Penang

Heritage charm meets foodie heaven

Penang in Malaysia stands out as a place where history and modern life share space. The island city mixes colonial architecture with bustling markets, street art and diverse food scenes. You can explore heritage sites like George Town’s UNESCO-listed streets alongside busy roads filled with local shops and cafes. Coastal areas provide quiet beaches while nearby hills hold tea plantations and small villages. Penang balances tradition and change without losing its unique character, making it easy to see why travelers value both the familiar and new experiences here.

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Region in Malaysia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Most locals in George Town and tourist spots can communicate well in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Penang Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Famous for street food and multicultural heritage. Explore historic streets, try renowned hawker dishes, visit temples and enjoy colorful markets.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Local cuisine

Street food

Guided tours

Markets

Large cities

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Malaysia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	240 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) £1 ≈ MYR 5.44
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Malaysia, especially in urban areas. Major credit cards are used in most hotels, restaurants, and shops. Mobile payment services like GrabPay and Touch 'n Go are also widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not compulsory in Malaysia, but it is appreciated in restaurants, with a 5-10% tip recommended if no service charge is included. Taxi drivers and hotel staff may also expect small tips.
Public drinking:	Drinking in public is generally acceptable in Malaysia, though alcohol is restricted in some regions, particularly in the east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu and other Muslim-majority areas. Drinking is common in cities like Kuala Lumpur.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in restaurants and cafés (including open-air eateries), shopping centres, government buildings and many other public places. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas.

Hari Merdeka (31 August)	National day with celebrations and parades
Chinese New Year (variable)	Celebrated with family gatherings, festivals, and fireworks

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 999 (Police, Fire, Ambulance), 112 (from mobile phones)
Taxi apps:	Grab, MyCar
Other:	Malaysia is known for its diverse culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. It's a popular tourist destination, offering a range of experiences from city exploration to beach holidays.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Penang, Malaysia

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - April, June - Aug.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Driest and sunniest period is December to February; wettest is September to November

Chinese New Year (late January to mid February): crowded, many local shops and restaurants closed for several days

Thaipusam (late January to early February): large Hindu procession, road closures in George Town

Don't miss

🏘️ Explore George Town’s UNESCO-listed heritage streets
⛩️ Visit Kek Lok Si, Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temple
🌄 Take in panoramic views from Penang Hill funicular
🎨 Discover vibrant street art along Armenian Street
🎢 Experience thrills at ESCAPE Penang adventure park
🚶‍♂️ Wander historic Clan Jetties and wooden waterfront houses

You've been here?

Why travel to Penang?

Penang offers a unique mix of cultures, seen in its historic George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The street art scene is fantastic and the food is legendary, with flavors influenced by Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisines. The island also has lovely beaches and lush natural spots for a bit of relaxation away from the city bustle.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 George Town – Penang
Vibrant street art, colonial architecture and a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures define this port city. Its bustling markets, historic temples and renowned culinary scene make it a must‑visit hub in Malaysia’s northwest.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Penang War Museum
2 Fort Cornwallis
3 Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
4 Pinang Peranakan Mansion
5 Kek Lok Si Temple
6 George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site
7 street art

🎡Places for activities

1 Penang Floating Mosque
2 ESCAPE
3 Penang Hill Railway
4 Penang 3D Trick Art Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Tropical Spice Garden
2 Penang National Park
3 Penang Hill
4 Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm
5 The Habitat Penang Hill
6 Monkey Beach
7 Batu Feringgi Beach
8 Teluk Bahang Permanent Forest Reserve
9 Botanical Gardens

🛍️Shopping

1 Batu Feringghi night market
2 Chowrasta Market
3 Gurney Plaza
4 Prangin Mall
5 Gurney Paragon Mall
6 Penang Times Square
7 1st Avenue Mall
8 Little Penang Antique street market

🎈Events

George Town Festival
Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
Thaipusam Festival
Penang International Food Festival
Penang Bridge International Marathon
Bon Odori Festival
Nine Emperor Gods Festival
Penang Durian Festival
Penang Dragon Boat Festival
Chinese New Year Celebrations

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Explore George Town's street art and heritage sites.
Try local street food at Gurney Drive and night markets.
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill for scenic views.
Take a walk through Chew Jetty to experience waterfront culture.

How to travel to Penang

Penang International Airport (PEN) connects to many major cities in Asia. You can also reach Penang by train or bus from other parts of Malaysia or by ferry from Langkawi and mainland Malaysia.

Access summary

From Penang International Airport (PEN): Taxi or bus to George Town, about 30–60 minutes.
From Kuala Lumpur: Frequent direct flights to Penang, around 1 hour.
From mainland Butterworth: Bridge or fast pedestrian ferry to George Town, 10–20 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Penang

Penang offers a range of accommodation from luxury hotels in Batu Ferringhi to boutique stays in historic George Town. Budget options, hostels and guesthouses are also widely available.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

PARKROYAL Penang Resort

9.1

Gurney Bay Hotel, A PARKROYAL Partner Hotel

8.5

Bayview Beach Resort

8.5

The Light Hotel Penang

9.0

Hard Rock Hotel Penang

8.8

Angsana Teluk Bahang, Penang

9.2

Bertam Resort & Water Park

9.4

Lexis Suites Penang

8.6

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang

8.9

Bayview Hotel Georgetown

8.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Penang

Penang is easy to explore with its reliable Rapid Penang bus network, affordable Grab ride-hailing services and trishaws for short distances in George Town. Renting a scooter or bicycle is also popular.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-64 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 64% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to MYR) is 4% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£26	£57	£148
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£30	£60
🍝 Food per day	£13	£24	£80
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£2	£8

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£6.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.38
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£5
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.41

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.40
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£15
🤧 Cold medication	£2.90
💇 Basic haircut	£4.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Penang is generally safe, but petty crime like pickpocketing can happen in crowded places. Avoid isolated areas at night and be cautious when using ATMs.

Health & Medical

Penang has good medical facilities, including private hospitals with English-speaking staff. Tap water is not recommended for drinking; stick to bottled water.

Accessibility

Penang is moderately accessible. George Town’s historic area has uneven pavements and narrow streets, but modern malls and attractions are generally wheelchair-friendly.

Tap water

It is advisable to drink bottled water in Penang. While tap water is generally treated, the plumbing may affect its safety. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.