Introducing Penang
Back when the distinction between governments, armies and companies was less precise, the British-based East India Company sailed into Penang harbour and took over the 28-sq-km island as its first settlement on the Malay peninsula, a move intended to break Dutch Melaka’s monopoly of the spice trade.
What evolved on the formerly unpopulated ‘Betel Nut Island’ was a bustling port. Entrepreneurs of every imaginable ethnicity, most notably Chinese, flocked to this new land, creating wealth and cultural hybrids. Like many company settlements, Penang wilted after the collapse of the British Empire. Today it’s become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Malaysia although this high-tech world is scarcely noticeable to the casual traveller. Beyond the capital Georgetown’s heat and decay are beach resorts, such as Batu Ferringhi, and the sleepy Malay fishing village of Teluk Bahang.
Sights in Penang
Activities in Penang
Georgetown
Georgetown is a bustling, colourful and largely Chinese city, full of tumbledown shophouses, impressive colonial architecture and countless trishaws ferrying tourists and locals alike around the maze of broad streets and narrow lanes.
Tours in Penang
Batu Ferringhi
The road from Teluk Bahang along the coast to Batu Ferringhi is a picturesque stretch of small coves and more beaches.
Penang destination guides
Butterworth
This mainland town is the jumping-off point for Pulau Penang.
Hotels in Penang
Budget Hotels & Hostels in Penang
Guesthouses and B&Bs in Penang
Apartments in Penang
Teluk Bahang
Entertainment in Penang
Seberang Perai
Shopping in Penang