A two-day visit to Penang is just enough time to appreciate the two sides of the island, from the heritage streets of George Town to the natural expanse of rainforest in Penang National Park. With enough time left over to sample the world-renowned cuisine, a two day visit is the perfect introduction to this idyllic tropical island.
Two days in Penang gives you just enough time to do this diverse and fascinating island justice. But only just, so you’ll need your wits about you and a decent plan up your sleeve to make the most of your time on the island. After all, this is a place many people visit for a couple of days and end up staying for much longer than they intended.
Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. This two day itinerary introduces the headline acts of Penang, from its heritage streets, rainforests, sandy beaches, colonial history and astonishing cuisine. If you’re worried about feeling rushed, don’t panic; two days in Penang outclasses two days in most other places on the planet, so get ready for a whirlwind romance and prepare to fall in love with this magical place.
Check out our other Penang itineraries here:
Day 1: Penang Hill and George Town
Up the hill and back down again
To get a feeling for the lie of the land, it helps to get up high and the best place on the island is Penang Hill. For a long time, this was the spot the British retreated to from the heat and kept an eye out for potential invaders. Indeed, it’s alternative local name is Bukit Bendera, which translates as Flagstaff Hill, a reminder of the days when a flag would be hoisted atop the 830m peak to warn the rest of the island of impending danger. Thankfully, things are altogether more relaxed nowadays, but it’s still the best place to find some ambience, perspective, peace and cooler temperatures.
If you really want to experience the ascent how the early arrivals did, you could undertake the hike up Penang Hill via the Heritage Trail. This two hour hike is a challenging but rewarding adventure, otherwise, save your legs and reach the top in the same way most visitors have since 1925 and take a ride up via the funicular. With impressive views back down the track to George Town, the funicular is an exciting way to climb, but make sure you arrive early if possible, as the queues can be severe during busy periods such as public holidays and weekends.
Once at the top, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied, perhaps the best is The Habitat, a rainforest discovery centre that brings you up close and personal to the rainforest and provides an opportunity to learn about some of the flora and fauna that calls Penang Hill home. Included in the ticket price are treetop and canopy walks, bringing you even closer to the action.
Back down to earth (and George Town)
After you’ve finished at the top, retrace your steps to the bottom and jump in a Grab taxi back towards George Town. Very close to Penang Hill is Kek Lok Si Temple, where you could squeeze in a quick visit if you have time, but it’s perhaps best left for another time when you can really savour its beauty.
Arrange for your Grab ride to drop you off at Gem Restaurant for lunch, the friendliest and one of the best Indian restaurants in town, it’s the perfect place to cool down, taste great food and let the hottest part of the day pass by.
Afterwards, we’d suggest following our George Town walking tour, which handily begins just a couple of minutes walk from Gem Restaurant at Penang Town Hall. The walking tour takes in many of the best sights in George Town including Fort Cornwallis, Little India, Clan Jetties, Khoo Kongsi, Penang Street Art and the Blue Mansion. After finishing the three or four hour tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation of what makes the UNESCO World Heritage Site so loved and well-visited, and perhaps found some of your own personal favourites to visit next time.
Take me to the food court
It should now be late afternoon or early evening, making it the perfect time to head back to your hotel for an hour or so to refresh and rejuvenate, ready for an evening in George Town.
Just near the Blue Mansion, one of the most popular of George Town’s food courts awaits at Red Garden Food Paradise. Wander around the perimeter and check out the wide range of cuisines on offer, grab a table, make your order and pay when the food arrives. Separate waiters will offer and serve drinks at your table, and it gets quite lively as the evening wears on. For a fun night out with cheap and tasty food, it takes some beating.
Afterwards, George Town’s streets are at their prettiest in the evening, ideal for a post-dinner stroll and perhaps a nightcap at one of the backpacker-style bars down Chulia Street or Love Lane.
Day 2: Penang National Park and Batu Ferringhi
Beach, rainforest and relaxation
Set the alarm clock for around 7.00am and grab some breakfast from your hotel or one of the early opening food vendors. The plan for today is to head to the other side of the island, to Penang National Park and its hikes, beaches, boat rides and bars. Jump into a Grab and make the forty minute journey across the island to its north-western tip and prepare to experience the quieter side of Penang.
Once you’ve reached the park entrance, our recommendation (if you have the fitness and energy levels) is to take the 1.5 hour hike through the rainforest to Turtle Beach and its turtle conservation centre. This 3.8km walk leads you up, down and along a well-defined track, with plenty of places to pause for a break and to take in the perfect views. If you take this option, remember to pay park entrance fees at the Park HQ and arrange for a boat to pick you up afterwards and take you around the island to Monkey Beach.
Alternatively, if the hike sounds too much like hard work, you could instead arrange for a boat to transport you from Park HQ directly to Monkey Beach (or Turtle Beach first, if you prefer) and take things at a more ‘tropical island’ kind of pace. If you are only heading to Monkey Beach, you won’t need to pay any national park fees.
Monkey Beach is a picture perfect setting to unwind for several hours, choosing between kayaking, paddling (watch out for jellyfish though), sunbathing, hammock-lounging, or simply sipping ice-cold Tiger beers and sampling some simple local cuisine. You could spend any length of time here, but reckon on a few hours at least, letting the hottest part of the day (and your worries) pass by.
When you’re ready to depart, you can ask your boat driver to take you to Batu Ferringhi (this needs to be arranged and paid for at the park gates at the start of your visit to the National Park).
Batu Ferringhi, night markets and a final stroll around George Town
Penang has fewer beach resorts than some of its neighbouring Southeast Asian tourist hotspots, but the ones it does have are impressive, taking up an enviable slice of paradise on the northern coastline. After your time at Penang National Park, you’re perhaps not in the mood for more beach time though, and that’s fine; Batu Ferringhi is also a fantastic place to visit in the early evening, when the food courts, street vendors, souvenir vendors and night markets start to get into full swing.
Especially at the weekends, this is a lively and atmospheric place, where Penangites and visitors from the mainland come to eat, party and generally have a good time. When you’ve had your fill of food and fun, jump back in a Grab taxi and head back to George Town for one last wander around the streets, a nightcap and then a well-deserved sleep.
How to get around Penang
Penang has a decent bus service, and it will cover you for most of the places you’re visiting on this two-day itinerary, aside from Penang Hill, which is tricky to reach on the bus. As much as we try to usually recommend public transport, it’s much faster and far simpler to use a Grab taxi. Cheap, reliable and safe, the Grab taxis take most of the stress out of moving around the island, especially when you’re visiting with limited time. You want to be spending your days sightseeing, not sat on a slow-moving bus.
Where to stay
There are plenty of accommodation options in Penang, ranging from cheap hostels on Chulia Street, beach resorts in Batu Ferringhi, and luxury hotels in George Town.
In the past couple of years, Penang has instigated a ban on short-term lets (e.g. apartments on booking.com and Airbnb) so you might notice a dearth of apartments available for short-term stays (e.g. a few nights). It doesn’t affect all complexes but, where it does, it’s strictly enforced by security. Double-check what you’re booking before making payment.
The two main areas tourists stay are in George Town and Batu Ferringhi. If you’re only here for a couple of days, our suggestion would be to choose a heritage hotel within the World Heritage Site of George Town. Not only are you staying in a convenient location for most of the sights, you’ll feel fully immersed in the city and its beautiful history.
Final thoughts
Penang on a two day itinerary offers just enough time to enjoy the two different sides of the island, from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, the tranquillity of Penang Hill, and the natural beauty of Penang National Park.
Do remember that one of the highlights of any visit to Penang is the food, so leave plenty of time for snacks and meals in your schedule. Some of the best memories of the island are made as you wander around George Town, stopping off when you see something to take your fancy.
Two days is an excellent taster session for Penang, a chance to get an understanding of why the island is so well-loved within the travelling community, and it’s sure to leave you planning your next visit.
Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Penang
15 BEST restaurants in Penang
Top tips for visiting Penang
One day Penang itinerary
Best hotels in Penang
How to get around Penang
A brief history of Penang