Penang is a world renowned holiday destination full of delightful exotic attractions. With natural scenery, cultural marvels and plenty of fun activities, Penang presents visitors with a vibrant and unforgettable experience. Penang attractions are offered all throughout the year and come in a wide enough range to offer something for just about everybody.
Best Penang Attractions
Penang offers a lot of tourist attractions to the visitors and we have recapped some of the best Penang attractions here. If you want to suggest any tourist attractions, please do so by adding comments below.
1. Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi is one of the most popular attractions on the island of Penang. Mostly famous for its beautiful beaches, Batu Ferringhi sees visitors all throughout the year. The famous stretch of beach features many resorts and hotels at affordable rates due to the heavy competition.
Aside from the beaches, Batu Ferringhi is highly renowned for their legendary night market. The Batu Ferringhi night market is truly a shopper’s paradise featuring food, handmade crafts, clothing and souvenirs at great prices. If you’re looking for best things to do in Penang at night, then a visit to Batu Ferringhi should be on your list.
2. Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge is a 13.5 kilometer suspension bridge that connects the island of Penang with the mainland. Being one of the longest Malaysian bridges and the sixth longest bridge in the Southeast Asian region, Penang Bridge is a prominent landmark that sees many visitors all throughout the years.
As of now, the Penang Bridge causeway is one of the busiest freeways in Malaysia and is only closed only once a year for the Penang Bridge International Marathon. The bridge provides excellent photography and sightseeing opportunities and is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Penang.
3. Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, is located on top of a hill in Air Itam. The huge temple complex is made up of three zones and contains a turtle liberation pond, food and drink stalls and souvenir shops. Constructed by Beow Lean in 1890, the Kek Lok Si temple is a national icon in Malaysia.
The temple is built on a 10 acre site and consists of many prayer halls, monasteries and lovely landscaped gardens. The Kek Lok Si also features a seven tier pagoda named the Pagoda of the 1000 Buddhas. This spectacular structure is a combination of beautiful Buddha statues crafted from an array of precious materials in Chinese, Thai and Burmese styles. Kok Lok Si temple is also among the recommended places to visit in Penang.
4. Penang Hill
Penang Hill is a hill station and other popular tourist attractions in Penang Island. The unique aspect of the Penang Hill is the view from the top which attracts tourists to visit this unique Penang attraction. Visitors can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view from the top of the hill where they can see as far as North Kedah and the Langkawi mountains. Even at night, the view is gorgeous, especially with the lights of Georgetown.
Many people climb up the hill to enjoy the crisp, cool air and to revel in the beauty and the cool shade of the 30 meter high trees. The Penang Hill features nature trails and over 100 species of birds as well. If you are looking for best things to do in Penang then a visit to Penang Hill should be in your to-do list.
5. Penang Museum & Art Gallery
Established all the way back in 1821, the Penang Museum & Art Gallery is a must visit attraction in Penang. The museum is home to a fantastic collection of costumes, jewelry, furniture, Baba Nyonya porcelain and eight paintings done by Captain Robert Smith. Considered to be one of the best presented museums in Malaysia, the museum features permanent exhibits dedicated to the island’s historical communities and events and various temporary exhibits. The first floor of the building is an art gallery where temporary exhibitions featuring local artists.
6. Unique Penang Temples
Penang’s Buddhist heritage has left quite a lasting impression on the island. Among the most visited attractions in Penang are the many, unique Buddhist temples.
The Dharmikarama Burmese Temple is the only one of its kind outside of Myanmar. This beautiful temple with a pair of stone elephants at the gates, is located in George town. Inside the temple, there is a Bodhi tree, monks’ apartment and a wishing pond along with numerous Buddha statues.
The Snake Temple is another unique temple in Penang and was built to honor the late healer and Buddhist priest Chor Soo Kong. According to legend, Chor Soo Kong provided a shelter for the snakes that lived on even after his death and are now considered to be the disciples of the monk.
The 650 year old Khoo Kongsi is another temple that was also a clan house. This lavishly decorated clan house used to be a place of worship for Chinese families with the same surname.
7. Penang Batik Factory
Established back in 1973, the Penang Batik Factory is a delightful attraction. Located just a short walk from Penang Botanic Gardens, the Batik Factory is frequented by many visitors all through the year. The factory complex consists of a workshop, a boutique and an art gallery. The factory not only features beautiful Batik works, but is also surrounded by lush greenery, making it a popular sightseeing destination for travelers from all over the world.
The factory offers a wide selection of high quality Batik works, including hand-drawn pieces, block printed batiks, and many more. Visitors who are interested in the craft can obtain a free tour on any day, free of charge.
8. Penang National Park
Although the Penang National Park is considered to be one of the smallest national park in the world, it is nothing short of spectacular. Containing about 143 species of flora and 410 species of flora, the national park features nature trails and a chance to witness the local wildlife in its natural habitat.
Formerly, the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, the Penang National park spreads across over 2000 hectares of forest and wetlands. The park also contains a pool and a waterfall for visitors to relax and take a swim on a hot day. This is a perfect camping spot with access to all amenities. Penang National Park is a haven for animal lovers with a chance to see leaf monkeys, snakes, otters, turtles and even dolphins.
9. Kapitan Keling Mosque
Constructed by the first Muslim settlers from India, the Kapitan Keling Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks in Penang. Built in 1801, the mosque is the largest one in Georgetown and creates quite a stunning vision at sunset. Named after the Kaptan of the Keling (a South Indian Community leader), the mosque is whitewashed and topped with domes replicating the Mughal style.
Although the mosque originally took up about 18 acres, the complex now stands on 8 acres as the land was taken over by the government in order to build roads. Visitors will have to obtain permission from the mosque officials and to be properly clothed to enter the premises.
10. Georgetown Heritage
Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a colorful history and striking architectural marvels. This vibrant city is named after King George III and is a journey back to the past with each street corner. This is not just one attraction, but a collection of different attractions, well-preserved and much adored by the whole world.
Some of the most popular attractions in Georgetown include the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the Clan Jetties, Han Jiang Ancestral Temple, Goddess of Mercy Temple, St. George’s Church, Espalanade & Victoria Clock Tower. In reality, the city contains so many attractions that a single day is not enough to visit all of them.
These are some of the best Penang attractions that you should visit. They not only hold the true beauty of Penang Island but also provide visitors a unique and exciting experience. Share your best Penang attractions with us by adding comments below.
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