7 City Tours in Penang (Fun And Affordable!) 2023
Looking for a city tour in Penang? You have come to the right place!
Being dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Penang is known for its magnificent landscapes, beautiful colonial architecture, and best street foods with finger-licking magic waiting around every corner.
Penang is truly a paradise for those who want to experience a diverse culture and palatable cuisines in one go.
If you are planning your next Southeast Asia vacation in Penang, you should consider reading this article as I gathered all the best Penang city tours here just for you!
Plus, I have been to Penang so many times that I am intimately familiar with the city from top to bottom and considered myself a ‘Penang expert’. Below is my top favorite option for the Penang city tour that you should definitely check out!
Winner of City Tours In Penang list: Penang: George Town City Half-Day Attractions
Ready to dive in further for the best city tour in Penang? Let’s jump right in!
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The List of 7 BEST City Tours In Penang:
1. Penang: George Town City Half-Day Attractions
⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 14 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 4 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
If you have less than 24 hours in Penang, or maybe you do not want to spend your whole day walking only around the city of Penang, then this is definitely the ideal tour for you!
In this one day tour in Penang, you get to dip yourself into the beauty of the heritage sites of Georgetown by visiting some of the amazing Penang attractions.
These tourist destinations include Dharmikarama Burmese Temple, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, and many more.
So, if you are a history junkie, you should definitely consider booking this tour as all these buildings are well-known tourist destinations that are full of amazing background stories!
On the last leg of your trip, you will also visit Chew Jetty, a jetty located along George Town’s waterfront.
Through this journey, you may observe the Clan’s living heritage on stilts by the coastline where you get a first-hand view of how they lead their daily lives.
The Penang: George Town City Half-Day Attractions include:
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Professional guide
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- Parking Fees
- Transport by private vehicle
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Our tour guide, Lester, was very generous with sharing his knowledge about Penang and the places we visited together. We felt very comfortable as he took us around, and he was also very helpful. Would definitely recommend him to others who are tourists in Penang.”
– Janet S (read more reviews)
2. Penang Tour With Your Experience Personal Driver
⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 6 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 6 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
If you like to customize your itinerary or plan out which destinations to visit instead of having other people do it for you, you can try to look into this Penang tour package.
In this one day tour in Penang, you get to choose whichever places piqued your interest. In case you are someone who loves to spend their time in nature, consider visiting places like Penang Butterfly Farm, Penang Hill, and Penang National Park.
But, if you prefer more urban surroundings, or want to see what city view Penang looks like, I highly suggest visiting Penang Town Hall, Pewter Showroom, or Penang KOMTAR Shopping Mall.
This tour has everything that you want to see in Penang. So, if you want to do a one day tour in Penang and you are looking for a memorable Penang experience, then you need to book this package tour!
The Penang Tour With Your Experience Personal Driver includes:
- Water bottled
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Experienced tour guide
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Jimmy was an awesome driver and guide. He was early and waiting for us and we had a fantastic time. In addition to the places we wanted to see, he suggested other sites off the beaten tourist track that were great. He was kind, professional and knowledgeable and you couldn’t ask for a better time. There was no way we could have seen all that we did without him. Highly recommend him.”
– Walter L, (read more reviews)
3. Penang City Sightseeing Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, with more than 5 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 7 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
With this Penang city tour, you are ready for the best and most memorable Penang experience that you will not ever forget!
The best thing about this local tour in Penang is that you get to visit TONS of Penang’s fascinating attractions, including Kek Lok Si Temple, Snake Temple, the funicular railway on Penang Hill, and the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre.
Furthermore, a bonus for you as there will be a private host to guide you around, making things much easier for you as you can explore and learn about the history of the tourist destinations.
If you want peace of mind and the convenience of someone doing it all for you, you should definitely go and see this tour Penang Malaysia.
The Penang City Sightseeing Tour includes:
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional tour guide
- Lunch
- Shopping Mall visit (alternative)
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Very enjoyable tour and our driver/guide was excellent. Saw all the highlights of the island and our guide flexed the tour to our wishes.”
– Ed K, (read more reviews)
4. FullDay Pulau Penang Exploration with English-Speaking Guide
⭐️Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars, with more than 8 positive reviews! | ⌛️Tour Length: 7 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
Let’s say you can spend one day yet less than 48 hours in Penang, I would 100% recommend this tour to you.
For this tour, you get to visit MANY amazing tourist spots in Penang, which include the Rainbow Skyway & Observation Deck at the TOP Komtar, The Batik factory, Saanen Dairy Goat Farm, and also the Floating Village.
Not only that, you will have the chance to enjoy some of the interactive paintings painted by Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian street artist who created a series of six street art murals for the George Town Festival in 2012.
As you can see, this tour definitely keeps you occupied with lots of activity in Penang. With the price USD $60, this tour is surely worth it!
The FullDay Pulau Penang Exploration with English Speaking Guide includes:
- Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off
- Group tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Experienced English-speaking professional tour guide
- Entrance fee for Rainbow Glass Skyway Observation Deck at The TOP Komtar
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Aldrin picked us up for the tour from our hotel. The car was clean, comfortable and cool. Aldrin was very polite and shared lots of useful details about Penang as a whole as well as specific details about George Town.
We visited many temples of different denominations, all of which were decorated in bright colours and with intricate carvings, all very interesting. We had a quick stroll around the botanical gardens on Penang Hill.
Lovely views and such a variety of different trees and plants. We also went up the Rainbow skywalk to enjoy the views of the whole area.
He also took us to see a lovely beach popular with the locals that was very peaceful. Overall we are so pleased we did this tour and saw so much more of the island.”
– Michelle (read more reviews)
5. Private Half-Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour
⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, with more than 6 positive reviews! | ⌛️Tour Length: 4 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
Attention all the foodies out there who are searching for a city tour Penang that includes food tasting, I have good news for you because you will surely fall in love with this tour package!
Aside from the opportunity to explore the lesser-known places in Georgetown, this tour also includes five stops for you to taste some of Malaysian best delicacies. You will have the chance to experience the mixed cultures of Penang and you will find them interesting and unforgettable!
This 4-hour city tour in Penang Malaysia also brings you to some shops that sell local snacks such as kuih, coconut tarts, and also the sweet, sticky Indian pancakes called Apom. Trust me, once you try these snacks you will surely fall in love with them!
So if you can spare some time in Penang city Malaysia, you should check this one out.
The FullDay Pulau Penang Exploration with English Speaking Guide includes:
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Food tasting
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Non-alcoholic beverages
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Aldrin was a friendly, very knowledgeable guide who introduced me to some me local tasty food delights as well as sharing local host and key local sites along the way. Recommend as a great introduction to Penang!”
– Tammy (read more reviews)
6. Klook Pass Penang(4 Attractions Pass)
Image by Iszarizal Ismail from Pixabay
⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars, with more than 99 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: unlimited (One entry only per admission)
Why choose this tour?
Another great DIY tour Penang Malaysia that you should consider is this one as you can enjoy up to 4 exciting tourist destinations here in Penang!
Not only this package allows you to choose any attractions based on your interest, but if you spend around USD $65, you also get a chance to play at the ESCAPE Theme Park in Penang!
Want to know which destinations are included in the tour? These locations include:
- The TOP Komtar Penang
- The Habitat Penang Hill
- Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm
- Penang Bird Park
- Tech Dome Penang
- Boutique Aquarium at The TOP Penang
- The Gravityz Obstacle Rope Course Experience in The TOP Penang
- Wild Immersion Virtual Reality Experience at Penang Hill
As you can see, there are many interesting places to choose from! You should definitely check this one out before it is too late!
The Klook Pass Penang(4 Attractions Pass) includes:
- 1 x ESCAPE Theme Park in Penang
- Admission to 4 Attractions
What past guests loved about the tour:
“Strongly recommended for visitors to purchase Klook Pass Penang if you have the plan to visit a few of the attractions in Penang. The process to redeem the ticket is easy and wouldn’t take you a long time in the queue. We visited the escape theme park, the habitat, the top komtar boutique aquarium, Jurassic research land, the top komtar observations deck, and the rainbow skywalk as well.”
– Siaw Wei (read more reviews)
7. Penang City Private Half-Day Tour With Khoo Kongsi & Kek Lok Si
⭐️Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, with more than 3 positive reviews! | ⌛️ Tour Length: 5 hours approximately
Why choose this tour?
This private half-day tour Penang Malaysia focuses on Georgetown’s cultural and architectural highlights which give you the chance to explore the city sights and sounds that cannot be found anywhere else except in Penang.
For people who prefer smaller groups and personalized tours, you can try to look into this package as you get to experience the cultural heritage of Armenia Street and Little India in a much closer and intimate glimpse.
The driver will also take you around Chew Jetty, Fort Cornwallis, and some of the famous temples in Penang.
If you want to have a cool experience and discover the sights and beauty of Penang through a private tour, you will enjoy this Penang City Private Half Day Tour With Khoo Kongsi & Kek Lok Si.
The Penang City Private Half Day Tour With Khoo Kongsi & Kek Lok Si includes:
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Private transportation
- Hotel pick up and drop off
What past guests loved about the tour:
“G-shen was amazing. Also, his colleague, Mr. Gobi, was great. Both have long Tourguide experience. On this Tour, G-shen was kind and had a lot of knowledge. I can’t believe that İ has seen so much in just two days. İ can highly recommend the Tour, the guide G-shen and Mr. Gobi, and the Agency. Thank you so much. İ had a great time in Penang!”
– Laura Nitsch (read more reviews)
What To Expect In Penang?
Depending on which parts of Penang you intend to visit, one thing that you can surely expect is its weather.
Although Malaysia is a tropical country, Penang is rather rainy during September and November with high hurricane odds.
I would highly recommend you to come to Penang from late November until January as the weather is quite nice and lovely for sightseeing.
Also, as it is a popular tourist destination, you have to bear in mind that there will be a lot of tourists visiting.
If you prefer less crowded places, consider going to the Penang attractions either early in the morning or later in the afternoon (after 3-4 pm).
How Many Days In Georgetown, Penang Is Enough?
While planning your trip to Penang, I would say that three days is sufficient for you to discover all the crooks and nooks of the city.
Of course, you are free to spend longer than that but if you are planning to travel to some of the other places aside from Penang, I believe that spending three days is already good to go.
How Can I Spend 3 Days In Georgetown, Penang?
In case you are unsure how to spend your time in Georgetown, you can refer to the suggestion below.
First Day:
- Right after you arrive at Penang Airport, you should put your luggage first at the accommodation you already planned to stay in.
(See ‘Accommodations Recommendation In Penang’ below in case you want to know which guest house, hostel, or hotel suits you.)
- After checking in, you can either rest for a bit or straight away enjoy the fun in the city of Georgetown. I would say go for something more chill and relax to warm up yourself with the surroundings.
Suggestion: You can try to start your trip with Private Half-Day Penang Tasty Local Street Food Tour, which is either done in the early morning at 9.00 am or during lunch hour at 2.30 pm.
- Once you are done with the tour, you may head back to your accommodation or just take a stroll while looking at all the colorful and mesmerizing street art dispersed in the city.
If you want to shop at the local shopping complex, head over to Gurney Paragon Mall or Ist Avenue Mall for a wonderful shopping experience.
Second Day:
- You are now more familiar with what Georgetown looks like and ready for more exciting and fun activities.
- You can opt for the Penang Tour With Your Experience Personal Driver, or Penang City Sightseeing Tour.
Both tours include a tour guide and private driver who can drive you around to see some of the great attractions in Georgetown.
So, do take the chance to ask them about the history and what is best in the city!
- If you like to personally customize your Penang trip, you can try to book Klook Pass Penang. With only USD $65, you get the package of 4 attraction passes + ESCAPE Theme Park Penang.
(Talk about how much you can save with this pass!)
Third-Day:
- On the last day of your trip, you are ready to go back home. But surely you want to wander a little bit in Georgetown before heading back.
You can walk through Armenian Street. Carnarvon Street, Masjid Kapitan Keling Street, Chulia Street, Pantai Street, Burma Street, and Muntri Street.
Once you are done with all these famous streets, it is time to check in your luggage at the Penang Airport while bringing all the sweet memories of Penang with you back to your hometown.
FAQs For This AWESOME City Tours In Penang
Is Georgetown Penang Worth Visiting?
Is Georgetown worth visiting? YES, Georgetown Penang is truly a place you should not miss on your Malaysia trip! Unless you are a person who is magnetically attached to beaches, Georgetown is definitely the great spot to stay while in Penang.
For history buffs, heritage house enthusiasts, and people who appreciate street art, Georgetown is a great city as you get all these things at one location.
This means you can experience all the amazing sights without having to travel too far or spend too much!
Additionally, Georgetown is known worldwide as a foodie paradise. It is renowned for its delicious and exotic mix of palatable cuisine to choose from.
In fact, in 2022, 2 restaurants in Penang had been awarded one MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking. Make sure you try their food at least once in your lifetime!
So, if you ask me if Georgetown is worth a visit, my answer is certainly positive.
How Much Money Should I Bring For The Tour?
How much budget should you bring with you? This depends on how many days you will be staying in Penang (whether you are backpacking or lavishly spending for your vacation) and also, the type of activities you intend to do (the more the activities, the higher your expenditure will be).
In regards to tours, you can expect a price range between USD $21 and $100.
If you are doing backpacking or prefer to customize your vacation itinerary, I would suggest picking Klook Pass Penang. You choose among these four attractions which are located in the city center.
- The TOP Komtar
- Tech Dome Penang
- Boutique Aquarium at The TOP Penang
- The Gravityz Obstacle Rope Course Experience in The TOP Penang
Whereas if budget is not your main concern, opt for Penang Tour With Your Experience Personal Driver where for this tour package, everything is already pre-planned for you including having your private chauffeur drive around town.
For your daily expenditure, It is safe to say that RM50 (equivalent to USD $10-12) per day is enough to be spent on other kinds of stuff like souvenirs and foods/snacks.
Overall, any tour will do, so long as you know what you want out of your trip. Hope this article helped you choose the best Penang city tour!
Accommodation Recommendations In Penang
Budget:
- WeLuv Travel Guesthouse (USD $21 per night)
- B Street Hotel (USD $19 per night)
- Garden Inn Hotel (USD $30 per night)
Luxury:
- The Prestige Hotel (USD $102 per night)
- The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (USD $154 per night)
- The Edison George Town (USD $134 per night)
Famous Foods To Try In Penang
Are there any famous foods to try in Penang? There’s no better way to enjoy Malaysia’s food than to try local delicacies while you’re here.
Aside from broadening your knowledge of the people of Malaysia, food is ultimately the best connection for you to immerse yourself in the culture and heritage of a region.
Especially in Penang, you will get the best out of Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, and Indian cultures in one set.
Each culture is diverse in taste and this is why eating local foods while you travel is important and completely unique!
Hence, here is a list of famous Penang foods you can try while traveling here:
- Penang Char Koay Teow
- Hokkien Prawn Mee
- Oyster Omelette
- Seafood popiah
- Penang Asam Laksa
- Curry Mee
- Pasembur
- Nasi Kandar
Penang Essential Clothes To Bring When Travel
What to wear when traveling to Penang? I understand that this might be your first Southeast Asia trip, hence you are unsure what kind of clothes to pack for your trip.
To make things convenient, you may refer to the list below:
Note that Malaysia’s weather is sunny and humid all year round, so you do not have to pack wool clothes unless you put Penang Hill as part of your vacation itinerary (where the weather is just cold which is estimated at around 80.6 Fahrenheit/27 Celsius).
Undoubtedly, there are so many tours to choose from and you can pick the tour in Penang that suits you the most according to your budget and your preference.
Whether you pick a private tour where you have a personal chauffeur driving around, or doing your own cycling, driving or even city tour bus Penang, there will be so many ways to explore this fun city on your own way.
Anyway, I wish you a happy holiday and good luck exploring popular destinations in Penang. I guarantee this city will not bore you throughout your trip and you will go back home with a super sweet Southeast Asia vacation memory!
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