2024 Penang Island Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

🇲🇾 Penang's Culinary Delights: A Must-Eat Food Adventure

#travelchecklist Penang, often hailed as the food capital of Malaysia, offers a gastronomic paradise for anyone looking to delve into the rich tapestry of flavors that Malaysian cuisine has to offer. From bustling street food stalls to quaint roadside eateries, Penang's must-eat dishes like Charcoal Char Kuey Teow, Oyster Omelette, Asam Laksa, and Duck Egg Char Kuey Teow represent a culinary heritage steeped in tradition and innovation. Charcoal Char Kuey Teow A visit to Penang would be incomplete without tasting Char Kuey Teow, especially the version fried over charcoal. This method imparts a unique smoky flavor to the dish, which features flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, cockles, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, and chives. The high heat from the charcoal caramelizes the ingredients, creating a complex flavor profile that is both delicious and memorable. Oyster Omelette (Oh Chien) Another Penang specialty, the Oyster Omelette, combines small, plump oysters with a starchy batter and eggs, fried until crispy around the edges but still soft and gooey in the middle. It's often served with a spicy chili sauce that perfectly complements the rich taste of the oysters, making it a beloved choice among locals and visitors alike. Asam Laksa Asam Laksa is a tangy fish-based soup that is both spicy and sour, made from mackerel and tamarind juice. This noodle dish is then garnished with fresh mint, pineapple slices, thinly sliced onion, and a spoonful of shrimp paste, which deepens the flavor. Asam Laksa is a true representation of Penang's complex and bold flavors, a must-try for those who appreciate dishes that pack a punch. Duck Egg Char Kuey Teow For an even richer take on the traditional Char Kuey Teow, try the version that includes duck eggs instead of regular chicken eggs. The duck eggs provide a creamier texture and a richer flavor to the dish, making it a luxurious treat. This variation is particularly popular among food aficionados looking for an elevated version of this classic street food. Visitor Tips - Street Food Havens: Explore areas like Gurney Drive, Chulia Street, and the Penang Road for the best street food stalls. - Eating Etiquette: Be prepared to share tables with strangers, as this is common in busy food courts and hawker centers. - Local Beverages: Pair your meals with local drinks like 'Teh Tarik' or 'Lime Juice' to balance the rich flavors. #PenangFood #MalaysianCuisine #StreetFoodHeaven #PenangEats #FoodieAdventure

Amazing Penang Island Malaysia

Georgetown, Penang The city of colours, food and street art. The Penang Hill Railway One station funicular railway which climb the Penang Hill. Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang Pagoda area mainhall- most instagrammable place to click your pictures Enjoy the architural mix of Chinese, Thailand & Burmese culture Put in your wishing ribbon for good luck Penang isn't just about beautiful scenery and island, its also about vibrant culture, unique local shops and delicious foods. Immerse yourself in the legacy of a community that has shaped the heart and soul of this historic city. #penang #penangart #penangisland #penangcity

Found the Best bagel in Penang 🥯🥓

Founders Cafe Hutton 🍽️ is a cozy eatery known for its warm ambiance and delicious food offerings. The cafe likely emphasizes quality ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere, making it a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a good meal. These are signature dishes I’ve tried: 🥯🥩 The Angus beef bagel topped with sweet potato and French fries combines savory Angus beef with the sweetness of sweet potatoes and the crunch of French fries. The Angus beef is typically juicy and flavorful, providing a robust base for this unique combination. The sweet potatoes add a natural sweetness and a soft texture, contrasting with the crispy French fries that add a delightful crunch. Together, these ingredients create a satisfying and indulgent meal, blending different flavors and textures into a memorable dining experience 🤗 🫓 🥘 The OG quesadillas are a delightful fusion of flavors and textures. Inside, you'll find fluffy scrambled eggs cooked to perfection, providing a soft and creamy base. Topped with grated parmesan and pomegranate. Complementing the eggs are slices of savory chicken ham, adding a meaty richness to each bite. To balance the flavors, there are also slices of fresh tomatoes, offering a juicy and slightly tangy contrast. All these ingredients are enveloped in a warm tortilla and grilled to crispy perfection, creating a mouthwatering dish that blends savory, creamy, and fresh flavors harmoniously. It's a popular choice for those seeking a satisfying and comforting meal at the cafe 😋 🥯🫐 The sweet and salty bagel starts with a hand-roasted bagel that provides a crunchy exterior and a soft, chewy interior. Spread generously on the bagel is a mixed berry cream cheese and maple syrup, offering a sweet and tangy flavor profile that perfectly complements the savory elements. You'll find crispy streaky bacon, adding a rich and salty contrast that enhances the overall taste experience. Sliced bananas are layered on top, providing a natural sweetness and a creamy texture that pairs beautifully with the other ingredients. Sprinkled over the bananas are chia seeds, adding a subtle crunch and a nutritional boost. It's a popular choice for those looking to indulge in a flavorful and satisfying breakfast or brunch at the cafe 😚 #travelanywhere #penang #cafe #bagel #malaysiatrip

Sophisticated and Stunning Café in Penang 🇲🇾

#malaysiatrip 📍Halzan Penang Visited this pretty café that is conveniently located at the connection between Gurney Plaza and G Hotel, and we had a great dining experience here. The café is stylish and minimalist, love the white on white interior decor, very instgrammable and every corner is picture perfect! Love the ample flow of natural lighting into the café, the lively and happening ambiance! The café was pretty crowded during our visit on a weekend afternoon. The tables were quite near, wish that they are more further apart. Food was served quickly, came in big portion and was very presentable and pretty to look at!

Favourite Cozy Coffee Store in Penang 🇲🇾

#malaysiatrip 📍Forest Cloud Beverage Company, Penang Visited this café located in the heart of Georgetown Penang island multiple times as this is one of my favourite coffee store in town! The café is a small and cozy one, boasting minimalist interior. There is only limited seatings available in store, might not be suitable for larger groups of patrons and can be a little crowded during weekends! The interior is rather sleek and instagrammable. Love the seats by the windows overlooking the bustling and busy street of Georgetown. Specialising in coffee, their coffee is one of my favourite of all time, with strong coffee aroma and well balance between their coffee shot and milk! Ideal place for a little date and for small talks!

Favourite Bakery in George Town Penang 🇲🇾

#winhkflight 📍Les Grains 9-1-01 Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Lengkok Moulmein, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang Our go to bakery in George Town area Penang would be this bakery called Les Grains! Their pastries have always been good with high quality over the years, definitely did not skimp on the ingredients used. It is a minimalistic café with elegant and simple decorations. Love the rose gold light decors though! Although it specialises in breads and pastries, they also serve light bites and mains like pasta, salad and more! Visitors may purchase their on the rack products for dine in or have it to go. We were there during tea time and had some of their pastries! Their honey cinnamon bun was top tier, the bread was soft and airy on the inside. We love it! Would revisit!

Beautiful Starbucks Reserve in Penang 🇲🇾

#winhkflight 📍Starbucks Reserve Island Glades DT Visited this newly opened Starbucks Reserve in Island Glades. Conveniently located on the main road of Island Glades, it is one of the busiest road and one of the main road to pass by while going to town area from Bayan Lepas area. There are a good number of parking spots available and for EV cars as well, so no worries on that. Love the architecture, with huge glass panels and vertical wooden panels. The interior is also amazingly beautiful! Love the cozy set up with comfortable cushioned seats. There are both seats by the bar and normal seats. The entire space is spacious and can fit large groups of customers! Love the environment, lively and not too loud, great place to get some work done, have a friend’s meet up. Love it! Would recommend! I wish to travel to Hong Kong for the food!

Authentic Japanese Cuisine in George Town 🇲🇾

#penangtrip 📍Kirishima Japanese Rrstaurant Cititel Penang, 66, Jalan Penang, Georgetown, 10000 George Town, Penang Visited this Japanese restaurant in town for multiple times and it is always our go to place for authentic and delicious Japanese food. It is located at the lobby of Cititel Hotel, ample parking spaces available with a charge of RM6 per entry. Love the restaurant, the cushioned seats, lovely environment and ambiance. There are plenty of seatings available in the restaurant, and a few private rooms as well, able to fit larger groups of customers! Staffs were all very welcoming and polite, we felt very welcomed every visits! It is indeed our favourite Japanese restaurant in Penang island! Some of our go to orders are 🍤Spider Rolls 🥗Unagi soba salad 🥢Mushroom Halibut 🍱 (everything) unagi bento

Minimalist Coffee Store in Penang 🇲🇾

#2024wish 📍Sweetbar Café 48, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Penang Visited this quaint little café in the heart of Penang island! It is located near the Hin Bus Depot. It’s a cute little café, with minimalistic decoration and that the store is in black and white, so artsy! Great place to have a coffee or maybe two, have small talks and chill, hang out! The café is quite small, might not be able to cater large group of customers. They have a variety of coffee blends to choose from, we both chose the nutty ones! Love that the staff took his time to explain about the coffee blends to us, filled with enthusiasm and we felt welcomed! Would love to return to try other specialty coffee blends, their drip coffee and desserts! In 2024, I would like to visit Seoul, Korea!

Penang - Malaysia

Penang is an island and state in Malaysia on the western coast of the peninsula in the Andaman Sea. Located a few kilometers from the coast and connected to the mainland by a bridge. Penang is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia. The capital of the state and the island, the city of George Town, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the huge number of historical monuments and attractions that attract many tourists every year. Beach holidays in Penang are poorly developed. There is only one full-fledged beach resort here - this is the Batu Ferringhi area. The coast is cleaned here, the beach infrastructure is well developed. But everything is spoiled by the water, which is almost always muddy, and sometimes even brings garbage to the shore. All this is the result of the proximity to major industrial centers and ports on the island and the mainland. #createwithtrip #staycation #beachlife

Penang as great Malacca

As a once primary hub for trading on the Strait of Malacca, this place over the years a become multicultural centre with a rich history. Here you will find old British colonial buildings, an arrary of Chinese shophouses, temples, Little India and a number of Mosques. We stayed at the Frame Guesthouse, a 10 minute walk from the port. Around the corner from our hotel , Frame Guesthouse, was a falafel stand with food going for as little as 10RM, right next door is a Jamaican themed bar blasting reggae anthems. Literally every evening we would be out at this falafel stand with a drink in hand. What better way to make memories than with strangers in a bar. Penang is a vibrant city with an outstanding number of places to enjoy the nightlife. Just go out and have some fun. #couplestrip#bestislandtraveltowns

penang is an architectural and heritage gem #givethanks

There is a The Habitat Natural Ecological Park in the Peak District of Penang Hill. The park's tropical rainforest has a history of 130 million years. There is a 230-meter-long natural trail that explores the rainforests, trees, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals, and is rich in biodiversity. However, if you enter The Habitat, you need to purchase another ticket. The fare is 47.51MYR. I personally think it is quite cost-effective because there is a Ring Top Walker on the Tree Top Walk. Seeing the 360-degree panorama of Penang is the highest view point on the island. The height of the observation deck is 13 meters, just above the center rest area, which can accommodate 120 people at a time. From the air, the pillars standing on the roots are straight into the sky. Like a crown, it is like a ring set in a green forest. On the observation deck, the breeze blows, the extra comfort, standing on the side overlooking the old city of George, can take a panoramic view of Georgetown.

Penang Hill, Malay is Bukit Bendera, Bukit is the mountain, Bendera is the flag, Penang Chinese call it the flag mountain, and English is the meaning of Penang Hill, Penang Hill. The flag-raising mountain is located in the middle of the island. The main foothills of Penang include Western Hill, Tiger Hill and Strawberry Hill. It is a summer resort for local residents. The main peak is 830 meters high from Penang. Since the old British officials used to live here, the Yamashita soldiers used the semaphore to convey important messages, which is the origin of the name of the flag mountain. [Shangqi Mountain Travel Guide] Location: Central of Penang Island, about 8.1 km from George Street Art, 8 km from Love Lane, 8.7 km from Zhouqiao and 3.8 km from Kek Lok Si Temple . Transportation: There are three modes of transportation to Penang Hill, 1, from No. 204 bus from George Town to Shengqishan Station; 2, it is relatively quick and convenient to rent a book from Batu Ferringhi; Hh/3, self-driving, when driving to Air Itam, you can find Penang Flag Hill Road tickets: MYR 30 for adults and MYR 15 for children, all including cable cars. Changqishan has one of the earliest Swiss-made cable railway systems in Asia, plus a small cable car system that allows visitors to easily climb the flag mountain since 1923. The train going up the mountain slowly passes through the steep slopes and turns to the middle of the mountain.

The round-trip cable car of Shengqi Mountain is still very bright. The cable cars we often ride are all airborne. The cable car here is similar to the moving car, but only a short one, and there is a diagonal in the middle of the whole track. The pulley, which is the earliest in Asia to use the Swiss-made cable railway system. Remember, if you want to enjoy the scenery along the road, it is best to choose the position at the front or the last two. Shengqi Mountain, also known as the Penang Mountain, is about 830 meters above sea level. Standing on the observation deck on the top of the hill, you can see the panoramic view of Penang. This time it was really lucky. I looked at Penang in the coming week before going out, but it gave me another surprise, thank you. The flag mountain is not very big, and there are not many places to see on the mountain. You can walk around in an hour or so. If you are hungry, you can go to the restaurant on the hillside to have a meal. It is estimated to be quite good.

Penang Hill, also known as the Penang Hill, is located at the north of central Penang at an altitude of 821 meters and is the highest point in Penang. There are two ways to go up the mountain, the cable car and the trekking. The fare for the cable car is 30MB, and the ten-minute fare is available (the queue time is uncertain). At the top of the mountain are mosques, Hindu temples, and a botanical garden with a battery car. Several viewing platforms are the best point to overlook the panoramic view of Penang. If you don't plan to go to the Botanical Garden, it is recommended to go to Penang Hill at 4-5 pm, you can see a beautiful sunset. The temperature on the mountain is lower than the mountain. If it hits the rain, it is recommended to bring a small jacket, if conditions permit. The cable car going up and down the mountain has to sit in the first row, especially down the mountain, a little low-speed roller coaster.

One-Day Penang Trip !! 🏝️❤️

Had the most wonderful short trip to Penang Island – stunning sights, delicious food, and unforgettable moments ! #penang #awesomepic

my wife was so enjoyed that I booked the hotel stay at Gurney Bay Hotel by Parkroyal. The next day, we early check out, took early flight in the morning, and see the Sun rising up in the sky so awesome ( even the weather was bad keep raining ) , what a wonderful holidays ended 😀.

best moments in penang . iIlove Penang so much. i love penang food so much . will come again.

Wandering through the streets of Penang Island

I happened to be traveling Penang during the Chinese New Year, thinking that Malaysia will not be as affected by it due to the distance, but once there I realized the cultural significance of Chinese New Year in Malaysia. There are many people who live there that celebrate it! Getting to Penang was a few hours bus ride from Kuala Lumpur, all the way to the ferry port. A quick ferry ride over to Penang Island and the holiday began! The wall murals are beautiful! It is what makes Penang Island unique! In the evening the roads become narrow as the restaurants add tables outside for diners. The lights leading you to and from your hotel are really beautiful, and everyone stops to take photos of the lit-up wall murals. Day markets, night markets, beaches, live entertainment and delicious food, a great trip! #100waysoftravel #historicallandmarks #localguides #familytrip #trip #instatravel #chinatown #summerdestinations #summervacation #mytravelhacks

Night cycling at penang🚲

Gurney area, Penang

More like a home stay. Short stay?

Penang

Penang nice 👍🏻

so many place to go food hunting 👍🏻 memorial place to learn enjoy with family u can go bukit bendera kampung agong batu feringgi escape park the habitat 3d art museum food art museum can rent bicycle around padang kota lama tokong snake rumah p ramlee eutopia for food u can try hameed pata mee sotong coconut shake pasembur ghani char kuey teow chendol ais tingkap jeruk pak ali dimsum kapitan

beautiful creature

A weekend destination with everything.

#weekendgetaways Over the years and being based in Singapore. We've explored several destinations in south east Asia. Many a times over the weekends as a quick getaway. From the easiest, and nearest venues in neighbouring Johor Baru to Melaka or even KL sometimes. We've also done places in Thailand and Indonesia. But a weekend getaway that scores on everything and is amongst the most comfortable option is the island city of Penang. It is so versatile in it's offerings. From beaches to nature hikes to islands nearby to culture, herritage and a charming food scene. Penang is so comfortable both in terms of stay and on the pocket. We never fall short of things to do and almost always stuff ourselves with too much food. It is amongst the friendliest of places you could find in south east Asia. As mentioned the food scene is top notch. Flights from Singapore are cheap in comparison and it doesn't take too long. Overall it's a very strong option if comparing with many other places. #weekendgetaways #beautiful_malaysia #culture #holidays #food #nightlife

Memorable meal in a traditional modern Japanese Restaurant 🍣

Dining at Robataya Japanese restaurant was an unforgettable experience. The ambience was warm and inviting, perfect for a memorable meal. The menu, a blend of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. The attentive, knowledgeable staff made excellent recommendations and enhanced the overall dining experience. Address - 2F-02, Queensbay Mall, 100, Persiaran Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 14300 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang Operating hours : 11:15 am–10:30 pm Avg. Price per Person - RM30 Rating - 4.3 / 5.0 #deliciousfood

Thai Coffee Bliss in Penang

#hiddengems Location : Cafe Amazon 90e, Gurney Dr, 10250 George Town, Penang Located at 90e, Gurney Dr, George Town, Penang, Café Amazon is a delightful haven for coffee lovers, offering a unique taste of Thailand. As the very first Café Amazon in Penang Island, it brings a distinctive experience with its rich, signature blend that has won the hearts of millions. The café meticulously sources its beans from selected farms across Thailand, ensuring high-quality coffee with every cup. These beans are expertly roasted at the Amazon Inspiring Campus, giving each brew a depth and complexity that is truly remarkable. The cozy ambiance, friendly staff, and aromatic coffee create a perfect spot for relaxation or catching up with friends. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Café Amazon provides an exceptional coffee experience that stands out among other cafés in Penang. This hidden gem is a must-visit for anyone seeking a genuinely satisfying cup of coffee. #trip #2024travel #2024trip #2024travelwish #timetotravel #tripblazers #historical #heritage

Excellent Beach Hotel in Tanjung Bungah, Penang. #mercurebeachhotelpenang

#2024 #penangbest #beautiful_malaysia Attractions - Penang Hill • Penang Bridge • Kek Lok Si • Escape Penang and many more places in Penang. Hotels - Bayview Hotel Georgetown Food & Restaurants - Local Street Food ( Penang Asam Laksa • Lok Lok • Char Kurt Teow • Cendol • Hokkien Mee • Nasi Lemak) Shopping - Queensbay Mall, Gurney Plaza, Gurney Paragon , 1st Avenue, Prangin Mall and etc.