Exploring the Lush Greenery of Botanic Gardens

• the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is in Georgetown's Old City (the UNESCO Heritage Site area). Any lodging in Old City puts you in the heart of things
• getting around Penang by bus is convenient as there are many buses to several destinations. However, the bus takes the longest and circuitous route so be prepared for a long ride. For more information about Penang buses, go to Rapid Penang

How to Get to Penang (Georgetown) from Kuala Lumpur

1. train - with the modern ETS fast train, the travel time has been reduced to 3 hours 50 minutes. It's not necessary to take the sleeping train or bus anymore. And you can buy train tickets online at the KTMB website **. Go to KL Sentral and buy your ticket at the KTM InterCity office on the 2nd level, B79. Wait in the waiting area until the train comes and the staff opens up the gate to let you down to board the train - 3 hours, 50 minutes. ETS train schedule
2. ferry - from the train station, it is a 5-min walk to the ferry station (Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal) to board the ferry for Georgetown - 20 minutes, MYR 1.20. Ferry leaves every 40 mins. First ferry from Georgetown departs 5:40 a.m. and last ferry departs 1:00 a.m. From Butterworth, first ferry departs 5:20 a.m. and last ferry departs 12:40 a.m.
3. bus - from the Jetty (Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal, aka - Jetty), walk to the bus terminal in Georgetown for a trip to the city center. There is a free bus - Free Cat, which takes you around the Old City of Georgetown, where most of the backpacker hostels are located. The free bus departs every 15 minutes. The free Jetty-Georgetown bus takes a different route from the Georgetown-Jetty free bus

Things to do, Places to go in Penang

1. food - needless to say, there is no bad food in Penang. Every local has a recommendation on the must-haves, the food bloggers all have their opinion on where to eat and what to eat. But again, you don't have to search far and wide - the eating stall across you is probably a good bet already
2. street art - in Georgetown, there are numerous street art adorning the walls. Walk around and be surprised. There is even a Penang street map devoted to street art - ask for one from your hotel concierge
3. Batu Ferringhi - beach resort town 30 minutes from Georgetown, MYR 2.70 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus
4. Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) at the National Park (Taman Negara) - free admission, beach, camping, trekking and maybe you get to see a turtle lay eggs, MYR 4 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus, 1.5 hours, 22 kms
5. Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) - 6 kms, bus 204, 1 hour, MYR2 from Comtar to Penang Hill. Penang Hill rises 833 meters up a tram system. It covers several hills and could take a whole day to explore on foot. Tram fee MYR30 round trip
6. Botanical Gardens - developed in 1884, the garden is 29 hectares of prime evergreen tropical rain forests just on the outskirt of Georgetown. 10470 George Town, Penang | 5am–9pm | +60 4-227 0428
7. Penang National Park - with 2,562 hectares, the park is home to 46 species of birds such as the stork-billed kingfishers, white-breasted waterhens and great egrets. The sandy beach of Pantai Kerachut is also a nesting place of Green turtles from April to August. Phone: +60 4-881 3530
8. Pinang Peranakan Mansion - a stately home has been renovated to back to its former glory to showcase the opulence, lifestyle and times of the Peranakan a century ago. Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Admission: MYR20.00
9. Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum - modern interactive 3D art Museum with the "Glow in the Dark" theme | 145, Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 Georgetown, Penang | Adult MYR 18, kids MYR 10 | Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 18:30, Sat-Sun: 10:00 - 21:30

Suggested Destinations after Penang

• Cameron Highlands -
• Perhentian Islands -
• Langkawi Island -
• Taman Negara -
• Hat Yai -

Penang Cost Index

• MYR 40/hour tri-shaw (pedal-powered rickshaw) around the city
• MYR 5-8 small bottle of beer
• MYR 5-8 standard price for a soup noodle or rice topping dish
• MYR 6 hot coffee in a decent cafe (cold coffee is more)
• MYR 10 bicycle rental, 8am to 6pm
• MYR 5 coin operated laundry
• MYR 1-2 local bus rides, no change given, have exact fee
• MYR 18 cheapest dorm room, shared toilet during low season
• MYR 2 one hour, internet cafe
• MYR 2.70 1.5 liter drinking water
• MYR 79 ETS fast train from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang pier area)
• MYR 18 standard admission fee for museums for 1 adult. eg - Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum
• MYR 7 haircut

Cameron Highlands

1. Cool Climate of Cameron Highlands June 19-23, 2016

Kluang

2. Overnight in Kluang, Malaysia Aug 13-14, 2016

Kuala Lumpur

3. Funky Flow Yoga with Lora Lorenzo at YogaOneThatIWant Studios July 27, 2016
4. Deja Vu Kuala Lumpur with Karine July 21-26, 2016
5. Layover in Kuala Lumpur June 22, 2016
6. The Kuala Lumpur Experience Jan 21 - Feb 20, 2015
7. Police Harassment in Kuala Lumpur Feb 17, 2015
8. Visiting Batu Caves of Kuala Lumpur Feb 18, 2015
9. Walking Tour of China Town Feb 5, 2015
10. Breaking New Ground in Kuala Lumpur Jan 21, 2015

Kuantan

11. Goodbye and Thank You Kuantan Apr 13, 2018
12. Visiting the Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque Apr 10, 2018
13. Visiting the Pahang Art Museum Apr 3, 2018
14. Beach Fun at Teluk Cempedak April 1, 2018
15. Visiting the Kuantan Mini Zoo April 1, 2018
16. High Intensity Interval Training Apr 1, 2018
17. Fitness in Kuantan Mar 29, 2018
18. Exploring Kuantan, Malaysia Mar 25-, 2018
19. Hanging-Out in Kuantan with the Guangzhou 5 Mar 25-26, 2018
20. Satipatthana Sutta Vipassana Mar 16-25, 2018
21. The 24-Hr Trip from Loboc (Philippines) to Gambang (Malaysia) Mar 15-16, 2018

Malacca

22. A First-Timer in Malacca July 28-Aug 8, 2016
23. Art Scene of Malacca August 6, 2016
24. The River Charm of Malacca August 5, 2016
25. About Malacca July 28, 2016

Penang

26. Penang (Malaysia) Immersion May 27-Jun 19, 2016
27. Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016
28. Encounters with the Guru-Types of Penang Jun 17, 2016
29. Overnight Camping at Turtle Beach Jun 10, 2016
30. Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation in Penang Jun 10, 2016
31. Daytrip to Batu Ferringhi Jun 9, 2016
32. Savouring the Food of Penang May 27 - Jun 6, 2016
33. Surreal Glow-in-the-Dark 3D World at Dark Mansion June 3, 2016
34. The Animated Street Art of Penang Jun 3, 2016
35. Exploring the Lush Greenery of Botanic Gardens May 29, 2016
36. Up up and Away to Penang Hill May 28, 2016
37. About Penang May 27, 2016