If you have planned a trip to Malaysia, make sure to include Penang in your Malaysia itinerary. This Penang itinerary for 3 days includes all the essential Penang travel tips you need to know for planning your trip along with a day by day breakdown of what to see and how to best utilise your time in Penang. Plus: where to stay, where to eat and much more. Let’s begin!

Penang is actually an island and one of the most versatile places in Malaysia: it has the core heritage area of Georgetown with it’s temples, museums and street art, it has beaches and also has plenty of hiking trails and lush jungles. It also has a hill station, Penang Hill that is a wonderful escape from the heat and humidity with it’s cooler temperatures along with lots of nature trails.

Apart from this, Penang is home to the best street food in Malaysia thanks to it’s long multicultural history that has influenced the cuisine in an incredible way! As you can see Penang has something for every type of traveller: be it a culture nerd, a beach lover, a foodie or a nature and adventure enthusiast.

It’s a common misconception among tourists that Penang is the same as Georgetown and is basically a city. That is simply not true. Penang is an island that is Malaysia’s 2^nd smallest state but one of the most densely populated. And the capital of this island state of Penang is Georgetown, the 2^nd largest city in Malaysia and one of the most historic.

There are plenty of other things to do in Penang apart from Georgetown and that is what I will be writing about in this blog post on the best Penang itinerary for 3 days.

HISTORY OF PENANG

In the 1770s, the British East India company was looking for a place to establish a port in the Malay peninsula and represented by Francis Light, they started negotiations with the Sultan of Kedah to acquire Penang island in exchange for British military protection.

In 1786, this offer was finalised and Penang became a royal navy base and a trading point between India and China. The island was renamed as ‘Prince of Wales’ island and the new settlement was named as ‘Georgetown’. The new port prospered as it was a free port and this led to an influx of immigrants from different places of Asia ultimately forming a multi cultural society comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Thai and other ethnicities.

In 1867, under the Straits settlements, Penang became a colony under the British crown, directly governed from London, along with the other Straits colonies of Malacca and Singapore.  Georgetown was occupied by the Japanese forces during World War 2 and was finally absorbed into the federation of Malaya in 1948.

PENANG TRAVEL GUIDE

HOW TO REACH PENANG?

1. FLIGHTS: Penang has an international airport and has flight connections from most major Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. There are no direct flights from India but connections via both these cities are available. Its just a 2 hours flight from both these places and multiple flights run throughout the day. Check flights Here. Flights are also available from other Malaysian cities like Langkawi and Kota Bharu (the nearest airport to the Perhentian islands)
2. TRAIN: The major train station in Penang is Butterworth Central that is connected to Georgetown via ferry. Lots of trains are available from Kuala Lumpur Central station and the journey takes 4 hours. There are 3 different types of trains: ETS (electric), KTM inter-city and KTM Komuter. ETS is the most popular train service as it is a very comfortable journey. So make sure to book your tickets from before to get confirmed seats. You can  book tickets here.
3. ROAD: Multiple buses run throughout the day from Terminal Bersepaduselatan (TBS) in Kuala lumpur and the journey takes 4.5 hours. The major bus companies include transnacional, plusliner and konsortium. You can book bus tickets here. Apart from buses, you can rent cars or book taxis to go to Penang by road.
4. FERRY: This used to be an option if you were coming in from Langkawi. The fast ferry takes 3 hours to reach Georgetown port. However, the ferry service was discontinued as of now though it is expected to start again in August 2023.

WHEN TO VISIT PENANG

Malayasia’s tropical climate means that you can pretty much expect heat and humidity throughout the year and showers every few days. These rains tend to be short and the sky clears up quickly. In fact, you might even prefer rains to get some respite from the heat.

That being said, make sure to AVOID the months of August to November and April to May when there are heavy downpours. The weather tends to be slightly cooler during the end of the year but as this is peak season so expect lots of people.

HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU SPEND IN PENANG?

I would suggest 3 days in Penang as ideal to do most of the activities listed here. Any additional time will enable you to take off on a day trip or two.  Anything less than 3 days means cutting out some of the things and rushing through the others.

WHERE TO STAY IN PENANG

There are 2 main places where you can stay in Penang depending on your interests: historic Georgetown and the seaside Batu Ferringhi known for it’s nightlife.

1.The best area to stay in Penang for first timers (and my personal favourite) is the historic Georgetown which is home to most of the action! The colonial buildings, vibrant art scene, vintage shops, trendy bars and restaurants make this area the best in Penang in my opinion. There are so many sights here within a compact walkable distance which makes it very easy for tourists to navigate and do their sightseeing. The cultural fusion and incredible street food on offer is highly attractive for all travellers.

I would highly suggest taking the opportunity to stay in a restored heritage house cum hotel to get a good experience. 3 of the best such places to stay in Georgetown include:

• The Blue Mansion
• Yang Keng hotel
• Jaawi Peranakan mansion

Other accommodation options for Georgetown:

2. If you love beaches with a cool nightlife scene, Batu Ferringhi is your place. This area on the north of Penang island boasts of white sandy beaches, lots of water activities and seafood restaurants and is popular among families and expats. It is famous for it’s night market and staying here gives easier access to Penang National Park.

Some of the well reviewed stay options here include:

WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT IN PENANG

Penang is known for it’s incredible array of street food and thanks to it’s past multicultural history, there is an assortment of Malay, Chinese, Indian and fusion dishes on offer. Make no mistake: your taste buds will have a great time here! Some of the dishes that you have to try in Penang include:

• ASAM LAKSA: a fish broth dish with rice noodles, herbs and veggies. Best place to eat: Asam Laksa Air Itom.
• CHAR KWAY TEO: spicy stir fried noodle dish cooked in prawns, squids and shallots in a coconut milk and shrimp flavoured curry with a little bit of sambar chilli paste thrown in. Best place to eat this dish: Kafe Ping Hooi
• TANDOORI CHICKEN: North Indian dish of marinated chicken roasted in a clay oven (Tandoor) Best place to eat: Kapitan.
• BEEF MURTABAK: Malaysian omlette that is made like a pancake and folded around meat and vegetables. Best place to eat: Hammediyah
• OYESTER OMLETTE: my absolute favourite street food! Omlette made with small oyesters and other veggies with some sauces. Best place to eat: Lots of hawker stalls in Chulia street at night.
• NASI KANDAR: An Indian Muslim dish of Rice served with a mix of various curry sauces thrown on top along with a side of fried meat. Best place to eat: Line clear.
• NASI LEMAK: The national dish of Malaysia which consists of fragrant rice topped with veggies, peanuts, fried egg and the spicy sambal sauce. Found almost everywhere.
• CENDOL: shaved ice for dessert that is flavoured with coconut milk, palm sugar and read beans.

You can try a food tour in Penang HERE.

GETTING AROUND IN PENANG

1. WALKING: This is the best mode for exploring the quaint alleys of Georgetown and discovering all the sights.
2. TRISHAWS: A colourful and fun experience when you become too tired from walking in the heat! Trishaws can take you on a small tour through the streets of Georgetown or you can use them to go from one spot to another.
3. GRAB APP TAXI: Definitely the best choice for longer distances like Penang Hill train station, Kek Lok Si or the beaches. Its pretty cheap compared to standard taxi fares.
4. BUS: The main bus service is called ‘Rapid Penang’ and it covers a lot of area within the mainland and the island as well. Komtar Central is the terminal to catch a bus for going to other parts of the island/mainland. Rapid Penang also provides a free CAT shuttle bus service that covers popular attractions/routes within Georgetown. 

THE ULTIMATE PENANG ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS

DAY 1: CHECK IN AND EXPLORE THE HERITAGE AREA OF GEORGETOWN, CATCH THE SUNSET FROM THE SKYWALK AT KOMTAR AND DINNER AT CHULIA STREET

1.THE HERITAGE AREA OF GEORGETOWN

On day 1 of this Penang itinerary for 3 days, it’s best to explore the core heritage area of Georgetown first as this is what forms the heart and soul of Penang and has most of the places to see. It’s a walk through history here as you will come across Chinese temples, old colonial buildings, museums, mansions, churches along with the incredible street art scattered all throughout this area.

This tour can be done independently without taking a guide by consulting an online or offline map (Tip: pick up one from your hotel) and get walking. The heritage zone is big and while walking through these charming streets is the best way to see Georgetown, it is very much possible that the heat and humidity might catch up with you leading to exhaustion. In such cases, take a colourful trishaw to rest your legs for a bit!

Some of the best things to do in Georgetown include:

• Visit the Khoo Kongsi clan house and temple which has beautiful and intricate designs.
• Have fun discovering all the amazing street art like ‘Boy on a Bike’ (Lebuh Ah Quee street), ’Children on a swing’(Chulia street) and ‘Indian Fisherman’ (Lorong street). Read the complete street art guide for Georgetown here.
• Take a guided tour at The Blue Mansion (also a boutique hotel). Book Tickets Here.
• Check out the Clan Jetties which are basically small villages on stilts present on the waterfront.

2.LUNCH AT ONE OF GEORGETOWN’S POPULAR RESTAURANTS

There are quite a few restaurant options in Georgetown where you can directly go after exploring the heritage zone. Some of the well reviewed ones include:

• Laksalouicious: local Malay food with a unique touch and at cheap prices
• Kebaya Dining room: classic heritage Indo Chinese and Peranakan dishes offered in beautiful settings
• Mews Café: Malay and European food served in a cosy casual setting
• 32 at the mansion: a colonial sea side mansion that offers Indian and French fine dining
• Beach Blanket Babylon: bar cum bistro with local plus international options

Post lunch you can continue exploring more sights here (trust me it takes a LOT of time to see everything especially all the amazing street art or take rest.

3. HUA HIN BUS DEPOT

In the late afternoon/ early evening, head to Hua Hin bus depot which is a former bus depot that has been converted into an arts space run by a creative collective. There are many arts events, installations, music gigs and events going on throughout the year along with some cool restaurants and shopping options.

4. SUNSET POINT

For sunset, I will give you 2 options:

A. Komtar Skywalk whose glass skybridge is the highest in Malaysia and provides a great view of the city along with a cool experience. It is open till 10pm so you can even go later for a night time view. The entry fee is 61 RM for adults and 43 RM for children. Lots of combo packages are available online. You can check out this one.

B. Budget Alternative: In case you are looking for a more budget friendly sunset option, head down to Chew Jetty where you will find a Thai restaurant with riverside views that is a good place to catch the sunset while sipping a beer.

TIP: Don’t forget to catch a view of Hean Boo Thean Kuan Yin Temple (located in Yeoh jetty) which looks very beautiful during sunset when it is all lit up. You don’t need to go to Yeoh jetty for this view as the temple is visible from the entry/exit road of the Thai restaurant located besides Chew jetty.

5. DIG INTO THE AMAZING STREET FOOD AT CHULIA STREET

If you planned a trip to Penang, you must have heard about the incredible street food on offer which has earned Penang the tag of ‘Malaysia’s street food capital’ ! Every evening, Chulia street comes alive with hundreds of hawkers setting up their stalls serving every possible street food dish till late into the night.

Small tables and chairs are set up roadside where you can sit and order a variety of dishes from different stalls. Many individual stalls have become popular for a particular dish and you can often find long queues of people lining up for a sampling. At least 1 dinner at Chulia street is a must while in Penang just for the sheer variety and cheap prices.

Post dinner, you can go to the neighbouring Love lane which has bars with music and some Western food options to chill out some more before calling it a night.

DAY 2: PENANG HILL, KEK LOK SI TEMPLE AND GURNEY DRIVE

After spending the first day walking and exploring in all that heat, it’s time to escape onto cooler climes aka Penang Hill!

1.PENANG HILL

Located 7.5 kms from Georgetown is a small hill station that was built as a summer retreat by the British during the 18^th century and is today known as Penang hill. The highest point here is 832 metres above sea level and it provides a good view of Penang and the sea. There are many nature trails and experiences here which I enjoyed a lot as they were’nt crowded at all and showcased a different face of Penang. Its best to go to Penang hill very early around 6-7 am to be done before it gets too hot.

HOW TO REACH PENANG HILL:

A. First getting to Penang Hill train station:

• BUS: The rapid Penang bus no 204 runs from the jetty or Komtar to Penang Hill train station.
• Grab app cabs are a very convenient way especially if you want to go early in the morning. Journey takes 15-20 mins.
• B. Once in the station, there are 2 ways to go up:

1. HIKING: This is a very popular option for avid hikers and adventure enthusiasts. The hike is challenging and takes 2.5 to 3 hours so it is best to start at 6am. The walking paths are steep in parts but the many view points in between provide stunning views which makes the tough hike worth it.
2. FUNICULAR: For those of us who cannot/do not want to hike, take the funicular which goes up and down multiple times throughout the day. Book your tickets online/offline at the station and the additional charges for skip the line tickets here is actually worth considering to get quicker access to the trains both while going up and coming down. 

Once on top, there are many free and paid attractions in Penang Hill to pass your time and it’s easy to spend a half day or more here. Some of the places worth seeing include:

• THE HABITAT: Without a doubt, the best place to see in Penang Hill! This is a paid experience but 100% worth the money in my opinion. There are many nature trails inside where you can walk amidst the rainforest jungles and hills either independently or by taking a guided tour with a trained botanist. The Canopy walk is a special highlight that takes you right through the rainforest via a canopy. Loved the experience!
• Then there is the ‘Curtis Crest Treetop walk’ which has an elevated skybridge offering panoramic 360 degree views of the surrounding hills and jungles. Apart from this, there are other activities like ziplining, Butterfly garden, Special sunset guide walk and more. ENTRY FEES: Start from 60 RM pp. Opens from 9am. Book Tickets Here.

• Check out the beautiful views from the top at various view points. You don’t have to pay for views as many free viewing points are available. There are places where you can pay to watch the view using binoculars.
• HAVE BREAKFAST AT KOPI HUTAN: A very popular choice for it’s coffee and sandwiches, it’s located further up and you can either walk or take a shared golf cart to go there. The ride will take you to more cooler temperatures and misty weather with pine trees. The café offers a free jeep service to drop customers back to the central point.

2.KEK LOK SI TEMPLE

The largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists, Kek Lok Si temple (whose names means ‘The temple of Supreme Bliss’) is situated at the base of Penang Hill which makes it easy to combine both these places in 1 day. It was initially built in 1891 but completed in 1930.

The temple complex is large with various structures and there are double lined inclined elevators to carry people further uphill. The main attraction is a 7 storey tower called Pagoda of ten thousand Buddhas which has been built with a mix of Chinese, Thai and Burmese Buddhist architectural styles where the main statue of Buddha has been gifted by the late King Bhumibol of Thailand.

Apart from this, a 100 ft statue of Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) was completed in 2002 and is located in the hillside above the pagoda. Large prayer halls, pavilions, Bodhisattva statues, Lanterns,fish and flower ponds are present inside the complex. Chinese new year celebrations are the best time when the temple is lit up beautifully and is open all night to visitors for 30 days.

TIP: In case you are coming from Penang Hill, take the Rapid Penang Bus no 204 which runs from Penang hill train station to the main road in front of the temple’s lower entrance. To go back to Georgetown, catch the Rapid Penang bus no 203 or 204 to Komtar bus terminal.

ENTRY FEES: The temple is free but there is a 2 RM fee pp to enter the pagoda. Using the inclined elevator also entails a 3 RM fee each way.

TIMINGS: 9 AM TO 6 PM

3.LUNCH SPOT: The Air Itam area near the temple is home to a couple of very popular street food stalls. The first is the Air Itam Asam Laksa shop near the temple which is known for it’s Asam Laksa which is sweet and sour fish based broth with rice noodles, vegetables and herbs.

The second is Sisters’ Curry mee which is a coconut milk and shrimp flavoured curry soup with an assortment of noodles, pieces of squid and sambal chilli sauce. Both these places are usually packed at lunch time and are good choices for a quick meal before going back to Georgetown.

TIP: If you are vegetarian you might wanna try the food at Purple Stone vegetarian food centre in Air Itam.

4. SHOPPING AT GURNEY DRIVE

Gurney drive is a walking seafront esplanade with lots of shops, restaurants and the famous hawker food centre which has been listed many times by travel magazines. But honestly the whole place has become something of a tourist trap with highly inflated prices of average fare. So instead of eating here, do some shopping at 2 of the biggest Penang malls, Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon in some much needed AC to beat the heat!

5.DINNER OPTIONS

If you want to try more of Penang’s street food, try the the hawker centre at New Lane which is located 20 mins from Komtar. The vibe, atmosphere and food here is much more local and authentic than the one at Gurney Drive with a wide selection of Chinese dishes. You can then go for a stroll along the esplanade and end with drinks at the food court there.

If you are not in the mood for more street food stuff, check out Nagore square a local urban entertainment and food hangout zone with a good collection of bars, restaurants and cafes alongside a smattering of murals. Pik Nik and What the Duck are 2 popular food places here. Nagore square is still something of a secret as most foreign tourists do not know about this place.

DAY 3: HIKING THROUGH PENANG NATIONAL PARK, MONKEY BEACH, BUDDHIST TEMPLES AND SUNSET DINNER AND DRINKS AT BATU FERRINGHI BEACH

1. GO HIKING AT PENANG NATIONAL PARK

Your last day in this 3 days Penang itinerary will showcase some more of Penang’s diversity. Only 1.5 hours away from historic Georgetown lies the world’s smallest National park ‘Taman Negara’ aka Penang National park. The park is full of hiking trails through dense jungles and you have a chance of seeing wildlife like monkeys and monitor lizards. It will take you 3 hours or so to do some of these hikes and see the amazing flora and fauna that the Penang national park has to offer.

2.VISIT A BEACH

Some of the hiking routes inside the park lead to small, secluded and pretty beaches like Monkey beach and Turtle beach. If you don’t fancy hiking for so long in the humid weather in the jungle, catch a boat from the park entrance to go to monkey beach at the north western end of the park. The boats usually charge 30 RM pp. There is a lighthouse called Mukahead lighthouse at the end of the beach.The turtle beach (Pantai Keracut) is located at the south western end of the park. It is a pretty beach that is a favourite nesting spot for olive ridley turtles and houses a turtle sanctuary and scientific conservation centre where you can learn more about the conservation efforts.

TIPS: To get to Penang national park, catch bus no 101 from Georgetown. The ride takes 1.5 hours. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, comfortable hiking shoes and bring plenty of water.

ENTRY: Free but Bring a copy of your passport to register.

You can visit the national park independently or join a half day guided tour like this tour here.

Apart from Penang National park, there are a few more things to do here in the nearby town of Teluk Bahang in case you have more time in hand. These include:

• Escape Penang Water theme park
• Entopia Butterfly park
• Tropical Spice Garden

3. Wat Chaiyamangalaram and Dhammikarama Buddhist temples

Both these temples are located on opposite sides of Burmah lane and fall on the way to Batu Ferringhi beach. So you can make a quick stop here to check them out en route. While the first one has the one of the largest reclining Buddhist statues in the world, the latter one is the oldest Buddhist temple in Penang.

4. END THE DAY WITH SUNSET AND A BEACHFRONT DINNER AT BATU FERRINGHI BEACH

After 3 days of full on sightseeing, you will end your Penang trip with a very relaxing evening at the coastal upmarket resort area of Batu Ferringhi. Batu Ferringhi beach is probably the best beach on Penang island with a long coastline, sandy beach and beautiful sunsets making it popular among locals as well as tourists. There are many seafood restaurants on the beachfront where you can watch the sunset while having a drink. Water activities and a night market are other added attractions.

For dinner I recommend Bora Bora beach bar, a popular beach front shack which serves delicious seafood and has a good vibe.

ALTERNATIVE: For something a bit more posh, check out ‘Ferringhi Grill’ in the Shangri-la Rasa Sayang resort that offers contemporary fusion cuisine with a more elegant vibe and a dress code.

TIP: The distance from Georgetown is 16 kms and you can either take bus no 101 from Chulia street or book a Grab app cab to come back at night. Be ready for insane traffic especially on weekends.

MORE PLACES TO SEE IN PENANG IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME ON HAND:

1.MUSEUMS: Apart from the Blue mansion and Peranakan mansion, there are other museums to visit if you have the time like Penang war museum, Penang state art gallery, Upside down museum and 3D art museum.

2.PENANG BOTANICAL GARDEN: Established in 1884 by the British, this ‘Waterfall garden’ has tropical rainforests, rare plants and is a beautiful place to visit in Penang.

3.FROG HILL: A very beautiful photo spot located in the mainland Sebaraipenang. It has quarry pools filled with greenish blue shimmering water that make it attractive as an insta spot! It takes 30 mins to come here from Georgetown and while the entry is free you have to climb up a small hill for the view point. Come at sunrise and sunset for the best light.

4. Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hindu Temple: Located near the Penang Botanical gardens, this temple dedicated to Lord Murugan requires 500+ steps to reach it on top of a hill.

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