Penang Travelers Recommend

Two days in Penang allows you to dive headfirst into the cultural diversity of the island city. Discover the sights and street food of UNESCO-listed Georgetown; visit temples that reflect Malaysia’s religious harmony; and explore Penang’s natural landscape. Here’s how to make the most of two days in the Pearl of the Orient. 

Day 1: Essential Penang

**Morning:**Kickstart your stay with a walking tour of Georgetown, a distinctive enclave that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring on foot allows you to see the neighborhood details, which are integral to Georgetown’s charm. Admire the colorful colonial mansions and heritage houses, and pose beside iconic street art. 

**Afternoon:**Penang boasts some of the most impressive temples in Malaysia, so dedicate the afternoon to learning about the religions that coexist harmoniously on the island. Highlights include Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and the Thai Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram temple, home to glittering dragon statues. 

**Night:**No visit to Penang would be complete without a stop at Penang Hill. Options for ascending the peak include a package with afternoon tea or dinner, plus round-trip transport to the hill,  a 30-minute drive from Georgetown. Skip-the-line tickets are essential to avoid waiting hours for the funicular. 

Day 2: The Great Outdoors

**Morning:**Rise early and beat the midday heat on a morning tour of Penang National Park, home to lush rainforest trails, a canopy walkway, and Monkey Beach, populated by hundreds of grey macaques. Tours are designed to increase your chances of spotting wildlife and typically include a boat ride back to the city. 

**Afternoon:**Following your energetic morning, spend the afternoon either relaxing on Batu Ferringhi beach or learning to make Malaysia handicrafts at a family-friendly workshop. Alternatively, enjoy Penang’s famous cafe culture by hopping among quirky cafes in Georgetown or checking out some of the city’s novelty museums, including the Upside Down Museum. 

**Night:**Your final evening is all about Penang’s food scene, one of the best in Asia. The names and ingredients of the hundreds of dishes on offer can sometimes be overwhelming for first-time visitors, so opt for a food tour that lets you sample to best of Penang’s diverse culinary offerings. 

With three days in Penang, you’ll have time to check off the top city sights and take a day trip elsewhere. Go hiking in the national park, observe orangutans and reef sharks, or even spend a few hours in a different country. Here are some options. 

Day 1: Gorgeous George Town

Focus your first morning on George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colonial architecture, cultural diversity, and tasty street food. Walk among the mansions and heritage houses, or see more in less time on a private tour with transport included. Later, explore farther afield on a half-day trip to Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple, two of the city’s most popular attractions. If you’d rather focus on religious landmarks, temple tours reveal a harmonious blend of Burmese, Thai, Hindu, and Muslim monuments. 

At night, delve deeper into Penang’s food culture. Some evening walking tours stop by Little India and Chinatown; others showcase the best of Penang’s renowned street food. 

Day 2: A Wealth of Wildlife

On your second day, get out into Malaysia’s nature. Hike or take a boat ride to the pristine Monkey Beach, inhabited by hundreds of grey macaques, or observe endangered orangutans on a day trip to Taiping. A 2-hour speedboat ride from George Town, the tropical island of Langkawi offers travelers the chance to relax on white-sand beaches, reach dizzying heights on the Langkawi Sky Bridge, and discover mangroves replete with wildlife.

Also within day-tripping distance of Penang: Pulau Payar Marine Park, home to some of Southeast Asia’s most diverse marine life, and Hat Yai, a city on the southern tip of Thailand. 

Day 3: Alternative Penang

On your final day in Penang, see an alternative side of the city. For the ultimate morning of family fun, check out a few novelty museums. Delight in mind-bending photos at the Upside Down Museum; pose beside gigantic snacks at the Wonderfood Museum; or become a part of famous paintings at the 3D Trick Art Museum. To skip the entry lines, book your admission tickets in advance. 

Nature lovers can spend time at Entopia Butterfly Farm and the Tropical Spice Garden, while history buffs might visit Fort Cornwallis. 

For a memorable final evening in Penang, dine with a view—at a restaurant on the summit of Penang Hill, or at a swanky rooftop restaurant in the modern part of town.

Home to colonial architecture and some of the best street food in Asia, Penang’s charm is undeniable. The small size of Georgetown—the UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as the island’s diverse cultural center—makes it easy to explore in just one day. Here’s what you need to know for the ultimate 1-day Penang itinerary.

Morning: Stir Penang’s Cultural Melting Pot

Dedicate the morning to discovering the diversity of Penang’s culture. Wake up early and embark on a morning sightseeing tour of Georgetown—traveling with a guide ensures you don’t get lost among attractions. Wander past the colorful colonial mansions; experience the sights and smells of Little India and Chinatown; and delve into the rich history of landmarks such as Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Walking tours typically reveal the iconic-yet-elusive street art scattered around Armenian Street and allow you to appreciate the finer details of Georgetown.

Afternoon: Head to the Hills

Devote the afternoon to exploring Penang Hill (Flagstaff Hill), where cooler temperatures provide a refreshing break from the downtown humidity. The 2,411-foot (735-meter) peak provides panoramic views of Georgetown, Penang Bridge, and the Straits of Malacca. You can access the hill via a challenging 2-hour hike—not ideal if you’re time-pressed—or via the funicular train. Waiting times for the funicular can reach two hours, so ensure you purchase a skip-the-line admission ticket in advance or visit as part of a guided tour, most of which stop at the spectacular Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and include round-trip transport.

Night: Food, Glorious Food

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, spend the evening enjoying Penang’s famous food. Guided street food tours provide an easy way to make sense of the hundreds of stalls and dishes on offer and can be individually tailored. Immerse yourself in the bustle of hawker centers to sample local delicacies such as char kway teow (rice noodles with king prawns), hokkien mee (rich fish soup with roasted pork), and chenda l (shaved ice topped with coconut milk and red beans). Complete your day with a cocktail on Love Lane, stopping at one of the quirky yet cozy bars with live music.

Penang has long been a cultural and trade link between Asia and Europe, and its colonial history is evident throughout the island, especially in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town. From the shophouses of Beach Street to the rusty cannons of Fort Cornwallis, here are the colonial sites you can’t miss.

What to See

• Fort Cornwallis—an 18th-century fort, the largest remaining in Malaysia, built by the British East India Company

• Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower—built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee

• St. George’s Church—the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia, dating back to 1817

• Esplanade Padang—home of the Penang Town Hall and Penang City Hall, two Victorian buildings near the George Town seafront

• Penang State Museum—a colonial-era building housing artifacts from Malaysia, India, and China

How to Visit

• Book a tour of colonial George Town to learn more about the island’s rich multicultural history.

• Step aboard the Penang hop-on hop-off bus with 33 designated stops and audio commentary.

• Ride the funicular railway to the top of Penang Hill for panoramic views over the colonial center.

• Explore the “Pearl of the Orient” during a discovery tour around the island.