Season guide · Penang · Malaysia
Penang in the southwest monsoon
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mixed sunshine and showers, durian season, school-holiday crowds and possible haze from regional fires. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 41 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 24°C (75°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 41
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the southwest monsoon
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 31°C (88°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 13 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| July | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 13 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| August | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 | 12.3 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 41 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the southwest monsoon
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Durian season in Balik Pulau (usually June–August)
- July: George Town World Heritage Day celebrations (7 July)
- July: George Town Festival — arts and performance events (usually mid-year)
- August: Hungry Ghost Festival (usually August or September)
- August: Merdeka Day — national day (31 August)
Good choices for the southwest monsoon
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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
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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 southwest monsoon
- 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.
- Bujang Valley (About 1 hour by car) — An archaeological site in Kedah with the remains of temples (candi) from an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom, a small museum and reconstructed monuments in the forest at the foot of Gunung Jerai.
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 southwest monsoon a good time to visit Penang?
It is a trade-off: Mixed sunshine and showers, durian season, school-holiday crowds and possible haze from regional fires. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Penang in the southwest monsoon?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 41 rainy days over the season.