Penang
Island of world heritage cuisine and street art
From KNO
1 hr 5 min
Airlines
AirAsia
IATA Code
PEN
About Penang
George Town in Penang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site blending colonial architecture, Chinese temples, old mosques, and globally renowned street art. Penang is also known as Malaysia's culinary capital. From KNO in just over an hour.
What to Explore
Highlights in Penang
Highlight 1
George Town — UNESCO Heritage
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, George Town is one of the richest historic cities in Southeast Asia — a unique blend of British colonial architecture, Chinese shophouses, Hindu temples, Malay mosques, and Peranakan mansions, all within a living, breathing district. The narrow back lanes behind old shophouse facades are adorned with iconic murals by artist Ernest Zacharevic, transforming George Town into an internationally acclaimed open-air art gallery. The Khoo Kongsi clan house, with its extraordinarily intricate carvings, stands proud among temples and traditional coffee shops. Meanwhile, legendary hawker stalls serving Char Kway Teow, Penang Laksa, and Nasi Kandar have earned George Town its reputation as Malaysia's culinary capital.
Highlight 2
Penang Hill
Rising 821 meters above sea level, Penang Hill offers the perfect escape from the city heat — the summit is about five degrees cooler than the lowlands below. The most iconic way up is by funicular — one of the steepest and longest in Southeast Asia — ferrying up to 100 passengers per trip in just five minutes. At the top, The Habitat delivers a breathtaking tropical rainforest experience, including the 230-meter Langur Way Canopy Walk and the Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk with sweeping 360-degree views across Penang Island and the Strait of Malacca. The colonial-style David Brown's Restaurant, the highest eatery in Penang, is the perfect spot to enjoy afternoon tea with an unrivalled view.
Highlight 3
Batu Ferringhi
Stretching along the northern coast of Penang Island, Batu Ferringhi is Penang's most popular beach destination, with a string of five-star resorts including Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, Hard Rock Hotel, and PARKROYAL fronting the Strait of Malacca. The sandy beach — particularly the stretch between PARKROYAL and Hard Rock Hotel — is open to all visitors and is a favorite spot to unwind by the sea. Every evening from 7 PM, the Batu Ferringhi Night Market lights up with hundreds of stalls selling batik, souvenirs, accessories, and local snacks. At the waterfront, restaurants housed in converted shipping containers at Ferringhi Bay serve fresh seafood with live music and fire shows as the sun melts into the Strait of Malacca.
Practical Info
Best Time
Dec – Feb
Currency
MYR (RM)
Language
Malay, English, Hokkien
Airlines
AirAsia
Travel Tip
Rent a scooter to explore George Town — the best way to find hidden alleyways with its finest murals.
Ready to fly to Penang?
1 hr 5 min from Kualanamu — direct and simple.