Penang Travel Guide
Overview
The island of Penang has it all. Beaches, rich culture, beautiful heritage buildings, ornate temples and most famously, lots of really good food. The heritage district is concentrated in the Unesco World Heritage Zone of Georgetown. Here you will find old pre-war buildings restored and re-purposed into restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, shops and even fast food outlets. We saw a very odd looking KFC in a heritage building.
For rest and relaxation, Batu Ferringhi has a strip of white sand beaches lined with resorts and a street full of restaurants with a market at night.
Food and Drink
Many of the regional tourists flock to Penang for the cuisine, so it goes without saying trying the local food is a must while visiting Penang. Dining options vary from local hawker centers where a meal can be as little as $2, to enjoying local flavors at their finest at hotels and resorts.
- Joget High Tea at Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa by Shangri-La Experience a unique high tea concept at the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa by Shangri-La in Penang Malaysia, with their fortnightly Joget High Tea. Enjoy either a traditional English High Tea set of scones with whipped cream and strawberries, a selection of g...
- Must Try Foods of Penang Penang is famous for it's food, with many tourist's holiday itineraries revolving around the foods they want to eat. Whether you dine at a local hawker center or a fine restaurant, here is our list of must try dishes when visiting Penang. Fried...
- Malaysian Kitchen Restaurant Located on Jalan Batu Feringhi between the two Shangri-La Resorts, the restaurant is an easy walk from most hotels along the street. Here you can try the many flavors of Malaysia including Beef Rendang and Penang favorites like Penang Prawn Curry and ...
- Pinang - Poolside "Thai-Pas" at Rasa Sayang Resort Even poolside dining at Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa is an experience with the addition of "Thai-Pas" to the Pinang restaurant and bar's menu. Share and taste a variety of Asian flavors including local delicacies presented in sets of 4 shot...
Hotels
To enjoy the beaches of Penang, the resorts in Batu Ferringhi offer beach front accommodation only 30 minutes away from town. To enjoy the heritage zone at your doorstep, consider staying in a restored heritage building in Georgetown.
- Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa is a luxurious beachfront sanctuary that embraces it's surrounding Malaysian culture and environment. From it's iconic Minangkabau roof architecture to it's walls filled with Malaysian art, it is a resort getawa...
- Parkroyal Penang Resort As we stepped into the Parkroyal Penang Resort lobby, one look around and we could tell this was a true tropical resort. Rotating fans hung from the multi story high ceilings over the long reception counter and lobby lounge, while the view of the large bl...
- Hotel Penaga - Heritage, Character and Style Find heritage, character and style in boutique Hotel Penaga. Formed from fifteen pre-war terraces and shophouses, you can stay in a hotel in the heart of Georgetown, that has the beauty and architecture that the area is famous for. With three distinct ...
- Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La Penang For a beach side retreat of pure relaxation, adrenaline pumping activities or fun for the whole family, Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La has it all. Breathe in the fresh air and get the blood flowing, with a round of golf at the Par 3 golf course, a game...
- Eastern and Oriental Hotel Built in 1885, the Eastern and Oriental Hotel, commonly known as the E&O, displays the grand elegance of the British colonial era. Visitors have a choice of rooms in the original Heritage wing or the new Victory Annex wing. With a prime location a...
Spas
De-stress at one of the beautiful spas in Penang and enjoy a variety of therapies including traditional Malaysian massage and Foot Reflexology.
- Chi The Spa by Shangri-La at Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa Step into Chi, the spa at Shangri-La, and step into serenity. A walk down a wood planked path, lined with bamboo shoots and fish ponds starts my search for relaxation as I approach the reception villa. The sound of trickling water from a rock water featur...
Activities
- Trishaw Tour of Georgetown There are so many attractions to see in Penang's heritage district of Georgetown, that unless you enjoy getting lost in 30 degree heat, trishaw rides are the perfect way to explore the area. We learned this the hard way after searching all over Penang...
Travel Tips
- Budget Airlines in Asia and Tips to make the most of it
- What to pack for a Southeast Asian Beach Vacation
Location
A small island located on the west coast of Malaysia. Only an hour flight from Kuala Lumpur, direct flights are also available from Singapore.
All photos from Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa by Shangri-La
