What to see and do in Penang

What to see and do in Penang (2 April 2015)


What should you see and do in Penang? You are planning your vacation to Penang. Perhaps this is the first time you are going there. You have read from guidebooks, forums and other social media about Penang, and you are eager to get a taste of this fantastic tourist destination. But you are limited by time and budget, and you want to make the most of your vacation. In this article, I want to provide you some tips of things to see and do in Penang, and you can cherry-pick from the list of suggestions below.

1. Explore the George Town World Heritage Site
To properly discover the World Heritage Site, you may need a whole day or more. This is best done on foot. Go along Pitt Street, which we often call the Street of Harmony, because you will find on one street a church, a Chinese temple, a Hindu temple and a mosque.
Explore the heritage enclave of Armenian Street, visiting the various clan temples such as Khoo Kongsi and Cheah Kongsi.
In the evening, try the restaurants in Little India. Alternatively, head for Kimberley Street and try the Chinese street food.

2. Go up Penang Hill
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and head upwards to some fresh air. On a clear day you can see across the Penang Channel towards Butterworth, Prai and other places on Penang Mainland.

3. Explore Penang Mainland
If you remain solely on Penang Island, you miss out on a big chunk of Penang State. Make a day-trip to Penang Mainland and visit the Nine Emperor Gods Temple and St Anne Church with the Cherok Tokun Relics within its compound. Enjoy the greenery of the Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest. In the evening, go for the Nibong Tebal firefly watching.

4. Take a round-island tour by bus
Sit back and enjoy the scenery on board a Rapid Penang bus. Take bus 401 or 401E from the Jetty to Balik Pulau, then change to bus 501 to go from Balik Pulau to Teluk Bahang. There, take bus 101 to return to the Jetty.