Month guide · Penang · Malaysia
Penang in May
What May is really like in Penang: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 25°C (77°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. Hot and humid with regular storms; Wesak Day brings processions at Buddhist temples.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 30°C (86°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Penang: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 25°C (77°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with April (32°C (90°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 07:04
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:26
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea
- 30°C (86°F)
Dry season (December–March). The sunniest, least rainy months, with Chinese New Year and Thaipusam festivals and peak hotel prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Wesak Day — Buddhist processions and temple ceremonies (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
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Historic site · George Town Heritage Zone
Khoo Kongsi
The clan house of the Khoo family, rebuilt in its present form in 1906, is the most elaborate in Malaysia: a temple hall of gilded carvings, painted beams and stone sculpture set in a hidden square of row houses, entered through narrow alleys off Lebuh Cannon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Air Itam
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Architecture
- After dark
Viewpoint · Air Itam
Penang Hill
A funicular railway climbs from Air Itam to the top of Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera), more than 800 m up, where the air is a few degrees cooler and terraces look over George Town, the bridges and the mainland.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
The sea averages 30°C (86°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Penang.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 25°C and 15 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Penang?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Penang in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Penang?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and humid with regular storms; Wesak Day brings processions at Buddhist temples.
+How warm is Penang in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Penang in May?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.