Located at the northwestern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, Penang is the second smallest state (by landmass) in Malaysia. However, it is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, the second-largest city in the Southeast Asia country. As a former British colony and one of its important Far East trading post, Penang was at the confluence of Eastern and Western cultures. Resulting in an incredibly rich and exceptional mix of cultures and architectures. Join us, as we share with you the top things to do in Penang.
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Penang Ipoh Travel VLOG
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Things to do in Penang
Penang is made up of two parts: Penang Island and Seberang Perai. Penang Island is located a short distance off the mainland of Peninsula Malaysia. And Seberang Perai is the area on the mainland bordering Penang Island.
Penang Island is connected by two road bridges (Penang Bridge and Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge) to the mainland (Seberang Perai). The two are also the longest road bridge in Malaysia. In particular, Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (aka Penang Second Bridge) is the longest oversea bridge in Southeast Asia.
Most of the top things to do in Penang are located on Penang Island.
Based on our Penang self-drive road trip in Nov-2019, below is the list of attractions which we felt are the top things to do in Penang. (Listed in random order)
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(#1) Snake Temple (蛇庙)(video)
The temple is said to be built in 1805 to honour a Buddhist monk (Chor Soo Kong) who was a healer. The monk was widely respected in the local community for his virtue, wisdom and service. In addition, the monk also gave shelter to snakes from the nearby jungle. Upon the temple’s completion (after the monk’s passing), snakes mysteriously turn up at the temple, thus its name.
Snake Temple is located in an industrial zone next to Penang International Airport (at the southeastern tip of Penang Island).
The temple itself is rather small. There is a small car park and several souvenir/food stalls in front of the temple. Parking here is a flat rate of RM2. Payable to the “parking attendant” who will approach your car once you stop.
The snakes in the temple are found in an “enclosure” behind the main prayer hall. Here, the snakes typically rest on the tree branches during the day. With sprinklers sporadically spraying water on the trees, presumably to help the reptiles deal with the heat. The snakes are said to be harmless (i.e. non-venomous). Though we’re not exactly keen enough to get close to them to authenticate this statement.
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#2) KekLokSi Temple (极乐寺)(video)
Situated at the foot of Air Itam Mountain, on the edge of George Town, KekLokSi is by far the most intriguing and captivating destination that we’ve visited in Penang. Surely a must-visit for anyone visiting Penang Island.
KekLokSi, which translate to “Temple of Paradise”, is the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia. Indeed, with a history of 128 years (as of 2019), the temple is one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The most prominent feature of the temple’s vast complex is its statue of GuanYin (Goddess of Mercy). At 30.2m tall, the GuanYin statue is housed within a 60.9m three-tiered roof pavilion. And is located at the upper sections of KekLokSi, overlooking the city. The current GuanYin statue was completed in 2002. To replace an earlier statue (build in 1977) which was damaged by rain and fire in 1993.
Inclined lift
Given that KekLokSi is situated along the slopes at the foothill of Air Itam Mountain, the temple built an inclined lift to help devotees and visitors get around the various sections of the complex. There are four stations in the inclined lift system:
- Station#1: Foothill carpark, bus bay
- Station#2: Avalokiteshvara Hall
- Station#3: Main Prayer Hall, Pagoda
- Station#4: GuanYin statue (Kuan Yin)
The inclined lift rates are RM3.0/RM1.50 (Adult/Child) per pax per way.
Carparks
It is possible to drive up to the base of GuanYin Statue. There are three carparks at the temple complex (including one at GuanYin Statue).
Carparks at KekLokSi:
- GuanYin Statue
- Main Prayer Hall
- Foothill carpark (largest carpark)
Parking is a flat rate of RM3 per vehicle at all the carparks.
However, note that the number of parking lots at GuanYin Statue and Main Prayer Hall is limited. And it can be a struggle to get a lot during peak periods.
360 photo of GuanYin Statue
360 photo of view from GuanYin Statue
View from Main Prayer Hall (360 photo)
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#3) Penang Hill (video)
Located 9km west of George Town, Penang Hill is a hilltop resort made up of various peaks. Highest of which is Western Hill at 833m above sea level. While Flagstaff Hill (735m) is the most developed and the focal point of the hilltop resort.
The main characteristic that led to the popularity of Penang Hill, even during colonial times, is its cooler climate. The hilltop is typically 5-degrees cooler than the surrounding lowlands. This made it ideal for early British settlers looking for a reprieve from the tropical heat. Thus laying the foundation for Penang Hill’s transition into its present-day status as the top tourist draw on Penang Island.
Penang Hill Funicular Railway
The line at Penang Hill is the only funicular railway system in Malaysia. At 2km in length, it is said to be the longest funicular track in Asia. While the track’s tunnel section is the steepest in the world. Construction on the line started in 1920. And the service was opened to the public on 21-Oct-1923. A major overhaul was done in 2010, and it has remained in the state till today.
For the general public, Penang Hill Funicular Railway is the only motorised means of ascending Penang Hill. Its base terminal station (Penang Hill Lower Station) is located at the end of Hill Railway Station Road (Jalan Bukit Bendera). While the upper terminal station is situated near the peak of Flagstaff Hill. There are several smaller stations located along the line. However, these mid-line stations are exclusively reserved for Penang Hill’s residents and are bypassed during normal train operations.
Train fares: RM30/RM15 return (Adult/Child) | Duration: 3-4 minutes per way
Attractions on Penang Hill
The main attractions on Penang Hill include viewing decks, The Habitat, Love Lock and hiking trails.
Viewing decks (free): There are a few viewing decks located next to the upper terminal station at Flagstaff Hill. All of which offers panoramic views of George Town. The latest addition is a 360-degree platform called SkyWalk. Entry is free.
The Habitat (fees payable): The Habitat touts itself as “the most authentic, diverse and educational Malaysian rainforest experience”. It consists of a treetop walk, canopy walk, trails, gardens, cafes and zip-lines. Fees payable for both entry and activities. There is a ticketing outlet at the base terminal station.
Love Lock platform (free): Opened in 2014, Love Lock is located next to the food court on Flagstaff Hill (and near to the upper terminal station). It is an 80m-long viewing platform with a fence for lovebirds to secure their padlocks. The platform is free. However, there is a huge “Love” lettering that would require fees for photography.
Hiking trails (free): There are four nature walk trails on Penang Hill (start from the upper terminal station). These trails range from 1.5km to 3.1km. And offers hikers a glimpse of the range of floral and fauna in the area.
Our Verdict: Penang Hill
We didn’t explore The Habitat as the entry/activity fees seem overpriced. There are plenty of other destinations that offer similar (or better) activities at more friendly rates.
For the nature walk trails, we tried doing the 2.5km-long trail #3. We walked close to a third of the distance (passed the Heritage Post Box) before deciding to turn back as there wasn’t anything interesting up to that point.
Overall, only the views from the hilltop, the ride on the funicular railway and the cooler temperature made Penang Hill worthwhile as a brief 2-hour trip; provided that the queue for the funicular railway is short.
360 photo of view from Penang Hill
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#4) Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (video)
As with most countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is famed for its extensive variety of delicious yet low-priced street food. And the most popular place on Penang Island for tourist looking to satisfy their taste buds is Gurney Drive Hawker Centre.
Located next to the modern Gurney Plaza shopping mall, Gurney Drive Hawker Centre is your typical Asian-style open-air roadside cooked-food market. Here, you can find many of the popular street food unique to both Malaysia and the region.
Given Gurney Drive’s popularity, the hawker centre does start to fill up rather early, especially on weekends and peak seasons. Thus, do arrive early. And given its open-air setup, it’s probably not a good idea to visit when it’s raining.
Opening hours: Early evenings till late night.
Parking: There is limited on-street parking next to the hawker centre. Else park at Gurney Plaza and walk over.
Our verdict: Gurney Drive Hawker Centre
Online reviews of the food here are somewhat of a mixed bag. And we received feedback from our readers that the standard had dropped in recent years. For ourselves, though not a foodie, we found the various cuisines that we tried ranging from average to good. And learnt that long queues here don’t necessarily equate delectable food. Price-wise, get ready to fork out slightly more compared to other “local-centric” hawker centres on the island.
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#5) Restoran Zim Sum (點心之家)(video)
An unexpected gem find during our Penang trip!
We stayed at a hotel in the adjacent alley and happened to stumble upon this tim sum restaurant as we were driving out one morning. Attracted by the large crowd and huge setup, we decided to give it a try the next morning. And it sure didn’t disappoint!
The restaurant is spacious, clean and neat. And the service is quick. The range of tim sum here is impressive and everything we ordered is mouth-watering. Most importantly, we were glad that the price is extremely reasonable. We were stuffed by the end of the meal and it only cost RM37 for the two of us.
It was only much later that we learnt that Restoran Zim Sum is one of the most popular tim sum restaurant on Penang Island. Having a long history and best known for its cheap and delectable tim sum cuisines.
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 2pm.
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#6) George Town: Historical Town and Penang Street Art
No visit to Penang Island is complete without exploring the island’s historical town centre and Instagram-worthy street art!
Historical Town (video)
The first British colony in Southeast Asia, George Town was established as a transhipment port by the British’s East India Company in 1786. In the decades that follow, George Town would attract traders and settlers from all over the region (and beyond) due to its strategic location along major trading routes.
Over time, the city became a melting pot of various ethnicities and religions. Resulting in a unique blend of both colonial and Asian cultures and architectures, many of which are still preserved today. It is for this reason that George Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
Especially interesting are the various ethnic precincts (e.g. Chinatown, Little India), religious buildings, jetties, clan houses and colonial structures.
Penang Street Art (video)
Other than the cultural and architectural attractions, Penang has, in recent years, become famous for its thriving street art scene. Which is mainly in the form of wall paintings and sculptures.
For a detailed write-up about the street art in Penang, refer to our other blog “Penang Street Art Map“.
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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(#7) Clan Jetties
During the late 19th century, many immigrants from China arrived at Penang and settled here. A small group then began to build their houses on stilts (above water) along the shorelines of George Town. Over time, other families started following suit and built their residences next to those with their same surname.
As more families construct their houses along the shoreline, wooden walkways (resembling piers) were constructed to extend the settlement further into the sea. With each pier housing the families of the same surname. Thus, resulting in the unique Clan Jetties that we see today.
The families (jetties) here include the surname of Ong, Lim, Chew, Tan, Lee, Yeoh and Koay.
Our verdict: Clan Jetties
A unique sight and attraction in George Town. Definitely worth visiting.
Of the various jetties, we managed to explore the two most prominent ones, Chew Jetty (姓周桥, video) and Lee Jetty (姓李桥, video).
Chew Jetty is one of the longest and most tourist-oriented of the jetties. With the jetty lined with retail shops and food stalls, all of which are converted from family homes. There is even a small temple at the end of the alley.
On the other hand, Lee Jetty, though short and deprived of the commercial activities found in Chew Jetty, is beautifully decorated with LEDs. However, the LEDs only light up in the evenings from 6pm. Making Lee Jetty more suitable for evening visits.
Note: Though visitors are welcome to explore the jetties, many of the houses are still current family homes of the residents. Thus, be mindful and do not intrude the privacy of the residents. Do not enter any property that is not specifically stated to be a commercial outlet.
Chew Jetty, 姓周桥 (360 photo)
Chew Jetty, 姓周桥 (360 photo)
Lee Jetty, 姓李桥 (360 photo)
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(#8) Hean Boo Thean GuanYin Temple (玄母殿)(video)
Hean Boo Thean GuanYin Temple (玄母殿, 南海观世音菩萨) is a small and peaceful temple built along the shorelines next to the clan jetties. The temple dates back to 1972 and was most recently renovated in 2012.
The temple’s main structure is a small two-storey building.
On the ground level, there is a large open-air deck (built on water) with two small pavilions flanking a centre altar. On the second level, there is an air-conditioned room housing a statue of GuanYin. From the second level, one could have a sweeping view of the clan jetties and sea.
Our verdict: Hean Boo Thean GuanYin Temple
Despite its prime location (5-10 minutes walk from the clan jetties), we were the only tourist there during our visit.
The temple has a serene atmosphere to it. Other than its religious significance, perhaps the next most appealing feature is its sweeping views. A great place to take in some peace while enjoying the views.
360 photo at Hean Boo Thean GuanYin Temple
360 photo at Hean Boo Thean GuanYin Temple
(For higher resolution of the images in this post, refer to our Facebook Page)
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Penang Ipoh Self-drive Itinerary (4-days)
For the itinerary of our Nov-2019 Penang/Ipoh self-drive road trip (4-days), refer to our other blog post.
Penang Street Art Map
The street art (mural) in George Town is one of the most famous tourist attraction in Penang. Refer to our Penang Street Art Map to locate the murals in George Town.
Ipoh Street Art Map
Other than Penang, Ipoh is another Malaysian city that has a thriving street art scene. Refer to our Ipoh Street Art Map to locate the wall paintings in Ipoh old town.
See our other blogs on Malaysia:
- Malaysia: Sipadan/Mataking
- Malaysia: Sarawak
- Malaysia: Kota Kinabalu
- Malaysia: Pulau Tenggol
- Malaysia: Genting Highlands
- Malaysia: Johor
- Malaysia: Tioman
- Malaysia: Langkawi
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