Beaches · Penang · Malaysia
The best beaches in and near Penang
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
The best-known beach is Batu Ferringhi (About 30–45 minutes from George Town by car). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 30°C (86°F)
The beaches
About 30–45 minutes from George Town by car · Resort stays and sunsets
1.Batu Ferringhi
The main resort beach with watersports, seafood restaurants and a night market.
About 1 hour's walk from the park entrance at Teluk Bahang · Hikers
2.Monkey Beach
A quiet beach inside Penang National Park, reached by a forest trail or boat.
About 1.5 hours' walk from the national park entrance · Nature walks
3.Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut)
A remote beach with a turtle conservation centre; swimming is not encouraged because of strong currents and jellyfish.
About 20 minutes from George Town · Sea views close to town
4.Tanjung Bungah
A small, rocky seafront with sea-view cafés rather than swimming.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| February | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| March | 30°C (86°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| April | 30°C (86°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| June | 30°C (86°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| November | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for beach, families and luxury
Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi's long sandy beach on the north coast is lined with large resort hotels, seafood restaurants and watersports operators offering parasailing and jet-skis. A night market sets up along the main road in the evenings. George Town is about 30–45 minutes away depending on traffic.
- Good
- Resort pools on the beach; Night market and restaurants; Close to Penang National Park
- Watch out
- Sea is not the clearest, with jellyfish at times; Traffic on the coast road into town
- Nearby
- Batu Ferringhi beach, Teluk Bahang, Penang National Park
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Rapid Penang buses run from the Weld Quay and Komtar terminals to Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang, Air Itam, the airport and the mainland, and free CAT shuttle buses have looped the heritage zone.
- Ferry — Passenger ferries cross the channel between George Town and Butterworth, where trains leave for Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, in about 10–20 minutes.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in January–February. None of them is peak season, so beaches stay manageable.
Beach safety
Penang is generally calm for visitors. Watch for bag snatching by passing motorcyclists and traffic on narrow streets, take the heat seriously, and avoid swimming where currents or jellyfish are reported. Haze from regional fires occasionally affects air quality. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Penang have beaches?
Yes: Batu Ferringhi, Monkey Beach, Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) and Tanjung Bungah.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Penang?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Penang?
Batu Ferringhi: The main resort beach with watersports, seafood restaurants and a night market.