Penang’s top 12 Most Popular Attractions

There are many interesting tourist attractions in the beautiful island of Penang. Recently The Penang State Tourism has came out with an online poll for Penang’s top 12 most popular attractions.

1st place : Penang Hill

Penang Hill which rises over 830 meters above the sea offers tourists magnificent views of the sea and Georgetown in a cooling temperature. For those who like to watch the sunset over the town, do visit the hill around early evening. The view is not to be miss! Visitors can travel up this hill resort by the funicular railway which takes up approximately thirty minutes.

Funicular railway operating hours -
Sunday to Thursday – 6.30am to 9.30pm
Friday and Saturday – 6.30am to 11.15pm

The Penang Hill funicular railway service will be stop for upgrading works from 22th Feb 2010 and resume only in July 2010. Visitors could still visit the hill by jeep.

Nearby Eateries :
David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace

2nd place : Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi is famous for its beaches and night bazaar. You will find many stalls setting up in this tourist belt selling a wide variety of goods, from clothing to handbags, watches, paintings and many more.
Night Bazaar Hour : Daily 7pm – 12am

Nearby Eateries :
Ferringhi Garden Restaurant

3rd place : Gurney Drive
Gurney Drive is famous for its mouth watering cuisine, ranging from hawker food in open-air food courts to seafood and restaurants fine dining.

Nearby Eateries :
Gurney Drive Hawker Center
Bali Hai Seafood Market

4th place : Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple is the best know place of worship in Penang. It has many tourists visiting this place daily. The main attraction is the statue of the Goddess of Mercy which can be view from afar.

Nearby Eateries : Penang Assam Laksa (Air Itam Market)

5th place : Penang Bridge
This bridge is another landmark of Penang and is the place where the Penang Bridge Marathon is being held annually.

6th place : Fort Cornwallis & Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower
Explore Fort Cornwallis which has a gallery featuring historic displays with a public park. Right next to it is the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower.

Admission fees to the Fort : RM3 for adults and RM2 for children below 12 years old.
Open : Daily 8.30am to 7pm

Nearby Eateries :
The Sire Museum Restaurant

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

7th place : Street of Harmony (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
You can find Buddhist and Hindu temples and Malay mosques lining along this street. Indeed a sight to behold.

Nearby Eateries :
Ah Quee Street Lor Mee
Restaurant Kapitan

Masjid Kapitan Keling

8th place : Penang Ferry & Tanjung City Marina
Penang famous yellow ferries provides transport to many passengers from the island to the mainland and vice versa. Passengers can see many heritage buildings, including the Tanjung City Marina when approaching the island. The short ferry ride takes approximately fifteen minutes.

9th place : Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
No visit to Penang is complete without visiting the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Be amazed by this blue Mansion with architectural designs which was awarded the Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award 2000. This well preserved Mansion with beautiful courtyards and sculptures is open for visitors. For enquires : +604 2625289

Nearby Eateries : Tai Buan Porridge

10th place : St Anne’s Church
St Anne’s Church is located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. This church is the focus point of the celebration of St. Anne Feast and each year the feast draws around 40,000 to 60,000 devotees.

11th place : State Museum, Cathedral of the Assumption & Penang Art Gallery
Take a stroll down this memory lane filled with the history of early Penang.

Nearby Eateries :
Peace & Joy Coffee Shop – Curry Mee
Heng Kee Restaurant

12th place : Armenian Street
This street has many religious temples from various faiths and centuries old historical sites.

Nearby eateries :
Edelweiss Cafe
Nan Yang Chinese Cuisine