Season guide · Penang · Malaysia

Penang in the dry season

December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.

Updated 23 October 2026By 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

Quick answer

The sunniest, least rainy months, with Chinese New Year and Thaipusam festivals and peak hotel prices. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 37 rainy days across December–March. December–March are among the best months of the year to visit.

Months: December–March
Temperatures: 24°C (75°F) to 32°C (90°F)
Rainy days in the season: About 37
Sea: 29°C (84°F) to 30°C (86°F)
Crowds: Busy
Hotel prices: High

Weather in the dry season

Penang in the dry season: month by month
Month	High	Low	Rainy days	Daylight	Crowds
January	32°C (90°F)	24°C (75°F)	7	11.8 h	4/5
February	32°C (90°F)	24°C (75°F)	7	11.9 h	4/5
March	32°C (90°F)	25°C (77°F)	11	12.1 h	3/5
December	31°C (88°F)	24°C (75°F)	12	11.8 h	4/5

Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 37 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.

What's on in the dry season

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

January: Chinese New Year — Kek Lok Si lit with lanterns (late January or February)
January: Thaipusam procession to the Waterfall Hilltop Temple (January or February)
February: Chap Goh Meh — oranges thrown into the sea at Gurney Drive (15th day of Chinese New Year)
March: Qing Ming tomb-sweeping festival (early April or late March)
December: Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations along the Esplanade (late December)

Good choices for the dry season

Architecture · George Town Heritage Zone

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)

Built in the 1890s for the merchant Cheong Fatt Tze, this indigo-blue courtyard mansion mixes Chinese feng shui with Scottish cast iron, Art Nouveau stained glass and English floor tiles.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Mid-priced

Architecture
History
Rainy day
Couples

Museum · George Town Heritage Zone

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Visit with the Blue Mansion on the same morning to compare two very different merchant houses.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Mid-priced

History
Rainy day
Architecture
Art

Zoo · Teluk Bahang

Entopia

Run by the former Penang Butterfly Farm, Entopia is a large covered butterfly garden and insect centre with thousands of free-flying butterflies, a children's discovery area and indoor exhibits on insects and reptiles.

Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Nature
Rainy day

Gallery · George Town Heritage Zone

Hin Bus Depot

Go on a Sunday for the market, then walk to the nearby Penang Road cendol stalls.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free

Art
Free
Shopping
Off the beaten path

Day trips in the dry season

Balik Pulau (About 40–50 minutes by car) — 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.
Ipoh (About 1.5 hours by ETS train from Butterworth) — Perak's capital has colonial architecture, cave temples in limestone hills such as Kek Lok Tong and Sam Poh Tong, and food including white coffee, bean sprouts with chicken and silky tau fu fa.

What to pack

Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
Comfortable walking shoes

Other times of year

Questions travellers ask

+Is the dry season a good time to visit Penang?

Yes: December–March are among the best months. The sunniest, least rainy months, with Chinese New Year and Thaipusam festivals and peak hotel prices.

+What is the weather like in Penang in the dry season?

Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 37 rainy days over the season.