Penang Travel Tips

Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites

Bridge to the Pearl of the Orient (15 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Welcome to the website that doesn't tell you everything about Penang!

Hello and Welcome to Penang Travel Tips!

Penang Travel Tips does NOT tell you everything about Penang - but it gets pretty close!

I created Penang Travel Tips for the benefit of everybody - visitors, expatriates, residents - everybody and anybody who wants to know anything about Penang. From the essential information to the good-to-know, to the absolutely-no-value, if it's about Penang, most likely, it's here.

By reading Penang Travel Tips, you arm yourself with indepth knowledge of Penang ahead of your visit. Whether you are keen to learn about Penang beaches, Penang temples or Penang streets, you can find the details right here, and much more. And more than just providing information, this website helps you save money by showing you how to get the best price for your hotel, by comparing Penang hotel room rates, from major booking sites. If you've never compared hotel room rates before, follow this step-by-step guide. You'd be glad you learn to make comparisons.

Penang Travel Tips is just one of the many interconnected websites that form my world travel guides, over 10,000 pages of information on all the places in the world.

Penang Travel Tips is useful not only to visitors but also residents of Penang. There's a wealth of information waiting for you to discover. If you need your municipal councillor to fix a broken pipe or mend a road, get the municipal councillor's contact here. If you are staying on mainland Penang and working in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, find out how you can save money by taking the free Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (BEST) buses provided by the Penang State Government.

If you're a budget traveller, Penang Travel Tips is a treasure trove of details to help you stretch your dollar. Find out how to visit Penang on just US$18 per day, inclusive meals, lodging and sightseeing. Find out about all the free bus routes.

If you enjoy Penang Travel Tips, visit also my website on Malaysia, Asia, and the Whole Wide World!

Personal Tours

Let me show you Penang myself!

If you want the most indepth, intimate insight into Penang, let me show it to you myself. All you need to do is sign up for a Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) Site Visit. Since 2006, I have been conducting PHT Site Visits to give Penang enthusiast a glimpse of Penang which you will not get to experience. A site visit usually costs RM12 per person, but if you sign up as a member of Penang Heritage Trust, you only pay RM5 per person.

Contact PHT at 04 264 2631 today!

I don't cook, but I have a friend who does, and she holds cooking classes to share the wonderful secrets of Penang cooking. To find out more, please click here.

New FREE Shuttle Buses between mainland and the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone

Where to stay in Penang? You have at your disposal the whole gamut, from the most luxurious palaces of pampering to the most basic bed-and-nothing. Let me describe the hotels, the hostels, the guesthouses, all the places where accommodation is provided.

Why pay travel agent prices

Top value NZ Travel insurance

www.directtravelinsurance.co.nz/

What's there to see in Penang? Borrowing a line from Shrek, let me tell you this: "Penang is like an onion." It won't reveal its secrets till you peel it, layer by layer. Then and only then, you'd discover the charming, magical destination that so many people are raving about. At Penang Travel Tips, so that you shed no tears, I peel the onion for you.

Places of worship? There's plenty here, in Penang and streets, with more being added from time to time.

Click to explore George Town, Unesco World Heritage Site

If you are visiting Penang with a special interest, you've reach the right site. If you're into photography, learn where are the scenic spots in Penang, get my tips on where to go. Find out when's the best time to visit Penang. Find out about all the colourful festivals in Penang and when they take place.

If you're into history, you can dive right in and learn Penang's history, from the earliest chronicles, to present day. Find the Cherok Tokun relics, the Sam Poh footprint, the oldest mosque in Penang, the oldest Hindu temple, learn how George Town grew, see Penang from your mind's eye how it looks like two hundred years ago.

Would you have trouble communicating with the people in Penang? I don't think so, as most people speak English, albeit often localized into Manglish. But you can also learn to speak Penang Hokkien, the predominant dialect used here. It's easy to learn, and a simple grammar and syntext.

If you need someone to show you, write to me, and I can help arrange for a licensed tour guide to take you. As a member of the Penang Tourist Guide Association, I can get you guides according to what you want, heritage specialist guides, nature and ecology specialist guides, food specialists guides, etc.

Oh, and speaking of food, if you love food, you're in for a treat! Penang is famous for you. Learn how Penang Food looks like (fyi, Hokkien Mee in Penang is different from Hokkien Mee in Kuala Lumpur!) Get my recommendation of where to go for my favourite hawker food. Find coffee shops. And if you feel like bringing home the recipe, no problem, the recipes are already waiting for you right here! Learn about the ingredients, the spices, the herbs, learn the history of the food!

Coming to live and work in Penang? Welcome to the Land of Expensive Real Estate! Penang has one of the highest property prices in the country. To make your journey a little less bumpy, let me help you get to know every neighbourhood in Penang. Find out where you should buy or rent. Which is closest to your office? Some neighbourhoods may appear inexpensive until you factor it the travel time and traffic jams. Learn before you leap! Looking for an apartment? You'd find here a long list, from the filthily opulent to the no-frills bare minimum. Find out where it's located, where's the nearest market, school, petrol station, how close it is to the city centre (find out where's Magazine Circus, a place that's now neither a circus nor a roundabout).

Coming to retire in Penang? Let me tell you about Malaysia My Second Home program. Let me introduce to you places where expatriates hang out, organisations that you can join.

And the daily necessities? Don't worry, I list out the location of the banks, the markets, even the 7-Elevens and the McDonald's.

If you're really hardcore to fit right in, here's something else at Penang Travel Tips that's fun and is sure to impress everybody: learn to speak Penang Hokkien! Learn the useful phrases, learn to count, learn to ask for directions, learn to bargain! Speak to seller on the streets, in the market, at the bus stop. They will be so impressed, and so will your friends!

If you're simply reading this website for fun, then you'd find lots of fun facts. Learn the history of all the roads in George Town! Find out how they got their names. Learn about places that are disappearing, like the Canals of George Town, obscure clan houses. Learn who are the famous people in Penang.

Having learned about everything and everybody related to Penang, you can also learn about me. I am many things including, a Council Member of Penang Heritage Trust and a member of the Penang Tourist Guide Association. But above all that, I am a travel enthusiast, I am passionate about Penang as well as all the destinations in the world.

I am proud to say that Penang Travel Tips receives no funding support from any organisation or the State Government. As such, I am free to tell you the truth about Penang, with no window dressing, no sucking up, and at Penang Travel Tips, a spade is never called a spoon. This is the website that people refer - whether they are tourists, expatriates, residents, journalists, tour guides, school teachers, students, food enthusiasts, photography enthusiasts, history buffs, cultural buffs, anybody looking for information on Penang. As I said, it does NOT tell your everything about Penang, but it gets pretty close.

Finally, if you're done exploring Penang, continue by exploring other destinations in the world that I've described.

Tim

1128 Sights
271 Streets
Described in detail, illustrated with original photos!

Accommodation in Penang

Look for Hotels in Penang
Compare hotel room rates from various online booking sites.
Look for Youth Hostels in Penang
Review list of hostels and budget hotels in Penang with online booking.

Preparing for Penang

Things to know before you start your journey.

Plan your Penang Vacation
Tips for independent travellers
Malaysia Entry Requirements
Customs Prohibited Items
List of items you're not allowed to bring with you to Penang.
Do You Need a Vaccination for Visiting Penang

Introducing Penang

Some background details before you arrive.

Getting In

Whether you are arriving by plane, train or automobile, you can find useful details here:

Arriving by Plane
Information on the Penang International Airport
Arrange your Airport Transfer
Arrange a van to pick you at the Penang Airport
Arriving by Car
Getting to George Town
Petrol Stations in Penang
Taking the Bus from Penang Airport
Traffic Jam Prone Spots on Penang Island
Parking in George Town
Clamping Zones in George Town
Arriving by Bus
Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal
Long-distance buses arrive at this terminus in Penang.
Arriving by Ferry/Ship
Arriving by Train

Getting Around

Once you are in Penang, you will need transport to move about.

Rapid Penang Bus Routes
Which bus to take, where does it go, all the details are right here.
Free George Town Bus Service
Weld Quay Bus Terminal
The main bus terminal for George Town, with connections to the ferry services.
Komtar Bus Terminal
The main bus terminal in the city centre surrounded by the shopping malls.
Balik Pulau Bus Terminal
The main bus depot on the southwest part of the island.
Taking the taxi
Renting a car
Penang Hill Funicular Train

Exploring Penang

Tips for discovering Penang on your own.

Suburbs and Townships of Penang Island

George Town - capital

Suburbs and Townships of Seberang Perai

Upcoming Infrastructure in Penang

Second Penang Bridge
Proposed Penang Channel Tunnel

What to See in Penang

You can spend a month year and not cover all the sights. On the other hand, if you're only going to be in Penang for a day, there are a few sights you wouldn't want to miss.

Penang Top 10 Attractions
Penang Tourist Attractions by Category
Sight Index
1128 sights described in this website.
For Photography Enthusiasts: My Recommended Scenic Sights in Penang
Penang Beaches
Penang Buddhist Temples
Penang Chinese Temples
Penang Churches
Penang Clan Temples
Clan Jetties
Penang Heritage Sites
Penang Hindu Temples
Islands Around Penang
Penang Monuments
Penang Mosques
Penang Nature Sites
Streets of Penang
Modern Buildings in Penang

Penang Attractions Google Map

Where to Stay in Penang

This section is for visitors coming on short visits to Penang. If you are coming here to live, work and retire, scroll down to the secion on "Coming to Live in Penang".

Hotels in Penang

Get to know George Town

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, no less, but what's there to see here? Get intimate with George Town, the capital of Penang.

What to eat in Penang

Ah, in Penang, you're in Malaysia's gastronomic paradise. 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 (even when sometimes it isn't). 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! Everyone has his own favourite stalls, and I'm no exception to this.

If you do not like the food, keep your mouth shut, or say something to the tune of "it tastes very, very interesting, and so different from back home!" Rather be tard insincere than to be toss off Penang Bridge!

And if you have no idea about Penang food, no worries, let me explain:

Shopping in Penang

You can shop till you drop - from the goods and from the heat.

Fine Arts of Penang

Penang lives life and celebrates it with its own crafts.

Dioramas of the Scenes of Life in Penang

What to do in Penang

Things to buy in Penang

The following are local products which many visitors buy. For Malaysian handicrafts such as Labu Sayong or Songket, these are not immediately available in Penang, and would be more costly and limited in choice, than to go straight to the source. For more details, read exploring Malaysia.

Festivals in Penang

Penang is one of the most colourful places in Penang, in terms of its wealth of culture. Due to its racial mix, there is always a festival happening around the corner.

When to come to Penang
If you wish to visit Penang when a colourful festival in going on, then read this section.
Cheng Beng
Chinese New Year
Christmas
Deepavali
Dragon Boat Festival
Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Haji
Hungry Ghost Festival
Moon Cake Festival
Loy Krathong
Songkran
Thaipusam
Vasakhi
Wesak Day
Winter Solstice Festival

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.

Coming to Live 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:

Practicalities and Daily Necessities

Language Societies in Penang

Vital Contacts in Penang

People of Penang, past and present

Although it is one of the smallest states in Malaysia, Penang has one of the most colourful history, due in part to the open-door policy of Captain Francis Light, who invited peoples from all over to come over, settle and prosper:

People of Penang
Famous People of Penang
Penang Hokkien People
Penang Cantonese People
Penang Hakka People
Penang Teochew People
Malays of Penang
Acheenese of Penang
Tamils of Penang
Punjabis of Penang
Eurasians of Penang
Thais in Penang
Burmese in Penang
Armenians of Penang
Jews of Penang
Japanese of Penang
Expatriate Community of Penang
Famous People of Penang

Languages Spoken in Penang

Fitting in

Penang Travel Tips in Other Languages

Since I set up this website, I am pleased that enthusiasts have helped me translate some of their favourite pages into their own language. Please find below:

Updates

Note about Photographs

If you need to use any of the copyrighted photographs in this website, always always write and ask for my permission and be prepared to pay a very small fee. If you don't do that, and I happen to find out, it will be costly for you.