Season guide · Penang · Malaysia
Penang in the wet season
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Azreey, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The rainiest stretch, with heavy storms most afternoons, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Deepavali, and the lowest prices. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 58 rainy days across September–November.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 24°C (75°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 58
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the wet season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 19 | 12.1 h | 2/5 |
| October | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 | 12 h | 2/5 |
| November | 31°C (88°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 18 | 11.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 58 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in the wet season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Mid-Autumn Festival — lanterns and mooncakes (September or early October)
- October: Deepavali — Little India decorated with lights and stalls (October or November)
- November: Deepavali celebrations (some years)
Good choices for the wet 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
.jpg){kind=link}
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
.jpg){kind=link}
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 wet season
- 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.
- 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.
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 wet season a good time to visit Penang?
It is a trade-off: The rainiest stretch, with heavy storms most afternoons, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Deepavali, and the lowest prices. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Penang in the wet season?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F), with about 58 rainy days over the season.