Penang has a UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town and is also the food capital of Malaysia. It’s a great destination and I think you should include it in your Malaysia itinerary besides Kuala Lumpur. In this blog post I will share the perfect Penang travel itinerary if you can only spend a few days there. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Penang itinerary day 1: Explore George Town
The first day of this Penang travel guide is dedicated to exploring George Town. It will be a cultural day where you will learn about the history of Penang and eat delicious local food.
Visit the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion or the Blue Mansion is one of the two most famous Peranakan mansion on Penang Island. The other one is Pinang Peranakan Mansion.
The term Peranakan describes the descendants of Chinese men who came to Malaysia and married Malay women. The other word for it is Baba-Nyonya, where Baba is the name used for a boy and Nyonya for a girl.
Many Chinese men came to Malaysia to set up the tin mining business since they had previous experience with it. And of course, they stayed and built families there, which led to the creation of this new culture.
Cheong Fatt Tze was a very successful businessman, nicknamed the Rockefeller of Asia. He used to be the richest man in Asia.
He expanded his trading and banking businesses to Penang, where he used to reside occasionally. So he built the Blue Mansion in Penang.
This building was restored and became a heritage building. It is now part hotel, part museum. And it was featured in a lot of movies, including Crazy Rich Asians. So if you want to stay in this historical building while in Penang, make sure you book a room in advance.
How to visit
You need a ticket to visit the mansion. They offer 2 daily guided tours and self-guided tours hourly between 11am-6pm. The capacity for guided tours is 24 people. The capacity for self-guided tours is 10 people per hour.
They needed to reduce the volume of visitors to preserve the building, hence the limited slots.
These tickets sell out fast, so I recommend you book them in advance to avoid disappointment. I was able to snag a self guided tour ticket a day in advance, but it was the last one available.
Explore the Pinang Peranakan Mansion
The other famous Peranakan Mansion, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, is a museum dedicated to the Peranakan heritage. The mansion used to be the home and office of a 19th century Chinese tycoon.
This one is a green building. I loved the bright colors of the two Peranakan Mansions!
They offer free guided tours in English and Chinese that are included with your ticket. These tours start at set times, so you’ll probably have to wait a bit before the tour starts.
I attended a guided tour and I loved it. I learned a lot about the history of the house and of Peranakans in general.
Stroll on Armenian Street
Armenian Street is a narrow street in George Town that has a lot of street art, shops that sell souvenirs, and Chinese clan houses.
The famous children on a bicycle street art mural is on Armenian Street. There are always people there taking pictures with the mural, but everyone is waiting their turn.
It’s a first come first served queue and everyone is waiting patiently for their turn to take pictures.
This street is a good place to take a leisurely walk. Just enjoy everything you find here.
Go on a street art tour
Speaking of street art, Penang is famous for its street. There are so many works of art throughout George Town!
I think you can see them in two ways. The first option is to just get lost on its streets and find the murals.
The other way is to find the locations of the different murals through blog posts and use Google maps to create an itinerary. This way you create your own street art tour.
You could easily spend a few hours just hunting for cool street art and taking pictures.
Visit the Clan Jetties
The Clan Jetties are rustic houses built on stilts. It’s a historical neighborhood by the water.
You can find a lot of street vendors selling food, souvenirs, and clothes as you walk from the entrance all the way to the back to reach the end of the houses and the little pier.
There is also a street art mural on the last jetty. I’m telling you, you’ll find street art everywhere in Penang!
There isn’t much to do at the Clan Jetties, but it’s really cool to see these houses that are built on stilts. It’s part of Penang’s history.
Go on a food tour
Penang has the best food in Malaysia. There are people who come here just for the food. There are so many restaurants in Penang and most of them offer incredibly delicious food.
My recommendation is to go on a food tour on your first day in Penang. That’s what I did. I joined this food and walking tour where I sampled about 15 different kinds of food.
My guide was born and raised in Penang, so she was able to take us to all the great local spots. She explained the history behind every dish, told us how we are supposed to eat each item, and recommended extra places to try.
The advantage of joining one of these tours on your first day is that you’ll be able to try a lot of different dishes. And you’ll be able to discover hidden gem restaurants that you can return to. Plus, you’ll support small, local businesses.
My tour lasted for 4 hours. So make sure you go hungry! You’ll eat a lot.
Penang itinerary day 2: Beyond the Old Town
The second day is dedicated to exploring places further away from the historical center of George Town.
Go up The TOP Penang
While Penang is famous for its historical center it also has a more modern side. The TOP is a skyscraper that houses the largest indoor theme park with 18 different attractions.
They have the Jurassic Research Center that has over 200 dinosaurs as part of an interactive activity, an aquarium, a magic mirror maze, toboggans, and so many other things.
My favorite one was the Rainbow Skywalk, their observation deck at the top of the skyscraper where you can walk on a transparent glass walkaway.
The Rainbow Skywalk experience is in the open air and it offers one of the best views of Penang. I loved it! When I visited there weren’t that many people, so I was able to truly enjoy this place.
They also have a water fountain called “Pot of Gold”. The fountain has a bell in the middle. Legend says that if you make a wish, hit the bell with a coin and you can hear the bell ring your wish will come true. I totally did this and it was a lot of fun!
Visit one of the most beautiful streets in the world
The 17th most beautiful street in the world, Jalan Kek Chuan, is just a short walk from the TOP. It’s a very small street that has old, traditional houses that were renovated and painted in bright colors.
It looks beautiful and you can take some great pictures here. I love cute, colorful, artsy places, so I had to stop by.
But if this is not your vibe feel free to skip it.
Take the funicular railway to Penang Hill
There is another place to get an incredible panoramic view of Penang: the Penang Hill. You can either hike up the hill or take the funicular. I opted for the funicular because I would have probably passed out if I attempted to hike in that heat and humidity.
They sell 2 types of tickets for the funicular: regular and express. When I visited there weren’t that many people waiting in line, so I bought the regular ticket. I had to wait about 5 minutes and I could hop on the funicular.
Just gauge the size of the line when you get there. If it’s long, you should buy an express ticket. Express ticket holders board before regular ticket holders, so you don’t have to wait that long.
Once you reach the top of the hill there are multiple balconies where you can take pictures with the view. Everyone stops at the first one and it gets crowded. My advice is to keep going and find another spot that’s not as busy.
I have to warn you that if you go up the hill on a cloudy day you won’t be able to see much. You’ll basically be in the clouds. This is what happened to me, but I don’t regret the experience.
There are some food places on the hill and if you walk 5 kilometers you will get to the botanical gardens.
Another attraction you can find there is the Habitat Penang Hill. a rainforest where you can walk and do forest bathing.
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple
The last stop on the itinerary is Kek Lok Si Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.
It is pretty close to Penang Hill and it is built on multiple levels on a hill.
You can hike all the way up or you can buy a ticket that you can use to take funiculars or golf carts from one level to the next. I opted for the ticket because it was really hot outside.
The temple is beautiful and it’s worth exploring everything. The pagoda is not included in your ticket price, so if you want to visit you will have to buy a separate ticket. It’s really cheap, so worth it.
If you want to go up the pagoda you have to make a donation. And if you want to hang a few wish ribbons you also have to pay 1 ringgit per ribbon.
I respect that they are trying to monetize as much as possible, but I want you to know this to make sure you have cash with you if you want to do all these things.
FAQs about Penang
Is there a local guide you can recommend?
Yes! His name is Lee and you can reach out to him here. Lee was my Grab driver when I went to Penang Hill. That’s how we met, as he drives Grab on the days he doesn’t lead tours.
He was so friendly and told me about other areas of Penang I should explore when I visit again (it was my last day in Penang).
He used to work in sales and he realized he didn’t like his job and life, so he pivoted to offering guided tours. We bonded because I have a similar story where I worked in corporate, I was miserable and then I left to become a travel blogger.
I’m glad he decided to be a tour guide because he has the right personality for this job. He’s bubbly, funny, and you can tell he loves showing people around. Next time I’m in Penang I will definitely book him to show me the hidden gems of Penang I didn’t have time to visit.
How many days should I spend in Penang?
Two days is enough time to see the main attractions, but it will be a fast-paced trip. If you like to explore at a more relaxed pace then you should aim to spend 3-4 days in Penang.
Where should I stay in Penang?
I stayed at SAVV Hotel, a boutique hotel by the Clan Jetties and I loved it. I got a cozy single room that had a view of the water and the Clan Jetties.
The windows had an oval shape that was trying to mimic the windows of a ship. I found that really cute.
The hotel was clean, the staff was friendly, and the location was perfect. I could walk anywhere in Georgetown.
The hotel had an outdoor pool as well. It wasn’t very deep, but it was great to cool down a bit after exploring in the hot and humid weather.
Malaysia has affordable hotel prices, so if you prefer staying in luxury hotels, this is the perfect opportunity to do it. I recommend Eastern & Oriental Hotel or The Prestige.
Another really cool accommodation option is the Blue Mansion. You would be staying in a historical mansion with a lot of history that was also featured in many movies, including Crazy Rich Asians.
What should I eat in Penang?
I highly recommend you book a food tour on your first day in Penang so you can learn about the different types of food and the best restaurants. Here are some of the dishes you must try:
Char kway teow
This is a stir-fried dish made with flat rice noodles, shrimp, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, and sauce. I loved it!
There is a bit of a competition between Penang and Singapore for who makes the best char kway teow. I tried it in both places and I think Penang is the winner. Go to Gou Lou Hong Kee Chao Sar Hor Fun & Noodles or Ha Fu Sheng.
Nasi kandar and banana leaf
Penang also has delicious Indian food. You can try nasi kandar or a banana leaf meal. They both come with rice and curries. You can eat in Little India.
Nasi lemak
Nasi lemak is one of the most famous dishes of Malaysia. It has rice, chicken, egg, peanuts, dried salty fish, and cucumbers.
Chinese food
There is a large community of Chinese people in Penang. You can try authentic Chinese food at one of the mom-and-pop local restaurants such as Kedai Makan Fok Kee.
Baba Nyonya food
Baba Nyonya is the term used for descendants of Chinese men who came to Malaysia and married Malay women. It’s a different culture compared to both Chinese and Malay cultures and they have their own unique food. There are Baba Nyonya restaurants in Penang. I recommend Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay.
Chendol
Chendol is a traditional dessert made from ice, pandan flavored green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup. It also has some interesting toppings such as beans. I tried it at Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul.
Kaya toast with half boiled eggs and kopi
This is the traditional Malaysian breakfast. Kaya is a jam made from coconut and eggs. It’s so good! They spread it on toast that is charcoal-grilled. And then they dip it in half boiled eggs.
Now the half boiled eggs will be an acquired taste, but I never acquired this taste. I don’t know when I see that runny egg white consistency my stomach just turns.
I wasn’t able to eat that. My egg whites need to be cooked. I’m ok with runny egg yolks, but the egg whites is where I draw the line. Maybe you’ll like it. Give it a shot.
Kopi is the traditional coffee in Malaysia (and Singapore). It is black coffee with condensed milk. There are 2 other variations: Kopi O and Kopi C.
Kopi O is black coffee with sugar and no milk. Kopi C is black coffee with sugar and evaporated milk.
Milo
Milo is the traditional chocolate powder in Malaysia that’s used to make hot or cold hot chocolate. They don’t call it hot chocolate, but Milo. That’s how you’ll see it on menus.
There is also a drink that’s a mix of black coffee and milo. It’s called hor ka sai. I tried it iced and it was surprisingly good.
What is the best time to visit Penang?
I visited early April and the weather cooperated for the most part. No matter when you visit it will be hot and humid and temperatures will be around 25-32 degrees Celsius (77-90 F). However, because of the humidity, it feels like it’s even hotter.
There will most likely be thunderstorms. It happened almost every day when I was there. But the good news is that they mostly last for a few hours. And other than that it tends to be pretty sunny.
How can I get to the city center from the Penang International Airport?
Public transportation
In Penang the most common public transportation option is the bus. You can take the Penang Airport bus to George Town. This is also the cheapest option to get to the Old Town.
Grab
Grab is the most popular e-ride app in Asia. It’s basically the Uber of Asia. So make sure to download the app before your trip.
The app is super easy to use. The service is very reliable and you can easily get a car.
This is the most convenient option to get to your hotel from the airport. Plus, Grab is really affordable.
If you don’t want to download yet another app, then you can schedule a private transfer.
How can I get around Penang?
George Town is a walkable area of Penang. You can cover the entire place by walking.
When you have to go to Kek Lok Si or other attractions that are further away from George Town I recommend you get a Grab car. The prices are really affordable. It usually costs only a few dollars and it’s the easiest way to get around.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Penang safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes! I felt safe the entire time I was in Penang. I didn’t see any pick pockets or scammers. People are used to seeing tourists and are very friendly.
Penang, along with Kuala Lumpur, could be great destinations for a first solo trip to Asia since they use the Latin alphabet, they speak English, and they are more developed compared to other places in Southeast Asia.
Do I need cash for my trip to Penang?
Yes, you need cash when you visit Penang. Most local restaurants and stores, as well as street food vendors, only accept cash. Compared to Singapore, cash is a lot more used in Malaysia.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the country you’re visiting instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Penang?
No, you do not have to tip in Penang. Malaysia does not have a tipping culture.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. The popular tourist attractions can get sold out if you don’t book in advance.
Do people speak English in Penang?
Yes, they do. The level of fluency varies from person to person, but I had no problems communicating in English with everyone during my trip.
Do you recommend Penang as a solo destination?
Yes, I think Penang is a great place for a solo trip. There are plenty of things to do, the food is delicious, the people are friendly, and I felt safe.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.