Penang, Malaysia – Travel Guide – The Best 3 Days 2 Nights Guide You’ll Love

The island of Penang is an exciting place of culture and nature to visit, is home to some of the best Malaysian food and art too! There’s so much to explore and experience island’s best attractions with your loves one. Whether you’re planning a short trip during the school holidays or simply just a fun weekend getaway for the family, we’ve compiled and arranged a complete schedule of activities for you to enjoy.

Let’s start our recommended 3D2N Penang itinerary, that’s perfect one for everyone!

Address : 5 Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 George Town

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

It is an unique gallery with impressive food-themed creations and interactive installations. There are oversized food sculptures and life-sized local cuisines displayed around the tables for you to take pictures and marvel around. Plenty of excitement to uncover in each section that highlights the history and culture of Malaysian dishes. One of the famous exhibits in the museum is the Penang Asam Laksa (Penang’s signature). Surely, this is a great way to learn more about the country’s rich culture and food history. Then, get ready your phone camera and pose!

Address: 49, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10200 George Town

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

This cultural spot built of the history of the Peranakan people. So, enter this beautifully-restored structure and get to know more about the Malay and Chinese heritage. Walking around and discover its culture through the antique furniture and stunning carvings. Mansion is decorated with traditional textiles and clothing on exhibit, divided into four sections – Inner Courtyard, Dining Hall and Kitchen Area, Family Hall and Bridal Chamber and Bedroom. All spot is unique and shall not missing any photography session too!

Address: 29, Church St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town

After museums visit on a hot and sunny day, it’s a must to stop by for a dessert session! The best bowl of ice cold Cendol can be found at Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul. Both adults and kids would enjoy the sweet, yet thirst-quenching combination of chilled coconut milk, cendol strands, kidney beans and palm sugar(gula Melaka).

Address: Jalan Penang, 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town

Suggested time to spend = 15 mins

Carry on with the adventure as you explore Penang Little India. This is somehow the same as Singapore Little India, which gives you a peek at the Indian heritage. While walking around, you’d be surprised at the Indian culture blended with Malaysian customs. Check out the beautiful murals and architectural styles. And don’t forget to drop by one of the local stores that sell handicrafts, textiles, and jewelry pieces which is maintaining culture and heritage.

Address : Lebuh Pasar, George Town

Suggested time to spend = 15 mins

Before off to lunch, stop by the Goddess of Mercy Temple or also known as the Kuan Yin Temple. Temple was built from 17^th century, the oldest Taoist temple in Penang. Its not only historical significance, yet temple’s architectural style is also a stunner where beautiful paintings and sculptures in the temple. Don’t miss the large statue of Kuan Yin, located in the main prayer hall.

Address: 30, Jln Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town

Suggested time to spend = 1 hours

A fun place for you and family visiting the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum. This is a famous artsy destination for families and groups of friends who want to experience art like no other. You can pose with the 3D art installations and showcase your acting skills. Try to be as creative and silly pose as possible and be surprised with the result. And since there are lots of art pieces around, you surely won’t run out of photography ideas!

Address: 10, Lebuh Penang, George Town

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

Distance a short walk from central George Town, the Clan Jetties are where you and your family can see how the traditional Chinese communities live and work in Penang. The wooden buildings built on stilts jut out into the water, still busy with activity as the local community goes about their day. Visit in evening is best possible when it’s at its quietest, you’ll see witness this fascinating traditional community come to life. Walk around, take photographs while kids will surely enjoy a walk with local tradition ice cream selling around.

Map coordinator, click here.

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

Towering at 816 feet, this is the highest entertainment building in Georgetown. And with its soaring height, it’s a popular place to capture the entire cityscape. Head to the observatory deck, located at level 65 of the tower. This is a perfect spot to catch a bird’s eye view of the island. While on top, you’d be able to see top sites like Gurney Drive, Penang Hill, Penang Bridge, and Penang Jetties. You can also watch the sunset while wandering around the Rainbow Skywalk. However, this might not be for the faint-hearted. It’s because the observation deck comes with a glass bottom. This means you can also see the buildings if you look below!

Address: 1, Jln Penang, George Town

Hawker centre is the best place for dinner as you can experience and enjoy hearty varieties of local food. From noodles to barbecued foods, all you can find them here! Popular dishes are Charcoal Seafood Char Kuey Teow, Loh Bak, Wonton Noodles, Satay, BBQ chicken wings, fried oysters (Oh Chien), and a lot more! Prepare your stomach for all yummy food will do, suggest to bring cash as most stalls still using cash term on business.

Address : Lorong Baru, 10450 George Town

A day end beautifully with sweet stuff! Cake or dessert lover, this place could definitely bring you something. You can get all kinds of delicious homemade cakes at ChinaHouse like tiramisu cakes, walnut cakes, and raspberry cakes. ChinaHouse is a long and narrow space occupying three Penang heritage houses. Inside are cafes, restaurants, shops, an art gallery, a music venue, and an outdoor courtyard that all you can experienced. Trendy and fun, it’s the hippest space we visited in Penang and well worth a stop. Food is good and environment is friendly for you and family even kids to hang around.

Address : 153, Beach St, Georgetown

Located at alley in the bustling Air Itam market, selling affordable Penang-style curry mee and value for money. What making this place so special? Let us tell you more, they are using charcoal stove to prepare the noodles. With traditional cooking method to make broth perfect balance between chilli paste, spices and coconut milk. A bowl of curry noodle served together with airy tofu puffs, tender squids to bring simple delicious food to satisfy your stomach.

Address : 612 T, Jalan Air Itam Pekan Ayer Itam

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

Penang has a strong and influential Chinese community. Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Because of its size, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Monks and Novices from across Southeast Asia. The construction of the temple reflects the diversity of Malaysia, with bits of the top pagoda showcasing Chinese, Thai, and Burmese architectural styles. Aside from walking around and taking in the overall splendour, you’ll see the famous Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, the almost forty metre tall statue of Kuan Yin, as well as the peaceful prayer areas. Definitely place for kids to marvel and learn while to burn energy around (suggest to come during morning with sunscreen and mini fan).

Address : 1000-L, Tingkat Lembah Ria 1, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang (map coordinate, click here).

Suggested time to spend = 5 hours

Having world’s longest tube water slide (incredible length of 1,111m!), ESCAPE Theme Park is definitely at the top of list when it comes to activities in Penang for a trip with family! Built in lush greens, the theme park offers over 30 thrilling activities including ziplining, twisting water slides, challenging rope courses, rock climbing, refreshing pools, and more – all in one space. Most of the rides and games within the theme park are designed for range of age groups, abilities, and energy levels, so you’ll have just as much fun here as your little ones. Click here to check on ticket prices!

Address : 828, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang (map coordinator, click here).

A small food stall located in a coffee shop, environment here is warm welcoming. Star dish is curry noodle (local called as “mee”) which cooked in white curry soup with coconut milk where you can select or modify topping on your like! Make sure you don’t missed their signature roasted pork to eat with curry noodle, taste exceptional! Adding their homemade chilli sauce into curry noodle, just like how you eating like local – yum! If curry noodle is not your thing or you are looking for more, pork porridge or chicken noodle is another comfort food for everyone too.

Address : 223B Jalan Burma, George Town

Suggested time to spend = 1 hour

On rainy day, no worries! Penang got it all of the most unique indoor museums in Malaysia. One of it museum that’s great for family holidays is the adorable Teddyville Museum is Malaysia’s first and largest collection of teddy bears from various nations and eras. Collection includes one of the first batches of teddy bears ever made, and teddies of all sizes from tiny miniature size to human-sized bears! A total 9000sqft space of this museum to reflect the rich culture and history of Penang, where teddies dressed like locals and placed in sets representing attractions in Penang. For children or adult who’s teddies fan, will definitely have so much joy checking around.

Tips : Children or anyone can even build their very own teddy here as a souvenir!

Address : DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang, 56, Jalan Low Yat, Puncak Ria (map coordinator, click here).

Suggested time to spend = 3 hours

Built in a giant glass-house conservatory, Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm is a magical space where butterflies and all types of insects come out to play around. It is a safe harmony home to over 15,000 free-flying butterflies and it’s most popular family outing spots in Penang. Located at surrounding of beautiful waterfalls, ponds, caves, vertical gardens, and winding trails, best is they even have an indoor discovery centre that features two floors of learning exhibition, interactive edu-stations, and indoor activities that are perfect for the curious little ones. Kids or even parents and grandparents could easily spend hours here learning and having fun (with cooling temperature that so much like natural wind!).

Address : C6X8+33, 830, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Teluk Bahang (map coordinator, click here).

Popular hawker food in Malaysia. Can be taking as a side dish during lunch and dinner. It is a salad dish famous for its sweet and sour ingredients, all mixed ‘rojak’ style. The dish has shredded cucumber, Chinese turnip, potatoes, beancurd, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, flour-batter fritters and sliced boiled eggs. The cooks then top the dish with a thick peanut sauce.

Both Indian-Muslim hawker and Chinese hawker selling own version. Pasembur King Hussain at Medan Renong food court is famous for serving one of the best street foods in Georgetown. Their peanut sauce is one of the best pasembur sauces where they have more than 25 types of items that you can add to the salad. Furthermore, you can also let them choose the food items according to your budget.

Address : Pasembur King Hussain Medan Renong

Suggested time to spend = 2 hours

Best last place in itinerary after lunch, as I bet most children like animal, even myself! Don’t missed farm visiting with your family. Located in Balik Pulau, Saanen Dairy Goat Farm is a hidden gem where you can interact closely with gentle animals like dairy goats, ostriches, chickens and more. Feed, pet, cradle, and take selfies with these adorable creatures in this family-friendly farm (all you can, animals here are super friednly!). This Goat Farm is a family-run business and admission is free (yay!)! For larger group visit, you may contact owner directly for arrangement.

Tip : Grab goat milk, goat milk pudding, or a yogurt drink before you leave, freshly produced!

Address : 298 Mukim 1 Sungai Pinang, 11010 Balik Pulau, Penang (map coordinator, click here).