What to do in Penang Island

The observation deck on KOMTAR’s 60th floor offers a unique chance to cast your eye across the rooftops of Penang towards the hills and ocean beyond. At 761 feet (232 meters) high, the building towers over all the city’s other structures, offering unrivaled skyline views. Pop a coin in one of the telescopes to get a close-up look at the distant hills, or step back and take it all in with your camera lens.

Towering high above bustling George Town on Penang Island is Penang Hill. Come here for cool sea breezes and amazing views. You’ll also get to see the remaining rainforest on Penang Island.

As you make your way through the lively marketplace at the entrance of Kek Lok Si smells of laksa and noodles fill the air, while hawkers at the numerous craft and souvenir stalls vie for your attention. Stop to feed a turtle or release one into the pond, a Buddhist tradition said to ensure good luck. Gaze up at the 98-foot (30-meter) high pagoda, on which the figures of 10,000 Buddhas are carved. Walk or take the elevator up the steep mountainside to enjoy sweeping views of the city as well as a close-up view of the giant bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.

The Pinang Parankan Mansion is a beautifully decorated replica of a 19th-century, upper-class home. You won’t miss the building as you make your way along Church Street, in Georgetown, as its mint green walls and carved wooden doors inlaid with gold make the intended bold statement to passersby. The opulence continues inside as you make your way through a grand entrance hall filled with Asian lacquerware boxes and trays, Chinese prints and antique European furniture. Dining areas complete with exquisite English china settings add to the sense of luxury.

Stroll along Georgetown’s wide Esplanade and your eye is drawn to the magnificent white façade of City Hall. The tall, narrow arches and white colonial-style columns recall a time when British influence was strong here.