Penang island - how to get and what to see

The resorts of the Malaysian island of Penang are always popular among beach lovers. However, it is famous not only for its beautiful coastline, but also for interesting sights. In addition, guests are offered a variety of entertainment options.

How to get from Moscow to the island

Penang has an international airport serving flights from AirAsiays, SilkAir, Jetstar Airways, Tiger Airways, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get to Penang Island from Moscow directly. You will have to do one or even several transplants. The most convenient options are via Singapore or Bangkok.

In the case of Singapore, Singapore Airlines will serve you on the first leg of the journey, and Tiger Airways on the second. The transfer will last only 1 hour 45 minutes, the total travel time is 13 hours 35 minutes. In the second case, the flight duration will be the same. The only inconvenience is that in Bangkok you will have to change the airport, the plane on the Moscow-Bangkok route of Aeroflot arrives in Suvarnabhumi, and the second section of the route, Bangkok-Penang, is served by Thai Airways and you will have to take off from Don Muang airport. The time for moving is 3 hours.
If none of these options suits you, you can use the routes with two transfers. There are quite a few of them. For example, Moscow-Dubai-Kuala Lumpur-Penang, Moscow-Beijing-Kuala Lumpur-Penang, Moscow-Delhi-Bangkok-Penang and so on.

How to get to Penang island from Kuala Lumpur

From the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Penang can be reached in several ways. The most convenient and fastest way to do this is by plane. Flights of Malindo Airways, Firefly, MAS, Airasia depart from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport every 15-20 minutes. Travel time is about an hour.

Those who are not looking for easy ways can take the bus or train - Penang Island is connected to the mainland of Malaysia by a bridge. In the first case, the journey will start from the Pudu Raya bus terminal and end at the international station of Sungai Nibong city. Such a trip will take at least 6 hours. The same amount of time will be spent by those who decide to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang by train.

What to see

Most of the attractions of Penang Island are concentrated in its capital, Georgetown. On its streets you can find temples of various religions. One of the most famous, Wat Chayamangkalaram is naturally Buddhist. It is one of the three best in Penang and is famous for its 33-meter statue of Buddha, one of the largest in the world. Dharmikarama Burmese Temple is best known for being the only Burmese Buddhist temple outside Myanmar. And the Anglican Church of St. George and the Muslim mosque Karitan Keling look very unusual. To understand how all this can get along in one city, you can only learn more about the history of Malaysia.

You can get away from the religious theme by visiting Fort Cornwallis, which was once designed to defend the English possessions from the attack of the French army and pirates. In addition, in Georgetown, you can visit the streets of a wide variety of peoples - the Chinese village on stilts Clan Jetties, the center of Little India Queen Street and so on. And those wishing to take a break from the urban bustle will surely like the botanical garden.

There are places of interest outside of Georgytine as well. For example, the Serpent Temple in Bayan Lepas. It got its name not by accident - at the altar, indeed, curled up in a ball, reptiles rest. Locals claim that they are not dangerous at all, as they are chronically intoxicated by the smell of incense.

Things to do on the island

The most popular tourist attraction on the island is climbing Mount Penang. Its height is not too high, only 833 meters, but a beautiful view opens from the top that can amaze even seasoned travelers. You can climb here on foot or by cable car. The first option is suitable only for tourists with a sufficiently high level of physical fitness who are not looking for easy ways. You can continue your active vacation by renting a bike and going on a journey along your own route.

Another popular entertainment is boat trips. A huge number of routes are offered, lasting from an hour to several days, on different ships. For those who prefer to relax on land, there are trips to the Butterfly Park and Botanical Gardens. Thrill seekers will surely be interested in Escape Adventureplay.

And, of course, having arrived to Penang Island, you cannot get around the theme of Malaysian cuisine. You can get acquainted with it not only in a cafe or restaurant, but also by attending a thematic master class, which begins with the selection and purchase of fresh products in the market, and ends with a tasting of cooked dishes.

Where to stay

Penang has a huge number of hotels of all levels. Which one to choose depends, first of all, on the purpose of the trip. If you decide to devote your vacation to sightseeing, then the best option is the four-star Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul in Bayan Lepas. Stylish rooms, a swimming pool where you can relax after a busy day with excursions, and a high level of service will make your stay unforgettable.

In Georgetown, you should pay attention to the five-star Eastern and Oriental Hotel, located in a luxurious, colorful 19th century mansion. The atmosphere of this time is recreated in each issue. Another plus is the location, right on the waterfront. In the modern G Hotel Kelawai, also a five-star one, the atmosphere is completely different, in the techno style. From here it is convenient to get not only to the embankment, but also to other city attractions.

If your goal is a beach holiday, then you should pay attention to Batu Feringhi hotels. The best of them are the four-star Holiday Inn Resort Penang (the line needs no advertising), The Bayview Beach Resort, which boasts beautiful green grounds and a chic spa, and the cozy five-star Parkroyal Penang Resort with great open-air restaurants.

Penang island on the map