Tourist Attractions to Visit in Penang
Penang comprises of the northwest part of Malaysia, Seberang Perai & Penang Island. Though most of the Penang tourist attractions are concentrated on the Penang Island, Seberang Perai is also bristle with Penang attractions. Between the landmass & Penang island the ferry system is major Penang tourist attractions. The state of Penang is famous for its street food & street art. Indulging in street food is must do in Penang. Some of the most talked about cuisines include mama mee jawa, char kuey teow, muah chi, tau sar peah, and chendul. The latter two are desserts. You can use the Penang Street Food app to hunt down foodie places to visit in Penang. The street art locations are some of the most interesting places in Penang. These creations by artist Ernest Zacharevic, have become the top reason for people to visit Penang, specifically George Town. The temples of Kek Lok Si and Thai Pak Koong are also among famous places to see in Penang. If you visit Penang for leisure the beaches on Penang Island will be the perfect Penang tourist spot for you. The Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut are the most well known among places to go in Penang. George Town is also known for its therapies, spa and treatments, popular among them being the floating therapy. For the most adventurous folks who visit Penang Balik Pulau, Teluk Bahang, Penang Hill, and Penang National Park are the places to see in Penang state. These places have numerous hiking trails, cycling tracks, camp sites and much more to fulfill your nature love.
Table of Contents
Districts & Cities to visit in Penang
- Penang Island
- George Town
- Batu Ferringhi
- Balik Pulau
- Teluk Bahang
- Tanjung Bungah
- Seberang Perai
- Butterworth
- Bukit Mertajam
- Bandar Perda
- Nibong Tebal
- Simpang Ampat
- Seberang Jaya
- Tasek Gelugor
Popular Festivals & Events in Penang
- Hokkien New Year Celebration
- Dates: January 25
- Location: All across Penang
- Hokkien is celebrated on the last day of Chinese New Year. This is special among Penang tourist attraction owing to the lion dance processions.
- Chap Goh Mei
- Dates: February 8
- Location: Clan Jetties, George Town
- This festival holds special significance for young women. As the tradition goes, young girls would flock near the ocean and throw oranges into the sea so that they get good husbands. This festival has an unofficial Valentines Day kind of vibe to it. The sight of ocean with oranges floating is popular among Penang tourist attractions.
- Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
- Dates: February 24 to 26
- Location: George Town
- Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is top among Penang tourist attraction. This festival attracts people from across the world as George Town becomes one of the most interesting places in Penang. You will see Hot Air Balloons of all sizes, shapes, and themes floating across Penang.
- Penang Dragon Boat Regatta
- Dates: June 13 to 14
- Location: Teluk Behang
- Another festival which has earned its spot among top Penang tourist attractions. The Penang Dragon Boat festival, also known as Penang International Dragon Boat Festival, is an event of great cultural significance. The highlight of the festival is the dragon boat race.
- George Town World Heritage Site Celebration
- Dates: July 6 to 8
- Location: George Town
- This week is a celebration of George Town’s becoming a UNESCO world heritage site. The historical sites are the most interesting places in Penang during this festival. These Penang attractions are beautifully decorated with special events conducted at these places.
- George Town Festival
- Dates: July 11 to 26
- Location: George Town
- George Town Festival is a citywide carnival like extravaganza attracting tourists and artists from across the world. It is recognized as one of the leading festivals in Southeast Asia. During this festival, George Town becomes the best place to visit in Penang.
- Penang Bon Odori Festival
- Dates: August 13-15
- Location: Padang Kota Lama, George Town
- The Bon Odori festival is a Japanese tradition which celebrates the return of the spirits of the forefathers. The festival is celebrated with revival of traditional Japanese customs & cuisines. You can also enjoy traditional dance & music if you visit Penang during this festival.
- Penang International Paddy Festival
- Dates: August 14 to 16
- Location: Permatang Pauh
- The festival is a celebration of harvest. This is again a very traditional celebration done by the farmers to showcase their harvest. The festival includes harvest games and rituals along with music dance and cuisine.
- Hungry Ghost Festival
- Dates: September 2
- Location: George Town
- This is one of the most interesting festivals in Penang. The Hungary ghost festival stems from the story of Tai Su Yeah, who lets out all the spirits form the underworld on this day to enjoy. Many shrines are set up across the city with events & festivities conducted to please the dead. The living can enjoy too, just don’t sit on seats reserved for souls at the shrines. Attending this festival is a must do in Penang, you will definitely have a Gala time.
- Penang International Lion Dance On Stilts Competition
- Dates: October 8 to 16
- Location: Han Chiang Stadium
- This festival is a fierce competition of acrobatics, arts, and performance with participants from various countries. The flair and flamboyance of this festival attracts many people to visit Penang during this festival.
- Penang International Container Art Festival
- Dates: December 31 to May 30
- Location: All across Penang
- Artists from across the world are invited to the state of Penang to unleash colors on containers, which become art monuments spread across Penang.
- Penang Durian Festival
- Dates: January 1 to July 31
- Location: Jalan Burma, Jalan Macalister, Jalan Anson, Anjung Indah Balik Pulau, Bao Sheng Durian Farm
- Durian is a fruit, one of the most popular fruits in Penang. This festival is all about exploring all things one can cook & create using the durian fruit. This festival is especially a treat for foodies.
- Balik Pulau Festival
- Dates: July 3 to 5
- Location: Balik Pulau
- This festival celebrates the local art & culture of Balik Pulau. You will find events expressing music, dance, cuisine, and handicrafts in Balik Pulau.
Emergency Contacts for Travellers
Tourist Police: 04-899 3222
Police/Ambulance: 999
Rescue: 991
Fire: 994
Useful Mobile Apps for Travellers
- GrabCar
- GrabCar is the cab hailing app which will take you around Penang. The taxis in Penang usually overcharge & take you on unnecessarily long routes. So you can use GrabCar to visit Penang tourist attractions.
- Penang Tourist Info
- Penang Tourist Info is a tourist guide to all the places to visit in Penang. This app will help you plan your itinerary when you visit Penang.
- Penang Street Food
- If you desire to find the best street food in Penang, you can use this app. But focus more on the reviews & ratings. Only hit those joints you find reliable.
- MyDistress
- Keep this app handy. Though Penang is a safe place to visit. You never know when trouble would strike. This app helps you in difficult situations, all you need to do is press the distress button & information of your location will be sent to nearest local authorities.
- Waze
- Waze is the google maps for Malaysia, but it is much more fun with its voice packages & game like interface. So whenever you feel lost, just Waze your way around Penang.
Safety Tips
- You can opt for GrabCar or Uber if you find the taxi’s heavily priced. The taxi drivers also take you on longer rides to charge you higher. Better stick with reliable apps to get around.
- Be vigilant when exploring street food. Check the food joint before ordering the food. Many street food joints are quite dirty. You can ask your hotel to guide you to reliable food joints.
- You will find monkeys at many of the Penang tourist attractions, keep away & do not feed them.
- Beware of pickpockets in public transport & crowded places.
- Carry insect repellent & sun-block
- Watch signs on beaches. Some beaches do not allow swimsuits for women & men.
