Itineraries for Your Trip to Penang
2 Days in Penang for First Timers
I was initially drawn to Penang thanks to its status as Malaysia’s culinary capital—all of the travelers I’d met on my Asia backpacking trip raved about the quality of the street food, which was a heady mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay flavors. I arrived thinking my stay here would be purely about food, but I soon realized that there’s much more to Penang than just its cuisine—it’s packed with historical architecture, temples, night markets, and even has a white-sand beach.
If you’ve got two days in the city, prepare for culture and cuisine by the bucketload. Here’s how to spend two days exploring Penang as a first-timer.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a Penang street food tour.
Penang is hot and muggy year-round, so make sure your accommodation has air-conditioning if you struggle with the heat.
With its historic mansions and street-art-smothered walls, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town is Penang’s undisputed highlight. Spend your first morning at highlights such as Penang Armenian Street, famous for its graffiti, and the mint-green Pinang Peranakan Mansion, home to more than 1,000 historical artifacts.
While it’s tempting to spend your entire time in Penang eating, a cooking class is an excellent way to learn skills you can share with friends and family on your return home. As well as helping you navigate a bustling market for ingredients, cooking classes help you master classic Penang dishes such as char kway teow (stir-friend noodles with juicy prawns).
Round out your first day in Penang at the Straits and Oriental Museum, a cultural center that showcases everything from Chinese pottery to items recovered from shipwrecks. Then, jump in a cab to Kek Lok Si Temple on the edge of the city, which is one of Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temples and looks particularly stunning when illuminated.
This morning, swap Penang’s busy streets for the rice paddies and palm trees of the surrounding countryside on a cycling tour. Spend the morning pedaling around the off-the-beaten-path suburb of Balik Pulaufor a refreshing take on Penang Island.
Reset this afternoon with some relaxed sightseeing back in George Town. Delve deeper into the history of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on a guided tour of the electric blue house before heading to Love Land to enjoy an iced coffee at one of the many bohemian cafés.
Now, it’s time for the creme de la creme—dive into Penang’s street food scene. You’ll learn to eat like a local on this evening food tour, introducing you to a mix of signature dishes and lesser-known favorites. Come hungry, as you’ll feast on everything from spiced pork rolls and noodle soup to brown sugar biscuits and exotic fruit.
