The Perfect Penang Day Trip [2023 Ultimate Guide]

Planning for your perfect Penang Day Trip? But you only have one day?

Do not worry, in a day you will manage to cover Penang and come back home fresh, recharged, and rejuvenated.

But, why Penang?

Penang city, Georgetown is a multicultural trading city in SEA with a 200% increase of tourists in 2019 compared to the previous year. It offers plenty of the best foods and tourist-worthy attractions from historical to nature places, all under the sun.

What is more interesting, on the 7th of July 2022, Georgetown will mark its 14th anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage Site! The perfect place to have a Penang Weekend Trip! 

WWB writer, Zizi, will guide you on a memorable Penang day tour with 3 different options to enjoy the Penang day trip to the fullest!

15 Must Visit Places On Your Penang Day Trip 

DISCLAIMER

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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…No doubt, this island has endless recommended places to be visited for your Penang trip. Sit back and relax as this article will recommend places according to 3 different interests from historical places to nature sites and Penang national park day trips.

5 Historical Sites To Visit On Your Penang Day Trip

A one day historical trip in Penang is  a great choice if you are interested in walking down the history lane of the Pearl of Orient (Penang’s nickname).

Visit these 5 places for your Penang day tour and you will be back with 1001 golden nuggets of history information about Penang.

1. Fort Cornwallis 

Start your morning day trip in Penang by visiting Fort Cornwallis, a 235 years old fort that was built by Captain Francis Light in 1786.

Plan your Penang trip in the morning to this fort as its operation starts from 9.00 a.m to 10.00 p.m daily and the price of the ticket ranges from 5 MYR to 10 MYR (USD 5 to USD 1) for adults and children.

Fun fact, this largest standing fort in Penang and even in Malaysia that spans 4490 sqft was built as a defensive military base against any possible attacks from pirates, Kedah forces, and even the French during the Napoleonic Wars which never happened. 

Rather than an active defensive structure, this fort which is located on the Eastern tip of Georgetown adjacent to the Esplanade served as an administrative function to the British East India Company in the late 18th century.

Once inside Fort Cornwallis, near the main entrance, do not forget to have a picture with the bronze statue of Captain Francis Light. 

Inside this star shape of Fort Cornwallis, are prison cells, storage areas, barracks, Penang lighthouse, the first chapel on this island, and numerous bronze cannons which are still preserved in the best forms for tourists to reminisce Penang’s history.

2. Kapitan Keling Mosque 

Next, have a visit to one of the Core Zone of Georgetown’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kapitan Keling Mosque.

It is a 5 to 10 minutes walk from Fort Cornwallis and is located near to many other historical places of worship on Kapitan Keling Street or known as the “Street of Harmony”.

This first and oldest mosque in Penang will be celebrated its 221 years of historical building in 2022 and is listed as a heritage building by the National Heritage Department, 

Kapitan Keling Mosque is a remarkable Penang landmark built by the leader of the Indian Muslim community back in the 19th century, Caudeer Mohidden Merican who is also known as Kapitan Keling (The Captain of Kelings).

The design of this mosque is unlike any vernacular mosque in the region as it combines the influences of Indian-Mughal architecture with Gothic, Moorish, and Roman Renaissance designs with the help of German architect Henry Alfred Neubronne.

Visitors are advised to wear proper attire especially women (long pants or skirts), no shorts are allowed and it opens daily from 09:00 a.m to 5:30 p.m and it is free entrance.

3. Pinang Peranakan Mansion  

In the evening of your Penang trip plan, visit this Pinang Peranakan Mansion to learn more about the rich Peranakan history and culture.

This impressive green mansion has been featured as one of the location sets for The Amazing Race and the famous Crazy Rich Asians film alongside The Little Nyonya and Road to Dawn films.

Do not miss out on the chance to learn the story of the mansion and the life of Peranakans from the friendly and knowledgeable guided tour that is included in the entrance fee of USD$ 5.

The daily tour runs at 11.30 a.m and 3.30 p.m daily and lasts for about 45 minutes. Book your ticket in advance.

Pinang Peranakan Mansion is near Fort Cornwallis (8 minutes walking) and you will be transported back in time to the Baba – Nyonya cultural revival with unique displays of over 1,000 Peranakan artifacts from Peter Soon personal collection. 

 Peter was a Peranakan architect who bought over this Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee’s residence after his descendants left it abandoned, as they lost their riches in WWII.

This 2-story mansion has adopted a rojak (fusion with English) style with Chinese, English, and Scottish materials and a design that is known as Straits Eclectic style, a popular style among the wealthy Peranakan back in those days.

 A very nice spot for #ootd to your one-day Penang trip.

4. Penang Thai Pak Koong 

The next historical visit is would be to Penang’s 211-year-old  temple, Ng Suk temple or also known as the Thai Pak Koong temple. 

This hidden attraction is located inside a traditional Chinese village and the best part is, it is near to the seaside as it’s located at Tanjung Bungah, a seaside area between Gurney and Batu Ferringhi. Nice spot to unwind for your Penang one day trip.

Most recently, this temple won the 2021 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. 

It is a meaningful award not only for Penang but also for Malaysia, as this temple which was built in 1810, showcases the diverse culture and heritage of Malaysia. Visit this temple for your memorable trip to Penang.

5. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion – Blue Mansion 

Before the end of your Penang day tour package, visit this impressive Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion also known as Blue Mansion, a hotel boutique boutique hotel that gives a different vibe of colonial Penang.

Do not worry, even if it is a hotel boutique   boutique hotel they provide a 45 minutes tour to experience a dazzling indigo-colored facade that belongs to the late Cheong Fatt Tze, rags to riches businessman from Guangzhou, China.

The tour is would be available at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m from Monday to Friday, and for Saturday and Sunday, two-time slots available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is better to book the tour first, to secure your place.

From this tour, you will learn that this blue Mansion with Straits Eclectic architectural style is a gift from Cheong Fatt Tze to his 7th wife out of the 8th wife that he married. 

The blue painting of this mansion is a natural blue dye from an indigo plant mixed with limewash paint to absorb moisture as this could prevent mold in the humid conditioner. Blue was chosen because it is cheerier and to avoid Chinese belief that white is associated with death and mourning. 

3 Nature Sites To Visit On Your Penang Day Trip

Nature is healing. You can heal on a Penang weekend trip by enjoying Penang’s nature. 

Here are the top 3 suggestions for a Penang nature day trip for you:)

1. The Habitat Penang Hill

The Habitat Penang Hill is a must-visit for your Penang day trip plan. Trip to Penang is incomplete without visiting this 130 million-year-old rainforest. It is suggested to visit this early morning to avoid the crowd.

This park opens daily from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. (last entry by 5.00 p.m.). It is recommended to wear comfortable sportswear, sport shoes and sun protection as it can get hot and humid.

This pristine forest reserve established in 1911 is located at the backside of Bendera Hill and visitors have 2 options to reach The Habitat Penang.

Bendera Hill is too common, so this pristine forest reserve since 1911 would be your next choice. It is located at the backside of Bendera Hill and visitors have 2 options to reach The Habitat Penang.

One of the ways is by hiking (7.5 km from Bukit Bendera to Habitat Penang) or the easiest and recommended way is by taking the Penang Hill funicular at the Penang Hill Lower Station that will take you less than 5 minutes to reach the top hill. 

The roundtrip ticket for an adult is 30 MYR (USD 8), you can opt for a one-way ticket which is 15 MYR (USD 5). Good news if you do not want to queue, opt for the fast lane ticket which costs  60 MYR (USD 15) for roundtrip and 45 MYR (USD 11)  for a one-way trip.

5 main Habitat attractions are ready for you to explore including: 

•  Langur Way Canopy Walk,
•  Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk, 
• Trail and Gardens, Sunset Walk, and 
• The Flight of the Colugo!

You can enjoy The Habitat Penang in 4 different ways depending on your ticket purchasing. For standard price tickets, MYR 55 (USD 14) for adults and MYR 35 (USD 8) for children and senior citizens. 

With the standard price tickets, you will enjoy the spectacular view of the Andaman Sea and beyond at Langur Way Canopy Walk and mesmerize the 360-degree views of Penang at approximately 800 m above sea level from Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk. 

If you want to have a guided walk with a friendly, knowledgeable guide, go for Kancil Walk at MYR 85 (USD 21) per adult, for a maximum of 8 persons. You will also get MYR 10 (USD 2.50), for gift vouchers.

A recommended option is Forest Bathing at Habitat Penang Hill. In Japan, forest bathing is known as “Shinrin-yoku” which is aimed to reduce stress and suicidal thoughts in society. 

By joining this 3 hour long ecotherapy experience it could help to heal and rejuvenate one’s soul. Pre-booking is required and please note this experience is offered only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at MYR 138 (USD 35) per adult.

Pre-book Premium Rainforest Experience, MYR 200 (USD 50), now to have a lifetime experience exploring the biodiversity fully guided by The Habitat Naturalist. This package also includes refreshment and 2-ways Fast Lane Funicular Train Transfer. 

2. Clan Jetties Penang

After the nature healing at Habitat Penang Hill, visit Clan Jetties in the evening for your Penang one day trip.

Clan Jetties, a floating fishing village with 7 different jetties for different clans but now left with 6 jetties, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is a must-visit for your trip to Penang to enjoy a cluster of water villages along the southern stretch of Penang’s Weld Quay.

From Komtar, it is 4 minutes driving, straight down from Lebuh Chulia (besides the Kapitan Keling Mosque) to reach these jetties. You can opt to ride on trishaws or hop on the RapidPG bus ride from the center of Georgetown, bus numbers 307 and 401e.

These 19th-century jetties proved to be the booming and glory era of Penang’s maritime. 

Many Chinese immigrants from Fujian province came to Penang and worked at the docks as coolies and boat operators ferrying passengers and goods. They built their homes by the water’s edge as it was close to the port.

Visitors are welcome to stroll about these wooden pieces which are special, as they’re resistant to the influences of seawater, to witness their daily lives and cultures.

 In these 6 villages, each village lives in one clan and has its temple. 

You can catch a beautiful sunset shot with the sky painted with a splash of orange contrasting beautifully with the blue sky at the jetty.

3. Batu Ferringhi Beach

Batu Ferringhi beach is a perfect spot to end your Penang day tour. It is a pristine beach with lots of adrenaline-pumping water sports activities such as jet-skiing, parasailing, and windsurfing to make the best of your Penang day trip.

It is just a 15 minutes drive from the center of Georgetown to have some splashing fun time with family and friends.

Other than the beach, Batu Ferringhi has the best night market in town where you can shop till you drop. Hard Rock Cafe Penang is also located at Batu Ferringhi and offers great live music performances where you can sit back and enjoy.

Along Batu Ferringhi, there’re lots of hotels and resorts by the beach such as : 

• Shangri – La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa,
•  Hard Rock Hotel Penang,
•  DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang. 

One of the best  parts of Batu Ferringhi is the Tropical Fruit Farm. Home to more than 250 types of tropical and subtropical fruit trees including the king of fruit, the durian fruit is ready for you. 

Drop by as this place is open daily from Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Penang National Park One Day Trip

Malaysia is blessed with an abundance of wildlife and nature. 

It has a number of national parks such as

•  Bako National Park, 
• Taman Negara National Park, 
• Gunung Mulu National Park,
•  Niah National Park, 
• Endau-Rompin National Park,
•  Kinabalu National Park and
•  Penang National Park.

Penang National Park can be one of your options for your Penang day trip, as it’s one of the smallest national parks at only 23 sq km! So, it can be visited on your one-day trip!

Located at the northwest of Teluk Bahang, this forested park sits close to magnificent coasts with all sorts of tropical wildlife that will amaze you.

Penang National Park, open all year from 8.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m., has FREE entrance and is accessible via public transport (Rapid Penang Bus) from Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi for one and a half hour journey. 

The good news is that the first bus leaves at 5.30 a.m. and the last one is at midnight. The charges would be around 4 MYR (USD 1).

Once you have registered yourself at Penang National Park, be ready to explore 6 main attractions in the Penang National Park.  There are 2 options to enjoy Penang National Park; one is by jungle trekking (route options) and the other one is by boat ride.

Penang National Park: Jungle Trekking Routes

1. Route 1 is the easiest trail. 

From Penang National Park Entrance – Pantai Teluk Aling – Monkey Beach – Muka Head Lighthouse that will cover a distance of 5.2 km and the estimation time for trekking is 2 hours and 45 minutes (depends on your pace).

2. Route 2 is from the Penang National Park Office – Canopy Walkway – Meromictic Lake – Pantai Kerachut – that will cover a distance of 5.5 km and the estimation time for trekking is 2 hours (depends on your pace).

If trekking is not your cup of tea, you can have a boat ride offered by the boatmen services to Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut. For a one-way trip, prices are around MYR 40 – MYR 80 (USD 10 – USD 20). 

Meanwhile, for a return trip, it is between MYR 80- MYR 100 (USD 20 – USD 25). No worries, in Malaysia, bargain is quite a common culture. Thus, do negotiate with them for a better price.

6 Penang National Park Attractions

1. Canopy Walkway

A 15 minutes walk from the main entrance and you can experience a 210-meter long canopy walkway for a fee of MYR 5 adult (USD1.50).

It will  take about 20 minutes and there are 2 opening hours which are from 10.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m and 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. It is open everyday except Friday. The latest info is, it’s closed for renovation, but can go here for confirmation.

2. Muka Head Lighthouse, Penang

This lighthouse will give you a panoramic view at 227 meters above sea level. The great thing is you can climb up into the 14m tall lighthouse that opens from 9 am to 3 pm.

From the Monkey beach trail, it will take around 30 minutes to walk. It’s worth every single sweat!

3. Meromictic Lake Penang

If you are hiking to Pantai Kerachut, on your way you will find this Meromictic Lake. 

If you are wondering what Meromictic lake is, it is a lake that has layers of water (freshwater and seawater) that do not mix completely! Because of different densities and temperatures between them.

This unusual lake has few in the world and Malaysia, specifically Penang National Park, is the place where you can enjoy this lake.

4. Monkey Beach Penang (Teluk Duyung)

One of the best beaches in Penang, Monkey beach offers a beautiful, long beach with fine and white sand for you to relax and enjoy the sea breeze.

There are two options on how to get to Monkey Beach. 

One is by hiking through Penang National Park that normally takes around 1.5 -2 hours hiking for 3 km. It’s a worthy hiking journey! But make sure to bring extra liters of water as it can be humid. 

Another option is by taking a boat ride that will take around 10 minutes. 

Do not worry, as there are a lot of boatmen services that will charge a boat (can fit for 10 people in a boat) for 50 MYR (USD 12) one way and 85 MYR (USD 22) for a return trip from Penang National Park jetty to Monkey beach park.

5. Pantai Teluk Aling

On your midway jungle trekking to Monkey Beach, stop by at Pantai Teluk Ailing.

It is a noticeable landmark “long pier”(perfect for picture spot) that belongs to the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMASC)  which is for the turtle sanctuary.

6. Pantai Kerachut

Pantai Kerachut, this paradise beach is one of the best places to have a magnificent sunset view.

You are not allowed to swim in Pantai Kerachut, as it is home to venomous jellyfish and a steep slope to the seabed. But you can enjoy the paradise view of Pantai Kerachut.

To get here, there are two options. One is by boat, riding from Penang National Park entrance to Pantai Kerachut will cost MYR 100 (USD 25) for a boat that can fit 10 people at a time. 

Or by jungle trekking for roughly an hour from the entrance point. It’s an uphill climb and a bit steep compared to the trail of Monkey beach.

How To Reach Penang Island

Penang is located on the northwestern part of Malaysia and is divided into 2 parts; mainland (Butterworth) and island part (Georgetown, capital city).

3 easy ways for you to reach Penang. One is by taking an express bus from any main bus terminal. If you are from Kuala Lumpur, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), is the central bus terminal. You can also buy online tickets and hop on at TBS.

Enjoy hassle-free experience traveling to Penang by taking Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur. Book your ticket now and enjoy a panoramic view for 4 hours 30 minutes.

For your trip to Penang you can also take a flight to Penang International Airport and reach Georgetown for about 30 minutes where all the main tourist spots are located.

If you love driving, road-tripping to Penang is a journey to be experienced. From Kuala Lumpur, the journey will take around 4 hours and the best part is you can choose to cross over either one of the two Penang bridges.

The Best Time To Do A Penang Day Trip

Penang is the best place to visit all year round! From November to early January, it is a festive season plus school holidays so it might get crowded with people enjoying the holidays. 

From the end of February to April, the weather is quite warm and humid with a smaller crowd of tourists. It is nice to have a leisure stroll down the city and soak in the local atmosphere. 

From May to October, it is the wettest season in Penang, especially in October. Less crowd of tourists and do bring your poncho or umbrella during sightseeing.

Best Food for a Penang day trip

Penang is a food heaven of Malaysia. And do you know Penang Assam Laksa is in the top 10 best foods in the world listed by CNN in 2020? Do try this drooling dish only in Penang! Surely, no regret! 

For more info on Penang’s best breakfasts and street food, those articles are helpful guidance for you to explore Penang one day food trip.

Budget Cost Traveling in a Penang day trip

For a budget Penang day tour package, it can cost roughly around MYR 150 (USD 35) per person. Price breakdown includes:

• Food from hawker streets can be around MYR 6 – MYR 12 (USD 1.5 – USD 3) per dish. It depends on your appetite so the more food you want to try, the more allocations needed.

• Taxi or e-hailing services can cost around MYR 5 (USD 1) as the minimum charge. So it depends on your location and the destination you want to visit. Roughly for a Penang day trip it can cost about MYR 40 (USD 10).

• Entrance fee depends on the place you visited. Some places give FREE entrance meanwhile tourist places for example The Habitat Penang it will cost a certain price depending on your tour package. Normally the entrance fee is around MYR 10 – MYR 50 (USD 2.5 – USD 12). 

FAQ: Penang day trip

What can you do in Penang for one day?

Penang for one day is more than enough to visit all the tourist attractions. It has historical sites, nature places and great beaches to be explored. So plan your Penang trip with your friends and family soon according to your preferences!

Is Georgetown Penang worth visiting?

Without doubt, it is a BIG YES! Why? Because it is a vibrant holiday island with different cultures and religious live harmoniously, it is worth the trip to Penang. 

And most recently, Penang was named the third best island in the world to retire in 2021. New York Post in 2019, also named Penang as the best 12 places in the world to retire.

Is there a red light district in Penang?

Back in 19th century, Cintra Street had the most prostitutes along the streets which mostly were Japanese origin.This street gained a seedy reputation as a red-light district. 

Now, it is a history of the past and visitors can visit Cintra Street as it has great foods to devour and street art to explore.

Penang day trip: What is there to buy in Penang?

Souvenirs in Penang are a must. There are a lot of souvenirs that you can buy. But Jeruk Madu Pak Ali (pickled fruits) is one of the most recommended. It originates from Penang, locally made so do try it out!

Conclusion

That sums up the recommended places for your upcoming Penang Day Trip and hopes to help future travelers out there.

What are you waiting for? Pack your bag and let’s explore Penang.

The Perfect Penang Day Trip [2022 Ultimate Guide]

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