Before You Read
This was a short Penang getaway, and the biggest lesson from this trip was honestly the transport. We took an overnight bus and the experience was bad enough that I would seriously tell most people to compare flights before choosing bus just because it looks cheaper.
This post is based on my 2015 trip, so please check current transport options, hotel reviews, attraction opening hours and prices before booking. Penang still works well for a short food, street-art and beach/chill trip, but I would treat this more like a mini guide than a full itinerary.
Trip At A Glance
| Detail | Notes |
|---|---|
| Route | Batu Ferringhi, George Town, Penang Hill, Gurney Plaza |
| Duration | 3D2N |
| Travel style | Short beach + George Town food/street-art getaway |
| Best for | Readers deciding whether to split stay between beach and George Town |
| Main warning | Overnight bus delays can ruin the first day |
Before You Go
- If you are taking a bus, please choose the operator carefully. Our bus was delayed for hours and the coordination was really bad.
- The bus ride itself can take around 8 to 9 hours, so if you cannot sleep properly on a bus, flying may be more worth it.
- I booked two hotels because I wanted one night near Batu Ferringhi beach and one night in George Town. This helped us avoid rushing too much between beach and town.
- Penang Hill was not very exciting to me. If you are not into scenery/photo stops, you can skip or keep it low priority.
- Main transport for us was cab/Uber because it was quite affordable then.
Day 01 – Batu Ferringhi Beach
After a horror overnight bus journey, we finally reached Penang close to 10am.
First stop was Batu Ferringhi. We took a cab from the bus interchange to the beach area and checked into our hotel. I was glad I booked one night near the beach instead of staying all two nights in George Town because it made the day feel more relaxed.
If you only want food and street art, then George Town is more convenient. But if you want beach, pool and a slower first day, Batu Ferringhi is a nice area to include.
After checking in, we changed and went for brunch at a cafe along the beach before heading to the seaside.
We tried couple parasailing. It was not cheap, around SGD 30 for 10 minutes then, so if you are looking for cheaper water sports, I would say Bali, Phuket or Krabi may be better. But since it was our first time, it was still quite fun.
We also tried massage by the beach, but I would not really recommend it because I think some of the beds had bed bugs. I was itching after the massage, although Thye seemed fine. There are other massage parlours around, so maybe choose the cleaner-looking ones.
After that, we went back to the hotel to chill by the pool. The hotel had a pool bar, so it was quite nice to just drink and dip in the water.
At night, we went out for seafood. I had found the place online, but the food was so-so and not exactly cheap either. It was okay for the ambience and experience, but not something I would rave about.
We also did a horse ride on the beach after dinner, then walked around the night pasar malam along Jalan Batu Ferringhi before calling it a night. Feel free to haggle there, but check a few stalls first because many sell similar things.
Day 02 – George Town Food And Street Art
We checked out after breakfast and cabbed to George Town.
Our George Town hotel was slightly expensive too, but the interior was so pretty. This was one of those stays where I wished we had one more night just to enjoy the room a bit more.
After checking in, we went straight out for what Penang is famous for: food and street art.
I was not very interested in museums or heritage mansions for this trip. I mainly wanted to eat and walk around the street-art area.
First food stops were Penang char kway teow, Penang laksa and chendol. These were all around the same area as the street art, so it was easy to plan.
The street art walk itself felt like a small treasure hunt. There was a map showing where the different murals were, and we just walked around looking for them and taking photos.
We also tried the Upside Down Museum after that. It was more of a fun touristy stop than a must-do, but okay if you want photos.
Later in the night, we went out again for street food and bars. We also tried a famous stall with a super long queue because… when there is a snake-long queue, Singaporean instinct says must try right?
Day 03 – Penang Hill, Gurney Plaza And Home
Our bus back to Singapore was only in the evening, so we left our luggage with the hotel concierge and went to Penang Hill.
Honestly, I would not recommend Penang Hill unless you are really into scenery. There was not much to do there and I personally found it a bit boring. Of course, some people will say you have never been to Penang if you never go Penang Hill, but for me it was not a highlight.
Based on a local’s directions, we went to a bus interchange near our hotel and took a bus there. You can also ask your hotel reception to direct you.
After Penang Hill, we went back to town and did some shopping at Gurney Plaza. We also went back for a second round of Penang char kway teow because Thye loved it.
Then it was time to collect our luggage and head to the bus terminal.
And yes, the bus back was delayed too. It was still missing at our boarding time. So please, do not book from the operator I warned about in the original post. Never ever.
What I Would Do Differently
- I would avoid the overnight bus operator we used. The delay and poor coordination were not worth the cheaper fare.
- I would still split Batu Ferringhi and George Town if you want both beach/chill time and food/street art.
- I would not prioritise Penang Hill unless you really like scenery.
- I would keep Penang to 3D2N or 4D3N unless you want a much slower cafe/food trip.
- I would choose George Town if food and walking convenience matter more than beach.