Penang tours and self tours
Batu Ferringhi Night Market is great for souvenirs
Although this is undoubtedly a destination where it is easy to spend weeks on holiday, those short on time may want to consider taking a tour of Penang to ensure they get the most from their stay. Penang is blessed with so many wonderful sights and attractions that it is often difficult to choose what to see.
But our guide to the best tours of Penang allows visitors to this historic island to really get to know colonial Georgetown and the surrounds. No matter what your particular tastes, there is certainly something on the island to whet your interest.
It is possible to embark on an arranged tour booked through one of our partners or alternatively from your hotel, guesthouse or local travel agency. But it can be cheaper and more fun to commandeer a trishaw (or three-wheeled cycle rickshaw) for an afternoon and tour the streets of Georgetown by this traditional Malaysian mode of transport.
Many tours of Penang include obligatory stops at fishing villages and Penang Bridge for photos opportunities, but if you arrange your own excursion it is possible to pick and choose what to include or not. For more idea on visiting attractions in Penang.
Historic tours of Penang
Why not spend the afternoon touring Penang’s most impressive historical monuments in a cycle rickshaw, truly the authentic Malaysian way to see the island. Fort Cornwallis should be the first stop and is a marvellous stone fort set out in the shape of a star. Get lost in the ancient chapel, prison cells, arsenal and see the original harbour light.
St George’s Church is another heritage building definitely worth including in any tour of Penang. Dating from 1816, it was built by convicts and is the oldest Anglican church anywhere in Southeast Asia. And despite its age the building’s original structure has not changed much with the towering Grecian columns escaping damage during extensive Second World War bombing. For more on Penang religious sites.
Penang War Memorial & City Hall
To fully appreciate the remarkable influence the Chinese community had on the development of Penang, visitors should pay a visit to the Khoo Kongsi Clanhouse. Immigrants from the Orient would live in strictly regimented divisions of the city depending on which clan (Kongsi) they belonged to. The Khoo Kongsi’s clanhouse is remarkably well preserved and one of the most impressive of its kind to be found anywhere.
Kapitan Keling Mosque on grand Pitt Street is a must-see site in the heart of historic Georgetown. Constructed in the 19th century, this is the first mosque to be built on Penang adorned with Moghul-style copper domes and surrounded by low walls. This is the traditional place of worship for the South Indian Muslim community who emigrated to Penang. The name literally means ‘Captain of the Keling people’, the head man of the community.
No visitor interested in the history of this remarkable island should miss out a trip to Penang Museum. This can easily be included in tours of Penang with maps, photographs, antiques, documents, furniture, paintings and many other historical artefacts. Exhibits on display cover the entirety of the region’s history including the Penang riots, houses of worship, Japanese occupation and traditional trades.
Night tours of Penang
Darkness brings a whole new side to Penang and the island heaves with activity from the thronging markets to the bustling tourist resorts of the beach areas. Taking a tour around Penang after the sun goes down gives an entirely new perspective on the region with Gurney Drive Hawker Centre particular good for grabbing a cheap yet delicious bite to eat including char kway teow, assam laksa and hokkien mee.
Then head for Komtar Tower (50 Jalan Penang, Tel:+60 (0)4 262 2222, open: 09:00-21:00) which is Penang’s tallest building and boasts 360-degree views of the entire island. It is especially impressive after dark and tacky souvenir shop and restaurant are perhaps best avoided.
After this it can be pleasant to stroll through the Night Market (Pasar Malam) and see what bargains can be found. All manner of traditional handicrafts including batik and silverware can be sourced here at fantastic prices. But hard-nosed haggling is the name of the game with quoted prices often many times the true value of what’s on offer.
Tours of Penang industry
There is much to see in Penang outside Georgetown and the main tourist areas. Penang is an island that made its name through trade and industry and it can be extremely rewarding to visit some of the workshops that hosted this boom. Crystal Pewter Factory (Tbp 202, Pmtg Sena, Pmtg Tinggi, Tel: +60 (0)4 5887454) has an open floor where visitors and view the manufacturing process and also purchase some choice items from the souvenir shop.
Then there is Penang Batik Factory (651 Mukim II Swd, Teluk Bahang, Tel: +60 (0)4 885 1284) which explains the weaving and dying process in detail, the history of batik in peninsular Malaysia and why it has been adopted today as the country’s national dress. And, of course, there is often an opportunity to pick up a few gifts for loved one back home as well.
