Season guide · Penang · Malaysia
Penang in the hot season
April–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mohammed Al-Naser, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The hottest, most humid period, with afternoon thunderstorms building and Wesak Day processions. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 30 rainy days across April–May.
Key facts
- Months
- April–May
- Temperatures
- 25°C (77°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Sea
- 30°C (86°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the hot season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 15 | 12.2 h | 3/5 |
| May | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 15 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the hot season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- May: Wesak Day — Buddhist processions and temple ceremonies (usually May)
Good choices for the hot season
Zoo · Teluk Bahang
Entopia
Go in the morning, when butterflies are most active, and combine it with the national park or the spice garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Gallery · George Town Heritage Zone
Hin Bus Depot
A former bus depot on Jalan Gurdwara turned into an arts space with rotating exhibitions, murals, small cafés and studios.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
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Architecture · George Town Heritage Zone
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)
Join a guided tour; the stories of the family and the restoration make the visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Museum · George Town Heritage Zone
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
A green mansion built for the Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Quee in the late 19th century, filled with more than 1,000 antiques showing the lavish style of the Straits Chinese (Peranakan): carved gilded screens, beaded slippers, jewellery and porcelain.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Art
Day trips in the hot season
- 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.
- Taiping and Kuala Sepetang (About 1 hour by ETS train or 1.5 hours by car) — Taiping's Lake Gardens, laid out in the 1880s on former tin mines, are shaded by huge rain trees; nearby Kuala Sepetang has mangrove forests, charcoal kilns and boat trips to see eagles and fireflies.
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 hot season a good time to visit Penang?
It is a trade-off: The hottest, most humid period, with afternoon thunderstorms building and Wesak Day processions. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Penang in the hot season?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.