Things to do · Penang · Malaysia
18 best things to do in Penang
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Penang are Khoo Kongsi, Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill. Of the 18 picks below, 9 are free, 3 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Khoo Kongsi
- Free sights
- 9
- Good on a rainy day
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khoo Kongsi | George Town Heritage Zone | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Kek Lok Si Temple | Air Itam | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Penang Hill | Air Itam | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) | George Town Heritage Zone | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Pinang Peranakan Mansion | George Town Heritage Zone | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Street of Harmony | George Town Heritage Zone | 1.5 hours | Free |
| Clan Jetties | George Town Heritage Zone | 45 minutes | Free |
| George Town street art | George Town Heritage Zone | 2 hours | Free |
| Fort Cornwallis | George Town Heritage Zone | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Penang National Park | Teluk Bahang | Half a day | Free |
| Gurney Drive Hawker Centre | Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama | Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus | 1 hour | Free |
| Batu Ferringhi beach | Batu Ferringhi | Half a day | Free |
| Entopia | Teluk Bahang | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Penang Botanic Gardens | Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus | 1.5 hours | Free |
| Tropical Spice Garden | Teluk Bahang | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Little India | George Town Heritage Zone | 1.5 hours | Free |
| Hin Bus Depot | George Town Heritage Zone | 1 hour | Free |
The 18 best things to do
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Historic site · George Town Heritage Zone
1.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. A small museum explains the Hokkien clans that ran much of George Town's trade.
Look at the ceiling beams and the roof ridges from the courtyard; the carvings are densest there.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Air Itam
2.Kek Lok Si Temple
Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple complex climbs the hillside above Air Itam, with the seven-storey Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas combining Chinese, Thai and Burmese styles, and a bronze statue of the goddess Kuan Yin more than 30 m tall under a pavilion at the top. Thousands of lanterns light the complex around Chinese New Year.
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
3.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. At the top are colonial bungalows, a mosque and Hindu temple, and The Habitat, a rainforest nature park with a canopy walkway.
Go up in the late afternoon to see the city lights come on, and expect long funicular queues at weekends and on holidays.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
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Architecture · George Town Heritage Zone
4.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. It is now a boutique hotel and is shown to visitors on guided tours.
Join a guided tour; the stories of the family and the restoration make the visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Tours run at set times each day and can fill at weekends; check times on arrival or book ahead.
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Museum · George Town Heritage Zone
5.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.
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
Street · George Town Heritage Zone
6.Street of Harmony
Along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) and nearby lanes stand St George's Church (1818), the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Kapitan Keling Mosque, all within a few hundred metres — a short walk through the faiths that built George Town.
Dress modestly so you can step inside the places of worship; the mosque provides robes for visitors outside prayer times.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Waterfront · George Town Heritage Zone
7.Clan Jetties
Along Weld Quay, Chinese clan communities built wooden houses on stilts over the water in the 19th century. Chew Jetty is the largest and busiest, with shops and snack stalls along the boardwalk; quieter jetties nearby give a better sense of village life.
Visit around sunset, and remember people live here — keep noise down and don't enter homes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Street · George Town Heritage Zone
8.George Town street art
Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic painted a series of murals in 2012, including the children on a real bicycle on Armenian Street, and dozens of steel-rod caricatures explain the history of each street. More murals by local artists have been added since, especially around Armenian Street and Lebuh Ah Quee.
Start early in the morning before tour groups queue for photos at the best-known murals.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Kids
Historic site · George Town Heritage Zone
1.Fort Cornwallis
The star-shaped fort marks the spot where Francis Light of the British East India Company landed in 1786. First built of timber and later rebuilt in brick, it never saw battle; its walls, cannons and gunpowder magazine look across the waterfront Esplanade.
Combine it with a sunset walk along the Esplanade and the clock tower nearby.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
Nature · Teluk Bahang
2.Penang National Park
Rainforest trails in the island's north-west lead to quiet beaches: Monkey Beach, about an hour's walk, and Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut), with a turtle conservation centre and a seasonal lake. Boats from the park entrance can drop you at the beaches if you'd rather walk one way.
Start early to beat the heat, register at the entrance, carry plenty of water, and arrange a boat back if you walk out.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Free
Market · Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus
3.Gurney Drive Hawker Centre
Penang's best-known hawker centre comes alive in the evening at the end of the seafront promenade, with dozens of stalls selling char kway teow, asam laksa, rojak, oyster omelette and lor bak at shared tables.
Find a table first, note its number, then order from several stalls; most deliver to your table and take cash.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
Religious site · Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus
4.Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama
Two Buddhist temples face each other on Lorong Burma: the Thai Wat Chayamangkalaram, with a gilded reclining Buddha about 33 m long, and the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, the oldest Burmese temple in Penang, with white stupas and guardian statues.
Remove shoes before entering the halls and visit both in one stop; entry is free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Beach · Batu Ferringhi
5.Batu Ferringhi beach
The island's main beach is a long strip of golden sand backed by resorts, with parasailing, jet-skis and seafood restaurants. In the evening, a night market lines the main road with clothes, souvenirs and snacks.
Swim near your hotel's lifeguard area and ask about jellyfish; many visitors prefer the hotel pool and the beach for sunsets.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
- Outdoors
Zoo · Teluk Bahang
6.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.
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
Garden · Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus
7.Penang Botanic Gardens
Founded by the British in 1884 in a valley with a waterfall, the gardens are where Penang's residents jog and walk. Paths lead past a fern house, a cactus house and old trees, and long-tailed macaques and dusky leaf monkeys live in the grounds.
Visit in the early morning; keep food out of sight of the macaques, which snatch bags.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Garden · Teluk Bahang
8.Tropical Spice Garden
A landscaped hillside garden on the north coast road with hundreds of tropical plants, including nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, linked to Penang's spice-trade history. It also runs a cooking school.
Book a cooking class here to learn Nyonya or Malay dishes with spices picked in the garden.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Food
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Neighbourhood · George Town Heritage Zone
9.Little India
Around Lebuh Pasar, Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Chulia, Bollywood music plays from shops selling saris, spices and garlands. Banana-leaf restaurants, nasi kandar counters and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple make it George Town's liveliest few blocks, especially before Deepavali.
Eat a banana-leaf rice lunch and finish with a teh tarik from a mamak stall.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
Gallery · George Town Heritage Zone
10.Hin Bus Depot
A former bus depot on Jalan Gurdwara turned into an arts space with rotating exhibitions, murals, small cafés and studios. Its weekend creative market sells handmade crafts and local design.
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
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Pinang Peranakan Mansion, George Town street art and Hin Bus Depot |
| History | Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion), Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Street of Harmony |
| Views | Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill |
| Outdoors and nature | Penang Hill, Penang National Park, Batu Ferringhi beach and Entopia |
| Food and markets | Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Tropical Spice Garden and Little India |
| After dark | Kek Lok Si Temple, Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and Batu Ferringhi beach |
| With children | Penang Hill, George Town street art, Fort Cornwallis and Batu Ferringhi beach |
| On a rainy day | Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion), Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Entopia |
What to book ahead
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion): Tours run at set times each day and can fill at weekends; check times on arrival or book ahead.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Penang?
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.
+What can you do for free in Penang?
Street of Harmony, Clan Jetties, George Town street art, Penang National Park and Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Penang when it rains?
Head indoors to Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion), Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Entopia.
+What is there to do in Penang at night?
Kek Lok Si Temple, Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and Batu Ferringhi beach are best after dark.