I will be honest, we hadn’t planned to visit Penang because we had been told “it’s really busy” and “it’s full our tourists”, but we were flying from Malaysia to Bangkok and thought “why not”.
I am so glad we did!
As soon as we checked into our Heritage Homestay, we were given a Heritage Trail map of the City and it crossed our minds that Penang could be a cool place to hang out.
We weren’t wrong.
Penang quickly became a place we fell in love with which is unusual, as we don’t really like Cities. So what was it about Penang that made it so different?
I am so glad we did!
As soon as we checked into our Heritage Homestay, we were given a Heritage Trail map of the City and it crossed our minds that Penang could be a cool place to hang out.
We weren’t wrong.
Penang quickly became a place we fell in love with which is unusual, as we don’t really like Cities. So what was it about Penang that made it so different?
Penang is a melting pot of cultures. The Malaysian marketing song boasts “Malaysia, truly Asia”, and nowhere has this been more evident than in Penang. A fusion of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu, these are all clearly visible in Penang’s districts, architecture and cuisine.
To explain how multi-cultural George Town is, we visited a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple and mosque all within a five minute walk from each another. There are many temples to see around George Town, from Hindu Temples to Chinese Temples.
Goddess of Mercy Buddhist Temple - The oldest and most legendary temple in Penang is still an active Buddhist Temple and each year, believers of the Taoism and Confucianism teachings will swarm the temple on the eve of Chinese New Year. They will pray to the Goddess Kuan Yin that their health and good luck can be maintained throughout the year. There are a few stands outside selling joss sticks and we found a quaint courtyard out the back where we sat in the shade for five minutes for some respite from the heat of the day (and for some peace and quiet).
To explain how multi-cultural George Town is, we visited a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple and mosque all within a five minute walk from each another. There are many temples to see around George Town, from Hindu Temples to Chinese Temples.
Goddess of Mercy Buddhist Temple - The oldest and most legendary temple in Penang is still an active Buddhist Temple and each year, believers of the Taoism and Confucianism teachings will swarm the temple on the eve of Chinese New Year. They will pray to the Goddess Kuan Yin that their health and good luck can be maintained throughout the year. There are a few stands outside selling joss sticks and we found a quaint courtyard out the back where we sat in the shade for five minutes for some respite from the heat of the day (and for some peace and quiet).
 Chinese lanterns adorn the Temple ceiling |  Peaceful courtyard at the back of the Temple |
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple - There was no mistaking when we entered Little India, it was an assault on the senses. Locals wore saris and many shops had them for sale displaying their rich colours on mannequins. The smell of the food was so rich you could almost taste it and you could definitely hear Little India, as each stall holder blared out Bhangra and Bollywood music, each seemingly competing with the other for the loudest.
Built in 1833, Sri Mariamman is the oldest Hindu Temple in Penang dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Subramaniam and is a kaleidoscope of bright, beautiful colours.
Built in 1833, Sri Mariamman is the oldest Hindu Temple in Penang dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Subramaniam and is a kaleidoscope of bright, beautiful colours.
Kapitan Keling Mosque - Named after Caudeer Mohuddeen who built this mosque in 1800, it is the largest and most historic mosque in George Town. The word "Kapitan keling" means leader of a South Indian Muslim community.
Delicious street Food
With an eclectic mix of cultures, you will find culinary delights to suit most palettes. Street food is very popular in Penang and there are stalls and communal areas in the various districts of George Town. During our Street Art trail, we stumbled across Lebuh Kimberley in Chinatown which had a local Chinese food court serving cheap and delicious food, we ate here twice and ordered Char Koay Teow on both occasions!
With an eclectic mix of cultures, you will find culinary delights to suit most palettes. Street food is very popular in Penang and there are stalls and communal areas in the various districts of George Town. During our Street Art trail, we stumbled across Lebuh Kimberley in Chinatown which had a local Chinese food court serving cheap and delicious food, we ate here twice and ordered Char Koay Teow on both occasions!
 Our bikes parked outside the Chinatown food court |  Char Koay Teow - de-licious! |
Chinese buffet cart on Chulia Street
If you want to combine a traditional Malaysian food court with a sunset spot, head to Padang Kota food court at Esplanade which will tick both boxes. When we ate here, we found there were many stalls to choose from but unfortunately it was a cloudy, blustery afternoon so I cannot comment on the sunset! Hope you have better luck.
Malaysian food court at the Esplanade
Penang is very multi-cultural - take a trishaw ride around Chinatown ....
..... or through Little India
The infamous Street Art and “Making George Town” sculptures
Anyone who has heard of Penang will know about its infamous murals, in fact some people visit George Town for this reason only. George Town is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, however it isn’t because of the street art, but the wrought-iron structures dotted around key historic parts of the town. In 2009, the Penang State Government had a brilliant initiative of opening up a competition to achieve its UNESCO status and the winning idea resulted in the creation of 51 steel-rod caricatures retelling the history of George Town.
I have to admit, it’s inspirational and if a City has a story to tell, this is fantastic and quirky well of giving tourists a history lesson. I would recommend it to everyone as it’s a fun and unique way of navigating around the back streets and discovering the main areas without really trying. It’s easy to spot some of the more famous pieces – you will see queues of people lining up to take photographs.
Anyone who has heard of Penang will know about its infamous murals, in fact some people visit George Town for this reason only. George Town is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, however it isn’t because of the street art, but the wrought-iron structures dotted around key historic parts of the town. In 2009, the Penang State Government had a brilliant initiative of opening up a competition to achieve its UNESCO status and the winning idea resulted in the creation of 51 steel-rod caricatures retelling the history of George Town.
I have to admit, it’s inspirational and if a City has a story to tell, this is fantastic and quirky well of giving tourists a history lesson. I would recommend it to everyone as it’s a fun and unique way of navigating around the back streets and discovering the main areas without really trying. It’s easy to spot some of the more famous pieces – you will see queues of people lining up to take photographs.
Most hotels/hostels will have a map with art locations marked out so you can easily find them yourself, alternatively, download the pdf brochure for the street art and “Making George Town”. If you want to see more of the art treasure trail that we followed, check out our Penang Street Art blog.
We stayed in a traditional Chinese clan house called Muntri House, a Heritage Homestay on Muntri Street which (in my opinion) is a really cool part of George Town and is central to the popular tourist streets of Love Lane and Chulia Street.
This area has some of the most photographed pieces of steel-rod caricature sculptures and murals, for instance at the top of the road is Jimmy Choo and at the bottom, the Kung-Fu Girl Street Art. Quirky café’s line Muntri Street, for instance we sipped a mango lassi on a converted antique sewing machine!
Our Heritage House Homestay on Muntri Street
 Quirky cafe on Muntri Street |  Our table - a converted antique sewing machine! |
Puurfect Cat Café
The cats who live at Puurfect Cat Cafe on Muntri Street
Across the road from our homestay on Muntri Lane was a delightful cat café, and if you know me, you know I am rather partial to them. We spent a wonderful couple of hours there, drinking green tea, eating delicious homemade cake, petting the sweetest kitties and doing a spot of blogging. In fact, as I type up this blog, an adorable cat decides to have its input by walking across my keyboard (11bvggggggg3ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww), then mischievously pokes its head into my empty cake box and plays with my used fork.
When we used to have our cat Ella, these are the playful antics she used to do so to have a few cats running around doing the same was delightful.
When we used to have our cat Ella, these are the playful antics she used to do so to have a few cats running around doing the same was delightful.
This cat wanted to make a contribution to this blog!
I'm not going to get a lot of work done now am I!
When the cat treats came out, well that was it, all cats were your friend … until someone else chinked a cat bowl with their treats, then they were gone. There was Orange the ginger Persian, Bear the smokey grey Scottish Fold and the stocky white Scottish Fold named Teddy. Molly was the mother of the three tabbies who continuously played with anything and everything they could find.
 Bear, the smokey grey Scottish Fold |  Teddy, an unhappy looking Scottish Fold |
If you love cats or care about animals, please do not have a cup of Kopi Luwak. This is an Indonesian coffee that is made from the partially-digested and defecated coffee cherries of the Asian Palm Civet cat. De-licious!!!! It’s considered to be one of the most expensive coffees in the world but unfortunately, this has given way to intensive farming methods where civet cats are kept in battery cages and force fed the cherries.
Penang Hill
They say you haven’t been to Penang unless you have visited Penang Hill, but I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s because we weren’t blessed with nice weather (it rained and was cloudy), and although the view was lovely, I am unsure whether the trip and queuing was worth it.
We queued for around 20 minutes to catch the rather steep 785 metre funicular to the top, the journey took around 10 minutes but we were unable to appreciate any views as we were jammed in like sardines. Beware; during high season, you could be queuing for a lot longer.
We queued for around 20 minutes to catch the rather steep 785 metre funicular to the top, the journey took around 10 minutes but we were unable to appreciate any views as we were jammed in like sardines. Beware; during high season, you could be queuing for a lot longer.
The steep fenicular taking passengers up and down Penang Hill
As I mentioned, it was raining when we arrived so we thought we would visit the small Hindu Temple at the top to shelter for a while, which was a welcoming place to be for some respite from the rain.
 Hindu Temple at the top of Penang Hill |  Inside the Hindu Temple |
 The small mosque on Penang Hill |  The ladies' prayer room |
There was a small mosque a few metres away and, as we had never had the opportunity to visit the inside of one until now, we thought we would have a quick nosey. It wasn’t a huge elaborate mosque that we had been used to seeing on our travels and inside, there was a rather plain room divided by a curtain; one side was for females to pray and the other side for males.
By now it was lunchtime and, as it was still raining, we popped to the on-site food court and ate a cheap Char Koay Teow for RM7. This food court is full of cheap-eat stalls to choose from and, again, was a good enough place to shelter from the rain.
Then finally, the rain stopped!
By now it was lunchtime and, as it was still raining, we popped to the on-site food court and ate a cheap Char Koay Teow for RM7. This food court is full of cheap-eat stalls to choose from and, again, was a good enough place to shelter from the rain.
Then finally, the rain stopped!
Quickly, we made our way to the viewing platform, and the mist was starting to clear providing some lovely views of the City, the bridge connecting Penang Island to the mainland and of Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple down the hill.
Kek Lok Si Temple from the top of Penang Hill
I have been told that there was a botanical garden about 20 minutes’ walk away, alternatively you can take a golf buggy, but alas, the rain starting to come again.
I was later advised to visit around 5pm so you can walk around and be there for sunset and I have to admit, the photos I have seen online do look amazing so if you want to go to Penang Hill, maybe you will remember this.
Travel Tip: Catch the Rapid Transit 204 bus from George Town to the end of the line (it will take around 30-45 minutes depending on time of day/traffic), click here for bus information, cost will be RM2 per person each way.
I was later advised to visit around 5pm so you can walk around and be there for sunset and I have to admit, the photos I have seen online do look amazing so if you want to go to Penang Hill, maybe you will remember this.
Travel Tip: Catch the Rapid Transit 204 bus from George Town to the end of the line (it will take around 30-45 minutes depending on time of day/traffic), click here for bus information, cost will be RM2 per person each way.
The first room of Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple
If you like Buddhist Temples, then do check out Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple and an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. It is spectacular and well worth a few hours exploring, for a full day out, you can combine this Temple with a trip to Penang Hill (maybe for sunset!). (Buses 201,203, 204 & 502 from George Town to Air Itam)
Kek Lok Si is like a Russian doll with many different layers and, just when you think you have finished with one room, another will follow displaying more amazing statues, carvings and gold – there are a lot of gold Buddhas! If, like us, you wanted to buy a wishing ribbon to hang on the wishing tree, there are plenty of places to choose from. Wishes range from good health to successful career and we purchased one each (but I’m not confessing what we wished for otherwise it may not come true!)
If you like Buddhist Temples, then do check out Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple and an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. It is spectacular and well worth a few hours exploring, for a full day out, you can combine this Temple with a trip to Penang Hill (maybe for sunset!). (Buses 201,203, 204 & 502 from George Town to Air Itam)
Kek Lok Si is like a Russian doll with many different layers and, just when you think you have finished with one room, another will follow displaying more amazing statues, carvings and gold – there are a lot of gold Buddhas! If, like us, you wanted to buy a wishing ribbon to hang on the wishing tree, there are plenty of places to choose from. Wishes range from good health to successful career and we purchased one each (but I’m not confessing what we wished for otherwise it may not come true!)
The thousands of gold Buddhas that lined the first room
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We took the inclined lift to Kuan Yin, the 36.5m high bronze goddess of mercy statue, which also has a beautiful view of the city. This area is definitely the busiest part of the temple and there is a lovely pagoda and fish pond to sit near for a bit of peace and tranquillity.
 Wishing ribbons in front of Kuan Yin bronze statue |  A Monk reading in the prayer rooms |
A peaceful Pagoda and fish pond
View from Kek Lok Si Temple
Beaches in the north
If there is a beach to be found, I will seek it out and Penang is no different! Around 17km away from George Town in the north of the island is Batu Ferringhi. There are plenty of water activities to be enjoyed such as Paragliding, jet skiing or banana boat rides, alternatively you can lay on the soft sand and simply relax.
Travel Tip: Catch the 101 bus from Chulia Street (opposite the 7/11) for RM2.70 each way, the journey will take between 20-45 minutes depending on traffic.
If there is a beach to be found, I will seek it out and Penang is no different! Around 17km away from George Town in the north of the island is Batu Ferringhi. There are plenty of water activities to be enjoyed such as Paragliding, jet skiing or banana boat rides, alternatively you can lay on the soft sand and simply relax.
Travel Tip: Catch the 101 bus from Chulia Street (opposite the 7/11) for RM2.70 each way, the journey will take between 20-45 minutes depending on traffic.
Night life
It’s no secret that we love a bit of reggae, so when we stumbled across a street bar called The Reggae Club on Chulia Street about 5 minutes from our homestay, we knew this was the place for us. It just so happens that ladies can drink “house drinks” for free between 6-9pm so I sipped a few free vodka and sprites whilst eating a delicious Jamaican lamb curry,(cost was RM22).
There was a magnetic chess board on our table so we thought “why not”, it didn’t matter that we had never played one another in all the years we had been together, tonight was the night we were going to test our memory. We haven’t played it since.
We visited The Reggae Club twice; one night we played chess and ate dinner, another night we ended up smoking a shisha with some cool people that we enticed in from the street with the promise of free drinks for ladies, then headed to a street corner where the local people hang out for cheap drinks (3 cans for RM10).
It’s funny how an ordinary evening of just two of you can turn into a funny drunken event with a group of strangers (I guess that’s what free drinks will do for you!)
It’s funny how an ordinary evening of just two of you can turn into a funny drunken event with a group of strangers (I guess that’s what free drinks will do for you!)
Hanging out at a street corner bar for cheap beers!
We really enjoyed our time in Penang and in particular, the Heritage Trail as it was just so different to anywhere we have visited. It gave us a wonderful perspective on the City and we explored places in a way we wouldn’t usually consider, but more than that, it was fun. The melting pot of people in Penang is unique and the quirkiness of some of the areas meant we fell in love with this City.
Although Penang is a great place to visit, its definitely a place to consider living due to the lifestyle and many cultural things on offer. Here is more information about living in Penang as an expat.
If you are thinking of going to Malaysia, should add Penang to your list, we are certainly glad we did!
Have you visited Penang? What did you enjoy? Maybe you are thinking of going … will you definitely visit now? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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Travel Facts:
- The official currency is Malaysian Ringgit, £1 = RM5.54
- Malay is the official language but English is widely spoken
- A 90 day Visa is given upon arrival to most Countries but check with your Government website before departure
Getting to Penang Island:
Penang is actually made up of mainland Penang and Penang Island, George Town where we visited is Penang Island.
By air: You can fly directly to Penang mainland either with Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia or Firefly
By train: KTMP is the national train company with daily routes from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth on the mainland
By boat: From Langkawi you can get a boat which takes about 2.5 hours
You can also reach Penang by car and by bus, for more in-depth travel information, look at www.wonderfulmalaysia.com.
We suggest you check bus/ferry schedules ahead of time, and book tickets in advance online with Bookaway.
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