Penang guide: George Town street art, Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si, food and two- to three-day plans

How Penang is laid out

The state of Penang is made up of Penang Island and Seberang Perai on the mainland opposite, and most visitors spend their time on the island. The capital, George Town, sits on the north-east corner; to the west is Air Itam with Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si; the north coast has the beaches of Batu Ferringhi; and the airport is in the south. Two long bridges and a ferry link the island with the mainland.

You can drive, take the train or fly from Kuala Lumpur — see Kuala Lumpur to Penang for a comparison. Flights to Penang leave from both KLIA and Subang Airport (check airline schedules for current routes); for the latter, see our Subang Airport guide. If you drive north, Ipoh makes a good lunch stop on the way.

Main sights by theme

George Town's World Heritage core

• Street art and wire caricatures: George Town's best-known attraction. The most famous mural shows two children on a bicycle near Armenian Street, and wrought-iron caricatures around the old town tell the stories of the streets. Murals fade, get restored or change, so expect some differences on the ground.
• Khoo Kongsi: an elaborately decorated Chinese clan house and a good introduction to the history of Penang's Chinese clans.
• Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (the Blue Mansion): an indigo-blue Chinese courtyard mansion blending Eastern and Western architecture.
• Pinang Peranakan Mansion: a green mansion displaying the lavish interiors of a wealthy Peranakan household.
• Street of Harmony (around Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling): the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and St George's Church all stand along this stretch, next to colourful Little India.
• Clan Jetties: stilt-house villages over the water, the busiest being Chew Jetty. People still live here, so keep your voice down and respect residents' privacy.
• Fort Cornwallis: the remains of an early British fort near the waterfront.

Nature and temples

• Penang Hill: ride the funicular up to cooler air and, on a clear day, views over George Town and the bridge.
• Kek Lok Si: a large Buddhist temple complex on a hillside in Air Itam, near Penang Hill, with a multi-tiered pagoda and a giant statue of Kuan Yin. It is often lit up around Chinese New Year, when it gets very busy.
• Burmese and Thai temples: in the Pulau Tikus area north-west of George Town, two temples face each other across the road and are easy to see together.
• Penang National Park and the north coast: rainforest trails and beaches on the island's north-west tip for keen walkers. Batu Ferringhi is more about strolling on the beach, water sports and evening browsing; check local notices before swimming.

With children

• The Teluk Bahang area on the north coast has a butterfly park and an outdoor adventure park, and Penang Hill and the Botanic Gardens are pleasant for families. Check each venue's official status; the Botanic Gardens has plenty of monkeys, so keep food out of sight.

What to eat

• Char kway teow: Penang's version usually comes with prawns, cockles and bean sprouts, prized for its smoky "wok hei".
• Asam laksa: a tangy, spicy fish-based broth — nothing like KL's coconut curry laksa.
• Hokkien mee (prawn mee): in Penang this is a noodle soup in a rich prawn broth, not the dark fried noodles of KL.
• Nasi kandar: rice flooded with a mix of curries and served with an array of dishes, a signature of Penang's Indian Muslim community.
• And more: cendol, rojak, oyster omelette, lor bak, apam balik… Gurney Drive's hawker centre and the stalls around George Town cover most of them. Many stalls keep their own rest days and hours, so check on the spot.

Where to stay

Getting around

• Walking the old town: the murals, clan houses, Street of Harmony and Clan Jetties are close together and easy on foot, with trishaws when your legs tire. Carry water — midday is hot.
• Buses: Rapid Penang buses serve Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si, Batu Ferringhi and other main sights. Cheap, but waiting and travel times are longer.
• E-hailing (Grab): widely used and the most convenient way between sights — for example from the old town to Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si or Gurney Drive.
• From the airport: Penang International Airport is in the south of the island, about 30–45 minutes by car to George Town depending on traffic.
• Interstate private car: travelling from KL as a family with luggage, or wanting to stop in Ipoh on the way? You can go north by private car. We offer long-distance transfers and custom trip planning that covers both stops along the way and transport once you reach Penang, quoted to your itinerary.

Two- and three-day plans

Penang fits neatly at the end of a longer route such as our 7-day Malaysia west coast itinerary, running from Kuala Lumpur through Ipoh. Fellow heritage city Malacca has a similar feel — with enough time, visit both and compare.

Good to know

• Weather: hot all year. Walk the old town in the morning and late afternoon, and carry an umbrella for afternoon showers.
• Penang Hill: expect long funicular queues at weekends and on holidays, and limited views in rain or mist, so stay flexible. Check the official status of the funicular before you go.
• Dress at places of worship: cover shoulders and knees at mosques, Hindu temples and Buddhist temples, and remove shoes where asked.
• Respect residents: many buildings in the old town and at the Clan Jetties are homes, so do not wander into private spaces for photos.
• Holidays: during Chinese New Year and other long holidays, Kek Lok Si, Penang Hill and the old town get very crowded and traffic slows.

Malaysia Routes is run by YX Go, a private transport company in Malaysia. We aim to keep information on public transport, attractions and routes objective; the private car, transfer, guide, interpreter and trip-planning services mentioned here are provided by YX Go.