We love Penang for a family holiday!
We’ve loved it so much we have been there twice; once with a toddler in 2011 and again for a family holiday in 2014.
Of course one of the great reason to visit Penang for a family holiday is the fantastic food. But for us the other great reason is all the fun things to do in Penang with kids (or without).
So what things to do in Penang have we really enjoyed on our family holidays?
9 Things to do in Penang
Penang Hill
Penang Hill became a popular place for day trips for the British as it was somewhere they could escape the tropical heat. Today kids and adults alike will still enjoy a day trip up Penang Hill that includes taking a ride on the longest funicular train in Asia.
Fort Cornwallis
Another famous attraction is visiting Fort Cornwallis that was built by the British with the intention to protect the British base in Penang, though no battles were ever actually fort here. You can now wonder the large fort and look out across the passage between Penang and mainland Malaysia.
Colonial Buildings
The British came to settle in Penang during the 1700’s here to make use of the lucrative spice trade, as a result there are beautiful colonial building throughout the capital of Georgetown.
Trishaw/Rickshaw Ride
A fun way to see all those beautiful building is to take a trishaw (also know as a rickshaw) ride.
Chinatown
In those early settlement days other nationalities were brought in to help with working on all that infrastructure. These people have since created their own areas within Georgetown. In Penang’s Chinatown there are a variety of worshipping houses from Thai, Burmese and Chinese cultures.
The Spice Garden
The spice trade that began the whole development of Penang started in the northern beach area of Batu Ferringhi now a tourist resort area, a 45 minute bus ride from Georgetown. Five minutes further along the road you can explore the Tropical Spice Gardens ; not only learning about a wide variety of spices but also discovering the history of the spice trail and how it impacted Penang’s growth.
Penang Butterfly Farm
(UPDATE 2016: The Penang Butterfly Farm is now known as Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm)
Whilst you are in the region of Batu Ferringhi you can also step in to the Penang Butterfly Farm.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
Then take a stroll along the famous Batu Ferringhi Beach perhaps getting bit braver and trying your hand at paragliding, jet skiing or a horse back riding.
Batu Ferringhi Night Market
Then finish off the day by meandering through the Batu Ferringhi nights markets after an almost guaranteed delicious meal.
What would you like to do in Penang? Or have you done something better?
Please tell me in the comments.
Linking Up With:
- With Some Grace #FYBF
- Pierced Wonderings #PhotoFriday
- Families Go #WkendTravelInspiration
- Budget Travelers Sandbox #TPThusday
The gardens and markets would be my favourite things to look at. I love the diversity of the buildings, what an interesting place to holiday.
It truly is a diverse place to visit Alice, I hope we go back soon as there is more I wan to explore.
Great list of things to do in Penang. If I ever make it there, I’d love to visit the markets and the fort. The rickshaw ride doesn’t look like something I’d enjoy, unless I’d get very, very tired.
I love wondering through markets as well Anda, you discover so many cool things at a local market.
I haven’t been to Penang but would certainly like to visit. We have been to a number of Malaysian places but for some reason not made it there.
Where else have you been to in Malaysia Paula and which is your favourite?
Sally-Anne, I loved Malaysia yet have never been to Penang. Next time!
I love Malaysia too Corinne – where would you recommend we visit next?
I am especially interested in the night markets and Chinatown. Penang looks great, I would like to go there one day.
Love a good night market Rhonda – they are filled with colourful characters.
Great ideas for things to do in Penang – when we visited we arrived on a Sunday morning and had a flight to catch the following day, so unfortunately I missed lots of what you recommended – and found a lot of things were closed on Sundays! Penang is a great place though, thank you for sharing! #TheWeeklyPostcard
-Vicki
http://www.maketimetoseetheworld.com
What a shame you only had such a short time to explore Penang Vicki – hopefully you will get another chance.
I haven’t been to Penang yet Sally, but your photos show it to be an interesting place to visit. I love a good night market too! 🙂
Thank you Lyndall, I find wondering the night markets a great way to have you food settle before going back to your room.
I would gladly spend my time in Penang eating. In the between, I will like to visit the markets. And, I would not mind having a message or two.
I’m sure you would Ruth, you always impress me with your gastronomic tours 🙂
Thanks for sharing this on #TheWeeklyPostcard. We anticipate a trip to Malaysia in the coming months and I have been wondering what Penang is like. It’s nice to get an idea of what the town has to offer; I hadn’t realized it had quite THAT much British influence. I’d definitely like to go horseback riding and try my hand at paragliding. That’s been on my bucket list for years.
Linda what I love about Penang is how multicultural it is. yes there is a large British influence but also India and other Asian cultures and because of this it has the BEST food.
Oh my word! So many things to see and do. One of the best and most agonizing things about travel for me is deciding what to see and what has to be missed.
Thanks for sharing with us at Photo Friday!
Hopefully this post can help narrow the decisions down for you Jen.
That looks like a very small Chinatown compared to the others, or is it just from the photo? 🙂
Well that is just one section of Chinatown, whilst Penang’s Chinatown is by no means huge there are a few different temples to visit, you may like to read my Photo Flashbacks on Penang’s Chinatown http://toddlersontour.com.au/photo-flashbacks-penang-chinatown/
I really enjoyed your flashback. Great suggestions all around! I consider myself so blessed to have been able to call Penang home for 3 years. It really gave me a chance to explore everything at my leisure, and I do miss living in such a visually and culturally rich city. I had a membership to the Hard Rock Hotel, and my friends and I liked to hang out there with the kids. It really made real life feel like one big vacation.
Thanks Michele, that’s really nice to hear especialy from someone who lived on the island.
Nice tips. When I was in Vietnam a few years back, my cousin and I went on a Trishaw/Rickshaw Ride – I felt bad because the guy had to peddle with us uphill. He looked exhausted too. I tipped him a lot 🙂
Yes I feel quite sad for them as well Hung, it is stinking hot and this is how they have to make a living.
I would like to visit the spice garden, Chinatown and take a Nyonya cooking class with Pearly (read about on Malaysian Meanders).
Thanks for the tip On the post by Michele at Malaysian Meanders Jan, will check it out.