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thingstodoinpenang-blog · 6 years

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Top 10 Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia - Attractions in Penang Island

Penang, Malaysia, which is also known as "The Pearl of Orient" has been a favorite destination for local and foreign tourists alike. Recently voted as the second best destination among "The 44 Places To Go in 2009? by New York Times readers, Penang is never short of great food, beautiful beaches and cultures.

Here are some recommendations you must not miss out when you visit Penang: -

1 - Take the Walking Tour of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site

George Town in Penang is recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site as one of the "Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca", the other being, Malacca. Visit the popular attractions such as Fort Cornwallis, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, The City Hall, Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee clock tower, just to name a few to witness colonial buildings from the British era.

2 - Visit Nearby Islands (things to do in Penang)

Besides Penang Island, the nearby islands such as Pulau Jerejak, Pulau Aman and Pulau Betong, which offers a more peaceful atmosphere as compared to the developed Penang Island, are worth visiting.

3 - Check Out Juru Highway Auto-City

Drop by Juru Highway Auto-City in Juru, whether it is for international cuisine or just for a cup of coffee, this is the place to be. With over 30 F&B and entertainment outlets, banks, auto showrooms and service centers, fashion boutiques and more, you can never leave Penang without stopping by this place.

4 - Shop Endlessly at Flea Markets, Night Markets and Shopping Malls

From the traditional flea markets and night markets (pasar malam) to the modern shopping complexes, Penang has it all. Visit Little India or drop by the largest mall in Penang, Queensbay Mall for great shopping experience.

5 - Cross Penang Bridge

Don't forget to cross Penang Bridge, one of the longest bridges in Asia as it offers spectacular view of Penang Island. Connecting the mainland to Penang Island, Penang Bridge is also the host to the annual Penang Bridge International Marathon.

6 - Go on a Ferry Ride from Butterworth

Ride the Ferry from Butterworth to Penang Island and enjoy the scenery view of Penang. The ferry houses both vehicles and passengers, where passengers who drive can also enjoy the ride.

7 - Visit Kek Lok Si, the Largest Buddhist Temple in Southeast Asia

Kek Lok Si Temple, located in Ayer Itam, Penang, is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. The best known temple in Penang, Kek Lok Si houses a seven storey pagoda, a bronze statue of Kuan Yin, several large halls for assembly and prayer, statues of Buddha.

8 - Take the Train Up to Penang Hill

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera in Malay) is a popular tourist spot in Penang, where tourists are able to view the entire Penang Island from the peak of Penang Hill. The most convenient way up to the peak through Penang Hill Railway, a funicular railway which has been in service since 1923!

9 - Enjoy the Sunset at Batu Ferringhi Beach or Tanjung Bungah Beach

Batu Ferringhi Beach is a popular beach in Penang that is well-known for its beautiful beach and scenery. It also houses large hotels, restaurants, pubs and night markets. Tanjung Bungah, which is also a popular tourist destination for its beaches, is the cheaper alternative to Batu Ferringhi.

10 - Sample the Popular Hawker Fare in Gurney Drive

Gurney Drive boasts of some of Penang island best street food from Char Kuey Teow to Asam Laksa, from Ice Kacang to Rojak. Penang is known for its food haven and the hawker food here are among the best in the world.

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thingstodoinpenang-blog · 6 years

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12 Things to Do in Penang

Penang, Malaysia has been known as one of Southeast Asia's finest destinations for many years now. Aptly called as "Pearl of the Orient", Penang offers amazing cultural heritage and diverse population which cannot be found anywhere else around the globe. In general, Penang is a great place all by itself and travelers find this small place full of interesting things to do and many places to visit even on foot. Here are some recommended things you must do while visiting Penang.

01 Climb up Penang Hill: Your trip to Penang should include Penang Hill. This popular tourist spot is also known as Bukit Bendera, referring to its most developed peak, the Flagstaff Hill. The most recommended way up to Penang Hill is through the Penang Hill Railway. This is a funicular railway that will bring passengers all the way up to Flagstaff Hill. Funicular train leaves every 20-25 minutes interval and carries up to 80 passengers per trip. Penang Hill is also accessible by 4x4 vehicles through the "jeep track" which is a tarred road most commonly used by residents of the hill.

There are also trails that one can follow such as Moongate trail, trail from Air Itam Dam to Tiger Hill, trail from Hye Keat Estate and one coming from the Municipality Park. From Penang Botanical Gardens, it will take 3 hours to reach the top of the hill by foot.

02 Shop at Batu Ferringhi Night Bazaar: Batu Ferringhi Night Bazaar is a nightly affair in Batu Ferrunghi starting from 7pm until 1am. After the sun sets in, the whole stretch of Batu Ferringi is transformed into a night market definitely worth checking out. You will find over 1000 stalls in Batu Ferringhi which are lined near the main road. Shopping addicts will surely have a high time sorting out goods ranging from clothes to paintings and everything in between.

03 Enjoy food and sight at Gurney Drive: Gurney Drive is famous for its mouth watering cuisine. Aside from the food, this road is made popular by having the best view of the sunset. Just outside the Georgetown City, Gurney Drive faces the sea of Penang, truly a relaxing experience and quite fulfilling to the stomach as well. Dinners are served in this side of town where most hawker stalls open around 6pm. One can find something to please the palate, for sure. Top 3 recommended dishes to try are: Char Keow Teow, Asam Laksa and Hokkien Mee. You will also find Gurney Plaza Shopping Center in Gurney Drive which is one of the famous shopping spot in Penang. You will find popular Malaysian and foreign brands in Gurney Plaza.

04 Be a Shopaholic: With all the shopping centers in Penang, you will never run out of options. Penang is considered as the biggest shopping destination in northern Malaysia with huge department stores and shopping malls in and out of the island. Queensbay Shopping Mall in Bayan Lepas is the largest and longest shopping mall in Penang Island housing more than 400 local and international shops. Gurney Plaza, on the other hand, has the biggest Cineplex in northern Malaysia. Pranglin Plaza is noted for local finds.

05 Enjoy dazzling 360 view of Penang from KOMTAR: During your visit to KOMTAR, go to the 60th floor to enjoy the fascinating 360 view of the Penang Island. KOMTAR is the tallest building in Penang and proved to be an important landmark for the area. This building houses government offices, shopping complexes, hotels and exhibition center.

06 Ride a ferry from Butterworth: A ferry ride from Butterworth is hard to miss since this is the main gateway to Penang Island. All ferry rides to Penang come from Butterworth terminal and provide a great photo opportunity for travelers featuring a magnificent landscape. The ferries run 24 hours a day.

07 Take a Georgetown Heritage Walk: Of course, Penang travel is more or less equivalent to Georgetown Heritage Walk. Georgetown Heritage Walk features century-old, historical sites and religious temples from various faiths. It is located at the northeastern side of Penang Island. Some of its famous attractions are the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Fort Cornwallis, Penang Islamic Museum, Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Queen Victoria Clock Tower.

08 Enjoy nightlife in Upper Penang Road: Your day in Penang is not yet over after dark, check out Georgetown's nightlife in upper Penang road with live music, DJs and bands. Karaoke is a popular activity, aside from dancing and just plain chilling out. Bring your friends for a round of singing and drinking til wee hours of the morning!

09 Cross Penang Bridge, one of the largest in the world: Penang Bridge is Asia's longest bridge and it offers a spectacular view of Penang. This bridge is the pride and joy of Penang and a national landmark. It is also a standing symbol of Penang's economic development. Penang Bridge is host to annual Penang Bridge Marathon.

10 Visit largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia: The Buddhist temple of Kek Lok Si is situated in Ait Itam and it is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Kek Lok Si Temple is home to series of monasteries, prayer halls, temples and beautifully landscaped gardens. It is also the best known temple in Penang, Malaysia.

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