My Ultimate Penang Itinerary: What to Do in Penang in 3 Days

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Kirsten Raccuia

Penang had me at hello. I didn’t want to like it. I certainly didn’t want to move here. But George Town sucked me in like a Kardashian at a Chanel store.

Without further ado, let’s start your Penang Island tour!

WHAT TO DO IN PENANG IN 3 DAYS…

If you are thinking about doing a day trip in Penang, think again. You’ll barely scratch the surface and leave unhappily. So, is 2 days enough in Penang? Not really. But you could do it. Just pick you fave two days out of this Penang tour and start running!

PENANG ITINERARY DAY 1

Since this is your first day in Penang, you need to stroll through the streets of George Town. It is one of the most exciting places in Penang. There is so much history and culture, and there is no better way to absorb it than to wander around and get lost in the streets. As a Chicago girl, I usually don’t recommend walking into alleyways. It’s not wise in Chicago.

But in George Town, it’s a must. It’s the best way to get a feel for the local culture and get a slice of life in Penang.

There are a lot of sites to check out on day one. It may seem like a lot to tackle, but it’s really not. These places are why George Town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

KHOO KONGSI

Khoo Kongsi is one of my absolute favorite places to go in Penang. It’s a Chinese clan house that dates back to the mid-19th century. It has been lovingly restored to the most ornate detail.

Back in the day, a clan house was a place where everyone with the same last name could live. Any Khoo, from anywhere in the world, could come to Penang and know they had a roof over their head. They’d have to work to support the clan, but it made for safety in numbers.

It started as a small area, and as more and more Khoo’s arrived, they built an enclave right in the heart of George Town. Now it is a stunning magnificent temple and an opera house surrounded by shophouses.

CHEONG FATT TZE MANSION

Cheong Fatt Tze mansion, or Blue Mansion, is one of the top things to do in Penang. It was the home of a very wealthy Chinese man who built the mansion in the late 1800s. He was a very successful businessman and politician who played a large part in putting Penang on the map.

Taking a tour of his home gives you so much insight as to how Penang used to be. It is immaculately cared for and now houses one of the most beautiful boutique hotels on the island. The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable.

• How much? The tours are RM25.
• Time needed? The tours take about an hour and are daily at 11, 2, 3:30. You can’t just go and wander around; you must take a tour.

PINANG PERANAKAN MANSION

Most people don’t realize just how diverse Malaysia is. It’s not just Malays, Chinese, and Indians. There is a large group of people called Peranakans or Baba/Nyonyas that dates back to when Malaysia was Malaya.

The Peranakan Mansion is a museum in a typical home filled with artifacts from that period. It is a fascinating look into a time gone by. No Penang trip would be complete without visiting this mansion and learning about the history of the island.

My favorite part of the museum is the jewelry section in the back. It showcases incredible designs from centuries ago. Pieces that the wealthy people wore on the daily, as well as exclusive pieces for weddings. So extravagant!

• How much? RM20 for entry.
• Time needed? One hour.
• Insider tip: They will take you on a free tour if you ask.

LITTLE INDIA

Follow your senses though the streets of Little India. This is one of the best things to do in Penang.

Prepare for sensory overload as you wind your way through the streets listening to the blaring Bollywood music. Between the incense wafting out of each store and the curries cooking in each restaurant, you’ll be transported to a bustling India town (if only for a few blocks).

Try a pakora from a street food vendor, have a bespoke sari made, and buy some spices from the colorful mounds the shop owners put out daily.

• How much? Free except for all the goodies you might buy.
• Time needed? 1-3 hours depending on how much wandering, shopping, and eating you want to do.

KAPITAN KELING MOSQUE

This is the oldest mosque in George Town. The original brick building was built in 1801 by Penang’s Tamil Muslim community. It’s been rebuilt over the years to the beautiful structure that it is today.

It was really interesting to go inside and learn more about the Islamic culture in Malaysia.

STREET ART

• How much? It’s free.
• Time needed? You could spend a few hours hunting or just find them as you go from point to point as you follow my itinerary in Penang.
• Insider Tips: A lot of them are hidden in alleys. Look up, look down – they are everywhere and not always in the most obvious places.

If you don’t feel like walking the streets, you can hire a trishaw driver for an hour to take you to the top sites. A lot of the guys have been driving trishaws for decades and know all the popular spots. They don’t all speak English so you might have to play charades a bit. Also, you can negotiate with them for a price.

If you would rather see some of the sites without walking (it’s friggin hot here) you can take a trishaw tour. An English speaking guide will ride you around town to all the top spots and explain what you are looking at you along the way. We did it when we first came for a holiday and it was quite fun. Book it here

PENANG ITINERARY DAY 2

Today you are going to get our of George Town. This is a Penang itinerary, not just George Town.

CLAN JETTIES

Walk gingerly on wooden plank walkways through ancient floating villages. Each jetty is named after a clan who still resides there today. The villages are built on stilts over the water and are over a century old –they haven’t changed much. Tan, Lim, Chew, and Yeoh jetties are the oldest.

Chew Jetty is the most commercial and has become one of the top places of interest in Penang for a lot of tours. However, I would avoid it if you are looking for authenticity. Pick 2-3 other jetties and take a stroll. Most of the jetties have their temple because clans always built their temples to suit their needs.

• How much? Free.
• Time needed? 45 minutes to 1 hour.

KEK LOK SI TEMPLE

Kek Lok Si is on every Penang travel itinerary. And it should be. It is the biggest temple complex in Penang and one of the largest Buddhist Temples in Southeast Asia. They began construction in 1885 and are still adding to it today. There are more than ONE MILLION images of Buddha within the temple grounds. Think about that for a minute…1 Million! That’s insane!

The seven-story pagoda holds a statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. But not just any ol’ statue, it’s 36 meters high and made out of bronze. There are also lovely gardens and a turtle pond to explore.

If you are lucky enough to be here during Chinese New Year, they light the temple up with 10,000 fairy lights, so the entire place looks like it is glowing. It is pretty incredible!

• How much? Free or RM3 if you want to take the incline lift but it’s not a hard walk to the top.
• Time needed? It’s a massive temple with beautiful grounds and loads of photo ops. I would allow 1.5-2 hours including travel time.
• Insider tip: You can walk here from the base of Penang Hill. It’s a little over 2 km, however, it is hotter than hades here and if you aren’t used to the heat I wouldn’t recommend it. Truthfully, Grab (our version of Uber) is so cheap that it will only cost you a few bucks to arrive in style (or a Myvi 😉).

If you want to combine a street art tour with a visit to Kek Lok Si and a few other temples, you can book it here.

THE HABITAT ON PENANG HILL

PENANG HILL

Penang Hill is the highest peak and one of the coolest places to visit in Penang. I mean that literally. Back in the day, the wealthy locals had summer homes up there so they could escape the heat.

Take the funicular up to the top of the hill, or you can hike. Although I never have. That would be too hard and a lot like exercising. For those of you who like to hike, go for it, Mark does it all the time, but he’s crazy like that. The funicular suits me perfectly and is the steepest tunnel track in the world. 

THE HABITAT

Anyway, once you reach the top, you can have afternoon tea at David Brown’s, a quintessential British colonial restaurant. Or have a cocktail at their newly built cantilevered deck, the highest bar in Penang.

After wandering around the top of the hill, head to the Habitat. It’s an eco-tourism site overlooking a 130 million-year-old rainforest. There is a canopy bridge, a canopy walk, and a nature trail. But the highlight is the oval-shaped Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk. It is 800 meters above sea level, on a clear day, you can see as far as Langkawi.

• How much? The round trip funicular ticket to get to the top of the hill is RM30. The price for the Habitat varies depending on how far in advance you buy the tickets and what you want to do once your inside. There are ziplines, guided walks, a night walk, and nature walks the – price depends on what you choose. Basic entry starts around RM55. You can buy tickets here.
• Time needed? This also depends on what you want to do. But I would allow half a day.
• Insider tip: Go in the afternoon and stay for sunset. The transition from day to twilight is stunning.

PENANG ITINERARY DAY 3

Today you are going to get out of the hustle and bustle of George Town.

PENANG NATIONAL PARK

Now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’m not much of a hiker, it’s too hot, and I end up having heat stroke and migraines…no fun. However, I have done this hike once, and it was beautiful and easy – just my style.

You can take a bus or Grab to the entrance of the National Park in Teluk Bahang. From there, you can hike to Monkey Beach and hire a boat to take to you back to the entrance. Not gonna lie, my favorite part was the boat ride back.

The hike only takes about 1.5 hours. If your more into the leisurely aspect of things (no judgments here) you can hire a boat to take you both ways and spend more time on Monkey Beach.

• How much? There is no entrance fee for the park. Boats are around RM50 per way, but that is per boat.
• Time needed? It depends on how much time you want to spend at the beach.
• Insider tip: If you could care less about hiking, you can hire a boat to take you to Monkey Beach and Turtle Beach. Spend a few hours and then head back. The beaches in Penang aren’t the most spectacular in the region. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go; you are on a tropical island. Just don’t expect the magnificent beaches of the Perhentians or Kota Kinabalu in Borneo.

TROPICAL SPICE GARDENS

The Tropical Spice Garden is a beautiful escape. Have you even seen a pepper tree? Do you know where cinnamon really comes from? Take a self-guided tour that leads you to 69 different stations that explain the history of each tree, the spice, and how it made it to Penang.

Or you could take a guided tour with an enthusiastic and knowledgable guide which I recommend. I always get more from an actual tour vs. listening to it on a recording.

What really cool about the tropical spice garden is the history of each plant, its folklore, its medicinal benefits, annd houw it came to be important on the splce route that helped put Penang on the map. Yoou can take a cooking class there as well and use some of the spices you just learned about.

Otherwise, take a walk up the hill to the Tree Monkey restaurant, a little Thai restaurant with views of the Andaman sea.

There is also a gift shop to buy all the spices and blends grown in the garden.

• How much? A self-guided audio tour is RM31. A guided tour is RM48 and is daily at 9 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm. You can buy tickets here.
• Time needed? The guided tour is 1.5 hours.
• Insider tip: There are buses that will take you out to Batu Ferringhi, but it will double the time it will take you in a Grab. If you are short on time, go for the Grab – it should be around RM20-30.

SUNDOWNERS AND DINNER IN BATU FERRINGHI

There is nothing better than watching the sunset while sipping a cocktail. Since there is no real beach culture here, there aren’t too many bars on the beach. However, go to Bora Bora. It is the most laid back, no-frills bar with a good vibe. Unless you need a snack, don’t eat there. The food is just ok.

If you have transportation or don’t mind using a Grab, Frandy’s Beach Bar is another good option. But, it is at the far end of the beach and far from the main action of Batu Ferringhi.

After dark, there are a couple of food options. If you want a basic hawker stall experience, head to the Long Beach hawker stalls. For something fancier and visually stunning, go to Ferringhi Garden.

• How much? Well, this depends on your taste in booze and food. Drinks at Bora Bora are generally around RM20. If you go to a hawker stall, the food is super cheap, just a few bucks, and you’ll have a yummy local meal. Ferringhi Garden is a white tablecloth kind of place. Still way cheaper than any white table cloth restaurant in the US, but more expensive for Penang standards.
• Time needed? A few hours, no need to rush.

BATU FERRINGHI NIGHT MARKET

Running parallel to the beach and the main road is the Batu Ferringhi night market. It goes from 7 pm-11 pm. This is the market for you if you are looking for Faux-lex watches and pirated DVDs or knock offs, Penang T-shirts, and souvenirs.

One of our fave stalls sells small paintings of local scenes from Penang artists. They are super easy to pop into your suitcase and will remind you of your time here.

• How much? Free until you start shopping
• Time needed? 1.5-2 hours depending on how much you like to shop.
• Insider tip: You should def haggle. Do not buy any of the “name brand” make-up. It’s fake, and who knows what they put in that stuff.

PENANG ITINERARY 4 DAYS

There are so many things to do in Penang, Malaysia, that three days isn’t enough. If you have more time, here are some other great ideas.

• Escape Theme Park (the most adventurous attraction in Penang)
• Entopia Butterfly Farm

PENANG 5 DAY ITINERARY

Your 5th day is spent in George Town and the nearby burb called Pulau Tikus.

• Fort Cornwallis
• Komtar Walk
• Thai Temple with massive reclining Buddha (in Pulau Tikus)
• Burmese Temple (right across the street from the Thai Temple in Pulau Tikus)
• Botanical Gardens

PENANG ITINERARY 6 DAYS

Today is spent wandering around Balik Pulau village. It is considered the back of the island and is more traditional with rice paddies and farms. You’ll get to see real-life Penang that has been mostly untouched by tourism.

• Matahari Bike Tour
• Search for massive murals
• Betong Beach and fishing village

There are so many Penang attractions that you could spend a week or more here. If you need more suggestions I’m happy to help, just reach out.

WHERE TO EAT IN PENANG

If you don’t know your char kway teow from your laksa, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with my what to eat in Penang post. It has descriptions of my fave local foods that you CANNOT miss while here. I’ve also written about the best cafes and restaurants on the island because you can’t survive on hawker food alone.

Insider tip: After dinner, head to Love Lane. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s also where the locals and expats hang out. It is a fun area, full of nightlife.

But wait, there’s more.

If you are looking for things to do in Penang at night, check out all the speakeasies and hidden bars here as well. These bars are super cool, and our visitors love them as much as we do.

WHEN TO VISIT PENANG

The only time of the year I would avoid is July and August. That is when we have terrible haze from all the burning fields to make palm oil (don’t get me started).

The rest of the year is hot and humid. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn’t. October has the most rain, but it usually rains at night and is a wee bit cooler throughout the day.

WHERE TO STAY IN PENANG

You are in luck. I wrote a big ol’ post all about that. Check it out here.

HOW TO GET AROUND PENANG

In George Town, everything is walkable. If you get too hot, you can hop in a Grab. It is super cheap, even for longer distances. Our 1-hour Grab ride to the airport is rarely more than RM35.

If you are a budget traveler, there is a very clean and air-conditioned bus system that covers most of the island.

If not, there are also options to rent a bike, scooter, or car depending on your license and comfort level for driving in Malaysia.

HOW TO GET TO PENANG

When you travel to Penang, there are a few accessible routes. You can fly directly to the international airport. There are direct flights from pretty much every country in the region, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Qatar.

If you fly into Kuala Lumpur from anywhere else in the world, the flight is only 45 minutes.

You could also take a train or bus to Butterworth on the mainland and then take a ferry to the island.

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED DURING YOUR 3 DAYS PENANG ITINERARY

There is free WiFi everywhere in Penang. Of course, in some places, it is better than others. However, I suggest getting a SIM card. They are cheap and easy to get. You can get one at the airport or if you are super organized, buy one ahead of time.

BOOKS TO READ ABOUT MALAYSIA

One of my fave books of all time is Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng. He is a wordsmith, a magician, and transports you to every scene he creates. The book isn’t a particularly light one, but it tells the story of Penang during the Japanese invasion of WWII.

Even though the topic is heavy, his writing is almost lyrical. And while the war is the underlying theme there, it’s about betrayal, love, courage, and the human condition.

His other book, Garden of the Evening Mist, is about the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. It is also beautifully written. They made a movie out of it in 2019. I heard it was incredible, but I missed it.

THE WRAP-UP

Now you know what to do in Penang!

When people come for a visit, we pretty much follow this Penang itinerary, but we tailor it to our visitor, which is exactly what you should do. Not one person has been disappointed. And they all wished they could spend more time in Penang.

Penang grows on you. It’s not perfect, it can be dirty, and frustrating, but something about it creeps under your skin, and before you know it, you’ll be sucked in as well.

If you’ve been to Penang, tell me your fave places to go in the comments below.

If you are planning a trip to Penang and can’t be bothered to design it yourself, I’d love to help. After a one on one call to decipher your travel style, I can create a detailed itinerary for you (including accommodation, restaurants, and activities – the whole shebang). Shoot me an email ([email protected]) or comment below, and we can go over the options.

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