Includes: Penang · Best time: December–April
Overview:
Penang is an alluring fusion of art, heritage and gastronomy—perfectly formulated for travellers who adore colour, creativity and culinary excellence. George Town’s urban palette is an ever-shifting canvas of murals, mosque minarets and trading-era stilt houses. Add hilltop escapes and boutique coastal retreats, and the island becomes a sumptuous playground for exploration, photography and flavour.
Highlights:
- Clan Jetties: Walk over serene waters on wooden jetties where generations of settler families still live in stilted homes.
- George Town: Explore heritage laneways lined with shop‑houses, clan halls and murals—then feast on Keralan curries and Peranakan pastries.
- Kek Lok Si Temple: Wander through pagoda courtyards (especially magical at night) to reach the hilltop statue of the Goddess of Mercy overlooking the bay.
- Penang Hill: Take the funicular into cool, forested heights, past colonial bungalows and shaded woodland walks.
- Street Food Trail: Discover iconic dishes—like noodle laksa, prawn‑fried noodles, and sweet palm‑sugar ice—on a journey through hawker stalls and heritage kopitiams.
