A quick guide to Penang

By James Harrison

There’s no place in the world where the city and nature meet quite like Penang.

Split in two-parts, this colourful, vibrant and downright visually stunning destination beacons with culture, heritage, adventure, nature and events that will have everything and more for even the most invigorated traveller.

But unfortunately for the eager traveller, you never have quite the amount of time you’d like to fully explore a destination. 

So luckily we’re here to provide you with a quick guide for making the most out of Penang in just a few days.

Places you must visit

Every destination around the world has iconic landmarks that tourists just can’t afford to miss and Penang is no different.

To start with, we’ll introduce George Town, the capital of Penang Island.

The essence of George Town is teeming with history that is perfect for the most dedicated historian and casual traveller. Beautiful street art lines the walls of George Town and foodies will be hard-pressed to not satisfy their culinary cravings with amazing and well-priced street food all around.

The historical core of George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features Malaysia’s best restored and re-adaptive traditional architecture as well as a multitude of heritage trades and arts.

For those wanting an easy way to explore the city, give the Traditional Trades in George Town Discovery Walk a go. The walk starts from George Town World Heritage Incorporated and takes travellers through sites like Campbell Street Market, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Queen Street, Market Street, Beach Street and Armenian Street.

Or if walking isn’t quite your style, then the Penang Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour is the tourist experience for you. The Penang Hop-On Hop-Off service covers two circular routes within the city. The two routes – namely the City Route and the Beach Route – are joined at the city’s Gurney Drive, allowing passengers to switch effortlessly between both routes.

Within George Town is the suburb of Batu Ferringhi, where beautiful stretches of beach line the coastline and gorgeous picturesque sunsets bless locals and tourists at the end of the day.

If water sports activities are on the agenda then the beach resorts alongside Batu Ferringhi offer direct access to fun-filled experiences like parasailing, water skiing and jet skiing. During clear days, you’ll be fortunate enough to get picturesque views of the Andaman Sea and Mount Jerai, which is located within the neighbouring state of Kedah.

If the ocean isn’t your thing then check out the Batu Ferringhi night market, which is known for its wide variety of merchandise and street food.

Head away for a day

If you’re looking to explore some of the more remote areas of Penang then a nice day trip is perfect for you.

The absolutely stunning Kek Lok Si Temple is located outside of George Town on Penang island and is a location not to be missed.

The illuminating century-old temple is the perfect spot for history buffs, architecture fanatics or anyone who can appreciate beauty.

If you’re there at the right time of year, you can witness the beautifully lit-up Kek Lok Si temple at the annual lighting display which showcases more than 10,000 lights and an enchanting display of lanterns.

Hop over to mainland Penang and experience an incredible day trip attraction at Orang Utan Island, which, as it sounds, is full of orangutans.

Travellers can take a tour and witness orangutans up close while taking in some fascinating facts and information about the wildlife of Penang.

It’s perfect for the whole family and the proceeds go to looking after the resident orangutans and to maintaining the centre.

Aussies looking for a getaway will be absolutely enthralled by everything Penang has to offer so put some time aside and get ready for an incredible journey to this west Malaysian gem.

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Armenian Street Batu Ferringhi Beach Street Campbell Street Market George Town Gurney Drive Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling Kek Lok Si Temple malaysia Market Street Orang Utan Island Penang Penang Hop-On Hop-Off Penang Island Queen Street Traditional Trades in George Town Discovery Walk UNESCO World Heritage Site