Penang Hostels

When most people talk about Penang, they mean Penang Island. Penang is also a province of Malaysia, so when you are looking at booking your hostels in Penang, make sure that it is on Penang Island or in Georgetown, which is the major city on the island.

Penang Island is a very diverse place with a combination of Chinese and western architecture and sights to see throughout. The city of Georgetown was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 due to many of its stunning historical buildings. Among those to go and see are the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Khoo Kongsi, Fort Cornwallis, and the Victorian Clocktower. There are many different religious temples throughout Georgetown and over the island that have impressive architecture that are worth a visit as well.

The highest peak on the island is Penang Hill. If you are feeling super active, you can take the two-hour hike to the top, but be prepared with lots of water and for one difficult hike. The elevation grade is very steep and is challenging for the fittest of people. For those not feeling the need to walk it, you can catch a ride from the bottom up to the top with one of the many drivers at the bottom for a fee. The view from the top is amazing and well worth the visit.

Other things that you may want to do in Penang are the butterfly farm and bird park and some of the many beautiful gardens. Given that for the most part Penang is very hot and humid, a trip to one of the beaches is also a good idea if you have a couple of days to chill out and relax.