5 days in Penang

Day by day

1. Day 1: Khoo Kongsi and Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)

   Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) and Pinang Peranakan Mansion, then Kek Lok Si Temple in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Khoo Kongsi

      Look at the ceiling beams and the roof ridges from the courtyard; the carvings are densest there. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)

      Join a guided tour; the stories of the family and the restoration make the visit. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Char kway teow

      Hawker stalls across George Town, including on Lorong Selamat and at Gurney Drive and New Lane hawker centres.

   4. Afternoon

      Pinang Peranakan Mansion

      Visit with the Blue Mansion on the same morning to compare two very different merchant houses. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Kek Lok Si Temple

      Take the inclined lift up to the Kuan Yin statue and walk down through the terraces; visit after dark during the Chinese New Year lighting period.

2. Day 2: Penang Hill and Street of Harmony

   Penang Hill, Street of Harmony and Clan Jetties, then Gurney Drive Hawker Centre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Penang Hill

      Go up in the late afternoon to see the city lights come on, and expect long funicular queues at weekends and on holidays. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Street of Harmony

      Dress modestly so you can step inside the places of worship; the mosque provides robes for visitors outside prayer times. (1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Penang asam laksa

      The stall at Air Itam market is the best known; also at Gurney Drive and Balik Pulau.

   4. Afternoon

      Clan Jetties

      Visit around sunset, and remember people live here — keep noise down and don't enter homes. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Gurney Drive Hawker Centre

      Find a table first, note its number, then order from several stalls; most deliver to your table and take cash.

3. Day 3: George Town street art and Fort Cornwallis

   George Town street art, Fort Cornwallis and Little India, then Batu Ferringhi beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      George Town street art

      Start early in the morning before tour groups queue for photos at the best-known murals. (2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Fort Cornwallis

      Combine it with a sunset walk along the Esplanade and the clock tower nearby. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hokkien mee

      Morning and evening hawker stalls; many coffee shops serve it at breakfast.

   4. Afternoon

      Little India

      Eat a banana-leaf rice lunch and finish with a teh tarik from a mamak stall. (1.5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Batu Ferringhi beach

      Swim near your hotel's lifeguard area and ask about jellyfish; many visitors prefer the hotel pool and the beach for sunsets.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Balik Pulau

   About 40–50 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Balik Pulau

      About 40–50 minutes by car (Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Balik Pulau

      The island's rural west has fruit orchards, durian farms (in season around June to August), nutmeg plantations, paddy fields and fishing villages, plus its own version of asam laksa at Balik Pulau town. Best for food lovers and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Penang

      Dinner: try Nasi kandar.

5. Day 5: Penang National Park and Entopia

   Penang National Park, Entopia and Tropical Spice Garden, then Love Lane and Chulia Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Penang National Park

      Start early to beat the heat, register at the entrance, carry plenty of water, and arrange a boat back if you walk out. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Entopia

      Go in the morning, when butterflies are most active, and combine it with the national park or the spice garden. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Nasi kandar

      Nasi kandar restaurants on Jalan Penang and in Little India, several open around the clock.

   4. Afternoon

      Tropical Spice Garden

      Book a cooking class here to learn Nyonya or Malay dishes with spices picked in the garden. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Love Lane and Chulia Street

      Backpacker bars, street food and live music in the heritage zone.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, George Town Heritage Zone keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Chulia Street and Love Lane ($) suits budget, solo travellers and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–29 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.8 hours in January to 12.4 hours in May.

More or fewer days

• One day in Penang
• 2 days in Penang
• 3 days in Penang

Questions travellers ask