How well do you really know your country? Exploring Malaysia is something every local should do. Visiting all the other states, and finding out all its hidden gems. When planning a trip to Penang, you might not know what to do exactly besides eat. After all, Penang is famous for its food, especially Penang Char Kuey Teow. But if you’re staying more than 2 days, it can get a little boring if you don’t know where to go. Glitz has done all you local travellers a favour by compiling all the fun activities you can do in Penang! Now, you don’t have to worry about not having a local friend to bring you around Penang because you can explore it all on your own.
Fun Activities To Do In Penang
Contents
- Fun Activities To Do In Penang
- Stroll Along Penang’s Harmony Street
- Visit Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
- Search For Street Murals
- Take A Street Food Tour
- Cafe/Bar Hopping
- Trishaw Ride
- See The World’s Largest Reclining Buddha Statues
- Visit The Penang Ghost Museum
- Visit Penang’s Interactive Museums
- Visit Pinang Peranakan Museum
- Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm
- Train Ride Up Penang Hill
- Play At ESCAPE Theme Park
- Visit BookXcess
- Relax at Batu Ferringhi Beach
- Take a Bus Tour to Explore Penang
- Explore a Tropical Spice Garden
- Check Out a Teddy Bear Museum
- Penang National Park
- Adore Penang’s Floating Mosque
Stroll Along Penang’s Harmony Street
Indulge in the multi-cultural uniqueness of Malaysia when you visit Penang’s Harmony Street. Located along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, the street is packed with multiple places of worship for every faith. Whether it is a Masjid, Church or Temple, you can find it all here living in peace and harmony.
Visit Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Experience being a Crazy Rich Asian when you visit Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion! Fans of the 2018 film will be excited to know that some scenes were actually filmed in Malaysia! Remember the tense mahjong scene between Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh? That was filmed right here at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Also known as The Blue Mansion, it was initially built in the 1880s by a wealthy Chinese merchant. Today, it is a boutique hotel filled with history.
Search For Street Murals
One thing you cannot miss out on when travelling to Penang is its street mural art. The city is covered in gorgeous murals. While some are easy to find, some might take a little more hard work. Thus, it is truly one of the fun activities to do in Penang. Especially if you are in a big group, turn it into a challenge to see who can find the most! As a popular activity to do in Penang, it will definitely take up your whole day.
Take A Street Food Tour
You can’t go to Penang and not eat every local delight there is. So, a great way to spend your day is to go on a street food tour! Penang’s street food is a paradise for foodies and a food hunt is very fitting. Make a list of all the famous Penang street foods you need to try and tick them off one by one. From Char Kuey Teow, Rojak to Asam Laksa, there is always room for scrumptious food.
Cafe/Bar Hopping
Don’t you look down on this bustling island city because they have got plenty of cafes and bars lined up. A great way to spend an afternoon in Penang is to go cafe hopping, and when the night comes, bars are your next target. Spend the whole day looking for hidden cafes and aesthetically pleasing cafes that offer tasty treats. Instagram is your best friend and is a great way to discover the city. Furthermore, there are plenty of bars and hidden speakeasies for you to find at night too.
Trishaw Ride
Feeling tired after walking around and exploring Penang all day? Well, hop onto the many trishaws around George Town and rest your feet! It is a great way to get from one place to another in a traditional way. What’s more, is that you get to enjoy the city view along the way and feel the cool breeze blowing. It is a unique experience and is one of the fun activities to do in Penang. Besides, it’s also a great way to beat the traffic as well!
See The World’s Largest Reclining Buddha Statues
While in Penang, you should check out The World’s Largest Reclining Buddha Statues. Head on over to the Siamese Wat Chayamangkalaram Buddhist temple at Jalan Burma which was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1845. Inside, it houses a 180 feet, gold-plated reclining Buddha statue. It is one of the largest in the world and is something you don’t want to miss.
Visit The Penang Ghost Museum
That’s right, a Ghost Museum is one place horror movie buffs should visit. Many of the exhibits include detailed stories and explanations about each ghost as well. It also features a range of ghosts and creatures from different cultures and religious folktales for a memorable experience.
Visit Penang’s Interactive Museums
Penang has a ton of interactive museums that offer fun activities for all ages. Museum lovers should definitely check out the Wonderfood Museum, which features over 100 types of local street food. Many are realistic replicas and you can take pictures with them too. The Upside Down Museum is also a favourite when visiting Penang as it features many locations upside down! It is a cool place to take pictures and let your imagination run wild. For a bit of whacky fun, check out the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum!
Visit Pinang Peranakan Museum
When in Penang, you cannot miss out on the many museums. Some of the most important ones include the Pinang Peranakan Museum. It is located in a refurbished Peranakan mansion dating back to the 1900s. The museum features exhibits that showcase the lifestyles and tools used by the Baba Nyonyas. It is a magical experience and feels like you are walking through history. So, be sure to check it out as it is definitely a fun activity for all.
Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm
Some fun activities you can do in Penang is to actually visit the Butterfly Farm at Entopia! It is one of Penang’s most endearing tourist attractions and has received many awards throughout the years. Ever since 2016, the Butterfly Farm has gone through extensive renovation and expansion. Visitors are now greeted with a dome-like structure where over 15,000 free-flying butterflies roam in the Natureland. It is Malaysia’s largest butterfly garden and is quite a majestic sight to see.
Train Ride Up Penang Hill
Penang Hill is one of the most popular spots in Penang. When visiting, you can’t miss out on a train ride up Penang Hill. As one of the fun activities to do in Penang, the train ride takes about 5 minutes. But, the view is breathtaking. What’s more, is that the air is also cooler at the top of the hill! Surrounded by nature, you can also choose to hike up Penang Hill if you prefer a more adventurous journey.
Play At ESCAPE Theme Park
For kids, young adults and adventurous spirits, it’s time to escape to ESCAPE Theme Park! This outdoor tourist attraction is definitely at the top of our fun activities to do in Penang list. Having opened its doors back in 2012, it is still a cool hidden gem even for Penangites. Surrounded by trees and lush greenery, this is a family-friendly outdoor adventure park that offers fun activities like free-falling, tower climbing, balance beam walking and more. They even have one of the world’s longest water slides!
Visit BookXcess
Book lovers are going to love visiting one of the largest bookstores in Malaysia. BookXcess Gurney Paragon occupies the entire 7th and 8th floors of the mall. With books from all genres, the prices of each are cheaper than most retailers too! Whether it is vintage comic books or the latest release, you might just find a hidden book gem at BookXcess.
Relax at Batu Ferringhi Beach
Penang is famous for its beaches and one of the best is Batu Ferringhi beach. Many top resorts open up here and it even has a gorgeous Starbucks with a view! It features pristine sandy beaches and a variety of water activities for visitors to play. Watching the sunset over the horizon while sipping an ice-cold beer is just what you need to relax and unwind.
Take a Bus Tour to Explore Penang
Having a hard time deciding what to do in Penang? Why not go on a bus tour to explore everything? Hop onto the bus tour that transports you on a 4-hour journey across the island. On this tour, you’ll get to see gorgeous locations such as the Fort Cornwallis, Wonderfood Museum, Armenian Street Art, Batik Factory, Waterfront Village, Chew Jetty and so much more. Moreover, if you opt for the sunset tour, it takes you to unique locations like the Observatory Deck, Red Garden Hawker Center, Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, Penang City and Town Hall, Top Komtar and more. The tours are available throughout the day so you can hop on at your own convenience.
Explore a Tropical Spice Garden
If you are looking for more unique things to do in Penang, explore the Tropical Spice Garden and learn all the secret trades of recipes. If cooking is your passion, this will also be a rewarding trip to Penang. With 8 acres of garden encompassing a variety of tropical plants, it also has up to 500 living specimens from across the world! The gorgeous flower garden and aromatic spice garden will definitely lure you into an exotic land to explore. Comprising 3 major trails, each of the trails is also lined with waterfalls, streams and more.
Check Out a Teddy Bear Museum
If you or your kids have a teddy bear obsession, the Teddyville Museum is the perfect place to be. This will definitely be one of the more unique things to do in Penang as you explore the first and biggest Teddy Bear collection in Malaysia. From miniature bears to the most ginormous of all, you get to choose teddy bears of all sizes and shapes to bring home! The perfect gift for a little girl or boy to cuddle up with at night.
Penang National Park
When in Penang, one of the best things you can do with your family is visit Penang National Park. Instead of focusing on woody jungles and an abundance of animals, Penang National Park feels more like a nature trail. A peaceful activity the family can do after a hearty dinner. Although small, you can also spot a few monkeys and giant lizards running about. The best part is that it leads to a gorgeous beach! Known as the Kerachut beach, it is a private paradise to enjoy the sunset. A picnic date is also perfect with your significant other and if you’re lucky, you might be able to spot turtles too!
Adore Penang’s Floating Mosque
If seeing the Taj Mahal is on your bucket list of things to do, you might want to start small with Penang’s very own floating mosque! Located at Tanjung Bungah, this floating mosque is definitely a sight to behold. Built back in 2004, this mosque on the sea was actually an attempt to refurbish a smaller mosque that was destroyed in a tsunami that year. Now, it stands remarkably with a 7-storey minaret that touches the sky. Thus, it certainly has a stunning view at the top. With its gorgeous Moorish architecture, this is something you don’t want to miss when visiting Penang.
