Although a small island in the group of islands that form Malaysia Penang is an important urban centre of this country. You can plan on many things to do when in Penang since there is plurality of culture and natural features to check out. Penang itself has two parts, the island being one and the Seberang Perai being the other. The island is hugely populated and offers the global traveler a series of urban delights. There are bus rides through the city to take, the city hall and the bridge and also different interesting streets that you’d love to traverse through! For a family holiday Penang is an appealing option in Asia. You have clean and vastly stretched beaches that buzz with activity through the day and have a lively nightlife as well.
So why visit Penang at all? There’s a certain old charm in this island city that is testimonial to many historical events. You’ll find the native culture still very predominant alongside modern living and the fact that there are people of different cultures bringing color and gaiety to the region makes it even more attractive. If you’re a foodie the gourmet you’ll find here is definitely worth being taken on your plate. The street food is awesome and the fine dining offers some of the best Malaysian cuisine.
Once you land in Bayan Lepas that houses the industry you can start off with sights like the war museum, the snake temple and an aquarium. This urban center is teeming with housing estates and famous areas like Taman Sri Nibong apart from different shopping centres like the Queensbay mall or Giant Hypermarket. In Penang you can head shopping and visit different heritage sites. There’s the cable car trip up the Penang hill and then there’s the tropical and scenic delights of the fruit farms and spice garden to see. All of this amidst the fresh air and green cover of the island!
Within the island there are sites like Georgetown and Tanjung Bungah that should be part of your itinerary. Georgetown can be reached from Bayan Lepas through the Expressway. In Georgetown you can spot the majestic Cheong Fat Tze mansion and also many gold-crowned Buddhist temples dotting the capital. The Kapitan Keling mosque is another towering structure that can be viewed from here. Drive toward the northern periphery of Penang and you’ll reach Tanjung Bungah. It’s a well settled location abounding in apartment buildings and luxury homes with the floating mosque as its central attraction.
With hills flanking it from three directions and sea on the other the spot offers fresh air and stunning views. Don’t forget to step into the world of toys at the Penang toy museum. It has many interesting toy artifacts symbolic of the Malaysian culture and art. For holidaymakers the national park at Penang holds special interest. It has three different layers of green cover that ranges from mangroves to hill trees and also beach vegetation. Photograph rare plants like the pitcher plant and transform your mood in the pristine surroundings. Do visit the turtle sanctuary that’s part of the park.
