Penang

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If you only eat your way through one place in Malaysia, make it Penang. The island is small enough to get around easily, but packs in a UNESCO-listed old town, some of the best hawker food in the country, and a hill and beaches for when you’ve had enough of the city.

Why go

George Town. The old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 (jointly with Melaka). Think rows of restored shophouses, clan houses, temples, mosques and churches within walking distance of each other.
The food. Penang is famous for hawker food, and it lives up to it. Most of the best stuff is cheap and served from a stall.
Variety. City, hill and beach on one island, linked to the mainland by two bridges and a ferry.

What to do

Walk George Town

The best way to see George Town is on foot, early morning or late afternoon when it’s cooler. Wander Armenian Street, Love Lane and the clan jetties along the waterfront. Look out for the street art murals and the steel-rod caricatures that tell the history of each street.

Penang Hill

Take the funicular up Penang Hill for views over George Town and the strait. It’s noticeably cooler up top. Weekends and public holidays get busy, so go on a weekday morning if you can.

Kek Lok Si

One of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, in Air Itam near the foot of Penang Hill. You can combine the two in one half-day.

Batu Ferringhi

The main beach strip on the north coast. The water isn’t the clearest in Malaysia, but it’s a nice change of pace, and the night market along the main road is fun to walk.

What to eat

Penang hawker food deserves its own trip. Start with these:

Dish	What it is
Char kway teow	Flat rice noodles fried over high heat with prawns, cockles, egg and bean sprouts
Assam laksa	Sour, spicy fish-based noodle soup with tamarind, pineapple and mint
Nasi kandar	Rice with a pile of curries poured over it (“banjir” means flooded)
Cendol	Shaved ice with coconut milk, palm sugar and green rice-flour jelly
Hokkien mee	Prawn noodle soup with a rich, spicy broth

Gurney Drive, New Lane and Chulia Street are well-known hawker spots, but honestly, some of the best food is at whichever coffee shop near you is busiest with locals.

Getting there and around

By air: Penang International Airport has direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other regional cities.
By train: The ETS train from Kuala Lumpur runs to Butterworth on the mainland, then it’s a short ferry ride across to George Town.
Getting around: George Town is walkable. For further trips, use Grab (ride-hailing) or the Rapid Penang buses.

Where to stay

Stay in George Town if it’s your first visit, ideally inside the heritage zone so you can walk everywhere. Batu Ferringhi suits you better if you want a beach resort.

Compare hotels in Penang

When to go

Penang is hot and humid all year. It tends to be drier from December to February. Chinese New Year and the Thaipusam festival are great times to visit for atmosphere, but book early.