Travel Tips: What to do in Penang, Malaysia

Here's a short simple guide on things to do and places to go in Penang. They include some of my favourite places to go whenever I am back home in Penang.

Check out this page for the list of places to eat.


Recommended places to go for a heritage feel


{ Heritage sites around Armenian Street } Spot all the street art around the area! Old shophouses with charming shops.

{ Visit the clan temples } Khoo Kongsi, Cheah Kongsi, Yap Kongsi and many more.

{ Walk the planks of the clan jetties } Tan Jetty has nice long plank-y walk out to the sea. Be careful!

{ Visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion } At 29 Church Street. Baba and Nyonya architecture, furniture and antiques.

{ Around Light St and Beach St (Lebuh Pantai) } Beach Street is also known locally as “Bank Street” with many colonial style buildings. Light Street has the Victoria Clock Tower, Fort Cornwallis, Town Hall, City Hall, etc.

Recommended places to go for a spiritual feel (and food)


 { Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Temple) } At Masjid Kapitan Keling Road. Lor Mee next to the temple is pretty good.

{ Kapitan Keling Mosque } At Masjid Kapitan Keling Road. Famous ‘Nasi Kandar Beratur’ next to it – Beratur means queue, so be prepared to do that! Opens at 10pm onwards, till late!

{ All the clan temples around the heritage area } Khoo Kongsi, Cheah Kongsi, Yap Kongsi, Teochew Temple, etc.

{ St George’s Church } At Farquhar Street.

 { Kek Lok Si Temple } In Air Itam. Can have the famous Asam Laksa next to the Air Itam market after visiting, and my favourite “squatting” Curry Mee.

{ Snake Temple } In Bayan Lepas. There used to be many snakes around the temples, but there are now only a handful. A little far from the city!

Recommended places to go for shopping (and food)


 { Along Gurney Drive } This is the main shopping street with Gurney Plaza, and the new Paragon. If you shop till night fall, you can eat at the Gurney Drive Hawkers Centre. Lots of choices, with some good food even though it may be packed with tourists. Prices may be a little steeper than other places. Lots of laksa stalls (walk around, and try to sniff for the best stall!), char koay teow (look for the one with long queue), ‘jiu hu eng chai’ (cuttlefish salad with kangkung), rojak (Ah Chye’s Rojak). After eating, walk along the drive for sea breeze.

{ Straits Quay } In the newly developed Seri Tanjong Pinang. Not really for shopping, but a nice area to hang out for food and interesting shops. With a marina with yachts.

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