Updated March 2020
How do you see beautiful Penang on a tight budget? You see and do all the free things. You eat cheap at the markets, and you jump on the free bus. Getting a good look at Penang, on the cheap, is easy because most of Penang’s temptations are free! Yes free! For instance, street art, a major drawcard for Georgetown, is free. The stunning national park and turtle sanctuary are free.
Furthermore, those that are not free are cheap. The food in Penang, also a leading attraction, doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it is the hawker food which attracts all the foodies that flock to Penang to taste her delights! Check out our list of 11 things to see and do in Penang – including free transport!
1. Penang Street Art Trail
The street art, a relatively new addition to Penang, has become a significant tourist drawcard. Many of the paintings are beautiful and, in my opinion, quintessentially Penang! There are many street art trails to follow, including the murals by Ernest Zacharevic and “Marking Georgetown” a series of metal sculptures which narrate Penang’s colourful history with humorous illustration and historical facts. To read more, and for links to street art maps, visit – Penang’s Must-See Street Art.
Cost – Do-it-yourself-art-trails free!
There are many street art trails to follow. Download trail maps at the following link – Street Art Brochure or check out a Google Interactive Map of Penang Street Art or art trails here.
2. Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
A visit to the nutmeg factory is entirely free – apart from your purchases – and you get to learn all about nutmeg. It is quite fascinating if, like us, you know very little about nutmeg. At the time of our visit, our knowledge about this fruit began, and ended, at nutmeg being a spice. However, Emily, a 4th generation Nutmeg farmer, divulged all kinds of interesting facts including the many uses of the fruit, nut, leaves and stem of the nutmeg.
The range of products the nutmeg fruit can produce is considerable and includes pickled fruit, fruit juice, spice (nutmeg and mace) nutmeg tea, oil and balm. There is a free tasting of the juice, tea, pickle fruit and dried fruit, and we were able to purchase the products we liked at very reasonable prices.
Cost – Visit & tastings Free
Hours – Open daily from 09:00 to 18:00
Location – 202-A Jalan Teluk Bahang, Balik Pulau, Penang
Phone – +60 16-433 6303
Shop – Example of produce prices (prices may have changed)
Nutmeg Balm (for mozzie bites) RM 5.00 (Approximately AUD 1.60/USD 1.20)
Natural Nutmeg Juice (you mix with water) RM8.00 (AUD 2.70/USD 1.95)
100% Sugar-Free Nutmeg Tea RM 22.00 (AUD 7.35/USD 5.28)
3. Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang)
Taman Negara Pulau Pinang is known as the world’s smallest national park… but believe me, size doesn’t matter! This park has a turtle sanctuary, the Meromictic Lake (where fresh and saltwater don’t mix), a nice swimming beach, two main hiking tracks through the rainforest to Penang’s most pristine beaches, plenty of free camping grounds and lots, lots more.
Cost – Admission free
Hours – Open daily 08:00 – 17:00
Food – No food available inside the reserve.
Don’t forget – Good walking shoes, a picnic lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, hat and swimsuit
Penang Turtle Sanctuary
Cost – Admission Free
Hours – Open daily from 10:00 to 16:30 (closed for lunch between 13:00 & 14:00)
Website – For further information about Penang’s National Park have a look at Travel Penang and Department of Wildlife and National Parks
4. Walk to the top of Penang Hill
There are many paths which will take to the top of Penang Hill. Once at the top of the hill there are more free attractions to enjoy including, panoramic views over Penang, Love Lock, Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan and Masjid Bukit Bendera.
Love Lock – the lover’s promenade at which couples declare eternal love with decorated padlocks.
Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan (Penang Hill Hindu Temple) is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Penang.
Getting to the top of the Penang Hill for free
The shortest track is the jeep track, a 5km road which starts just outside the entrance to the Penang Botanical Gardens. Being the shortest route, it is also the steepest. Note: jeeps, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians shared this road.
There is also a trail that follows the course of the funicular train from Air Itam. Called The Heritage Trail, it consists predominately of concrete steps.
Also from the Penang Botanical Gardens, there is a walk that leads up to Penang Hill from the Moon Gate. It is a steep but pleasurable trek with ample wildlife to see, Macaques, dusky leaf monkeys, giant black squirrels and a multitude of insects and butterflies. DO NOT FEED the animals – a RM500 fine is applicable. The following link has an in-depth description on how to get to Penang Hill from the Moon Gate – Penang Monthly: Penang Hill Via the Moon Gate.
For those not wanting to walk (and willing to fork-out some of their travel kitty) to experience the top of Penang Hill, there is always the funicular train. It leaves from Air Itam.
Funicular Train
Cost – For foreign visitors RM30/Adult and RM15/Child (AUD 10.00 or USD 7.20/ Adult)
Hours – Open daily from 06.30 to 23:00 (last train from the top station). Ticketing counter closes at 22:00
Departure times – departure times vary depending on the time of day (see below).
You will find all the information you need at these links – Bukit Bendera Pulau Pinang & Travel Penang Malaysia
5. Explore Georgetown
Experience the diversity of Penang’s history as you explore the streets that still clearly illustrate the origins of this culturally diverse place.
Little India
Little India is full of ‘Bollywood’ music, colourful saris and the aroma of sandalwood incense and pungent curries.
Armenian Street
Armenian Street is a delight to explore. This street has street art, Chinese lanterns, trishaws, arts, crafts, and souvenir shops and cafes. If you don’t have a long time in Penang, this is the place to go to see the art and experience old Georgetown.
Cannon Street
I have heard this street described as quirky, off-beat, quaint and artsy. It has many good cafes, small restaurants, art shops and antique shops.
Chulia Street
An eclectic array of Colonial, Indian and Chinese style buildings; this street could be considered the central hub for tourist. Chula Street has lots of accommodation, cheap street food as well as typical western establishments, local boutiques, car and motorcycle rental.
6. Penang Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens provide a lovely place for a walk, a picnic or an early morning jog. You can easily spend a couple of hours at the gardens wandering through the varied flora collections or watching the antics of the cheeky monkeys. The gardens include (not limited to) the Palm Collection, Pine Collection, Herb Garden, Fern Rockery, Cactus House and the Formal Garden. Furthermore, it is home to long-tailed macaques, the dusky leaf monkeys, and black giant squirrels, as well as many birds, butterflies and insects.
Cost – Admission free
Hours – Open daily from 05:00 to 20:00 (including public holidays)
Food & Beverage – Available from the Botanical Shop
Facilities – Picnic area, access for disabled people, jogging track, gazebo
Amenities – Public toilets
Getting there – Take bus # 7 at the Komtar building bus station.
Address – 673A, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town
Telephone – +60 4-226 4401
Webpage – Penang Botanical Gardens
For information on how to get there visit – More Penang
7. Clan Jetties
These settlements, or water villages, are over 100 years old. There are six jetties to explore, each named and dominated by a certain clan. Go for a wander along the wooden boardwalks and explore this living heritage of Penang. Chew Jetty is the most touristy and it is there you are able to purchase all types of paraphernalia including souvenirs, postcards and ice cream.
Cost – Free to walk along the Jetties.
Location – Weld Quay, Georgetown
Please remember – These are people’s homes – be respectful when taking photos.
For more information, visit – Penang Clan Jetties
8. Clan House
Kongsi, otherwise known as clan houses, are a resting place for ancestral spirits. They are built, or founded, by the members of a particular clan or family. Home to some of the best preserved clan houses in the world, Penang’s traditional Chinese style Kongsi showcase breathtaking craftsmanship, ornate wooden and stone carvings, as well as elaborate gilding and frescoes.
For more about Clan Houses and a link to a map so you can do a free self-guided tour of Penang’s clan houses visit – My Penang
Khoo Kongsi is one of Penang’s most important Chinese clan houses. Amazingly the Khoo family can be traced back 650 years! This is considered one of Penang’s most impressive clan houses. However it is not free to visit (but it is cheap).
Cost – RM10 (Approximately AUD 3.35 / USD 2.40)
Hours – Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00
Address – 18 Cannon Square, Georgetown
Phone – +604 261 4609
9. Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. Built in 1890, it is a national icon and an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists. The main attraction is the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas (Pagoda of Rama VI) and the 30.2-metre tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. The temple which is located on 10 acres, has a warren of temples, monasteries, prayer halls, and beautifully-landscaped gardens including, fish pond and many statues.
Cost – Admission free / Pagoda – RM2 / Sky lift – RM3 (Approximately AUD 1.14 / USD 0.70)
Hours – Open daily from 07:00 to 21:00
Location – Air Itam
Telephone – +604 828 3317
10. Gurney St Markets (New Gurney Drive Food Court)
Ok, so it is not really free if you buy something to eat, but seriously some of this food is so cheap it may as well be free…. and a person gotta eat right? The Gurney Street Market is worth a visit just to experience a typical Malay night market! It is the place for hawker fare with many stalls selling a wide variety of hawker delights at very reasonable prices… For more about cheap eats in Penang, click here!
Cost – Free to visit!… and food is cheap!
Hours – Open daily from 18:00 to 24:00
Location – Persiaran Gurney, George Town (right beside Gurney Plaza Mall)
11. CAT Free Shuttle Bus
CAT Free Shuttle Bus (City Hop On Penang) plies the roads within the zones of the Georgetown Unesco World Heritage Site. It covers a route from the Jetty to Penang Road and back. Along the way, it makes 19 stops at strategic points of interest. Look for “Hop on Free” sign on the side of the bus.
Cost – Free
Hours – 06:00 to 00:00
Website – For more information including the route click here.
More Information / Transport / Accommodation
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) – written here as RM (the current exchange rate is 1 MYR = USD 0.24 or AUD 0.33)
THE FOLLOWING TRANSPORT ETC – NOT FREE
Rapid Bus Service
The Rapid Penang website has all the information you need to travel cheaply around Penang. Fares start as low as RM1, and a Rapid Passport (prepaid ticket for 7 days of unlimited bus travel) is RM30.
Routes – http://www.rapidpg.com.my/rapid-services/routes-information/
Motorcycle Hire
Scooters – RM35/day – RM60/day
Penang’s Hop On Hop Off Bus
These double-decker buses offer two tours – Sightseeing Tours and Sunset Tours.
Cost – Start at RM115/Adult (AUD 38.30 and USD 27.60) and RM50/Child
For pick-up points and online ticket purchase, route etc – Penang Hop on Hop Off Bus
Accommodation
When we travel, we book all our accommodation through Booking.com. We do this for several reasons including the fact that the price they show you is usually the total price – inclusive of fees, taxes etc, and you pay when you arrive at your accommodation (this can vary so be sure to check all the details before you book.) Booking.com has a large variety of accommodation styles to suit any budget!
Do you need a visa?
Click here for an Online Travel Visa Check. Simply enter what country you are from and where you are going!
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
If you like this post, please save, pin or share with friends… Thank You
“Feet Do Travel” Blog Link Up is a great way for travel bloggers to share their posts. It is also a fabulous way for travellers to find interesting and informative travel blogs to read. Click on the image on the right to learn more!
40 Comments
Leave your reply.