Best things to do in Penang

Penang's Absolute Essentials

Penang's core attractions center on George Town's UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring British colonial landmarks like the 18th-century Fort Cornwallis and the Victorian-style Queen Victoria Clock Tower. The island’s multicultural identity is preserved in the Pinang Peranakan Mansion and religious sites like the Goddess of Mercy Temple and the floating mosque at Tanjung Bungah. Natural highlights include the funicular ascent to Penang Hill and the diverse ecosystems at Entopia butterfly farm and the Tropical Spice Garden.

Paweł 'pbm' Szubert / CC BY-SA 4.0

Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis is a bastion fort in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century.

Marie-Eve Caron / CC-BY-SA

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

A 60-foot Moorish-style tower commissioned by local millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Each foot of its height represents one year of the Queen's reign.

Hzh / CC BY-SA 4.0

Penang Hill Railway

The Penang Hill Railway is a one-section funicular railway which climbs the Penang Hill from Air Itam, on the outskirts of the city of…

Gryffindor / Public domain

Goddess of Mercy Temple

The Goddess of Mercy Temple is a Chinese temple in the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia.

Debora Tanaami / CC-BY-SA

St. George's Church, Penang

St. George's Church is a 19th-century Anglican church in the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia.

Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

The Penang State Museum and Art Gallery is a museum and art gallery in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Peranakan Museum

Housed in a restored 19th-century emerald-green mansion, this museum showcases over 1,000 antiques and collectibles representing the Baba-Nyonya heritage. The architecture features Chinese wood carvings alongside Scottish ironwork and English floor tiles.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

Batu Feringgi Beach

A stretch of white sand on Penang's northern coast featuring water sports and a night market. It serves as the island’s primary resort hub.

Michael Pang Pbs / CC-BY-SA

Penang Hill

Penang Hill is a hill resort comprising a group of peaks near the center of Penang Island, Malaysia.

Vnonymous / CC BY-SA 4.0

Esplanade Grounds

The Esplanade is a seafront city square in the heart of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang.

Visnu92 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Penang State Assembly Building

The Penang State Assembly Building is the home of the Penang State Legislative Assembly.

Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm

A tropical sanctuary housing approximately 15,000 free-flying butterflies and over 200 species of plants. The facility includes a large outdoor vivarium and an indoor discovery center focused on invertebrates.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

Tropical Spice Garden

A bio-diverse landscaped garden featuring over 500 species of tropical flora and fauna. Set within a secondary jungle, the site includes themed garden trails and a culinary school.