Penang Travel Blog: Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring George Town

This Penang travel blog is your ultimate guide to exploring one of Malaysia’s most exciting destinations. Penang is a vibrant blend of history, culture, and mouthwatering cuisine, with George Town at its heart. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, George Town seamlessly merges colonial architecture, street art, and a world-famous food scene. Whether you’re exploring its colorful alleyways, indulging in Penang’s legendary street food, or immersing yourself in its rich heritage, this island has something for every traveler.

In this Penang travel blog, I’ll share everything you need to know—from how to get there to where to stay—so you can make the most of your trip.

Key takeaways from this Penang Travel Blog: 

• It’s easy to get to Penang island, with both budget and full service airlines offering flights to Penang  
• There are also a variety of train and bus options from across Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur
• Westerners visiting Penang might experience some culture shocks, from the poor quality of pavements making it difficult to walk, to the Call to Prayer early every morning. 
• Depending on the time of year, the heat in Penang can be brutal. Take this into account when planning your trip and factor in extra time for rests at the hottest times of the year

How to get to Penang: Flights, buses and trains

There are a variety of different ways to get to Penang from Kuala Lumpur, other destinations around Malaysia and internationally.

Air 

You can fly into Penang from a number of destinations across Asia, most notably Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Air Asia offer budget flights, while Malaysia Airlines also fly from a variety of destinations. If you’re travelling around Malaysia, there are also flights from most airports in Malaysia, e.g. Langkawi.

Penang airport is outside of the main city, George Town, so you will need to transit into the city. It’s about a 30 minute drive, and Grab (the Asian equivalent of Uber) will be easily available at the airport. At around 30RM, this will be cheaper than a traditional taxi (c.50RM). I also personally prefer to use Grab as it removes the need to negotiate with drivers, and also allows you to monitor your route. 

There is also a bus from Penang Airport to George Town, which departs every 15 minutes and takes about an hour. Rapid Penang is the most frequent (and the local bus provider on the island). Tickets cost between 1-3RM. The driver prefers small change and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to change bigger notes. My experience was that the ‘Rapid’ in Rapid Penang is not accurate, so plan accordingly. 

Bus

If you are travelling around Malaysia, buses are another great way to get to George Town. Buses in Malaysia are generally of good quality if they are medium to long distance, with bigger, reclining seats and aircon. Malaysian buses do not have toilets on board by law, but stop at service stations for toilet breaks. I have found these service stations to be cleaner and of better quality than many public toilets in Malaysian cities. 

There are regular buses from a number of destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Cameron Highlands and the ports closest to Langkawi (my route).

There are three options for buses coming into Penang:

1. Get the bus to the Butterworth terminal on the mainland and get the Straits Ferry across to George Town. The bus terminal is large and modern, and the ferry is easy to find. The ferry costs 2RM and runs half hourly, dropping you off at a jetty in central George Town. You can then walk or Grab to your accommodation. I chose this route.
2. Get the bus right onto the island to the main bus station, Sungai Nibong. The bus takes you across one of the bridges onto the island. However, note that the bus station is around half an hour’s drive from George Town, so you will then need to get a Grab to your hotel. 
3. Depending on your origin point, you may find a bus that will take you into the bus station in George Town, which is much smaller. This is under George Town’s tallest building, the Komtar. This is still not super central so depending on  your accommodation, you might need to Grab to your hotel. It will be a much shorter and cheaper journey in comparison to the main terminal. Buses from Ipoh and the Cameron Highlands come into this bus station if you book certain providers – this may be true of other destinations as well. 

How to book buses in Malaysia – my experience

So far I have used a number of sites to book buses in Malaysia, depending on the route I wanted:

• Redbus
• Busonlineticket
• 12GoAsia

I’ve usually checked across all three to see which would best let me select my seat for the journey I want. One of my favourite things about Malaysia as a solo traveller is that buses are often in a 2-1 configuration so I can have a single seat! 

Trains

You can also get trains from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and a few other destinations in Malaysia. These arrive into Butterworth station on the mainland, and you take the same straits ferry across to George Town as above. 

Trains from Kuala Lumpur will depart from KL Sentral (not to be confused with the stop Kuala Lumpur, which is unhelpfully a different stop on the route). Trains from Ipoh, a stop off city on the way to the Cameron Highlands, depart from the central Ipoh train station. 

You can book trains via the main Train ticket website or via Busonlineticket.

Trains in Malaysia: My experience

Trains in Malaysia are modern and clean, with comfortable seats, aircon and toilet facilities on board. They are reasonably regular, depending on your route. There are three types of train: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Silver is the slowest service with the most stops, Gold the most frequent, and Platinum has the fewest stops/is quicker. I travelled from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur on a Gold train and it was a stress free experience. 

Where to stay in Penang? 

Most people will base themselves in George Town, the main city on the island. Other destinations are more beach-based resort towns. 

George Town is a relatively small space and easy to walk around. The majority of hotels will be within walking distance of most things you want to visit, and if not (or you want to escape the heat), Grab is quick and cheap. 

Budget options

Many budget options are clustered around either Little India or Chulia Street (known as backpacker street). These are both great areas to stay in. They’re central and have excellent food options. 

I stayed at Red Inn Court, a hostel/hotel in a historic building. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in a private room, but heard that the dorms were a bit small. It has excellent ratings on booking.com and offers a simple breakfast every morning. This was a great chance to meet the other travellers staying at the hotel.

Penang’s exceptional luxury stays

• The Eastern and Oriental, more commonly known as the E&O – this colonial era hotel is situated in a prime spot on the waterfront. It oozes luxury as well as history, and has several restaurants. I popped in for a cup of tea just to soak up the atmosphere I’d read so much about in so many novels about Malaysia.
• Cheong Fatt Tze, The Blue Mansion – this stunning property is in a refurbished Chinese mansion, built at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s won a number of luxury hotel awards, as well as a Unesco Heritage Award for the commitment to authenticity during the refurbishment process. It is also a location in a number of films, including Crazy Rich Asians. If you’re looking for a boutique, luxury spot, this is the one for you. You can also visit the Blue Mansion on daily tours – see my Article Top 10 things to do in George Town for more details. 

Is Penang safe for solo female travellers: my experience

Penang is generally a very safe city, with low levels of violent crime. The streets are busy, with activity throughout most of the evening, so you’re unlikely to be walking on a deserted street. However, if you are travelling across the city late at night, consider taking a Grab. 

As a solo woman, I felt very safe in Penang – however, you should always take basic safety precautions. 

As with any city, be aware of your belongings, particularly in croweded areas.

Is George Town, Penang good for solo travellers? 

George Town has just been named the second best destination in South East Asia for solo travellers by Lonely Planet. It fits all the listed criteria: it has good transport links, good wifi access, good food options and easy communication. It’s very clearly a hub for digital nomads as well – the thriving coffee scene is filled with both locals and foreigners tapping away on their keyboards. 

Other top tips for travel to Penang: avoiding culture shock

Heat

Penang is hot, and being on the sea does not seem to give it much of a breeze! Pace yourself, take advantage of aircon breaks in the many gorgeous coffee shops or restaurants, and down the Malaysian equivalent of Lucozade/Gatorade – 100Plus – if necessary. You can also take a trip up Penang Hill to escape the heat.

Noise

Penang is a thriving city with three main cultures operating side by side – Malays, Indians and Chinese. This means that it is noisy most of the time, including late at night, and first thing in the morning when the Call to Prayer can be heard through much of the city. Take earplugs for sleep, particularly if you are staying in a budget hotel.

Walking and traffic

Traffic is bad in George Town, there’s no getting around that. Be prepared to spend time in your Grabs. More importantly, there are very limited pavements in George Town. While it’s nowhere near as bad as Vietnam, if you are new to South East Asia, you will need to quickly get used to walking in the road, and crossing the road in front of cars and motorbikes. They will avoid you!

With its captivating mix of old and new, Penang is a destination that will leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re wandering through George Town’s historic streets, sipping coffee in a cozy café, or relaxing on the island’s scenic coastline, Penang offers the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Safe, welcoming, and packed with experiences for solo travelers, it’s no surprise that Penang is one of Southeast Asia’s top travel destinations. Ready to plan your trip? Be sure to check out my guide to the Top 10 Things to Do in George Town to make the most of your visit!