Visiting Penang for the first time as a business or leisure traveller? Flying to Penang for your vacation or a short weekend getaway?

The name “Penang” actually refers to a state in northwest Malaysia, consisting of mainland Seberang Perai and Penang Island, where most tourists head. 

On the island is George Town, the state capital of Penang, which attained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008. If you’ve heard plenty about Penang’s distinctive local cuisine, heritage shophouses, and street art, you’ll want to spend quality time in George Town. 

But if an idyllic vacation is what you’re after, book a hotel in Batu Ferringhi—a popular choice is PARKROYAL Penang Resort—to enjoy the beautiful coastline and languid pace of life. For visitors based in Batu Ferringhi, George Town is still easily accessible via the bus network, a taxi, or a hired car.

To help you plan your Penang holidays, the team at PARKROYAL Penang Resort has put together a comprehensive guide for your travels. It includes:

• Useful Information for your Penang Holidays

• Getting Around Penang

• Essential Services in Penang

• 5 Must-Have Free Apps in Penang

• 10 Best Places to Visit in Penang

• Top Local Experiences in Penang

• Where to Eat in Penang

• Where to Shop in Penang

We hope you find this guide for first-timers useful—here’s wishing you a wonderful and memorable stay!

If you’re new to Penang, here’s what you need to know.

Language: Malay is the national language, but English is widely spoken in Penang as it is taught in schools. Mandarin, Chinese dialects (especially Penang Hokkien), and Tamil are also commonly spoken.

Money Matters: The local currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM or MYR), which is divided into 100 cents (sen). Notes come in ​RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, and RM100 denominations, while coins are mostly in 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen. (As of March 2020, RM1 is equivalent to USD0.24.)

Credit cards will usually be accepted at Penang International Airport, major malls, hotels, popular/high-end restaurants, and bars. However, it’s good to have cash on hand, and ATMs are located throughout the city centre.

There are money changers within Penang International Airport, but you will likely get better rates in the city. Refer to Get4x.com for a list of money changers in Penang. Munawarah Moneychanger at Prangin Mall (George Town) is said to offer favourable rates. 

Guests at PARKROYAL Penang Resort, you will be glad to know that there are many currency exchange outlets along the street of Batu Ferringhi, where the hotel is located. The most convenient outlets would be Ruhanmas ForexXXX, right in front of the hotel. If the exchange outlets are closed, you can also exchange your currency at our reception desk.

Tipping: Restaurants in Penang usually impose a 10% service charge, but you can still tip if you wish. 

Weather: Just like the rest of Malaysia, Penang has a warm equatorial climate. However, as it is an island, its temperature is often higher than on the Malaysian mainland. Typically, Penang’s temperatures range between 29°C and 35°C during the day, and 26°C and 29°C at night. The hottest period is from June to August, and the wettest months are April, May, October, and November. Casual, comfortable clothes are ideal for Penang’s weather, but it’s good to have a light cardigan or sweater handy for rainy days and cooler nights. To enjoy the best sightseeing weather, visit between November and January. 

Drinking Water: In Penang, drink boiled or bottled water if possible, even though tap water is reportedly safe.

Electrical Plugs: You will need a Type G electrical plug in Penang, which is the plug type used throughout Malaysia. (Check details here.)

When in Penang, should you walk, take a taxi, hire a private car, or hop on a bus? We’ll help you to make sense of Penang’s local transportation options.

From Penang International Airport: The most cost-effective way to get into the city would be to take a Rapid Penang bus from the airport. Contrary to what the name suggests, be prepared for a long ride—you may also need to switch buses to get to your destination. You can use Rapid Penang’s journey planner (also available as an app, see below) to decide if it’s worth the trouble. 

Alternatively, use a ride-hailing app such as Grab or MULA to hire a car. Penang’s ride-hailing drivers are not allowed to solicit for passengers at the airport, but they can pick up passengers who have booked a ride through their phones. As with other cities, there will be a tug-of-war going on between the hired cars and the traditional taxis. Many travellers do opt for ride-hailing, but if you’re arriving late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, a metered taxi may be a better bet. However, you will be subject to a late-night surcharge.

Modes of Transport in Penang: In the centre of George Town, where many tourists visit, walking is a good way to explore the city. However, as one traveller puts it, “sidewalks in Penang range from good, to terrible, to non-existent.” You may land in situations where you will have to walk along the sides of roads instead. Also, drivers don’t necessarily follow one-way signs, so stay alert. 

Your other options would include the Rapid Penang bus network, as well as taxis (use meters) and hired cars. Grab would be the most prominent ride-hailing service in the city, but you can also try MULA, which has a “pink” safety service for women to request female drivers. Other ride-hailing companies operating within Penang include MyCar, EzCab, and Dacsee.

Below is a list of services that you may require during your visit in Penang. For guests at PARKROYAL Penang Resort, rest assured that your every need will be well taken care of, so you can enjoy your Penang holidays to the fullest. 

Medical and Emergency Services: If you should require police assistance or an ambulance while in Penang, the number to call is 999 for the Malaysia Emergency Response Service or MERS. If you are using a mobile phone, you can also dial 112, which will direct you to MERS. 

Although Penang is a generally safe city, we do advise you to insure your belongings. In the event that you are the victim of a theft, you will have a better chance of recovering your losses through insurance than by filing a police report. If you are staying at a reputable hotel such as PARKROYAL Penang Resort, you can leave your passport and valuables in a safe deposit box before you head out for sightseeing. 

If you fall ill during your trip, you can refer to this list of Penang clinics, or this Penang pharmacy guide; both are compiled by a local. Note that some information may be outdated, so do check on Google for the most updated addresses and contact details. 

For guests at PARKROYAL Penang Resort, Gold River Pharmacy is just a three-minute drive (or 10-minute walk) from the hotel. Alternatively, you can place your prescription order with Gold River Pharmacy, and have them deliver your medications to your room at PARKROYAL Penang Resort.

As an added service for guests who require medical attention during their stay, PARKROYAL Penang Resort has an in-house clinic located on the lower ground floor of our resort premises. A general practitioner will be present on-site for an hour in the morning, and he will remain available (on-call) for the rest of the day. Medical fees incurred from the clinic can be charged directly to your room. In the event of emergencies, guests can also head to the 24-hour emergency room at Penang Adventist Hospital or Gleneagles Medical Centre.

24-Hour Convenience Stores: The 24-hour convenience chain 7-Eleven has many outlets in Penang, and you can use the store locator to track down one near you.

Self-Service Laundromats: For guests who like to travel light, PARKROYAL Penang Resort has a self-service laundromat that is fully equipped with washing machines and dryers, as well as laundry detergent. You can purchase laundromat tokens (RM20 per load) at the reception. What’s more, if you prefer to have a hassle-free holiday, simply use the laundry form available in your room and we will handle your laundry for you. Visitors staying elsewhere, you can refer to this list of popular self-service laundries in Penang.

Download these useful smartphone apps for getting around in Penang, and deciding what to do next.

Grab: Grab is the most prominent player in the Malaysian e-hailing market, so you can’t go wrong with a Grab ride. Depending on demand, Grab may or may not be cheaper than a conventional taxi, but you won’t have to worry about giving directions or language barriers (as the Grab app has an in-built translation feature for messages between you and the driver).

Download Grab (App Store, Google Play)

MyCar or MULA: Both are ride-hailing apps—useful if you want more options to compare fares. MyCar has an almost identical interface to Grab; those who are familiar with Grab will not have trouble using MyCar. As for MULA, apart from letting female passengers request female drivers, the app has an option for you to choose up to five “favourite drivers,” so you can specifically request a trip from them if they are online.

Download MyCar (App Store, Google Play)

Download MULA (App Store, Google Play)

RapidPenang Journey Planner: This app helps you plan your bus travels in Penang with ease. Features include recommended routes; estimated arrival times of buses; a list of bus routes, stops, and scheduled operating hours; and a location tracker to find bus stops near you.

Download RapidPenang Journey Planner (App Store, Google Play)

Penang Tourist Info: Want an app with officially endorsed recommendations for where to go, what to do, and where to eat? Download the Penang Tourist Info app, which has more than enough recommendations for a short stay, and includes major celebration/festival dates so you can get in on the action. For under-the-radar events or activities catering to the local population, you can download the Penang Events app.

Download Penang Tourist Info (App Store, Google Play)

Download Penang Events (App Store, Google Play)

Penang Hill Mobile Guide: If you are visiting Penang Hill, this app will come in handy. It includes directions to Penang Hill and ticketing information, as well as points of interest on the hill, hiking trail guides, and interesting public events that you can join.

Download Penang Hill Mobile Guide (App Store, Google Play)

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion was formerly the home of Chung Keng Quee, a prominent Penang personality. Chung was a merchant, a secret society leader, and the Kapitan Cina of Perak (Captain of the Chinese, during the colonial era). However—and this may surprise you—he was not Peranakan, but simply chose to design his mansion in the “Straits Eclectic” or East-meets-West aesthetic favoured by Peranakans during his time. Visitors can freely roam the Pinang Peranakan Mansion to admire the over 1,000 vintage collectibles on display. If you prefer a guided tour, head to the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (also known as the “Blue Mansion”) instead.

Get directions to Pinang Peranakan Museum

Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, best known for its lofty Goddess of Mercy statue, which is a grand sight to behold. Also noteworthy is the temple’s Ban Po Thar pagoda, featuring 10,000 mini Buddha statues as well as its exquisite Chinese, Thai, and Burmese design elements. During your visit, do make time to sample the hawker fare at the open-air Ayer Itam wet market and food court, located at the base of the temple complex.

Get directions to Kek Lok Si

Instagrammers may have turned Penang’s street art into something of a cliche in recent years, but don’t let that put you off the Penang art experience. The street art of Penang—located around George Town’s tourist-friendly areas such as the Armenian Street precinct—often reflects the simple, rustic lifestyle of Malaysians in the past. 

Use a street art map to plan an efficient walking route that will allow you to visit nearby attractions at the same time. After queuing to take a selfie, do spend some time to appreciate the artworks and consider their significance to the area.

Penang Street Art Map

If you’re planning to visit Penang Hill, do spend time in The Habitat. This is a fairly new ecotourism attraction on Penang Hill, built to help visitors convene with nature. To experience what The Habitat has to offer, you can hike up Penang Hill or take a novelty ride on the funicular railway. (The entrance to The Habitat is a short walk from the funicular railway’s Top Station.)

Once you’ve reached The Habitat, you can head to the Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk—the highest public viewing platform on Penang Hill, it’s named after botanist Charles Curtis, the first superintendent of the Penang Botanic Gardens. You can also walk along the Langur Way Canopy Walk for an unobstructed view of the surrounding rainforest. Don’t forget to check out The Habitat’s events, such as nature tours, sunset walks, and a tree-climbing experience. 

Get directions to The Habitat | Buy tickets

Fun-loving holidaymakers and families travelling with kids should spend a day at the ESCAPE theme park. It’s run by Penang entrepreneur Sim Choo Kheng, who firmly believes in the power of play, even for grown-ups. The theme park is modelled after Sim’s memories of his Penang childhood—you can look forward to a high-ropes obstacle course, zip lines, exciting water slides, as well as play features for younger children, all in a natural environment. 

Get directions to ESCAPE theme park | Buy tickets

For a quiet morning or afternoon in nature, visit the Tropical Spice Garden, which has over 500 species of tropical plants and fruit—it’s one of Penang’s best places to learn about Malaysian flora. Apart from exploring the aromatic garden on your own, you can rent an audio guide, book a guided tour with a nature enthusiast, or join a cooking class. For other events, check their Facebook page for updates. 

Get directions to Tropical Spice Garden

For guests at PARKROYAL Penang Resort, Penang’s biggest night market—the Batu Ferringhi Night Market—is only two minutes away. Open from 7.00pm to past midnight, this is where you’ll find clothes, local trinkets, street food, and everything you would expect of a bustling night market. However, note that this is a tourist market, so be prepared to haggle hard. 

If you prefer to shop alongside locals, the Penang tourism bureau recommends the Macallum Street Night Market (less expensive compared to Batu Ferringhi), and the Tanjung Bungah Market (a smaller-scale market open only on Tuesday nights).

Get directions to Batu Ferringhi Night Market

While in Penang, you’ll want to explore the Chinese waterfront villages known as the “Clan Jetties.” These wooden-walkway villages were set up by Penang’s immigrants from China’s Fujian province back in the 19th century. Today, the jetties that remain have received UNESCO World Heritage status, and the largest of them is Chew Jetty, which consists of 75 stilt houses, several temples, and other vestiges of traditional living. Chew Jetty attracts many visitors during the day—try visiting in the early morning or evening for a cooler and less crowded experience. To avoid tourist traps entirely, skip Chew Jetty in favour of the lesser-known (but equally charming) Lee Jetty.

Get directions to Chew Jetty

Penang is known for its laid-back pace of life, but if you’d really like to get back to basics, you should head to Balik Pulau, which means “the back of the island.” This pastoral village may not be on too many tourist itineraries, but a trip there will be a memorable experience. 

The easiest way to get to Balik Pulau is to book a day tour—try Matahari Cycle Tours, which includes a hotel pick-up and drop-off. During the tour, you will take a bicycle ride through Balik Pulau, where you will get to see how some traditional trades are run, as well as visit a fishing village.

Book a tour with Matahari Cycle Tours

Sign up for these popular local Penang tours to get an authentic taste of Penang’s rich culture and heritage.

It’s hard to think of much else but food here in Penang, and to help you optimize your gastronomic productivity, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to eat in Penang. 

Vegans, you don’t have to miss out on the fun: the South China Morning Post has a guide to sampling Penang’s favourite local dishes, the plant-based way!

One of Penang’s best nasi kandar (rice with curries and side dishes) restaurants is also its oldest—Hameediyah began as a make-shift setup under a tree in 1907, and today, it has two restaurants in Penang, and two in Kuala Lumpur. 

To have the best Halal food in Penang at night, choose from long-running 24-hour eateries such as Restoran Kapitan, Restoran Deen Nasi Kandar, and Restoran Kassim Mustafa. The popular Gurney Drive Hawker Centre also operates till late, and it has a section of Halal stalls. 

Get directions to Hameediyah

Located within PARKROYAL Penang Resort, Cinnamon Asian Kitchen is a modern-casual restaurant serving Malaysian and Asian culinary delights. To ensure fragrant and authentic Penang flavours, the restaurant uses only fresh ingredients, along with traditional spices and herbs. Diners can try the spicy Tom Yum Soup, a surefire palate pleaser. Prefer something less fiery? Tuck into Cinnamon’s famous Penang Char Koay Teow or freshly steamed Hainanese Chicken Rice. The restaurant also has a vegetarian menu.

Toh Soon Cafe’s back-alley location is easy to miss, and yet, it’s managed to gain iconic status in Penang for its traditional Hainanese coffee. Casual coffee drinkers will appreciate the coffee’s satisfying flavour, which doesn’t leave a bitter or acidic aftertaste. For coffee aficionados, it is a chance to witness the age-old Hainanese method of brewing coffee, where boiling water is poured over ground coffee held in a tapis (a sock-like cloth filter). 

Last year, Toh Soon opened its second outlet, the Coffee Cave Cafe, at 37 Bishop Street. But it’s likely that regulars will prefer the no-frills, low-key vibe of the original outlet.

Get directions to Toh Soon Cafe

Apart from food and culture, Penang is also quite the shopper’s paradise. Here are three popular shopping locations, each offering a different experience.