Penang - Singapore Short Getaway Series

This post is a continuation from Langkawi, Part 2 of our Singapore Short Getaway series. In this series, we will review some of the short getaway places that you can visit from Singapore.

DESTINATION - PENANG

Penang is the second smallest and the eighth most populous state in Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is composed of two parts – Penang Island, where the seat of government is, and Seberang Perai (formerly Province Wellesley in English) on the Malay Peninsula. Highly urbanised and industrialised Penang is one of the most developed and economically important states in the country, as well as a thriving tourist destination, especially with the influx of budget carriers in recent years. Its heterogeneous population is highly diverse in ethnicity, culture, language, and religion. A resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Aerial evening scene of Penang Island. (Credits: Wikipedia)

How to Go

By Flight

There are 11 to 12 flights per day from Singapore to Penang International Airport.
- Operated by Silkair, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia and Air Asia.
- Flight time is around 1h 25 mins.

Flight times as follows:

8:05 am    →    9:30 am    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Silkair 346
9:05 am    →    10:35 am    SIN-PEN    -    -    -    -    -    F    S    Tiger 2426
10:35 am    →    12:00 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Silkair 348
10:40 am    →    12:10 pm    SIN-PEN    -    -    T    W    T    -    -    Tiger 2426
11:25 am    →    12:45 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    AirAsia 1722
1:20 pm    →    2:50 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Silkair 350
1:50 pm    →    3:10 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    AirAsia 1724
3:10 pm    →    4:35 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Jetstar Asia 675
3:45 pm    →    5:10 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Silkair 352
4:25 pm    →    5:50 pm    SIN-PEN    -    M    T    W    T    -    -    Tiger 2422
5:00 pm    →    6:15 pm    SIN-PEN    S    -    -    -    -    F    S    Tiger 2422
6:50 pm    →    8:20 pm    SIN-PEN    S    -    -    -    -    F    -    Jetstar Asia 677
7:00 pm    →    8:25 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    Silkair 354
7:15 pm    →    8:45 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    -    -    -    -    -    Tiger 2426
7:55 pm    →    9:15 pm    SIN-PEN    -    -    -    -    T    -    -    Jetstar Asia 677
10:30 pm    →    11:50 pm    SIN-PEN    S    M    T    W    T    F    S    AirAsia 1726

Information correct as of 06 June 2013. For latest updates on Flight Schedules, Type Singapore to Penang Flights in Google search engine.

We took Air Asia from Singapore to Penang for our 4D3N Trip.
Do check out our review of the flight here. We also shared our itinerary on our blog here. Do check it out if you would like to have a quick get away trip! :)

When to Go

Temperature in Penang is typically betwween 24 degrees to 33 degrees throughout the year. The Southwest Monsoon brings rain to the island from April to September with the highest precipitation days in September and October. 

Penang Weather (Credits: backpackingasia.com)

Where to Stay

We stayed in G Hotel Penang, which is located at Gurney Drive and near to the famous Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. It is also beside Gurney Plaza, a shopping mall managed by Capitaland. The proximity of the mall certainly provided us with great dining options such as our first lunch at Rou Gu Cha King, dinner @ Dragon-I Chinese Restaurant and a relaxing breakfast at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

During our stay, we also tried the hotel's Breakfast and High Tea buffets, which we would certainly recommend to all our readers. Do read our review of the hotel here. We would highly recommend the hotel after an enjoyable time there.

For those of you who are wondering how to get to G Hotel from the airport, do check out our step by step guide here.

Besides G Hotel Penang, other 5 star hotels that ranked highly in Tripadvisor include Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Eastern & Oriental Hotel and Lone Pine Hotel.

For the budget conscious travellers or those who are into boutique hotels, there are good options like the Yeng Keng Hotel, Hotel Penaga and Hard Rock Hotel Penang.


For more options, check out the list of Hotels in Penang.

What to Do

1. Take the funicular railway up to the top of Penang Hill. This 2,750 foot hill is a hill resort comprising a group of peaks in Penang, Malaysia. It is located  6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city centre of George Town in Air Itam. While you are on top of the hill, you might want to check out the Moneycup eco garden too!

2. Visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. The mansion is recreated to offer a glimpse of the lifestyle, customes and traditions of a rich Baba a century ago. There are over 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectibles of the era on display. Built at the end of the 19th century by one of local history’s famous personalities, the ‘Hai Kee Chan’ or Sea Remembrance Store had once served as the residence and office of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee. Though not a Baba himself, his Chinese courtyard house was much like a typical large Baba home of eclectic style, incorporating Chinese carved-wood panels and English floor tiles and Scottish ironworks. Having survived the many decades of neglect and decay, the mansion has now been restored to its former glory of a stately home.

Pinang Peranakan Mansion (Credits: travelpenchant.wordpress.com)

3. Feasting at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. Also known as Anjung Gurney, this is one of the most well-known hawker centres  in Penang. Serving a large number of tourists every evening, this is also the place where the locals will bring their foreign friends to have a taste of local fare. This hawker centre operates only in the evening and the most popular stalls sells out at about 10pm.  The ‘must-try’ food here are the typical Penang street fare – assam laksa, fried kway teow, prawn noodles, wantan noodles, rojak, satay, lok-lok and barbequed seafood.

4. Visit Kek Lok Si Temple (极乐寺). Better known as "Temple of Supreme Bliss" to some, it is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples in Penang. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia with a gigantic statue of Kuan Yin. The temple is heavily commercialised with shops at every level and inside the main temple complexes.

5. Try the famous Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendol at Penang Road. The Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendol is a makeshift stall located outside a small lane Jooi Hooi Cafe. There is always a long queue for its refreshing Chendol, especially in a typical hot day in Penang. You might also want to try the Fried Kway Teow or Assam Laksa inside Jooi Hooi Cafe!

Interested in Travelling to Penang? Read our Reviews!

What Airline? - Air Asia Flight Review

Where We Stay? G Hotel Review, Breakfast Buffet Review, High Tea Buffet Review, How to go from Airport to G Hotel

What We Ate? Rou Ku Cha King, Feasting @ Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Dragon-I Chinese Restaurant, Penang Road Famous Chendol, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Siam Express, Tong Pak Fu 糖百府 (Queensbay Mall Penang)

What We Did? Shopping @ Gurney Plaza, Watch a Movie @ Gurney Plaza, Morning Visit to Penang Hill, Monkeycup Eco-Garden @ Penang Hill, Visit Kek Lo Si, Batu Ferringhi Night Market

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