Things to do in Penang with kids: The best attractions

Visiting Penang with kids is a great choice if you’re looking for a destination that combines culture, nature and beach time. During our trip to this Malaysian island, we quickly realised there are far more things to do in Penang with kids than we expected. Many of the best attractions in Penang for kids are also close to each other, making it easy to explore several places to visit in Penang in one day. In this guide we share the best places to visit in Penang with kids, based on our own family travel experiences.

What to do in Penang with kids

Places to visit in Penang: Georgetown

Georgetown is the capital of Penang. It’s a city packed with sights and offers the perfect mix of culture, history and great food. One of the icons of Georgetown is the Blue Mansion, an impressive historic mansion known for its striking blue façade. Today it functions as a hotel, but visitors can also explore parts of it as a museum. The building is an architectural gem and has even been used as a filming location for several movies.

The city is also famous for its cultural diversity. You can clearly see this in the many Chinese temples, including the impressive Khoo Kongsi, which reflects the rich history of the Chinese community in Georgetown. The city is also a true open-air museum for street art, with colourful murals scattered throughout the streets. Most of them can be found around lively Armenian Street, where you’ll also find a mix of fun shops and art.

Make sure to visit Chew Jetty as well, a wooden street on stilts above the water with several small shops. From here we could see large cruise ships anchored nearby, which made for quite a contrast.

For food, we highly recommend visiting the hawker stalls, where local dishes are served. Another interesting area is Little India, where you can experience the lively atmosphere of the Indian community and enjoy delicious food at one of the many Indian restaurants.

Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang with kids

Kek Lok Si Temple, located on a hilltop in Penang, is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. The temple complex consists of several prayer halls and is famous for its impressive architecture and spiritual significance. It’s definitely one of the must-see sights in Penang.

In the largest prayer hall, daily prayers and meditations take place. We were lucky to witness a prayer ceremony during our visit. Besides the prayer halls, the temple features beautiful statues, including the famous bronze Buddha and colourful pagodas.

We visited Kek Lok Si about a month after Chinese New Year. During this period the temple is decorated with thousands of lanterns, which made it even more beautiful. Around the temple you’ll also find small souvenir shops selling local products and souvenirs, as well as quite a bit of Chinese plastic junk.

The temple is easy to reach. You can either take the funicular or walk about five minutes to reach the lower section. However, to visit the upper part of the temple you always need to take the funicular, so walking the first part doesn’t really save you much money. If you go up to the highest section of Kek Lok Si Temple, you’ll also be rewarded with a stunning view over Penang. We spent about 1–2 hours visiting the temple.

Attractions in Penang with kids: Penang Hill and The Habitat

Penang Hill is one of the most popular places to visit in Penang and can easily be combined with a visit to Kek Lok Si Temple, as both locations are only a few minutes’ drive apart. To reach the top of the hill you take the funicular, which departs every 10 minutes and quickly takes you uphill. Once at the top, you can enjoy the cooler air and beautiful panoramic views over the island. There are several restaurants, shops and viewpoints to explore, as well as walking trails for those who enjoy nature. Kids can play at the playgrounds while you take in the surroundings.

Penang Hill is also home to a section of rainforest that you can explore on foot. This nature area is called The Habitat and it’s a special experience with several scenic viewpoints. The walking trail takes about 45 minutes and leads through lush rainforest, with highlights such as a suspension bridge high above the trees and swings at spectacular viewpoints. The viewing platform offers panoramic views over the island and is one of the highlights of the route. Entrance to The Habitat requires a separate ticket, but we thought it was definitely worth it. You can take a shuttle back to the starting point, so you don’t have to walk the entire route twice.

Tropical Spice Garden: a unique attraction in Penang

The Tropical Spice Garden, located near Teluk Bahang, is a beautiful and educational place to learn about the herbs and spices that Penang is famous for. The garden is home to a wide variety of plants, ranging from herbs used in the local kitchen to exotic spices. You can explore the garden at your own pace, or join a guided tour to learn more about the history and uses of the different plants.

One of the fun highlights of the garden is the natural fish spa, where small fish nibble away dead skin from your feet. There’s also a Tea Garden where you can taste several types of tea for free. For children there’s something fun too: a large wooden swing overlooking the garden and the surrounding nature. Tropical Spice Garden also offers cooking classes, although these are not held every day. If you’d like to join one, it’s important to reserve at least a few weeks in advance.

Hiking and beaches in Penang National Park

Penang National Park is a large nature reserve on the west side of the island. You can hike through tropical rainforest or take a boat to visit several beaches. The most popular beaches in the park are Monkey Beach and Turtle Beach. Both beaches can be reached by hiking, although the trail to Monkey Beach from the entrance was closed during our visit because it was not in good condition. If both hiking trails are open, you’ll have to choose. There is no hiking trail connecting the two beaches inside the park.

We hiked to Turtle Beach, which took us about 1.5 hours. Turtle Beach is a wide, quiet sandy beach. Swimming isn’t possible here because of jellyfish. There’s also a small turtle conservation centre, although it’s fairly modest.

From Turtle Beach we took a boat to Monkey Beach, the other main beach in Penang National Park. Monkey Beach is a tropical beach lined with palm trees, and plenty of monkeys. The good news is that you can swim here. There’s also a restaurant on the beach. Most visitors to Penang National Park take a boat there and back just to visit Monkey Beach, which makes it quite a bit busier.

Places to visit in Penang with kids: Batu Ferringhi

Batu Ferringhi is a popular beach destination on the north side of Penang, just a few kilometres west of Georgetown. This relaxed beach town mainly attracts families and older travellers looking for a laid-back holiday.

Along the coastline you’ll find a range of hotels, resorts and apartment complexes, many with views of the beach. Although the beach here isn’t as beautiful as the beaches on Langkawi, it’s still a pleasant place to stay with kids. There are also opportunities for watersports, although we didn’t see many people doing them while we were there, which meant the beach stayed relatively quiet.

Batu Ferringhi has plenty of dining options, from cosy restaurants to places located directly on the beach where you can enjoy fresh seafood with ocean views. In the evening there’s also a night market along the main road, where you can buy souvenirs and try local snacks.

Family-Friendly accommodations in Penang

Where should you stay when visiting Penang with kids? Most people stay in Georgetown, often in one of the many boutique hotels. The city also offers plenty of hotels and apartments in residential towers on the edge of the centre. There’s more than enough choice in Georgetown, including many family-friendly accommodations.

Many families visiting Penang choose to stay in Batu Ferringhi. That is also what we did. Our main reason was that it’s a bit quieter. It’s right by the beach, you can take nice evening walks, there are plenty of restaurants, and there’s a wide selection of apartments, hotels and resorts. We booked an apartment in the complex “By the Sea”. Our apartment was very spacious, we could use the swimming pool, and we had a view of the beach.

The only downside of staying in Batu Ferringhi is that you’ll need your own transport if you want to visit the sights of Penang and Georgetown.

Eating out in Penang with kids

In Penang (and especially in Georgetown) it can be hard to decide where to eat. There are so many restaurants, and it’s not for nothing that Penang is considered the culinary hotspot of Malaysia. Even when travelling with kids, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly restaurants. Of course we could only try a small selection ourselves, but these are places we would definitely recommend:

• Nasi Kandar Merican: A small spot in Georgetown we’d never have found without the Lonely Planet guide. The food was absolutely delicious and very affordable! You can build your own plate from the day’s offerings. We had a full, flavorful meal for just a few euros.
• Helena’s Café: A popular restaurant in Batu Ferringhi. It’s not large, which gives it a cozy atmosphere. The menu features Malaysian and Asian cuisine with a light Western twist.
• Secret Garden: A stylish, upscale restaurant in Batu Ferringhi. It’s quite pricey by Malaysian standards, but also one of the few of its kind in the country. It’s geared toward tourists, with a menu that blends Western and Asian influences. The food is high-quality, they serve good wine, and the service is excellent. Definitely worth visiting if you’re looking for a special evening out. Or to end your trip on a high note, as we did.

FAQ – Penang with kids

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