Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia

Located off the north-west coast of Malaysia, Penang is an island with beautiful beaches, rich multicultural history, and a reputation of being the “food paradise” of Malaysia. Formerly called the “Pearl of the Orient”, this quiet colonial island has grown into a bustling hotspot where you can discover the cultural heritage of Malaysia and taste some if the country’s finest dishes. The island of Penang can be easily reached by ferry from Butterworth or Langkwai.

When you escape to fascinating Penang on your travels around Malaysia, what will you discover while you are here? There are many excellent things to see and do on the island, and here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Take a Walk around Georgetown

The capital city of Penang, Georgetown has many beautiful old houses and shops alongside 19th century churches, mosques and temples, leaving no surprise as to why the city itself was designated an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in 1786 by a British trader, and it now one of the largest cities in Malaysia. While you are in Georgetown, be sure to head to the central core of the city where the highest concentration of historical buildings will be found. You can take a tour of the 1890s mansion of Cheong Fatt Tze, a prominent Hakka Chinese merchant who was known as the “Rockefeller of the East”. It is also a great place to head in the evenings, and you can have a fresh and delicious meal from a street vendor and sip cool and refreshing drinks in the humid Malaysian air. Penang is renowned for its cuisine, so you will have a choice of some of the best food in the country! Enjoy!

Have a Quiet Moment at the Temple of Supreme Bliss

This enormous hillside building is thought to be the largest Buddhist temple in all of South East Asia. It’s stunning canopy and large-scale Buddha and goddess sculptures are definitely worth the visit. If you are visiting Penang during the Chinese New Year period, this temple will be lit up with hundreds of glowing lanterns which adds a magical atmosphere to the night. The temple is located close to the village of Air Itam, and you can reach it via taxi from Georgetown or a bus. If you can plan your visit for a weekday, you will avoid the crowds.

Go for a walk at Penang Botanic Gardens

Enjoy the peace and tranquility of these free public gardens. They were designed in 1884, and contain their own little waterfall within a lush green oasis of native flowers and plants. The garden is popular with locals, who like to meditate, practice Tai Chi, and go for walks in its quiet and naturally beautiful surroundings.

These a just a few of the many great things that you can do while visiting the island of Penang, Malaysia.

Simon Grant of timetowander.com wrote this article on behalf of Etihad Aiways who are now running flights to Malaysia.

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