Penang travel blog — The fullest Penang guide for first-timers

Discover the fascinating Penang with its natural beauty, architecture and street art
Penang is dubbed as a jewel of the culture and tradition of Malaysia. This city is endowed with dazzling natural beauty along with unique architecture. Are you finding a Penang budget trip? Are you finding a Penang budget trip? So, is Penang worth visiting, how to visit Penang, what to do in Penang and how to plan a budget trip to Penang for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Penang travel blog (Penang blog) with the fullest Penang travel guide (guide to Penang, Penang tourist guide, Penang city guide, Penang guide) from how to get to Penang, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Penang to help you maximize your trip as follows!

The splendor of Penang has been for decades as a center of trade where traders brought green tea, spices, and fabrics from China to Penang. Now, in the light of the new age, Penang is as precious as a treasure hidden under the ancient beauty, scattered throughout the world. In this article, Living Nomads will list the things that make up the fame of this land and give practical travel guides to Penang. Explore the city of Penang is full of surprises, let’s check it out.

Best time to visit Penang

The climate in Penang is hot and humid throughout the year due to its full range of equatorial features. The rainy season usually starts from September to November and the dry season starts in December to March in the following year. Between May and November, the weather will be quite humid. With this climate, you can travel to Penang at any time of the year.

Penang travel guide: Penang travel cost

Transportation expenses

The Peninsula of Penang covers an area of 285 square kilometers, in which islands are connecting through a long bridge called Seberang Perai. Georgetown town is the main hub of commercial and administrative activities. To get here, you can take a plane from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. The price for a flight depends on the dates you choose ranging from 15 USD to 45 USD.

In addition, there is an interesting choice is to take the boat from Langkawi to Penang. Or you can take the train/ bus from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown. Normally, the ticket of these vehicles is much cheaper than the plane ticket. However, it takes you 5-6 hours rather than just about an hour. It depends on your demand whether you want to save money or save more time.

After arriving Georgetown, you can get to the hotel from the airport by taxi or bus. Average transportation time between the two spots is about 90 minutes. As regards getting around in the city, you can rent a motorbike if traveling alone or rent a taxi if you are traveling with a big group. The average cost of getting around in the city will be about 22 usd depending on the distance and the number of people in your group.

Getting around Penang: Bicycle: The price rent is about RM10/day (~$2.5). Cheap, always ready to exercise. It is highly recommended to travel by bicycle because of its convenient, easy to wring and healthy. Motorbike rental: With Vietnamese driver’s license, you can rent a motorbike at the rate of RM25 ($6.2) / day with minimum deposit of 100 RM.

Cost of eating

The cost of eating in Penang is somewhat cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur’s and the food is also more local.

Besides, the city still offers dishes that are familiar for travelers from all over the world. With about 30 usd, you can treat your stomach very well with decent meals.

Cost of staying

Choose the accommodation based on whether you love the quietness or excitement. There are two main areas to choose from Georgetown Old Town or the downtown area near Komtar (the tallest building in Penang). The cost for a night in Penang is roughly 22 usd for the budget hotel and can up to 130 usd for the deluxe room.

Penang travel blog: Where to stay?

Georgetown: Surely, because this is the central area where all services on the island are concentrated. Room rates here are also quite cheap but close to the night markets, super rich food. This area is about 40 minutes away from the airport. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Batu Ferringhi beach area: This is an area with many resorts as well as 5-star hotels, 45 minutes from George Town. Passing through the center that usually traffic jams is the section running around the beautiful mountain road, less people, go very well. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Also, you can refer to the The Frame Guesthouse hostel that I stayed in when visiting Penang, this is a hostel located on Lebuh Chulia street in the old town of George Town, designed in a backpacker style but very clean. The space in the hostel is quite airy, mainly European backpacker travelers, so stay very comfortable. Price around 35RM ($8.46)/bed in a dormitory room with 6 beds, breakfast included. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Below are some cheap and budget hotels in Penang with good ratings and reviews you can refer to

• Macalister Mansion (Address: 228, Jalan Macalister, George Town, 11400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia), with room rates from $111.61/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Coffee Atelier (Address: 47 – 55, Lorong Stewart, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia), with room rates from $85.87/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Museum Hotel (Address: No 72 Jalan A.S. Mansor, off Transfer Road, George Town, Penang Island), with room rates from $32.97/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Nam Keng Hotel (Address: 17, Lebuh Cintra, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia), with room rates from $51.52/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
• Spices Hotel (Address: 5, Lorong Lumut, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia), with room rates from $32.20/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Penang hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.

Penang travel blog: Some tips to saving cost for a Penang budget trip

Choose a hotel in Georgetown

This area offers many of the most popular motel options. In the low season, you can book single rooms with only 12 usd and fully furnished. If you go with the large group and love the sea, then Batu Ferringi is a place you can consider. Although the resort costs a lot, it is still affordable if you go with a big group as you can share the cost while enjoying a sense of luxury.

Bayview Hotel Georgetown

Address: 25-A Lebuh Farquhar, George, Penang, Malaysia

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Holland Guest House on Agoda.com.

Penang Homestay

Address: N Park 3C-7-7, Jalan Batu Uban, Penang, 11700 Gelugor, Malaysia

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for Penang Homestay on Booking.com

Walking or renting a motorbike to explore Penang

Featuring small streets, you can walk to Penang’s famous mural or rent a motorbike to get around the place more easily.

Enjoy street food

Indulging in the lives of indigenous people has always been the top tip of Penang’s travel experiences. Start with familiarizing yourself with local dishes sold along the sidewalk.

These are the places where first-time gourmet visitors come to Penang. The prices for these dishes are quite cheap and the taste could be even better than the food in the restaurant.

Book a tour before departure

One of the self-sufficient travel experiences of Penang is booking in advance tickets for sightseeing and tours. The ticket will be cheaper than buying directly. In addition, pre-ordering will also help you to set an appropriate schedule. Especially, with the crowded sightseeing, pre-purchase tickets also save you time, not waiting so long in queues.

Penang travel blog (Penang blog): Penang experiences — Best places to visit in Penang and Penang island things to do

Penang Hill

Penang Hill attracts visitors from all over the world by its spectacular view, the cable car system makes it easy to reach the top without spending much time and effort. What is more, there are patches of tropical rainforest with diverse flora and fauna.

From this hill, you can behold clearly the mountain peaks of Langkawi and northern Kedah. Most people come here to recharge, go for a picnic and make field trips.

Besides, it is impossible not to mention the vertical train heading up Penang Hill. It is one of the oldest trains in Malaysia and also the most beautiful route to sightsee Malaysia’s landscape.

Batu Ferringhi

Located to the north of Georgetown, Batu Ferringhi Beach is not only endowed with the stunning natural landscape, it is also famous for nightlife activities, night markets, along with various forms of beach activities. Some particular activities are roller coasters, paragliding, banana boats, beach volleyball, ….

The wall painting of Penang

The journey to find all the painting is regarded as the journey to find a treasure scattered throughout the city.

It is often said that you will need a map to explore the all location of the Penang street art. As one of the unique features that name the ancient city, the paintings are painted by artists on the moss walls.

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