At a Glance
- Location: Northwest Malaysia — island connected to the mainland by two bridges
- Best time to visit: December to February — dry season with lower humidity. We went in February and March and it was boiling hot
- How long to stay: 1 week minimum to see the highlights — we stayed a month
- Best for: Families who love food, history, culture and street art. Less good for beach lovers
- Budget (family of 4): USD $115 per day
- Getting there: 28-minute flight from Langkawi, bus from Kuala Lumpur (4-5 hours), or train 3.5 hours plus bus/taxi
- Getting around: Grab taxi app works well but we hired a car and found it best for freedom and speed
- Best area to stay: Georgetown for culture and food, or Tanjung Bungah / Batu Ferringhi for beaches
- Family friendly rating: 7/10 — plenty going on and culturally rich but the heat can be exhausting
Penang is the kind of place that gets under your skin. A small island off the northwest coast of mainland Malaysia, crammed with nearly a million people, a thousand years of layered history, and what many argue is one of the best spots in Southeast Asia. We spent a month there as a family of four: two adults, two kids aged nine and seven and came away with a complicated but genuine affection for it.
This is our honest guide. The real picture: the brilliant bits, the brutal heat, the apocalyptic apartment, and the moment a llama walked out of a human toilet on the third floor of a city centre cafe.
That last one needs context. Read on…
In This Article:
- What is Penang like for families?
- When to visit Penang with kids
- Getting to Penang
- Getting around Penang
- Where to stay in Penang with kids
- Where to eat in Penang with kids
- Things to do in Penang with kids
- Georgetown: culture, street art and history
- Penang Hill and The Habitat
- Penang National Park: the best day ever
- Komtar Tower
- Bulu Bulu Cafe & the llama
- Beaches in Penang
- Worldschooling in Penang
- Costs and budget
- Is Penang worth it for families?
- Frequently asked questions
What is Penang Like for Families?
Penang is an island of roughly 24km by 15km that somehow squeezes in nearly a million people with most of them along the east coast, with the hilly, forested interior largely left to jungle and monkeys. The capital, Georgetown, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visually fascinating cities in Southeast Asia: colonial shophouses, Chinese temples, Indian mosques, and vivid street art all jostling for space in streets barely wide enough for two trishaws.
For families, Penang offers something genuinely different to the beach-and-resort circuit of Thailand or Bali. This is a city destination as much as a nature one with history, food, culture and street art being the main draws, with beaches and jungle as supporting acts.
Penang’s street food scene is legendary across Southeast Asia and after struggling with food in Langkawi, Penang felt like a a step up to form: cheap, plentiful, pretty tasty, and available at all hours.
Our honest take: We never fully found our groove in Penang. The heat was relentless which was tough with kids, the traffic was at times intense, and everything required a bit more effort than it did after our very laid back three months in Thailand. But the food, the culture, and the worldschooling community we found there made it genuinely worthwhile. Go with the right expectations and you’ll love it.
When to Visit Penang with Kids
Dry Season (December to February) – Best
Lower humidity, less rain, and genuinely pleasant temperatures by Malaysian standards. We arrived in late February and the weather was manageable but still very hot but dry. January and February are your best bets for a family visit.
March to April – Getting Hotter
Still dry but the heat really starts to build. We were there through till mid-March and by the end of our stay the heat was winning most battles. We found that if we weren’t out and back by 10:30am, we melted. April, could be even tougher.
May to November – Wet Season
Apparently heavy rainfall, high humidity, and the kind of weather that can make life tough. Penang’s beaches are also rougher during this period. Not recommended for families with young children.
Getting to Penang
By Plane from Langkawi: Quickest Route
We flew from Langkawi to Penang. Twenty-eight minutes. Quite possibly the shortest flight any of us had ever taken.
I had barely clicked my seatbelt before the captain announced we were beginning our descent. The cabin crew sprinted down the aisle distributing peanuts, then sprinted back to collect the rubbish like they were contestants on a game show. The ‘are we there yet?’ count from the kids: zero. The only benefit of a flight too short for complaint.
If you’re flying from KL, it’s pretty much bang on one hour flying time.
Penang International Airport is on the south of the island and well connected to Georgetown and the main tourist areas by taxi and Grab.
Book a flight to Penang here.
By Bus or Train from Kuala Lumpur
Comfortable express buses run between KL and Penang in around 4-5 hours. A good option if you’re coming from the south and prefer not to fly. Book in advance through Bookaway.
You can also get a train from KL to Butterworth on the mainland and then a short taxi or bus across to the island. We done this route in reserve down to KL and was a comfortable journey.
Book your bus or transport to Penang: click here
By Ferry from Langkawi
The ferry between Langkawi and Penang had stopped when we visited, stopping around 2021 and at the time of writing, had no resumed. Keep an eye on if it starts again, although we have heard it’s a very rough crossing.
Getting Around Penang with Kids
Unlike Langkawi where a hire car is essential, Penang is more manageable without one, particularly if you’re based in Georgetown but we were based out at Batu Ferringhi and we absolutely needed a car.
Grab
The Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber is apparently very good in and around Georgetown, less so further out. Whilst we didn’t use Grab in Malaysia, we used it regularly in Thailand and had no issues,
Trishaw
Georgetown’s iconic trishaws are a novelty although we never tried one.
Walking
Georgetown’s historic core is walkable, and in the cooler early morning hours, a pleasure to wander. By 10am the heat makes extended walking increasingly unpleasant. Plan accordingly.
Car Hire
We hired a car for our month on the island and found it essential but that was more because we were staying between Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi, without many facilities within walking distance. Driving is a little crazy but not a patch on other parts of Southeast Asia. Just Georgetown’s inner roads can be busy.
Book car hire in Penang: click here.
Where to Stay in Penang with Kids
Our Experience: The Apocalyptic Apartment
We booked a month at Mar Vista Resort, a condo complex between Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi, right by the Floating Mosque, about twenty minutes’ drive from Georgetown.
Mar Vista was pretty run down with a car park run by monkeys, decaying buildings with peeling paint, exposed wires, ripped ceiling panels and rusted everything.
But the apartment itself was enormous. Two floors, two balconies, separate rooms for the kids, and a 180-degree view over the Malacca Strait that was genuinely spectacular. Sunrises from that balcony totally made up for it. And it was incredibly quiet, had a functioning gym and an incredible pool, that luckily WAS maintained.
At 40% cheaper than anything comparable nearby, it did the job for us.
For a rather more reliable Penang accommodation experience: Click here.
Where We’d Recommend Staying
Georgetown: Best for Culture and Food
If this is your first time in Penang and you want the full experience: street art, street food, temples, colonial architecture, then base yourself in Georgetown. Everything is walkable, the food is on your doorstep, and the atmosphere has a good vibe.
Tanjung Bungah or Batu Ferringhi: Best for Families with Young Kids
The north coast of Penang has calmer, more family-friendly accommodation options with easier beach access. Less culturally immersive than Georgetown but more relaxed for families who want a base with a pool and room to breathe. This is where we were, and despite the state of our apartment, the area was decent with plenty of places to eat, and also this is where the vast majority of Worldschoolers / expats lived.
Where to Eat in Penang with Kids
For us personally, Penang was a step-up from our struggles to find good food in Langkawi. Penang has a great variety of food at every turn.
Penang’s street food is famous across Southeast Asia for good reason. Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese – the variety is vast. Within days of arriving we’d found two great food courts that become our daily go-to.
Street Food Tips for Families
- The best street food is found at the open-air hawker food courts where multiple vendors operate from small kitchens. Our favourites were in Tanjung Bungah – JJ Food Garden and Astaka Hillside
- Go early evening when everything is freshest – they’re generally busy 6pm-9pm.
- The food is cheap – to feed the four of us, we would spend approx. 40RM (USD$10)
Things to Do in Penang with Kids
1. Georgetown: Culture, Street Art and Colonial History
Georgetown is the reason most people come to Penang and it doesn’t disappoint. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, the historic core of the city is a beautifully preserved collision of cultures with British colonial architecture, Chinese clan houses, Indian temples, and mosques all seemingly built on top of each other.
The street art is a highlight. Interactive murals are dotted around the old town and finding them on foot is a lovely way to explore the city’s narrow lanes with kids, turning sightseeing into a gentle treasure hunt.
Click here for tours of Penang
2. Penang Hill and The Habitat
Penang Hill is a cluster of peaks rising over 800 metres above sea level, an area once used by the British as a cool-air retreat, now a tourist attraction connected to the base by a funicular railway that whisks you up through the jungle in about ten minutes.
At the top is The Habitat: a quiet walkway through the jungle canopy with a suspension bridge, viewpoints, and genuine wildlife if you’re lucky. For a gloriously brief ten minutes, we enjoyed nothing but jungle sounds – the birds, insects, and a much-needed gentle breeze. Until the kids chorused “I’m hungry”.
The viewpoint at the top of the Hill on a clear day is spectacular as you can see Georgetown, and the Penang Bridge. The heat at the top is slightly more bearable than sea level, which alone makes the trip worthwhile.
Tip: Go early: by mid-morning the queues for the funicular can be long and the heat starts to build. Pre-book tickets if possible.
Book Penang Hill funicular tickets: Click here.
Book Habitat tickets: Click here.
3. Penang National Park: for us a “Best Day Ever”
Penang National Park claims to be the smallest national park in the world: a compact stretch of jungle and coastline in the island’s northwest corner that punches well above its size in terms of what it delivers.
I took my seven-year-old boy out for a morning lads’ hike.
We walked the flatter coastal trail to Monkey Beach. The trail was advertised as a 75-minute walk but after several snack breaks, it took us two-hours.
The trail winds through dense jungle with occasional glimpses of turquoise sea through the trees, then opens out onto a beautiful, largely deserted beach at the end. We took a five-minute boat back along the coast, back to the car where my boy declared “best day ever”.
Tips for Monkey Beach:
- Take the coastal trail not the steep inner jungle route if you’re travelling with kids
- Bring plenty of water: I’ve never seen a seven-year-old sweat so much
- Start early as the heat on the trail by mid-morning is brutal despite the shade
- Take the boat back rather than walking both ways, if with kids: it’s cheap and the breeze is worth every penny
- There are basic food stalls at Monkey Beach if you need an ice cold drink, a beer or some food
4. Komtar Tower
Komtar Tower was once the tallest building in Southeast Asia at 231 metres. These days it’s a slightly dated mixed-use tower of shops, offices and entertainment, but the upper floors have been redeveloped into a tourist attraction with views across the island.
We visited for the Tech Dome (a science and technology museum aimed squarely at kids), the mirror maze, and the unquestionable highlight: the kids’ first ever go-karting session. For two hours, they had a blast at this spot in the centre of Georgetown.
Book Komtar Tower tickets: Click here.
5. Bulu Bulu Café: The Capybara Cafe
The premise sounds delightful: a city centre cafe where capybaras wander around while you eat, with various other animals on display across the floors. We arrived, took one sniff of the capybara dining area, and immediately decided we would not be eating there.
We paid the entrance fee to see the animals though and spent most of our visit feeling uneasy about it. Three cramped floors in the middle of Georgetown somehow housed rabbits, skunks, raccoons, snakes, goats, ducks, chickens, and a llama. All indoors in the tiniest of spaces.
The llama even has the luxury of going to the toilet in a human toilet – purely because there is no outdoor space!
We felt uncomfortable with the animal welfare situation and would hesitate to recommend it. Mention it here for completeness as you’ll likely walk past it in Georgetown and be intrigued.
6. Penang’s Beaches
Penang has beaches – several of them along the north coast at Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi. They’re pleasant rather than spectacular and come with a significant caveat: jellyfish.
Signs up everywhere will remind you that beach swimming in Penang is a no-no due to the jellyfish in the sea. Our beach time during a month in Penang was therefore extremely limited – whilst the apartment pool came to our rescue, we would’ve loved more beach time.
If beaches are your priority, Penang is probably not your best Malaysian option. Langkawi’s beaches are generally better for swimming and less jellyfish risk. That said, the beachfront at Batu Ferringhi is nice for an evening walk and the seafood restaurants along the strip are excellent.
Worldschooling in Penang
This was one of the highlights of our month in Penang and deserves its own section.
Penang has a sizeable and active worldschooling community: families from around the world who’ve chosen to travel and educate their children on the road. Within days of arriving we’d found a regular meetup group that gathered three times a week.
For the kids it was transformative – suddenly they had a consistent group of friends their own age to play with, burn off energy with, and just be kids with. For the adults, it meant something equally precious: actual conversation with people who understood exactly what we were doing and why.
The best of the meet-ups was at the Youth Park, not far from Penang Hill. Free open air pools, large playgrounds and a huge area to play ball or go spot massive monitor lizards, meant the kids were entertained, while the parents caught up at the friendly café.
The Penang worldschooling community was genuinely the highlight of our month there. If you’re worldschooling and passing through Penang, seek out the community led by Andy and Ness.
Costs and Budget for Penang with Kids
| Expense | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (3-bed apartment) | USD$28 per night |
| Hawker centre meal (family of 4) | 40RM (USD$10) all in |
| Penang Hill funicular (family of 4) | 90RM (USD$22) |
| Komtar Tower (2 kids, 1 adult) -- Tech Dome, Mirror Maze, Go Karts | 160RM (USD$40) |
| Penang National Park entrance | 50RM adult (USD$12) / 15RM child (USD$4) + 70RM boat one way (USD$17) |
| Georgetown street art walk | Free |
| Overall daily budget (family of 4) | USD$115 per day |
Is Penang Worth It for Families?
Yes, but it’s not the easiest family destination we’ve visited in Southeast Asia.
The heat can be intense, and getting around is quite an effort, especially if you’re not in Georgetown but then living outside of Georgetown in our opinion is better if you prefer space and coastline.
But Penang did give us plenty of things to do and some good food options. Georgetown was fascinating but not a huge amount for the kids. The national park walk and Penang Hill were great escapes from the bustle of island life.
And the worldschooling community was for sure, the highlight of our time in Penang. A real good crowd, good meet-up locations and good connections.
A week to ten days is probably the sweet spot for most families which is enough to see the highlights properly without overstaying your welcome with the heat. If you’re worldschooling and considering a longer stay, the community makes it worth it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Penang good for families with young children?
A: Yes, with some caveats. The food, culture and activities are excellent for families. The main challenges are the heat (plan all outdoor activities for early morning), the traffic in Georgetown, and the jellyfish situation on the beaches. Base yourself in Tanjung Bungah or Batu Ferringhi for a more relaxed family experience, or Georgetown if culture and food are your priority.
Q. What is the best area to stay in Penang with kids?
A. Georgetown for culture, food and street art. Tanjung Bungah or Batu Ferringhi for a calmer base with better beach access and more likely access to other families. We stayed just out of Tanjung Bungah near Batu Ferringhi and found it a good compromise – close enough to Georgetown for day trips but with more space and a pool.
Q: What is the best time to visit Penang with kids?
A: December to February is the dry season and the best time for families. The heat is still significant, but the humidity is lower and rain is rare. We were there in February and March. It got hotter as time went on so I would imagine April to be stifling.
Q: Is Penang expensive?
A: Penang is very affordable by Western standards. Street food is extraordinarily cheap – a full family of four meal at a hawker food court centre for under USD $10 is realistic. Accommodation ranges from budget guesthouses in Georgetown to comfortable apartments, and activities are generally well priced. Our family of four managed on USD$115 per day including car hire.
Q: How do you get from Langkawi to Penang?
A: We flew the 28-minute flight that remains the most entertainingly brief aviation experience of our lives. The ferry currently isn’t running. See our full Langkawi to Penang transport guide here: [Dave: add link if you write one, or link to Bookaway]
Q: Is Penang good for worldschooling families?
A: Excellent. Penang has a well-established worldschooling community that meets regularly and is welcoming to newcomers. For families travelling long-term with kids, the community aspect of Penang was one of the highlights of our entire trip. Checkout Facebook and join the groups and find out what’s going on. The Wednesday meet at the Youth Park was the best of the meet ups.
Q: Are the beaches in Penang good for swimming?
A: Put simply, no. Jellyfish are a regular presence in Penang’s waters, and there are plenty of signs up warning people away from the sea. This is all year round too, so it was a little frustrating when the temperature is in the mid 30’s and all you want to do is cool down. If beaches are your main priority, Langkawi offers better and (slightly) safer swimming options.
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