Penang is a city located in the northwest of Malaysia. It is rich in culture, arts, and history, a place that intertwined modern living with nostalgic traditions. If you like a vacation that has a good mix of fun, history, shopping, and great food, Penang is a place that should make it to the top of your list.
George Town (in photo)
Take a walk around George Town and you will be immediately tickled by the street arts that are peppered along the streets. Commissioned by the Penang's municipal council, these street arts meant to inject fun and humour to the traditional district which is always packed with tourists.
Besides British colonial buildings, shophouses, temples, and mosques, George Town also has a wide range of museums, street stalls, tradition restaurants, and quirky cafes. If you are tired of walking, hire a trishaw and the rider will double up as a local guide.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
This mansion was commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze, an industrialist, and politician, in the late 19th century. With the intention to personify the essence of elegance, tradition, and extravagance, the indigo blue mansion was constructed with 38 rooms featuring priceless art pieces, lavish interiors and some of the most expensive building materials of its time. In fact, this mansion is such an iconic representation of luxury that it was featured in the movie Crazy Rich Asians in 2018!
If you wish to re-live the luxurious life of Cheong Fatt Tze, you have the option of taking a guided tour that is available daily or booking a room in the mansion to enjoy a night's stay.
The mansion guided tour lasts 45 minutes and it is available at 11.00 am, 2.00 pm and 3.30 pm from Mondays to Fridays and 11.00 am and 2.00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays (English). Mandarin guided tours are available only on Saturdays and Sundays, 12noon and 3.30 pm. It is located at 14 Lebuh Leith, Georgetown.
Wonderfood Museum Penang
Nothing is more Instagram-worthy than this museum. A quick search on the internet and you will find great reviews about this place. While Georgetown is well-known for quirky museums, this is one that has many grinning from ear to eat. Not only can you learn more about local dishes, culture, and history, posing with the gigantic plastic food replicas will have you laughing out loud.
The museum is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily. It is located at 49 Lebuh Pantai, Georgetown.
Penang Hill
Penang Hill is over 800 meters above sea level and one of the earliest British hill stations in Southeast Asia. To reach the peak, take the Penang Hill funicular train, a service that started in 1923. In fact, the current train system is the 4th generation of the original set up. The track stretches nearly 2 kilometre, probably one of the longest in Asia.
At the peak of Penang Hill, soak in the beautiful panoramic view of Penang city. There are even food courts, temples, mosques and 52 bungalows that are more than a century old. If you wish to spend the night, book a room at the Bellevue hotel for a relaxing stay.
Daily train operation hour is 6.30 am to 11.00pm daily and ticket counter operates between 6.30am to 9.45pm daily.
Food Hunt in Penang
Penang is a foodie's paradise where you will get the best cuisines of every Malaysian culture. From heritage restaurants to local eateries and street stalls, you can practically eat around the clock when you are visiting Penang. At very reasonable prices, you can savour the local cuisines and dishes such as Char Kway Tiao, Nasi Lemak, Hokkien Mee, Chendol, Laksa, coconut shake, oyster omelette, Tom Yum Maggi and Peranakan snacks.
Watch a movie at Red Box Cinema
If you are worn out after a long day's walk in the tropical heat, this is an option where you can chill out to enjoy a relaxing movie. The interesting part about this cinema is the sofa-like, beanie seats that literally allow you to laze around in the theatre! While it may be slightly pricier than the regular ticket, it is a reasonable trade off since you will get more space to yourself and a small audience.
The cinema is located at 182, Jalan Magazine, George Town.