large crowds.
Peranakan Culture
In Malaysia, the term Peranakan refers to mainly the community of Chinese unique to this part of the world, especially in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca, and Singapore).
Also known as Babas & Nyonyas, they adopted some ways of the local Malays as well as Colonial British. This created a unique lifestyle and their own version of the Malay language called Baba Malay.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a great insight into how Peranakans lived. It depicts the typical home of a rich Baba and gives you a glimpse into their lifestyle.
The building itself was built at the end of the 19th Century and was the residence of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee. He was not a Baba but his house was typical of the Peranakan design with Chinese carved wood and English floor tiles.
Penang Views
Penang Hill is the most popular viewpoint in Penang. You can read more about it on our guide to Penang Hill.
Penang Temples
Kek Lok Si Temple is probably the most iconic place in Penang and was the highlight of our trip. You can read about it in our post on Kek Lok Si Penang.
Other temples to visit are:
- Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple
- Dhammikarama Burmese Temple
- Khoo Kongsi Temple
- Yap Kongsi Temple
- Hean Boo Thean (Kuan Yin) Temple
- Penang Snake Temple
Clan Jetties
The Clan Jetties also form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are six jetties (used to be seven before a fire demolished one) that are home to various Chinese clans. These houses on stilts are over a century old.
It wasn’t until 1957 that the jetty settlements had water and electricity; before that, they carried water in kerosene tins.
As they are not living on land, none of the families have to pay any tax.
Please remember that people live here so please ask permission before taking photos of their homes.
The Blue Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze, or The Blue Mansion, was an elaborate building in its time. Cheong Fatt Tze wanted to build something to preserve his heritage and his love for tradition. No expense was spared as he brought in artisans from Southern China and furnishings from the UK.
The Blue Mansion is now a boutique hotel but they run tours daily.
Shopping
While I’m not a big shopper while travelling, I do like to spend an hour or so seeing what a place has to offer. The best malls in Penang are Gurney Paragon Mall and Gurney Plaza, both located along Gurney Drive.
The Batu Ferringhi Night Markets are legendary and a popular place to shop. Get your bargaining skills ready to get a good price. It’s mainly the usual market merchandise of fake anything, souvenirs, and home decor.
Penang Beaches
Penang is also known for its beaches. Most visitors head to Batu Ferringhi but Tanjung Bungah, Gertak Sanggul, Pasir Panjang and Teluk Bahang are all lovely.
Where Can I Go in Penang at Night?
There’s still plenty to do once the sun goes down. Some of my favourite choices are:
- 360 Revolving Restaurant
- Batu Ferringhi Night Markets
- Penang Sunset Cruise
- Kek Lok Si at night
- Soak up the atmosphere and try the street food on Gurney Drive
- Check out the bars in Georgetown including Slippery Senoritas, SoHo Free House & Soju Room