Taking into account traffic and journey time to and from point A to point B, the list of activities below anchors within Penang’s capital city, George Town and each one may take approximately between three and four hours to complete.
Penang Hill
From the heart of George Town, catch Rapid Bus 204 from the jetty on Pengkalan Weld, anywhere along Lebuh Chulia or Komtar, to get to Penang Hill. The journey should be around 40 minutes each way. Stop at the foot of the hill and get onto the funicular train up at RM30 (non MyKad) otherwise for both ways.
- Walk along the route to see restored Colonial-style bungalows that are now private homes.
- Take an audio tour at your own pace and time.
- Enjoy a view of that side of Penang island from that elevation. Also a nice photo-op here.
- Have a bite of local fare at the food court Cliff Café. The assam laksa and ais kacang are quite popular here. All food are halal here.
George Town on Foot
Best way to see Penang’s UNESCO Heritage Site is by foot. Simply get into the centre of Lebuh Chulia and walk in any direction from there. Preferably, try to cover a few streets to get a feel of Penang’s architecture, street art, multiculturalism and heritage.
Ride on the Iconic Penang Ferry
Truly a must-do when in Penang. Simply hop onto the ferry from the ferry terminal on Pengkalan Weld that crosses the channel to Butterworth in 15 – 20 minutes per way.
Visit Penang’s Clan Jetties
A stone’s throw away from the bus and ferry terminal on Pengkalan Weld is where the clan jetties exist. Each clan neighborhood is built on stilts above the sea beside each other and all neighborhoods are still occupied by families, if not the clans themselves. Strolling on them you’ll be able to discreetly peek into homes, grab a quick lunch at a small stall and even souvenir shop in a couple of stalls.
Bus Rides
Hop on to the free Central Area Transit bus that ambles through most of the UNESCO heritage site of George Town.
A more intensive bus tour is the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. The 24-hour fare begins at RM19 with a 24-hour validity, right up to RM45 for non-MyKad holders. Sparing around 1.5 for each route may be a good idea. Tickets are available onboard the bus.