Welcome to the most complete site on everything about Penang!
Description of 826 Penang Attractions, Sights & Residential Properties
Get to know the Streets of George Town and Roads of Penang Island
Penang Island Residential Property Guide with tips for buying and renting in Penang
Clear explanation of Rapid Penang Bus Routes, with Maps
Explanation on all the Penang Hawker Foods
Free self-guided George Town Walking Tours
Tips for Travellers to Penang
Welcome to Penang, and welcome to Penang Travel Tips!
Penang Travel Tips is the website for all tourists, travellers and visitors to find the most detailed information about Penang. It is filled with interesting details covering everything about Penang's numerous tourist attractions, food, culture, festivals, and more. Penang is a major travel destination in Southeast Asia. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to its charm, coming here to experience its sounds and colors. At Penang Travel Tips, you can find detailed listing of bus routes, streets, churches, temples, mosques, shopping malls, and more. If you are planning to purchase or rent property in Penang, you will find useful tips to help you make the right choice. Each detail is usually illustrated with location map and includes information on how to get there.
Penang Travel Tips is the result of years of research and accumulating travel tips about Penang. I do apologize that this website is perpetually being updated - I can never bring it to completion. It has over a thousand pages, with new ones being added regularly, to give you a scrutinizing insight into everything Penang. It is already one of the biggest websites about Penang, documenting hundreds of sights and streets. Do check back every now and then for new updates. You can follow me on Twitter for the latest updates.
Introducing Penang
Getting Started with Penang
Tourist Information on Penang
Exploring Penang On Your Own
Penang, and George Town in particular, is a great place to explore, and I would greatly encourage you to do it on your own two feet. To help you, I have created free walking tours. Print them out and take with you. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the city, at your own pace. Whether rain or shine, George Town is filled with character and soul.
Preparing for Your Penang Holiday
Tips for Arriving in Penang
You can arrange for a van to pick you at the Penang International Airport, saving you the hassle when you arrive.
Practical Tips while in Penang
Most places in George Town can be covered by taking "Bus Number Eleven" (a.k.a. your own two feet). These's plenty to see within George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. If your feet fails you, hop on the free bus service that loops the city. Rapid Penang has the most extensive network of routes throughout Penang.
Penang Hotels
Before you book your hotel in Penang, check out and compare the prices offered by different Hotel Booking websites. You will find that different sites actually charge a different price for the same hotel rooms. To check and compare prices of hotel rooms offered by different booking sites, use our free Hotel Search Engine. It allows you to view what different sites are charging. Do this little homework, and you will potentially save a lot on your future hotel bookings in Penang. Use also Map of Hotels in Penang with Online Booking to get an idea of how much to expect.
For budget accommodation in hostels and guesthouses in Penang, use this Hostels in Penang link to view all the hostels and guesthouses available for booking in Penang.
For accommodation elsewhere, check out these links. Booking your Las Vegas hotel reservations doesn't have to be hard. If fact, it's just a click away.
Budget
Midrange
- Hotel Grand Continental Penang
 , from RM110, per room per night
- Tanjung Bungah Hotel Penang
 , from RM122, per room per night
- Sunway Hotel Georgetown Penang
 , from RM130 per room per night
- Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang , from RM135 per room per night
- Hotel Seri Malaysia Penang, from RM140 per room per night
- Cititel Penang
 , from RM150 per room per night
- Vistana Hotel Penang
 , from RM163 per room per night
- Eastin Hotel Penang
 , from RM168 per room per night
- Bayview Hotel Georgetown Penang
 , from RM170 per room per night
- Hydro Majestic Hotel Penang
 , from RM175 per room per night
- Traders Hotel Penang
 , from RM180 per room per night
- Jerejak Resort & Spa
 , from RM210 per room per night
- Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang
 , from RM220 per room per night
- Holiday Inn Penang
 , from RM235, per room per night
- Gurney Hotel Penang, from RM250, per room per night
- Hotel Equatorial Penang
 , from RM260 per room per night
- Paradise Sandy Beach Resort Penang
 , from RM270, per room per night
Top End
If you are an independent backpacking traveller arriving in Penang without a booking, read Penang Budget Hotel Review to choose budget accommodation that suits your needs. Most of the hotels reviewed don't have online booking.
For more details on accommodation in Penang, I've put together a few articles:
Living in Penang
If you are planning to live in Penang, the first thing to know is this: rentals are low, prices are high. In other words, you can get very good places to stay at quite reasonable rentals. That's because there are more properties for rent than there are takers. However, if you are looking to buy, be prepared to pay some of the highest property prices in the country. This is especially true for Penang Island, where most properties are crammed into a small strip of land on the east coast of the island, between the central hills and the sea. It's the most densely populated area in the country. Here, a small, three-bedroom apartment will cost as much as a whole double-storey house elsewhere in Malaysia.
For more details on properties in Penang, let me describe it to you in the following articles:
Penang Food
If you are Malaysian, you would know that Penang is a famous local destination for food, and plenty has been written by hordes of Penangites about their local fare. Penang people are very proud of their food. If you have no time to spare, never argue with a Penangite on food - he will always say Penang food is best. If you are visiting Penang friends, be sure to compliment the food - Penang people can never get enough of hearing how nice their food taste! If you do not like the food, you better keep your mouth shut, or say something to the tune of "now this tastes very, very interesting, and so different!" I know I'm asking you to be a tard insincere - better that than to chill up the hospitality!
And if you have no idea about Penang food, no worries, let me explain:
Shopping in Penang
Penang people in famous for being penurious (or in the words of people from other states, stingy). I am not sure how much of this still holds true, what with the proliferation of gigantic shopping malls on the island and the mainland. In this section, let me list out all the big shopping malls. To help you with the daily necessities, I am also listing the whereabouts of the 7-Eleven Convenience Stores in Penang.
What to buy in Penang
If you are looking for traditional items that are representative of Penang, here's a selection to consider.
For souvenirs representative of Malaysia, here's a selection:
Book Stores in Penang
I'm a voracious reader, and anywhere I go, I need to look for their bookstores. If you're like me, you'd be pleased to know that Penang has some of the best book stores in northern Malaysia. You can also browse theough some Penang Books from Amazon. I also have a page on some of my favourite travel books.
Here are some good bookstores in Penang:
People of Penang
Although it is one of the smallest states in Malaysia, Penang is home to some of the most interesting, resourceful, creative people in the country. Let me tell you about the people of Penang:
Famous Penangites
Penang has produced more than its fair share of famous personalities, some of whom have made their name far beyond its shores.
Languages Spoken in Penang
English is widely spoken in Penang, so you can get by using it with practically anybody. Many may not be fluent or be totally provicient in the language, but they will have sufficient grasp of it to conduct trades with you. Here are main languages you will hear in the streets in Penang:
Festivities in Penang
Penang is the quintessential cosmopolitan destination. It celebrates festivals with gusto, and cram the calendar to bursting point. If you are Malaysian, you would be familiar with some of the festivals celebrated here. Let me describe to you some of the popular festivals celebrated in Penang. These are also celebrated elsewhere in Malaysia.
Performing Arts of Penang
Penang is proud to be the cradle of two homegrown performing arts, Boria and Chingay. Chingay in particular is still kept very much alive with an annual tournament participated by Chingay troupes throughout Penang and neighbouring states.
Cineplexes in Penang
Feel like going to the movies to fill a wet afternoon? Here's a selection of cineplexes and their locations in Penang:
- Golden Screen Cinemas, in Gurney Plaza, www.gsc.com.my
- Golden Screen Cinemas, in Queensbay Mall, www.gsc.com.my
- Golden Screen Cinemas, in Sunway Carnival Mall, www.gsc.com.my
- Cathay Cineplex, in Prangin Mall, www.cathaycineplexes.com.my
- BIG Cinemas, in Bukit Jambul Complex, www.bigcinemas.com
Swimming Pools on Penang Island
Feel like going for a swim? Many of the resort hotels have their own pools. The following are the public pools in Penang:
Gyms & Fitness Centres on Penang Island
- Bodymaster Gym, tel: 04 228 6881, at Patani Road
- Clark Hatch, tel: 04 226 0771 at Larut Road, tel: 04 228 2943 at Kelawei Road, and tel: 04 228 8333 at Scotland Road
- Danai Spa, www.danaispa.com, tel: 04 899 0899, in Tanjung Bungah
- Equinox tel: 04 643 8111, at Hotel Equitorial, Bukit Jambul
- Fitness First, www.fitnessfirst.co.th/my/ , tel: 04 890 0390, at Island Plaza
Country Clubs on Penang Island
- Bukit Jambul Country Club
Vital Phone Numbers
The following are phone numbers to use while in Penang:
Emergencies
- Police & Ambulance: 999
- Fire: 994
- Rescue: 991
- Telephone Directory: 103
- Reporting Phone Faults: 100
- International Operator: 101
Tourism Information
- Tourist Information Centre: 261 4461
- Tourism Malaysia Information Counter at Airport: 643 0501
Infrastructure & Transportation
- Penang Hill Railway
Bottom Station: 828 3263
Top Station: 829 3263
- Railway Station in Butterworth: 261 0290
- Ferry
George Town: 210 2363
Butterworth: 310 2377
- Penang Bridge: 398 7419
Public Services
- Customs Dept: 262 2300
- Flight Information: 643 0373
- Immigration Dept: 250 3419
- JPJ (Road Transport Dept): 658 1122, 398 8809
- KWSP (Employee Provident Fund): 226 1000
- PERKESO (Social Security Organisation): 261 8631
- Public Complaints Bureau: 263 6893
- Public Water Pipes: 262 5321
- Women's Centre for Change: 228 0342
Social Services & Support
- Cancerlink Penang: 659 3692
- Children's Protection Society: 829 4046
- Community AIDS Service: 656 1554
- Consumers Association of Penang: 829 9511
- Eden Handicap: 228 2758
- Labour Department: 262 5536
- Penang Heritage Trust: 264 2631
- Penang Library: 229 8555, 397 1058
Police Stations
Penang Island
- George Town Central: 264 5522
- Tourist Police: 222 1522
- Airport:
- Ayer Itam: 826 8522
- Balik Pulau: 866 9222
- Batu Ferringhi: 881 1434
- Bayan Lepas: 643 0311
- Beach Street: 264 1628
- Bukit Bendera: 829 9422
- Farlim: 828 4522
- Jelutong: 282 5922
- Patani Road: 229 2222
- Pulau Tikus: 228 0422
- Sungai Nibong: 643 0222
- Tanjong Tokong: 890 3444
- Teluk Bahang: 885 1433
- Teluk Kumbar: 649 1953
Seberang Perai
- Bukit Mertajam: 538 2222
- Bukit Tengah: 507 3222
- Bukit Timbun: 588 7204
- Butterworth: 332 2222
- Kepala Batas: 575 2222
- Kubang Kemang: 521 2222
- Machang Bubok: 551 1629
- Nibong Tebal: 593 1404
- Perai: 390 2373, 307 5298
- Seberang Jaya: 398 2222, 397 0210
- Simpang Ampat: 588 7300
- Sungai Bakap: 582 4404
- Sungai Dua: 356 1127
- Tasek Gelugor: 573 1200
- Teluk Air Tawar: 573 1200
Fire Stations
- Bagan Jermal: 890 7335
- Balik Pulau: 866 9444
- Bayan Baru: 643 4444
- Beach Street: 261 4444
- Butterworth: 331 4444
- Kepala Batas: 575 4444
- Nibong Tebal: 593 1444
- Perai: 398 4444
- Perak Road: 282 5544
Leaving Penang
About the Author
My name is Timothy Tye, or Tim for short. You can know more about me at www.timothytye.com, and learn about all the websites that I write. I hope Penang Travel Tips helps answer questions about Penang that you are looking for. Please revisit it often to read the latest articles. Also, visit my other websites for articles on other places of the world, as well as other subjects that I cover. Thanks millions for taking time to read my articles. If you are visiting Penang, I wish you a wonderful trip!
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See More Spend Less with Penang Travel Tips! Read what other travelers have to say, and if you can, add your own advice!
- Walking's the best way to see the sights in George Town. Even the trishaw is too fast!
- Taxis are not plentiful. To get one, head for the nearest shopping mall.
- Penang food is good ... but you must know where to find the best.
Penang Travelers' Tips
Opinions expressed by travelers are not the opinion of this website.
- Banana Guesthouse on Chulia Street is the best guesthouse I've stayed in.
Brian Hellander, Perth, Australia
- Laksa in Penang is different from "Penang Laksa" in Singapore!
Leong Kam Fuat, Singapore
- You can get a good meal in Penang for USD2.00.
Allan Tan, Penang
- As an expat in Penang, I feel welcomed from the day I arrived. The food is great and plentiful.
Peter Brown, Penang
- Queensbay Mall has good view of the sea and the Penang Bridge.
Michael Lim, Penang
- Penang's beaches are not a good place to swim. If you want to take a dip, do it in your hotel pool.
Chris Ang, Petaling Jaya
- The main budget accommodation and backpacker area is along Chulia Street. I stayed at Sunway Hotel though, which is great if you're into food, with some of the best hawker stalls a few minutes away.
Wong Wee Kong, Kuala Lumpur
- Where can I find good vegetarian food in Penang.
Kay Lee, Singapore
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