Penang Travel TipsPenang Travel Tips (16 March 2020)

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 Discover with Timothy

Guide to visit Penang and make it your home

B. Melayu

Hello and welcome to Penang Travel Tips. My name is Timothy Tye. I created this website as a guide to visit Penang and to make it your home. It is not just a website for travellers. It is more a place information encyclopedia. If you are looking to acquire real estate in Peanang, this is the place to start.

As a property specialist, I realise that people need useful information to make informed decisions when it comes to acquiring real estate. This website is the result of the research I carried out on the local real estate. At the same time, it is also an encyclopedia of place information, not only of Penang, but also of Malaysia, Singapore, and many other places.

Discover Penang Road By Road

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Penang Place Information

To help you find what you want about Penang, use the Sight Directory of Penang which lists 4196 Penang sights, a Business Directory of Penang listing 212 types of businesses in Penang, and a Street Directory listing 1609 streets in Penang. And that's not all. Also within this website is an online, audio-enabled Penang Hokkien Dictionary with over 5,500 words.

About Penang Travel Tips

Penang Travel Tips is one of the most comprehensive English-language resources about Penang, with a growing body of information on other cities in Malaysia as well as Singapore.

The Penang Travel Tips website was started on 26 July, 2008, when I relocated my Penang content from my earlier site, AsiaExplorers. Over time however, more and more non-Penang content was moved across to be housed here. As of 22 March, 2017, it has 20,018 pages and receives some 2,000,000 page views per month. On 1 September 2017, I split this website into two, with non-Penang content gradually moved to my new Timothy Tye website. As of 12 November, 2017, all my Asia content has been moved, with relocation of non-Asia content planned for a later date.

Penang Travel Tips was initially created to satisfy my curiosity about the world around me. Over time, it has become my personal encyclopedia of place information. The pages on Penang Travel Tips date as far back as 2003, and have been updated countless times. Every page is built like a layer cake, with information updates being carried out on it from time to time. The result is a body of knowledge that has become a useful source of reference material not only for casual tourists, but also by the locals, students, teachers, journalists, just about anybody seeking fast information about Penang and elsewhere.

I was born and raised in Penang, and I have a deep passion for the state and its people, as well as for the documentation of its cultural heritage. Aside from Penang Travel Tips, I am the co-founder of AnakPinang, a Facebook-based community of Penangites, to build a better Penang for all its people. On 20 May 2020, I established SojiMart, a platform to help people sell things on Facebook without having to pay commission or any associated fees.

About me

My name is Timothy Tye and I am the author of this website as well as the Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel. I am a subject matter expert oin the field of Penang culture and heritage, and have written extensively about the history, architecture and food of Penang as well as of Malaysia and Singapore.

How to reach Penang

You can reach Penang by taking the plane, arriving at the Penang International Airport; by driving, usually using the North-South Expressway; by taking the Electric Train Service trains; by taking the ferry from Langkawi and Medan; and from taking cruiseliners.

Accommodation in Penang

  1. List of Penang Hotels: Alphabetical list of Penang hotels with their GPS coordinates.
  2. Fast Guide to Choosing Penang Hotels: Dunno which hotel to choose? Let me show you one-by-one with original photos taken of the rooms of over a dozen Penang hotels.

 Information for selecting a hotel in Penang

What to see in Penang

  1. 12 Top Tourist Attractions of Penang: Don't know what to see? Here's my recommendation, if you don't have much time to discover Penang.

  2. Travel Privilege Card: The Travel Privilege Card offers its holder discount for entry to various destinations in Penang and other Malaysian cities.

 Geography of Penang

Administratively, Penang State is divided into five main districts called the Northeast District (Daerah Timur Laut), Southwest District (Daerah Barat Daya), North Penang Mainland (Seberang Perai Utara), Central Penang Mainland (Seberang Perai Tengah) and South Penang Mainland (Seberang Perai Selatan). To help you find your way, I have grouped the places in Penang by the following major towns.

Location of places in Penang on the map

 Map of Roads in Penang

Click the above link to view map of the streets in Penang that I have described.

 Introducing Penang

 Planning your trip to Penang

 Visitor Transport Information

If you are planning a trip to Penang, here's the information to help you plan your visit!

 Exploring Penang

Whether you plan to explore Penang on your own, by taking public transport, or rented car, or even walk about the city, the information is here. Also, if you are planning to engage a tour guide to show you around, the information is also here.

 Going on Foot in George Town

George Town - the inner city anyway - is a very walkable place, especially during the weekends. It is possible to explore and discover George Town on foot, or you may also hire a bicycle or tricycle and ride around.

 Eating in Penang

Penang is one of Malaysia's most famous food destinations. It is particularly famous among Malaysians for its street food. However, over the past two decades, Penang has become increasingly popular for its many restaurants as well.

Timothy Tye's Penang Eating Tips

Penang is famous as a street food destination, so I am often asked, what I like to eat. Since this same question is being repeated to me over and over, I decided to create a page to answer it, so that I never have to do it in person ever again!

Details

 The types of dining outlets in Penang

  1. Coffee Shops of Penang: "Coffee Shops" is where you get most of Penang's street food. Although there are still itinerant hawkers in the streets, many have moved to permanent locations in coffee shops and hawker centres.

  2. Hawker Centres in Penang: Hawker centres are usually large, open-air coffee shops. The hawker stalls are usually lined up in the periphery.

  3. Restaurants in Penang: Although many coffee shops call themselves "restaurants", the term here is used for air conditioned eateries, a large number of which can be found in shopping malls.

  4. Food Courts in Penang: Food courts are open concept air conditioned dining outlets in shopping malls.

 Penang Hawker Food

The hawker food of Penang is world famous, with names such as laksa and char koay teow having rounded the globe.

  1. Guide to Good Penang Street Good: All you need to know, to unlock the local secrets of good street food in Penang.

  2. Penang Food Recommendations: Recommendations of what to eat and where, when in Penang.

  3. Penang Hawker Food: An alphabetical list of some of the most famous hawker food of Penang.

  4. Local Drinks of Penang: There are specific drinks which the locals order when patronizing the coffee shops. This is a guide to how to call the drinks.

  5. 5 Fabulous Char Koay Teow: Char Koay Teow is one of the most popular hawker food in Penang. Here's my personal favourites at one go.

 Categories of eateries in Penang

 All about Penang Food

 Cooking in Penang

Not only is Penang street food famous around the world, the dishes cooked at home is also famous, but often visitors do not have the privilege to taste these homecooked items, unless they are fortunate to be invited into someone's home. My own wife happens to be a superb cook, especially of local pastries called kuih. In this section, I provide a selection of dishes cooked by my wife.

Tim & Chooi Yoke's Home Cooking

My wife and I are much into homecooked food, and we would like to share with you our joy of Home Cooking.

Details

 Learn Penang Hokkien

For over a hundred years, the Chinese people of Penang speak a dialect of Hokkien known as Penang Hokkien, long before Mandarin was introduced to the region. It was the lingua franca of the various Chinese ethnic groups in Penang, regardless whether or not they are Hokkien. As with so many local dialects in the world, Penang Hokkien is today one of the threatened dialects, as parents often prefer to speak Mandarin or English to their children, yet continuing to use Penang Hokkien when conversing among themselves or with their own parents.

Penangites are incredibly proud that we speak our own variant of Hokkien called Penang Hokkien. To ensure that our Penang Hokkien do not die away, Penang Travel Tips has its own online dictionary that uses Taiji Romanisation, a home-grown romanisation that takes into account the speakers' familiarity to English, Malay and Mandarin.

Dictionary

Want to learn Penang Hokkien? We have a free course to teach you the language, just go to Learn Penang Hokkien right here.

 Get to know Penang Hokkien

 Administration of Penang State

The executive authority of the Penang State Government is under the Penang State Executive Council, which since the 2018 State Election is headed by the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang.

The Penang State Legislative Assembly is a unicameral 40-seat assembly which convenes at the State Assembly Building on Light Street. Members of the assembly are called State Assemblymen (Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri or ADUN). As of the 2023 State Election, the Pakatang Harapan (PH) coalition won 29 out of the 40 seats, of which PH won 27 while Barisan Nasional (BN) won 2. Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition won the 11 remaining seats. List of the 2023 Penang State Assemblymen here.

In the 2018 State Election, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition commanded a supermajority in the legislature, with 37 out of the 40 seats, comprising 19 from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), 10 from the People's Justice Party (PKR), 2 from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (PPBM) and 2 from the National Trust Party (Amanah). The state opposition is made up of 2 seats from the National Front (BN) and 1 from the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).

Penang State is divided into five districts namely Daerah Timur-Laut and Daerah Barat-Daya on Penang Island, and Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan on Penang Mainland.

The local governments of Penang State comprises the Penang Island City Council, which administers the City of Penang Island, inclusive of George Town, headed by the Mayor of the City of Penang Island, and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council, which administers Penang Mainland, headed by the President of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. At time of this update (May 2018), the Mayor of the City of Penang Island is Mr Yew Tung Seang while the President of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council is Mr Rozali Mohamud.

 Places to get Tourist Brochures in Penang

 Taking the Bus in Penang

 Other Public Transport in Penang

 Driving in Penang

 Cycling in Penang

 Postal Services in Penang

 Vital Contacts in Penang

Getting started on Penang Real Estate

Whether you are planning to buy a house, a shop, an office, a factory, a hotel or land in Penang, the first thing you need to do is to understand the locality. In this section, I explain to you every locality in Penang, so that you have a better idea what type of property you can expect there, and at what price level. For the sake of easy comprehension the property types are residential, commercial, industrial and land, while price levels are low-cost, low-medium-cost, medium-cost, upper-medium-cost and high-end. Residential real estate can be further divided to flats & apartments, condominiums & serviced residences, landed houses and gated communities. Landed houses in Penang include terrace houses, townhouses, semi-detached houses and detached houses, bungalows and villas.

At any point, if you need personal assistance, please email me at penangtraveltips at gmail dot com, or whatsapp me at +60-12 429 9844.

Information on the residential real estate in Penang

Planning to buy, sell or rent a house, condominium or apartment unit in Penang? This website provides you with useful information.

Luxury Condos For Sale in Penang

Looking for luxury condominiums for sale in Penang? Review the available units right here.

Details

Guide to High-Rise Residential Properties in Penang

If you need information on high-rise residential properties in Penang (condominiums, apartments, serviced residences, etc.), here's a list of properties to go through.

Details

Guide to House Estates in Penang

If you need information on houses, here's a list of the housing estates in Penang.

Details

Penang Real Estate by Locality

New to Penang and not sure which locality to choose? Use this guide to understand Penang real estate by locality.

Details

 Categories of sights in Penang

If you operate a business with an address in Malaysia, submit this form to have your business listed in my directory. Listing is free of charge.

  1. 7-Eleven Stores in Penang

  2. Accounting Firms in Penang

  3. Acupuncture Centres in Penang

  4. Advertisement Billboard Makers in Penang

  5. AEON Malls in Penang

  6. Aid Organisations in Penang

  7. Air-Conditioner Sellers in Penang

  8. Air-Conditioner Servicing & Repairs in Penang

  9. Alternative Medicine Centres in Penang

  10. Anakku Stores in Penang

  11. Antiques in Penang

  12. Apartments in Penang

  13. Aquariums in Penang

  14. Architects in Penang

  15. Army Camps in Penang

  16. Art Centres in Penang

  17. Art Galleries in Penang

  18. Associations in Penang

  19. Auditoriums in Penang

  20. Auto Gates in Penang

  21. Auto Repair Shops in Penang

  22. Auto Service Centres in Penang

  23. Auto Spray Painting Shops in Penang

  24. Baba Nyonya in Penang

  25. Baby Products in Penang

  26. Bakeries in Penang

  27. Baking Supplies in Penang

  28. Banks in Penang

  29. Barbers in Penang

  30. Bathroom Fixtures in Penang

  31. Batik in Penang

  32. Beaches in Penang

  33. Beauty Parlours in Penang

  34. Bee Cheng Hiang Barbecued Meat in Penang

  35. Bicycles in Penang

  36. Blood Test Labs in Penang

  37. Books in Penang

  38. Book Stores in Penang

  39. Boutiques in Penang

  40. Brassware in Penang

  41. Bridal Houses in Penang

  42. Bridges in Penang

  43. Buddhist Temples in Penang

  44. Bus Terminals in Penang

  45. Butchers in Penang

  46. Cameras in Penang

  47. Car Accessories in Penang

  48. Car Air-Conditioners in Penang

  49. Car Parks in Penang

  50. Car Rentals in Penang

  51. Car Repairs in Penang

  52. Car Showrooms in Penang

  53. Car Wash in Penang

  54. Carpets in Penang

  55. Caterers in Penang

  56. Cemeteries in Penang

  57. Child-Care Centres in Penang

  58. Chinese Medical Halls in Penang

  59. Chinese Physicians in Penang

  60. Chinese Prayer Articles in Penang

  61. Chinese Temples in Penang

  62. Chinese Wedding Masters of Ceremony in Penang

  63. Chiropractors in Penang

  64. Churches in Penang

  65. Clan Associations in Penang

  66. Clan Temples in Penang

  67. Cleaning Services in Penang

  68. Clinics in Penang

  69. Clocks in Penang

  70. Clock Towers in Penang

  71. Coins in Penang

  72. Colleges in Penang

  73. Commercial Properties in Penang

  74. Computer Hardware in Penang

  75. Computer Repair in Penang

  76. Condominiums in Penang

  77. Confinement Centres in Penang

  78. Construction Companies in Penang

  79. Construction Material in Penang

  80. Consulates in Penang

  81. Consultancy Firms in Penang

  82. Contractors in Penang

  83. Convention Centres in Penang

  84. Cooking Gas in Penang

  85. Cosway Sales Centres in Penang

  86. Crockery Dealers in Penang

  87. Curtains in Penang

  88. Dance Studios in Penang

  89. DAP Service Centres in Penang

  90. Dental Clinics in Penang

  91. Department Stores in Penang

  92. Design Agencies in Penang

  93. Developers in Penang

  94. Dialysis Centres in Penang

  95. DIGI Stores in Penang

  96. Driving Schools in Penang

  97. Econsave Super/Hypermarkets in Penang

  98. Electrical Appliances in Penang

  99. Electricians in Penang

  100. Emcees (Masters of Ceremony) in Penang

  101. Equipment Suppliers in Penang

  102. Event Management in Penang

  103. Express Bus Companies in Penang

  104. Expressways in Penang

  105. Exterminators in Penang

  106. Factories in Penang

  107. Fashion Accessories in Penang

  108. Financial Institutions in Penang

  109. Fire Stations in Penang

  110. Fitness Centres in Penang

  111. Flats in Penang

  112. Flea Markets in Penang

  113. Flooring in Penang

  114. Florists in Penang

  115. Flyer Distributors in Penang

  116. Food Deliverers in Penang

  117. Foot Reflexology in Penang

  118. Forest Parks in Penang

  119. Forts in Penang

  120. Fountains in Penang

  121. Framing in Penang

  122. Freight Forwarders in Penang

  123. Funeral Parlours in Penang

  124. Furniture in Penang

  125. Garden Centres in Penang

  126. Georgetown Pharmacy outlets in Penang

  127. Giant Super/Hypermarkets in Penang

  128. Gift Shops in Penang

  129. Golf Courses in Penang

  130. Government Buildings in Penang

  131. Government Departments in Penang

  132. Government Quarters in Penang

  133. Graves in Penang

  134. Green Building Consultants in Penang

  135. Guardian Pharmacy outlets in Penang

  136. Gurdwaras in Penang

  137. Gyms in Penang

  138. Hair-Dressing Salons in Penang

  139. Handicrafts in Penang

  140. Happy Mart outlets in Penang

  141. Hardware Stores in Penang

  142. Heavy Machineries in Penang

  143. Heritage Sites in Penang

  144. Hindu Temples in Penang

  145. Historic Buildings in Penang

  146. Home Furnishing in Penang

  147. Hospitals in Penang

  148. Housing Estates in Penang

  149. Hypermarkets in Penang

  150. Indian Fashion Accessories in Penang

  151. Industrial Parks in Penang

  152. Infrastructures in Penang

  153. Insurance in Penang

  154. Interior Decorators in Penang

  155. International Schools in Penang

  156. Internet Cafes in Penang

  157. Internet Service Providers in Penang

  158. Islands in Penang

  159. IT Solutions in Penang

  160. Jetties in Penang

  161. Jewellery in Penang

  162. Keadilan Service Centres in Penang

  163. Kindergartens in Penang

  164. Kitchens in Penang

  165. Kitchen Utensils in Penang

  166. Klinik Kesihatan (Government Clinics) in Penang

  167. Laundrettes in Penang

  168. Law Firms in Penang

  169. Learning Centres in Penang

  170. Libraries in Penang

  171. Lighthouses in Penang

  172. Lighting in Penang

  173. Liquor in Penang

  174. Localities in Penang

  175. Locksmiths in Penang

  176. Low-Cost Flats in Penang

  177. Luggage Bags in Penang

  178. Luggage Repair in Penang

  179. Maid Agencies in Penang

  180. Madrasahs in Penang

  181. Manicurists in Penang

  182. Markets in Penang

  183. Massage Centres in Penang

  184. Massage by the Blind in Penang

  185. Mausoleums in Penang

  186. Maxis Customer Centres in Penang

  187. Medical Labs in Penang

  188. Medical Specialists in Penang

  189. Medicated Tea Stalls in Penang

  190. Metal Works in Penang

  191. Mini Markets in Penang

  192. Mobile Motorcycle Mechanics in Penang

  193. Mobile Phone Shops in Penang

  194. Modern Buildings in Penang

  195. Money Changers in Penang

  196. Monuments in Penang

  197. Moral Uplifting Societies in Penang

  198. Mosques in Penang

  199. Motorcycles in Penang

  200. Motorcycle Repair in Penang

  201. Moving Companies in Penang

  202. Multi-Purpose Halls in Penang

  203. Multimedia in Penang

  204. Museums in Penang

  205. Music Schools in Penang

  206. Musical Instruments in Penang

  207. Nature Sites in Penang

  208. Neighbourhoods in Penang

  209. Newsagents in Penang

  210. Newspapers in Penang

  211. Night Markets in Penang

  212. Novelties in Penang

  213. Nurseries in Penang

  214. Nursing Homes in Penang

  215. Nutritional Products in Penang

  216. Odd Job Workers in Penang

  217. Office Equipment in Penang

  218. Old Folks Homes in Penang

  219. Opticians in Penang

  220. Organic Food in Penang

  221. Organisations in Penang

  222. Palaces in Penang

  223. Pawn Shops in Penang

  224. Parks in Penang

  225. Pedestrian Bridges in Penang

  226. Pedestrian Malls in Penang

  227. Penang Assemblies in Penang

  228. Pet Grooming in Penang

  229. Pet Shops in Penang

  230. Petrol Stations in Penang

  231. Pharmacies in Penang

  232. Photo Studios in Penang

  233. Photocopiers in Penang

  234. Plant Nurseries in Penang

  235. Plastic Surgeons in Penang

  236. Playing Fields in Penang

  237. Plumbers in Penang

  238. Police Stations in Penang

  239. Post Offices in Penang

  240. Precision Instruments in Penang

  241. Print Shops in Penang

  242. Private Colleges in Penang

  243. Public Health Clinics in Penang

  244. Public Services Departments in Penang

  245. Public Toilets in Penang

  246. Railway Stations in Penang

  247. Rattan in Penang

  248. Real Estate Agencies in Penang

  249. Recreation Clubs in Penang

  250. Recruitment Agencies in Penang

  251. Recycling Centres in Penang

  252. Refrigerator Repair in Penang

  253. Residential Properties in Penang

  254. Rivers in Penang

  255. Roof Repair in Penang

  256. Roundabouts in Penang

  257. Rubber Stamp Makers in Penang

  258. Schools in Penang

  259. Scrap Metal Traders in Penang

  260. Security Services in Penang

  261. Self-Development Centres in Penang

  262. Shoe Stores in Penang

  263. Shops in Penang

  264. Shopping Malls in Penang

  265. Singer Stores in Penang

  266. Skin Specialists in Penang

  267. Spas in Penang

  268. Skyscrapers in Penang

  269. Specialty Stores in Penang

  270. Sports Goods in Penang

  271. Stadiums in Penang

  272. Stationeries in Penang

  273. Stock Brokers in Penang

  274. Supermarkets in Penang

  275. Suraus in Penang

  276. Swimming Pools in Penang

  277. Tailors in Penang

  278. Tea Shops in Penang

  279. Temples in Penang

  280. Tesco Stores in Penang

  281. Textiles in Penang

  282. Tiles in Penang

  283. Titbits in Penang

  284. TM Point outlets in Penang

  285. Tourist Attractions in Penang

  286. Tourist Products in Penang

  287. Towns in Penang

  288. Toy Shops in Penang

  289. Tua Pek Kong Temples in Penang

  290. Trainers in Penang

  291. Transport Companies in Penang

  292. Travel Agencies in Penang

  293. Traveller Knickknacks in Penang

  294. Tuition Centres in Penang

  295. Tyre in Penang

  296. Undertakers in Penang

  297. Universities in Penang

  298. Used Car Dealers in Penang

  299. Veterinary Clinics in Penang

  300. Villages in Penang

  301. Washing Machine Repair in Penang

  302. Waterfalls in Penang

  303. Waterfront Promenades in Penang

  304. Wats (Thai Buddhist Temples) in Penang

  305. Watsons outlets in Penang

  306. Web Design in Penang

  307. Wedding Bands in Penang

  308. Wedding Banquet Venues in Penang

  309. Wedding Photographers in Penang

  310. Wholesalers in Penang

  311. World War II Fortifications in Penang

 Activities in Penang

Do not know what to do during your spare time? In Penang, there's lots of opportunity for recreation. The following is just a sample of activities that you can join while you're here!

 Arts of Penang

  1. Penang Street Art: Over the past decade, Penang has become a regional destination for street art. Here's a list of some of the street art which you can discover here.
  2. Auditoriums

  3. Chingay

  4. Sbaek Thom

  5. Teochew Puppet Play

 Culture of Penang

 The People of Penang

 Major Towns and Destinations of Malaysia


 The Whole Wide World at Your Fingertips!

This website covers not just Penang, and not just Malaysia. I have described the entire world, and the information is shared here to you. Feel free to make use of my expanding body of knowledge. Pages are being updated on a regular basis.

Updates on the Penang Travel Tips Homepage

7 May 2016
After years of aligning the homepage in two columns, I decided to simplify the homepage to just one column, and make the information much easier for readers to find.

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.