Top 10 things what to do in Penang - Malaysia travel guide

Heading to Georgetown or to hit up the beach at Batu Ferringhi? You might be wondering what to do in Penang more broadly, to make sure you make the most of your stay. The good news is that there are plenty of fun things to do in Penang, with great eating, gorgeous architecture, cool street art and places to hike, swim and even camp.

This guide covers 10 top ideas of what to do in Penang, plus we’ll touch on Wise as the perfect way to save money when you travel. Open a Wise account and order your card online to cut out foreign transaction fees and do more with your money when you’re away.

Table of contents
Check out gorgeous Georgetown Eat hawker food in Georgetown Batu Ferringhi beach Penang Hill and Penang National Park Visit Suffolk House for a superlative high tea Colonial Penang Museum Georgetown street art tour Take a cooking class Tropical Spice Garden Entopia

1. Check out gorgeous Georgetown

Georgetown is the main draw for many people coming to Penang, and what better way to orientate yourself than with a walking tour. You don’t really need a guide for this, as there are plenty of self guided route maps, and you can cover all the important sites in a couple of hours. You’ll pass by key places like the padang, the town hall, Georgetown’s little India, and some stunning old clan houses. Have your camera or your phone ready to get some great snaps - both for Insta and for your own memories.

Learn more: Self guided Georgetown walking tour - blog

2. Eat hawker food in Georgetown

No matter where in the world you’re visiting Penang from, hawker food is a must-do. Even if you’re Malaysian, and familiar with the style and specific dishes on offer, Georgetown hawkers are the pick of the bunch and worth making a detour for. Stalls spring up, primarily in the late afternoon and evening, around Georgetown, selling all the famous dishes you’d expect. Fill up on Laksa, char kway teow and rojak, and taste the difference.

Address: Various locations

Opening hours: Stalls operate their own schedules - you’ll need to wander a bit to find the best options during your visit, but that’s half the fun!

3. Batu Ferringhi beach

Batu Ferringhi is only about a 40 minute drive from Georgetown, making it an easy day trip if you want to hit the beach. There are also hotels if you’re off to Penang for more of a relaxing break and need somewhere comfy to sip a cocktail and catch some rays - definitely among the best things to do in Penang for couples. There are options to suit every budget, but if you’re looking for five star luxury, the Park Royal Penang is the place to be.

Address: Find the beach at Jalan Batu Ferringhi Batu Ferringhi, 11100 George Town

4. Penang Hill and Penang National Park

Picnics, hiking, and even camping in and around Penang National Park are only a short drive from Georgetown, and a stone's throw from Batu Ferringhi. There are various popular hiking routes which take a couple of hours, plus you can get to the top of Penang Hill for the view of the island using the popular Penang Hill funicular if you want an easier ride of it. Once you’re up at the top of the hill, take in the view, enjoy the fact it’s significantly cooler up there than in Georgetown, and get refreshed at David Browns, the iconic restaurant up on top. Funicular runs 6:30 am to 11:00 pm, but can get very busy at peak times.

Learn more: Penang National Park; Penang Hill funicular; David Browns

5. Visit Suffolk House for a superlative high tea

Penang has plenty of places to stop for a slice of cake - but why not make it a treat and do a proper high tea? There are lots of options available, depending on your style and your budget - but if you’re looking for something special, try Suffolk House, a beautiful Georgian style colonial house built in the early eighteen hundreds. This mansion housed colonial governors of Penang for many years - and now offers fabulous high tea options as well as a full dining service.

Address: 250, Jalan Air Hitam Georgetown 10460 Pulau Pinang

Opening hours: High tea served 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, open all day with various different set and a la carte menu options

Learn more: Suffolk House

6. Colonial Penang Museum

Penang has lots of gorgeous museums housed in interesting buildings, such as the State Museum and Art Gallery - but if you want to learn more about the island during colonial times, the Colonial Penang Museum should definitely be on your list of things to do in Penang. The museum is set in a beautiful building which is worth seeing in itself, but which is also home to art and artefacts, to give an idea of how the well off merchants, traders and ruling elite lived back in the colonial days.

Address: 7 Jalan D.S. Ramanathan, Scott Road, 10350 Penang

Opening hours: 9:45 am - 5:30 pm daily

Learn more: Colonial Penang Museum

7. Georgetown street art tour

There’s some pretty impressive murals and street art to see in Georgetown, which you’ll pass by as you walk - or you could join an organised tour if you want to be sure you’ve spotted all there is to see. Alternatively, if you want to do a self guided street art tour, check out the latest what to do in Penang blog to find a route to follow - we’ve included one below as a starting point, but as the art is updated regularly you’ll need to double check the most recent information before you head out.

Address: Throughout the town - keep your eyes peeled!

Learn more: Georgetown street art blog

8. Take a cooking class

If you’re in Penang to eat, why not take a bit of that magic back home with you by taking a local cooking class and learning to make some of the area’s top dishes yourself. There are plenty to pick from, but the Penang Homecooking School is among the best. Learn about Nyonya food, take a market tour, and unlock the secrets of cooking tasty local Penang food at home for yourself. If you’re looking at the Penang Homecooking School, be sure to enquire about the options for your dates well in advance as slots are limited.

Learn more: Penang Homecooking School - other options are available, you’ll find plenty of alternatives with a quick Google search

9. Tropical Spice Garden

Established for more than 20 years, the Tropical Spice Garden in the north of Penang is a great place to visit for a look around, and to understand more about the flavours of local food, as well as the history of the spice trade. There are tours and audio guides, which give a lot of context to what you’re viewing, and it’s a genuinely lovely place to while away the afternoon. The easiest option is to drive to the spice garden, but there are also some public transport options if you don’t have your own wheels. More info is available on the Spice Garden website to help you plan your route.

Address: Lot 595 Mukim, 2, Jalan Teluk Bahang, 11050 Teluk Bahang

Opening hours: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Friday to Sunday

Learn more: Tropical Spice Garden

10. Entopia

Originally a butterfly farm, Entopia is now home to a broad range of butterflies, bugs and small animals which visitors can view and in some cases, interact with. The shows, activities and nature learning programmes make Entopia one of the top things to do in Penang with kids - but even the adults will enjoy marvelling at the butterflies and getting to know more about how important bugs are to our everyday lives.

Address: 830 Jalan Teluk Bahang, 11050 Penang

Opening hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, closed on Wednesdays

Learn more: Entopia

Travelling somewhere? Get the Wise card to spend in 40+ currencies without losing on exchange rates and foreign transaction fees

Whether you’re a local in Malaysia heading to Penang for a break, visiting from overseas, or heading somewhere else entirely - choose Wise to hold, exchange, send and spend 40+ supported currencies - and cut your costs at the same time.

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise card for a low, one time fee. Add some money from your bank or using a card, and you’re ready to start spending in 150 countries globally right away. Wise offers currency exchange with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%¹ - that means you avoid the foreign transaction fee your bank charges you, so you can do more, for less.

See how much you can save with Wise, wherever your travels take you next.

Order a Wise card today!

---

Sources:

1. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information