If you are looking to go on a short holiday to somewhere affordable and fun, Penang is one of the best destinations. Just a 45-minute flight away, there is much to explore in this Malaysian state with it being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transport is very affordable in Penang and you can enjoy the comfort of travelling in a car using Grab services. They are also well-known for their delicious local food which is a big plus point. A 3 days 2 nights trip is sufficient in Penang, and here are some activities you must include in your itinerary.
1. Guided Tour at the Blue Mansion
Also known as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, this place is now a tourist attraction and hotel with a restaurant. We recommend that you opt for the guided tour as the well-informed staff will share about the interesting history of the mansion as well as the architecture of the mansion which was inspired by feng shui. Remember to take pictures of this beautiful blue building for your Instagram feed!
2. Explore and take photos of the street art
Street art or wall murals are arguably the most iconic feature of Penang. There are so many of them spread all over George Town, you will definitely come across them while exploring the city. Most of them can be found along Armenian Street; however, if you are interested in catching all of them, there are maps easily available online which will assist in your navigation.
3. Visit the Penang Floating Mosque
The reason behind the name of this mosque came from its appearance during high tide, which makes it look like it is floating on water when in fact it was built on silts. Make sure you plan your visit at the right time to catch the scene of the mosque “floating”.
4. Feast on local food
When it comes to delicious food, Penang is definitely of the places known for it. Skip the fancy restaurants and go for their local food! We find that they are generally served in smaller portions compared to what we usually have here in Singapore, but we are not complaining as they are undeniably delectable and cheap. Penang white curry noodles, Assam laksa and prawn noodles are some of the must-haves during your trip.
5. Visit the Kek Lok Si Temple
The Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the main attractions in George Town, Penang, and also one of the biggest Chinese temples in Southeast Asia. Be prepared to spend an hour or two exploring the area and go all the way up via the inclined lift to witness the magnificent statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin, as well as a great view of the city.
6. Have fun at the museums
While most of us are used to visiting the historical museums of places, but Penang offers much more than that. We recommend the Wonderfood Museum to learn about their local food culture and the Upside Down Museum for some fun photo-taking experience. For the brave-hearted, visit the dark Ghost Museum and learn about the legends behind the ghosts of each culture. There, you will get to meet Sadako, vampires and even Chinese zombies known as Jiang shi, and take photos with them!
7. Visit The Temple of the Azure Cloud
This attraction as more simply known as Snake Temple is one of the most unique Buddhist temples as it is home to many pit vipers. They are no longer poisonous as they had the venomous fangs extracted. They are also very passive and will not attack visitors, but for your own safety, refrain from provoking or attacking them.
