Be sure to take a 30 minute cable car ride up Penang Hill for breathtaking views of the island and be amongst the many passengers that have been ferried in them since 1923. Ferries from Weld Quay operate a great transport service where you can view two important heritage buildings, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee and Wisma Kastam. Penang is home to grand churches, ornate Buddhist and Indian Temples and magnificent mosques representing local culture. Popular ones include Kapitan Keling Mosque, Kek Lok Si Temple and Snake Temple – with live snakes said to protect the deity but have had their venom removed.
Spot the 33m gold-plated reclining Buddha located in Pulau Tikas Town and surrounded by dragons, mythical serpents, Buddha statutes and shrines. You will even find a small Malaysian-Thai community who still live around the temple. For a family day out, take kids to Penang Toy Museum in Tanjung Bunga which houses over 100,000 toys, models, dolls and other collectibles in the largest museum of its kind worldwide and the first in Asia. Features include life-size models of super heroes and miniature action figures – the perfect playground for kids and adults.
Penang offers a great choice of accommodation for every budget from luxury five-star hotels to budget guest houses, mostly located on the island and as the melting pot of cultures, the food options range from exotic local street food to elegant fine dining.