More than just the food capital of Malaysia, Penang is also a melting pot of cultures with an especially rich Peranakan heritage. It’s also just less than two hours flight away, making it a fab family holiday destination.
Penang easily tops my list of favourite Malaysian cities to visit for its wide range of family-friendly offerings. Having visited Penang throughout the years in different stages of my life, I’ve experienced what this beautiful state has to offer kids, couples, and parents.
- Looking for a beach holiday? Penang Island’s Batu Ferringhi and Monkey Beach are great for sand and sea fun.
- Prefer heritage walks and cultural sites? The state capital, George Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with beautifully conserved historic buildings from each of Penang’s major ethnic groups.
- Live to eat? Penang is a food mecca that’s known for street food and Peranakan dishes, as well as a bustling café scene.
Without further ado, here’s my family’s guide to feast, stay, and play in Penang.
What to do in Penang
1. Go back in time at these museums, clan buildings, and temples
Photography: Nimalan Sugumaran via Pexels
Of course you need to go on a heritage tour – you’re in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all. My favourite museums and historical sites include the majestic Khoo Kongsi and Blue Mansion. The former is a clanhouse for members of the Hokkien Khoo family; whereas the latter is a mansion that was built by Cheong Fatt Tze, who was one of the richest men in Malaya during the late 1800s.
Then there’s Kek Lok Si temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, where you’ll see its famous pagoda and the second tallest Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) statue in the world.
Khoo Kongsi
Opening hours: Daily from 9am to 5pm
Where: 18, Cannon Square, 10450 George Town, Penang.
Tickets pricing: Adults from RM10, children (five to 12 years) at RM1
Blue Mansion
Opening hours: Daily from 11am to 6pm (final guided tour at 3.30pm)
Where: 14, Lebuh Leith, 10200 George Town, Penang.
Tickets pricing: Adults at RM25, children (six to 12 years) at RM12.50, self-guided tour is free for children aged three and below.
Kek Lok Si temple
Opening hours: Daily from 8.30am to 5pm
Where: Jalan Balik Pulau, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang.
Tickets pricing: Free for most of the temple; pagoda entry for adults is RM2 and RM1 for children (12 years and below); one-way lift to Guanyin pavilion for adults is RM8 and RM4 for children (seven to 12 years).
2. Take a funicular ride up Penang Hill
Did you know that the Penang Hill funicular is over a hundred years old? It also passes through one of the steepest tunnels in the world? Don’t worry – it’s perfectly kid-friendly and was recently upgraded in 2024. I remember taking it as a kid during a school trip, and it was one of the most exciting rides for my classmates and I. Get your cameras ready once you reach the top, as the view from the skywalk and skydeck is spectacular to say the least.
Pro-tip: If you’re a family of early risers (like me, thanks to my toddlers), you could try to catch the first funicular ride up at 6.30am to catch the amazing sunrise view.
Opening hours: Daily from 6.30am to 11pm (ticket counters close at 9.45pm, final trip up at 10pm and down at 11pm)
Where: Penang Hill, 422, Jalan Bukit Bendera, 11500 Bukit Bendera, Penang.
Tickets pricing: Adults from RM16, RM8 for children (aged four to 12 years) and senior citizens (aged 60 and above).
3. Explore the Clan Jetties of Penang
For centuries, Penang Island naturally attracted merchants as a trading hub. Some of the Chinese merchants and workers chose to settle near the port area, which eventually created the famous Clan Jetties of Penang. There are currently seven clan jetties, each belonging to a different clan family. All of these are open to visitors, the popular one being Chew Jetty. When visiting, do be respectful as these are private homes that are still inhabited by local families. Ask permission before taking photos of its residents and homes.
Opening hours: As this are private neighbourhoods, avoid visiting during resting hours.
Where: Clan Jetties of Penang, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Penang.
Tickets pricing: Free
4. Hunt for Penang’s famous street art
You’ve probably already seen this in many travel sites, and I can tell you that the hype is real – Penang street art is truly an attraction on its own. The most famous murals are by Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian artist responsible for Boy on a Motorbike, Kids on a Bicycle, and more. Other popular ones include a series of cat-themed murals, Brother and Sister on a Swing (pictured above), as well as iron rod art installations.
Pro-tip: Sign up for a walking tour or go on a self-guided street art tour with this map, or just use the one below.
5. Shop and feast at the night markets and food streets
From George Town to Batu Ferringhi, there are loads of night markets and food streets for you to visit. Kimberley Street food night market, Chulia Street hawker food, Macallum Street night market, Batu Ferringhi night market – just to name a few, with most of them open daily till late (even 11pm!). Having said so, if it’s dinner you’re looking for, it’s best to start heading over from 4pm onwards as it can get quite crowded, and you’ll see long queues for the popular stalls.
Kimberley Street food night market
Opening hours: Daily from 5-11pm
Where: 1 Jalan Sungai Ujong, 10100 George Town, Penang.
Chulia Street hawker food
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 4.30-10.30pm
Where: Chulia Street, 10450 George Town, Penang.
Macallum Street night market
Opening hours: Mondays, 5-10.30pm
Where: Lintang Macallum 1, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Penang.
Batu Ferringhi night market
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 7-10pm; Fridays to Sundays, 7-11pm
Where: Jalan Pantai Batu, Taman Pantai Batu, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang.
6. Hit the beach
There’s a beach for everyone in Penang, no matter your preferences. You can’t go wrong with Batu Ferringhi, this stretch is filled with family-friendly resorts that offer luxury and fun, plus it’s the easiest to access. Nature lovers will love Kerachut Beach, known for its tranquil surroundings and occasional turtle sightings. There’s also Teluk Duyung, or more commonly referred to as Monkey Beach, loved for its white sandy beaches and clear waters, and of course, monkeys!
What to eat in Penang
Where do I even begin with this? While holidaying in the food capital of Malaysia means you definitely won’t have an issue with finding yummy food, it also means you’ll probably have a hard time deciding what to try (because there’s so many!).
Here’s my personal list of must-eats, as well as those recommended by my Penangite friends.
1. Roti Bakar Hutton Lane
Breakfast for champs, I call this. Roti Bakar Hutton Lane is known for its hearty variety of toasts (roti bakar in Malay) and roti canai (commonly called prata in Singapore). This humble stall is famous for serving charcoal toasted bread. You’ll see many opting for the classic soft boiled eggs on toast or kaya butter toast, as well as roti canai topped with chicken curry and soft boiled eggs.
Pro-tip: Come super early to avoid the crowd!
Daily from 5am to 1.30pm.
300, Jalan Phee Choon, 10050 George Town, Penang.
2. Toh Soon Cafe
If you prefer Hainanese style toast and coffee like the ones served in Singapore kopitiam, head over to Toh Soon Cafe instead. This traditional coffee house toasts its bread over charcoal as well, and is served with homemade kaya. I’ve also heard great things about its Hainanese style kopi and teh, but yuan yang (coffee and tea mix) is always my fave.
Mondays to Saturdays, 8am to 5pm.
Lebuh Campbell, 10450 George Town, Penang.
3. Nasi Kandar Imigresen
There are a couple of famous nasi kandar stalls and restaurants in Penang, Nasi Kandar Imigresen is one of those. It’s a platter where you get to pick your preferred veg and proteins to go with rice, before being topped with a mixture of different curries. The result? A beautiful mess of deliciousness.
Note that the curries tend to be quite spicy, hence may not be kid-friendly; and you may want to go easy on the number of dishes you pick as nasi kandar can get quite pricey depending on how much you pile on your plate.
Saturdays to Thursdays, 9am to 7pm.
8, Lorong Pasar, 10200 George Town, Penang.
4. Siam Road Char Koay Teow
Michelin Bib Gourmand listed char koay teow? Yes please! Words fail to describe how good this stall’s fried koay teow is (I’m craving it as I type this): just the right amount of char on the noodles, nicely scrambled eggs, and juicy bean sprouts. Yum!
Tuesdays to Sundays, 11.30am to 2pm and 5-10pm
82, Jalan Siam, 10400 George Town, Penang.
5. Winn’s Cafe
What’s a trip to Penang without sampling Peranakan food? Many have said that Winn’s Cafe’s traditional nyonya dishes aren’t just delicious, but tastes like homecooked food as well. Its curry kapitan and glazed pork belly are some of the most highly recommended dishes.
Mondays to Saturdays, 11am to 3pm and 6-10pm.
38, Jalan Cantonment, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang.
6. Yolk
Penang also has a fab café scene, and Yolk should be on your list if you’re looking for Western café fare. This place is popular for brunches, with eggs benny, fluffy pancakes, baked eggs, and so much more to choose from.
Daily from 8am to 5.30pm
3, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Penang.
How to get to Penang from Singapore
Plane
Penang is just a 90-minute flight away from Singapore, with direct flight options via AirAsia, Scoot, and Singapore Airlines. You’ll land in Penang International Airport, which is on Penang Island (as opposed to Seberang Perai, which is the part of Penang that’s on the Malaysian peninsula). Personally, this is my preferred mode of travel as it’s fast and comfortable – both of which are important when you’re travelling with toddlers.
Bus
Depending on traffic conditions, a bus trip to Penang from Singapore takes at least seven-and-a-half hours. It can be long and tiring – and I wouldn’t recommend it for families with young children – but it’s a budget-friendly option, if you’re looking for one.
Pro-tip: Consider taking a night bus so you can (hopefully) rest or sleep for most of the journey.
Car
While the minimum travel duration is similar to that of bus travel, travelling by car gives you the flexibility of making pit stops along the way. You’ll pass by many Malaysian states on your northwards drive, including the Klang Valley area, so this could potentially be a mini Malaysian road trip!
Plus, your kids will have the opportunity to experience a drive across the iconic Penang Bridge, which was always a treat for me as a child.
Where to stay in Penang
Family-friendly hotels and resorts
Photography: Eastern & Oriental Hotel
From beach resorts with kids clubs to historic hotels that are over hundreds of years old – you’ll find all that in Penang!
Batu Ferringhi has many kid-friendly beach resorts, including big names like Hard Rock and Shangri-La (there are two!); as well as boutique hotels like Lone Pine. For city stays in George Town, you’ll be spoilt for choice with chic stays at international brands the likes of Marriott and Citadines; old-world lux like the 140 year-old Eastern & Oriental Hotel; and homely heritage stays in Jawi Peranakan Mansion and the striking Blue Mansion (yes, it offers stays too).
Airbnb
If you’re travelling with a big group, or plan to whip up some homecooked kids’ meals during your trip, then Airbnb is a good choice. You can easily find units via the short-term rental platform, ranging from seaview homes to refurbished Peranakan homes with indoor courtyards.
How to get around Penang
Public transport
Popular attractions are easily accessible via Penang Island’s public buses; there’s even one that goes all the way from the airport to Batu Ferringhi through George Town! While you can find the bus routes on Rapid Penang’s (the public bus company) website, I recommend you use Google Maps’ public transport tab to navigate. Unfortunately, Rapid Penang only accepts cash (and in exact change) or the Rapid Passport stored value card (RM30 for seven days of unlimited travel) at the moment.
A more convenient option was launched recently – Rapid Penang On Demand, where you can book a ride to a number of fixed stops in Penang using an app. This new service is currently priced at RM1 per journey, and accepts payment via credit and debit cards, as well as selected e-wallets. I’ve yet to try it myself, but it sounds like a dream for families!
But wait, there’s more – keep an eye out for the free CAT bus that goes around George Town, with stops at sites like Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Campbell Street Market, Khoo Kongsi, and more. Just look for buses with “free shuttle” on its electronic display (or the ones with faulty display).
Ride-hailing
This needs no introduction as I’m pretty sure we’re all familiar with how it works. The good news is that you can continue to use your Grab app to book rides around Penang. Another popular ride-hailing service in the state is AirAsia Ride, which you can book via the AirAsia Move app.
