How You Can Travel To Penang Island? - A 24 Hour Trip
Malaysia is a country bound by islands, and mainly it is the cause for tourist attraction. The Penang islands are called the “American silicon valley of Malaysia” due to their modern infrastructure and upcoming modern facets; it’s the perfect place to define diversity and is in the top 10 best places to visit Malaysia 2021.
An island with a province stretching along the Malaysian Northwest coast – Penang. Its popularity rides along and draws close to four million tourists each year on its main island Pulau-Penang the city’s main attraction; it acts as an epicenter for the crowds.
The city is held in a small dimension and is Pandora’s Box hiding – more significant dimensions in a smaller area.
There’s a 10-mile journey through the channel over elusive aquamarine water to reach the province, where lies the cityscape of beachside in an escapade of high mountains and forests in far view.
Penang Island is one town laced with urban vibrancy and cultural lavishness amongst all the Malaysian territories. The city offers splendor and a delightful experience rooted in cultural heritage while making giant leaps as a cosmopolitan territory. Spend some lovely time in Penang by making your stays more luxurious and memorable with secret escapes spa by choosing the inspired luxury escapes home and villas, hotels, and resorts.
A city that has so much to offer and doing all of it in 24 hours can be tricky but let’s make a plan and you can also plan for Penang to Langkawi journey:
Is Penang worth it?
Penang houses a colonial-era (UNESCO recognized) World Heritage Site – George Town. Tourists visiting the city roam around with cameras, getting clicked against the walls and ruins that speak about the era. In addition, the city has a rich art culture attracting all the lenses from around and boasts many significant publications on various shoots.
The first place to explore on our Penang excursion should be George Town, exploring the Lebuh Armenia, Love Lane, and Lebuh Muntri heritage streets which offer an insight into the old days through the paintings and the murals.
One of the prominent ways to explore the Town - go on Mural Trail – built in the British era; it hosts around 50 murals and sculptors on the walls of the 19-century buildings, many of which were once Chinese storefronts.
It got listed as a world heritage site in 2008; the town can be explored either on foot or on a rickshaw. Major attractions of the Town are:
- Blue-hued Penang Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
- Peranakan Museum
- Kuan Yin Temple
- Khoo Kongsi clan house
- Kapitan Kelling Mosque
A unique experience offered by the city is the recently opened Clan Jetties – a series of six wooden jetties that are more than 100 years old. People live in these, and it is advisable if permission is taken before clicking the pictures.
How to get to Penang?
The best way to get to Penang is to fly to Kuala Lumpur and then a bus or a train. Various portals are offering cheap flights, so look out before booking one.
If you are traveling from Thailand, get a train, bus, or minivan from Bangkok to Penang mainland.
What to pack for Penang?
Traveling light is advisable in every situation unless you do not have your clothes and makeup in two different bags; travel light.
Tips for packing:
- Walking or hiking shoes, any comfortable shoe
- Clothes of breathable fabric for when the sun is out
- A shell jacket – it can be windy sometimes
- Swimsuits – Malaysian summer is perfect to jump in the water
- Microfiber towel – a traveler essential
- Packing cubes – to help save space in the backpack
- Daypack – camera backpack for all the stuff related
- Universal adapter –to plug your electronics in any country
Budget –
The place is relatively cheap compared to all other countries in the world and if after reading this plan you plan a trip, expect to pay around 15-45 USD per day including all 3 meals and accommodation.
What Is The best time to visit Penang?
The best time to visit is to go around November to January – the weather is pleasant and conducive to explore the city and sightseeing. During this time you can celebrate New Year in the city- the celebration occurs on a grand scale.
If you are not comfortable with the crowd because there are many tourists in the city during the peak time and New Year around, you can go around February to April the city is quiet.
What to do in Penang in one day?
Walking out in George Street and looking out for street art is one of the best things to do in Penang. Street art is scattered around, and combined with wall paintings and physical objects – the whole life of the people of Penang comes right to you.
If you have visited Berlin, you can relate to the street arts as they appear to be minimal versions of those magnificent artworks. It depicts an Asian-style street art that is unlike any other part of the world.
If you randomly wander around George Town, you never know what you can stumble upon in the corners. Some of the artwork is plain fun, while most depict a situation and convey a feeling. You can easily book tp activities, tours, rentals, and more online with special discounts by using the Klook Promo code.
Devour in the night market –
It can also be a way to escape all the tourists of the Town. The Farm market is the biggest market of Penang and island plaza Penang too., where surprisingly the tourist do not go. It is massive, with hundreds of street food stalls to indulge in.
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple –
It is a large complex located in the center of the island, and it is said to be the biggest one in Malaysia. In the heart of the temple lies a seven-story high Pagoda of Rama VI with 10,000 bronze statues of Buddha.
The heart of the temple isn’t all; the landmark of this temple is a 30m tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin – the goddess of mercy.
A stroll on Batu Ferringhi Beach –
Apart from staying on the beach taking a sunbath, devour in a buggy ride, go deep fish sea diving, or plant your footsteps in the sand to be washed away by the dwindling waves. The beach offers calmness with adrenaline through jet skies, parasailing. It is located 11km from the city center of George Town. Don't miss to check out the monkey island Penang.
Penang National Park –
Breaking the stigma about a national park, this place comes out more than just being full of plentiful animals and long jungles. The smallest National Park in Malaysia explores nature by walking in trails and spotting different monkeys and giant lizards.
The Park leads to a beach of one of its kind, where you can sunbathe and picnic privately; swing on the beachside and enjoy the serenity. Timings of the National Park – 7.30 am to 7.00 pm.
Penang Hill –
Located at 9km from George Town, it hosts several mountain clips and a view of the jungle and the coastline ahead of it. The longest track in Asia and steepest track in the world together put Penang hill on one of the lists to wander.
Evening walk around Chew jetty –
It’s a village on the shores of the Penang consisting of a wooden structure - constructed in early times and is continued until today. This place displays how the locals in Penang used to live. Grab a beer, sit on the wooden path, and there you have a peaceful sunset right in front of you.
Try Laska in Penang -
Around the temple corner, a famous food stall – Ayer Itam Laska; if you got there, you have to try them – travelers named it as “the best place to eat Laska in Penang. Accompanying, it also has some sugarcane juice for the flavor.
Drinking cheap beers like locals –
There can be great conversations over beer, and experience this quote in its living while savoring local beers at social hangouts at hostels or spots around the streets. Enjoy a great conversation along with the locals and your friends.
Is one day enough for Penang?
If you are still asking this asking, maybe you didn’t get it right, or you want to make a three-day trip around the city. Of course, one can explore the city in a day and see many places at once, but can that savor the city’s spirit in you.
With the diversity and modernity of the city, exploring in a day is going to be a tight schedule – starting with George town, the next spot can famous Kek Loksi temple; travel to Lebuh Carnarvon, it is bustling with local shops, bookstores, and cafes.
Get a full tummy and get ready to explore the city, use the lens, and go around the heritage roads such as Lubuh Armenian, Lebuh Muntri, and the surrounding area. The most prominent way to end your day’s excursion is to party.
Three days in Penang -
This itinerary is appropriate if you wish to explore the city and feel the vibe of Penang in its true spirit; the excursion can be broken down to explore the city easily
Day 1: George Town, Malaysia’s second-largest city providing the country’s most oversized experience.
Day 2: Penang National Park and Batu Ferringhi, you can cherish the quiet and savory time on this west side.
Day 3: Penang Hill and Kek Lok si temple, one of the island’s main attractions; hop on bus 203 in the center towards Air Itam to get the day an exciting start.
This much information is all we need, so if you are ready to plan your trip into the full-diverse Penang, Malaysia, some resources which might be handy:
Packing – only the essential gear and don’t get carried away in the process. Be in your sense, take what you need by online shopping and get discount on using Lazada discount code.
Flights –start looking out on Skyscanner and Expedia for cheap flights from your home turf.
Accommodation – there are some go-to platforms for bookings across hotels and hostels but don’t forget to browse through the offers on Hotels.com Promo Code Malaysia, Klook Promo Code MY.
Travel insurance – many websites provide you with travel insurance with a ton of options to cover your trip. Please have one after a pandemic; at least include this in the trip.