By Flipnomad
for Yahoo! Travel
Penang is one of the most popular tourist
destinations in Malaysia. There's a variety of places of interest to visit and
navigating around the island is pretty much easy, thanks to a number of
comfortable buses that goes around the island. Most tourists who enter Malaysia
fly in to Kuala Lumpur. From Kuala Lumpur you could either take a four to five
hour bus to Penang or take a short flight to Penang via a variety of low cost
airlines.
There're lots of places to visit and things
to do in this island. Here're my seven suggested places to visit in Penang:
1. Georgetown
Penang's popularity rose primarily because of Georgetown's inclusion to UNESCO's World Heritage sites. Rows and rows of colonial houses make the inner city of Georgetown a sight to behold. There're numerous structures of historical importance that can be found in this city, be sure to grab a local guide pamphlet to help you navigate your way to the various tourist spots.
2. Batu Ferringgi
Batu Ferringgi would probably be one of the most popular beaches of Penang Island. Big chain of hotels lined the shore of Batu Ferringgi as a proof of its popularity. Although it's not as beautiful as the other beaches of Malaysia such as Perhentian Islands, Batu Ferringgi still attracts a lot of visitors due to its proximity to Georgetown and to a number of enjoyable watersports activities being offered.
3. Queensbay Mall
This is the biggest shopping mall in the island and it hosts a lot of boutiques and restaurants that most shopaholic might find interesting. The best part of going to Queensbay Mall is the amazing view of Penang Bridge that you could see near the open park on the right side of the huge shopping mall.
4. Penang Hill
Located at 830m above sea level, Penang Hill offers an amazing view of Georgetown. A botanical garden, Hindu Temple and a mosque can also be found here. Most tourists visit here in the morning or late in the afternoon to wait for the sunrise and sunset and the breathtaking view it offers.5. Lebuh Chulia
A visit to Penang won't be complete without trying out its famous cuisine. Food stalls are being setup around late in the afternoon to cater to the locals and tourists alike that spent the whole day exploring Penang. Some of the must try include Char Kway Teow and Penang Pancake.
6. Penang National Park
For the nature lovers out there, Penang National Park offers 1,266 hectares of lush vegetations, mangroves and rocky beaches. This is the best place to see some Malaysian flora and fauna.7. Little India
A lively Indian community with beautiful Hindu temples can be found in little India. Numerous restaurants are also available for those who love Indian cuisines.
These are just some of the places that you can check out in Penang. There're still lots of places to visit especially if you have a lot of time to spend in Penang. I suggest that you grab the free guide that includes a map and a few descriptions about various places of interest. Enjoy travelling in Penang!
