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Penang Attractions
12 Results
- Park/Garden
Botanical Gardens
Covering 30 hectares (74 acres) of landscaped grounds, this botanical garden was established by the British in 1884, with grounds that are perfect for a shady walk. Monkeys crawl all over these gardens, and they are not shy: they won't hesitate to approach visitors for food…Outside Georgetown
- Landmark
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze (1840-1917), once dubbed "China's Rockefeller" by the New York Times, built a vast commercial empire in Southeast Asia, first in Indonesia, then in Singapore. He came to Penang in 1890 and continued his success, giving some of his spoils to build schools throughout…In Georgetown - Landmark
Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis is built on the site where Capt. Francis Light, founder of Penang, first landed in 1786. The fort was first built in 1793, but this site was an unlikely spot to defend the city from invasion. In 1810, it was rebuilt in an attempt to make up for initial strategic…In Georgetown - Religious Site
Goddess of Mercy Temple
Dedicated jointly to Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy, and Ma Po Cho, the patron saint of sea travelers, this is the oldest Chinese temple in Penang. On the 19th of each second, sixth, and ninth month of the lunar calendar (the months that fall between Feb/Mar, June/July, and Sept/Oct,…In Georgetown - Historic Site
Han Jiang Ancestral Temple of the Penang Teochew Association
Penang's Teochew community lovingly restored its ancestral temple (c. 1870), earning it a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation in 2006. The project was funded by the local Teochew community, who has seen a recent drive to preserve its heritage in…Around Town - Religious Site
Kapitan Kling Mosque
Captain Light donated a large parcel of land on this spot for the settlement's sizable Indian Muslim community to build a mosque and graveyard. The leader of the community, known as Kapitan Kling (or Keling, which, ironically, was once a racial slur against Indians in the region),…In Georgetown - Landmark
Kek Lok Si Temple
The "Temple of Supreme Bliss" is the largest Buddha temple complex in Malaysia. Built on terraces into the side of Penang Hill, the oldest parts date back to the temple's 1893 founding. The seven-story Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas can be climbed for a donation of RM2. The grand 30m… - Neighborhood
Khoo Khongsi
The Chinese who migrated to Southeast Asia created clan associations in their new homes. Based on common heritage, these social groups formed the core of Chinese life in the new homelands. The Khoo clan, who immigrated from Hokkien province in China, acquired this spot in 1851 and…In Georgetown - Hiking/Biking Route
Penang Hill
Malaysia's first hill resort, Penang Hill is only 833m (2,723 ft.) above sea level, but it is noticeably cooler than the rest of the island. At the top, you will find the Kek Lok Si Temple and Thee Kong Tua (Temple of the Jade Emperor; Air Hitam; no phone; free admission; daily…Outside Georgetown - Religious Site
Sri Mariamman Temple
This Hindu temple was built in 1833 by a Chettiar, a group of southern Indian Muslims, and it received a major face-lift in 1978 with the help of Madras sculptors. The Hindu Navarithri festival is held here, whereby devotees parade Sri Mariamman, a Hindu goddess worshiped for her…In Georgetown - Religious Site
St. George's Church
Built by Rev. R. S. Hutchins (who was also responsible for the Free School next door, home of the Penang Museum) and Capt. Robert N. Smith, whose paintings hang in the museum, this church was completed in 1818. Although the outside is almost as it was then, the contents were…In Georgetown - Neighborhood
Teluk Bahang Fishing Village
Almost every family in this humble fishing village, located on the northwest tip of the island past the resorts of Batu Feringgi, survives by fishing the waters around Penang. There's not much to see here except the fishing jetty, which is busiest in the early mornings, when the…
Penang Shopping
The first place anyone here will recommend you to go for shopping is KOMTAR. Short for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak, it is the largest shopping complex in Penang, four stories of clothing shops, restaurants, and large department stores. For those staying in Batu Ferringi resorts, Gurney Plaza (tel. 04/228-1111) is close by.
Good shopping finds in Penang are batik, pewter products, locally produced curios, paintings, antiques, pottery, and jewelry. If you care to walk around in search of finds, there are a few streets in Georgetown that are the hub of shopping activity. In the city center, the area around Jalan Penang, Lebuhraya Campbell, Lebuhraya Kapitan Keling, Lebuhraya Chulia, and Lebuhraya Pantai is near the Sri Mariamman Temple, the Penang Museum, the Kapitan Kling Mosque, and other sites of historic interest. Here you'll find everything from local crafts to souvenirs and fashion, and maybe even a bargain or two. Most of these shops are open from 10am to 10pm daily.
Out at Batu Feringgi, the main road turns into a fun night bazaar every evening just at dark. During the day, there are also some good shops for batik and souvenirs.
Penang Nightlife
I highly recommend a cocktail at Farquhar's Bar (tel. 04/222-2000; daily 11am-11pm), located within the old E&O Hotel, from where you can tour the areas of the hotel that are open to the public. Across the street from the E&O, Upper Penang Road has an entire strip of shophouses dedicated to nightlife. Here you'll find pubs and discos; beer gardens and live music; good beer on tap; and patrons from Penang's local, expatriate, and tourism populations. Possibly the most notorious bar in Penang is the Hong Kong Bar, 371 Lebuh Chulia (tel. 04/261-9796), which opened in 1920 and was a regular hangout for military personnel based in Butterworth. It has an extraordinary archive of photos of the servicemen who have patronized the place throughout the years, plus a collection of medals, plaques, and buoys from ships. Be warned, it's a real dive bar.
If you're at Batu Feringgi, the best party is at the Hard Rock Cafe (Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Feringgi Beach; tel. 04/881-1711; daily 11am-2:30am), which has live music nightly. There's a cover charge of RM30 per person, which includes one drink if you come on Fridays and Saturdays after around 10:30 -- if you come earlier, the restaurant serves decent burgers.
