Penang
Penang is a Malaysian state whose capital, George Town, has UNESCO-listed heritage streets, famous hawker food and a century-old hill railway.
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Penang is a state on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, split into Penang Island and the mainland Seberang Perai by the Penang Strait. The state capital, George Town, sits on the island. Its historic center, about 260 hectares downtown, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its architecture and multicultural townscape. Shophouses, Anglo-Indian bungalows, mosques, temples, churches and European-style government and commercial buildings make up the core, and more than 50 murals and 18 wrought iron sculptures show local history and daily life across George Town.
Street food is central to the local cooking, and dishes such as char kway teow, asam laksa and nasi kandar draw on Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan and Thai influences. Penang Hill, the state's highest point at 833 m, is reached by a century-old funicular railway, and Penang National Park, at the island's northwest tip, is one of its main ecotourism sites. Temperatures stay fairly steady all year, with average highs near 32 °C, but haze from forest fires can affect air quality.
Penang in five
- Stay inside George TownThe UNESCO-listed old town is walkable, with clan houses, temples and hawker centers close together.
- Eat at the hawker centers at nightChar kway teow, assam laksa and cendol are the local dishes. Many stalls open only in the evening.
- Ride the funicular up Penang HillThe train climbs to cooler air and views over the strait. Go early or late to avoid long queues.
- Cross by ferry from ButterworthThe ferry from the mainland train station lands in George Town, a short walk from the old town. Trains from Kuala Lumpur stop at Butterworth.Kuala Lumpur guide
Things to do in Penang
See all attractions in Penang
Need to know
- Airport
- Penang International (PEN), about 30–45 min to George Town
- Getting there
- Trains from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth, then the ferry
- Getting around
- Walking, bicycles, Rapid Penang buses and Grab
- Best base
- George Town; Batu Ferringhi for the beach
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°DryJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 215 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°DryFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, dryMarchRain
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°ShowersAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 305 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- MayRain27 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°ShowersMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 380 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°ShowersJuneRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 207 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°ShowersJulyRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°ShowersAugustRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 261 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°WetSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 269 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WettestOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 389 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- NovemberRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 427 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Drying outDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 286 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
Average daily high and low in George Town, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Penang
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
George Town
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°24°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°24°94%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Fri30°24°100%Friday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat29°23°100%Saturday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun29°24°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 01:51 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4.057 MYR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- AugGeorge Town FestivalGeorge Town, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Penang Hillabout 30 min by bus and funicularViews, trails and cooler air.
- Penang National Parkabout 1 hour by busJungle trails to beaches on the northwest tip.
Before you go to Penang
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Rules for Penang, checked
- Many nationalities enter Malaysia visa-free, but the permitted stay depends on your passport; check the rules with the Immigration Department first.Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit and any restricted goods on the arrival card; check current limits with Royal Malaysian Customs before you travel.
- Dial 999 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Malaysia.
- Malaysia's drug laws are strict and trafficking carries the death penalty, so never carry anything for anyone else, even a friend.
- Remove your shoes before entering mosques and temples, cover your shoulders and knees, and expect to wear a headscarf at mosques.
Plan around Penang
Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Borneo and entry rules
Read the guideKuala LumpurTrains and flights link it to George Town
Read the guideLangkawiIsland beaches by flight or ferry
Read the guideGetting around MalaysiaTrains, ferries and flights between the hubs
Read the guideMoney for your tripCards and cash for hawker centers
Read the guidePenang FAQ
How many days do I need in Penang?
Two or three. One for George Town, one for Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si, and evenings for the food.
Is Penang good for beaches?
Not especially. Batu Ferringhi has a beach, but the water is not the clearest. Langkawi is better for beaches.
When is the best time to visit Penang?
December to March, the driest months. September and October bring the heaviest rain.
How do you get from Kuala Lumpur to Penang?
Fly in about an hour, or take a train to Butterworth in around 4 hours and cross by ferry to George Town. Buses also run. The train and ferry combination suits travelers who want the scenery and a short walk to the old town.
Where should you stay in Penang?
George Town for food and heritage on foot, Batu Ferringhi for a resort beach, and Gurney Drive or Tanjung Tokong for a modern seafront base. Most first visits are best inside the old town, since evenings are about the hawker stalls.