Penang Island Malaysia Travel Guide

Penang Island or Pulau Pinang, often called the Pearl of the Orient, is located off the west coast of Malaysia is connected to the mainland by the Penang road bridge. Georgetown is the capital city of Penang.

Penang has a real mixture of cultures from traditional Malaysian as well as a large Chinese and Indian community. Some of the best food in all of Malaysia is found in Penang.

Little India is found in the centre of Penang's Georgetown. This colourful neighbourhood is full of exotic sites and smells with streets lined with fabric and clothing stores, spice shops and plenty and cheap and tasty eateries.

Chinatown, not far from Little India is another great place to go for some fantastic food and shopping

Komtar shopping mall

Penang Museum has on display the history of Penang and cultural information. Open from 9am to 5pm everyday except Friday.

Penang World Music Festival

From the 2nd October to the 4th October 2009 the Penang World Music Festival will have bands from all around the world performing live in the Botanic Gardens Penang. For more information see the official webpage. www.penangworldmusicfestival.com

Penang National Park

Penang National Park is located on the north western corner of Penang Island. This used to be called the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve though was declared a National Park in 2003.

It takes around 30 minutes to reach the Penang National Park from Georgetown. Within the park are 8 secluded beaches many are nesting grounds for sea turtles. These are some of the nicest beaches in Penang, some with coral reefs which are ok for snorkeling.

You are able to camp within the park at the designated camp site close to Meromictic lake close to Pantai Kerachut (beach).

Getting to Penang

By Plane

Penang has an airport serviced by Malaysian airlines and international flights to Sumatra and Java Indonesia, Singapore.

Firefly is a new Malaysian budget airline flying between Malaysia and Sumatra. Firefly have direct flights from Penang to Medan, Aceh and Batam in Sumatra as well as to Subang airport in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Johor Bahru in Malaysia and to Phuket in Thailand. www.fireflyz.com.my

Air Asia flies direct from Penang to Medan Sumatra Indonesia. www.airasia.com.

Tiger Airways is a budget airline that has direct flights from Penang to Bangalore and Chennai in India, Perth in Australia and also to Singapore. www.tigerairways.com

Jetstar is a low cost airline with direct flights from Penang to Perth Australia and Singapore. www.jetstar.com

Silk Air have direct flights from Penang to Singapore, flight time is around 1 hour 25 minutes. www.silkair.com

Malaysian Airlines have flights from Penang with connecting flights all over the world. www.malaysiaairlines.com

By train

There is a train line traveling along the west coast of Malaysia with a train station in Butterworth on the mainland close to Penang. trains travel south through to Singapore or north to Kuala Lumpur and Thailand.

By Ferry

There is a regular ferry service from Penang across to the mainland town of Butterworth. The ferry leaves Penang from the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal at Weld Quay Georgetown and goes across to the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth.

There are ferry services from Penang to Langawi as well as to Belawan ferry terminal in Medan Sumatra.

Langkawi Ferries have online bookings www.langkawi-ferry.com

By bus

There are regular buses that go from Penang to A.Famosa, Butterworth, Ipoh, Kota Bharu, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Seremban and to Sungai Pentani. There are buses that leave with Penang Island and more that leave from the bus terminal in Butterworth.

Travel time to these locations and economy prices are:

Penang to A.Famosa

Penang to Butterworth

Penang to Ipoh 2 hours

Penang to Kota Bharu

Penang to Kuala Lumpur 6 hours around RM25

Penang to Melaka

Penang to Seremban

Penang to Sungai Pentani

For the longer trips the buses stop half way for a meal/toilet break. Some of the bus companies to make these trips include:

Transnasional www.transnasional.com.my

Sri Maja Buses www.srimaju.com

KBES Buses www.kbes.com.my

Last updated 7th August 2009

Hotels in Penang Malaysia

Following is a list of hotels found in or close to Penang Malaysia.

There are a number of backpacker hotels found within Little India in Penang.

Love Lane Inn located in Chinatown, Love Lane Inn is a backpackers hostel with room prices from RM25 (US$7) www.backpackingmalaysia.com

Hutton Lodge is located in the heart of Penang walking distance to historical sites, restaurants and shopping centre. Hutton Lodge is an old colonial house restored to become a hotel. Room rates from RM50 (US$14) www.huttonlodge.com

Tune Hotel is a new modern quality budget hotel located 5 minutes from the centre of Georgetown. Room prices start from RM55+ taxes (US$16) www.tunehotels.com

Good Hope Hotel is a 3 star air-conditioned hotel located 5 minutes from Georgetown in Gurney Drive Kelawei-Penang. The hotel has WiFi wireless internet access. Room prices start from www.goodhopehotel.com.my

Hotel 1926 is a heritage hotel built in 1926 using Anglo-Malay architecture. Room prices start from RM105 per night (US$30) including breakfast www.1926heritagehotel.com

Royal Penang Hotel is a 3.5 star hotel. Room rates from RM130 including breakfast. (US$37) www.hotelroyalpenang.com

Naza Hotel Penang located 10 minutes away from Georgetown on Tanjung Tokong beach. Room prices start from RM138 (US$39) for a room with a sea view and breakfast for 2. Naza also have hotels in Melaka and Johor Bahru. www.nazahotel.com.my

Hotel Mingood a short walk from the centre of the historical Georgetown in Penang. The hotel provides free WiFi wireless internet hotspots in public areas. Room prices from RM140 (US$40) www.hotelmingood.com

Bayview Hotel Georgetown located in the centre of Georgetown Penang. Room prices from RM179 (US$51). www.bayviewhotels.com

The Gurney Resort Hotel is a 36 story hotel complex with amusement park and water park with waterslides and wave pool. Room prices are from RM188+ taxes (US$54) www.gurney-hotel.com.my

Evergreen Laurel Hotel a quality business hotel with 367 rooms with either city or sea views. Located 5 minutes from the centre of Georgetown. The hotel has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gymnasium, sauna and beauty salon. Room rates from RM245+ per night (US$70) with free broadband internet use in the rooms and wireless internet in public areas of the hotel. www.evergreenhotel.net

Equatorial Hotel set on a hill 150m above sea level with excellents views over Penang. The hotel has a golf course and convention centre. The Equatorial Hotel is located 7 minutes from Penang Airport. Promotional room prices are from RM270 (US$77) www.equatorial.com

G Hotel a modern trendy hotel with a Jazz bar called GSpot. With swimming pool, gymnasium, yoga studio and massage centre. All rooms at the G Hotel have wireless WiFi internet access. Room prices from RM350 per night. (US$100) www.ghotel.com.my

Sunway Hotel Georgetown. Located in the centre of Georgetown close to shopping malls and restaurants. Room prices from US$100 per night www.sunwayhotels.com

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Hotel a beautiful hotel set in a historical building with Chinese architecture. Room rates from RM350 nett (US$100) www.cheongfatttzemansion.com

Eastern and Oriental Hotel was established in 1885 though with many renovations since. A beautiful hotel with modern facilities and swimming pool. Room rates from RM580 per night (US$166) www.e-o-hotel.com

Berjaya Hotel a high rise hotel in Penang with great views over the island and ocean. www.berjayahotels-resorts.com

Penang Parkroyal Hotel located at Batu Ferrenghi Beach on the northern coast of Penang. www.parkroyalhotels.com

Shangri-La Hotel www.shangri-la.com