Penang is both an island and a province that stretches along the northwest coast of Malaysia, but it’s the island, Pulau Penang, that attracts nearly four million tourists each year. From the mainland, crossing the channel is a 10-mile journey on aquamarine water with plenty of time to admire the approaching cityscape of beachside high-rises nestled beneath mountains of uninhabited jungle. To better organize your trip and be able to visit and get around the city in peace, car rental in Penang is an excellent solution, choose the car that best suits you and tour this wonderful island. Today we will take you to discover what to know before going to Penang!
Start with the art
Many people visit Penang to wander the narrow streets of its charming colonial-era capital – UNESCO World Heritage Site – George Town, armed with cameras. One of the best ways to explore the city is to follow the mural trail – the area around the old British fort features more than 50 murals and etchings on the walls of its 19th-century buildings, many of which were once Chinese storefronts.
Check the calendar
With four major religions represented – Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity – there’s a good chance that public holidays and celebrations will affect your travel experience. The best time for the festival is autumn, when Penang celebrates Diwali, the Chinese festival of the nine imperial gods, and this year Muharram, the Islamic New Year. Avoid traveling during Hari Raya week, when most of Malaysia’s population visits families, clogging the roads and filling hotel rooms. Check the Malaysian calendar before planning your trip.
Eat
Penang is known as a regional foodie haven, with a rich cuisine shaped by the island’s many cultures, including the Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew Chinese, Indian Tamil, Malay and British communities. Malaysians from other places drive hours to visit one of Penang’s famous carts or hawkers for a fragrant spicy noodle soup (laksa) or an excellent steamed bun. The Penangites have turned an obsession with discovering the best flavors into a sport. To participate in the game, visit as many street vendor stalls as possible in one day.
Keep cash on hand
Cash is still king in Penang, especially outside of George Town. But even there, most of the best places to eat are usually simple places where you stand with a bowl on a busy street, so keep a bundle of small bills. Don’t expect coffee shops, grocery stores, or that guy selling coconuts on the corner to accept credit cards. Fortunately, ATMs are easy to find, even in the more rural parts of the island.
Visit kopitiams
Penang’s social life revolves around small cafes called kopitiams. The old style ones are open air, dirty and always crowded. Newer ones tend to be air-conditioned, have overly quirky names, and Wi-Fi. In the kopitiam you will find the elderly drinking their morning coffee and discussing the newspaper; meet business people for lunch; rounding up youngsters after school for sweetened nutmeg juice or the popular blackgrass jelly drink and a dash of soymilk known as the “Michael Jackson”; and friends having a beer after work.
