Things to do in  Penang

Hidden in a maze of alleyways in Georgetown sits Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House & Museum), one of Malaysia’s most important clan houses. The legacy of the house dates back more than 650 years to the Khoo Kongsi clan from west China and manifests itself in intricate carvings, murals, and timberwork.

Kek Lok Si Temple, which translates from Hokkien as the the Temple of Serene Bliss, stands majestically on the slopes of Air Itam, a hill on Penang Island. The largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, Kek Lok Si attracts thousands of visitors with its 7-story white-and-gold pagoda, golden statues, and an elevated setting that provides panoramic views.

Characterized by glittering stupas and fearsome green dragons, the Thai Buddhist Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple (Wat Chayamangkalaram) is one of the most ornate in Penang. The temple’s extravagant exterior alludes to the giant reclining Buddha statue inside, whose position signifies peace and freedom from the material world. Opposite the Thai temple sits a Burmese temple of similar grandeur.

A colonial-era hill station, Penang Hill sits behind George Town, about 2,733 feet (833 meters) above sea level. Visit in style on the Penang Hill Funicular Railway, a cliff-side railway dating back to 1924. The trains and tracks are modern, and the sheer ascents through the jungle and over bridges make for a spectacular journey.

The acid-green Pinang Peranakan Mansion offers insight into the culture of the Peranakans (Babas, a community from the China Straits. Inside, more than 1,000 items showcase the affluence of a typical Baba household, while cosmopolitan decor combines traditional Chinese-carved wood panels with English and Scottish features.

Little India is the heart of multicultural Penang’s ethnic Indian community. It’s where you can find South Indian-style temples, food, market stalls, and other stores that are quite distinct from those elsewhere. Penang’s Little India doesn’t cover a very large area, but it’s within the UNESCO Penang Heritage Zone of George Town.

Reigning supreme from the center of Penang Island, Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera Pulau Pinang) offers travelers much more than panoramic views. Ride up in a century-old funicular, or take a hike, keeping an eye out for grey macaques and elusive dusky leaf monkeys. At the top, you’ll find a Hindu temple, an owl museum, and even an earthquake and typhoon pavilion.

Set atop a hill in George Town, the 68-story Komtar skyscraper towers above Penang and houses a range of dining and entertainment options. From the Rainbow Skywalk, a glass bridge suspended 816 feet (249 meters) above the city, to aquariums, amusement rides, and 200 animatronic dinosaurs, there’s plenty to see and do here.

Known by locals as the Blue Mansion, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors with its architectural fusion of European and Chinese styles. Featured in the Oscar-winning movieIndochine, the mansion, an important part of George Town’s heritage, is now part hotel, part museum. Indigo blue walls and decadent ornamentation make for stunning photographs.

An essential stop for history buffs, Fort Cornwallis is an 18th-century fortress that played a significant role in the history of Penang. The structure, one of the largest standing forts in Malaysia, was built to defend Penang against pirate attacks and is still, to this day, guarded by vigilant cannons.

Opened in 1985 following 15 years of planning, Penang Bridge (Jambatan Pulau Pinang) connects George Town in Penang with Seberang Prai on the Malaysian mainland. At 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers), the cable-stayed toll bridge is the second longest in the country and the fifth longest in Southeast Asia.

When Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm opened in 1986 as the Penang Butterfly Farm, it was the first facility of its kind anywhere in the tropics. This living museum showcases more than 15,000 rare, endangered, and indigenous butterflies and dragonflies representing some 120 species alongside 200 species of plants. A multistory indoor discovery center known as the Cocoon lets visitors explore the world of invertebrates through a series of hands-on exhibits and activities. Entopia doubles as a research and conservation center for butterflies, insects, and their habitats.

An intoxicating blend of street art, clan houses, temples, and stores makes Penang Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) one of the most popular streets in George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage zone. Love Me Like Your Fortune Cat and Ernest Zacharevic’s Little Children on a Bicycle are two of Penang’s most Instagrammed artworks.

Set in a former quarry below Penang Hill, the 71-acre (29-hectare) Penang Botanic Gardens (Taman Botani Pulau Pinang) blend jungle with formal gardens to magical effect. Founded in 1884, and sometimes known as the Waterfall Gardens for the stream that tumbles through them, they’re crisscrossed with walking trails.

Touted as one of the country’s best state museums, the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery covers Penang’s history, including the settlement of the islands and the Penang Riots. The museum’s collection also showcases the cultural heritage that developed along the way, from the Peranakan people to British colonial influence to today.