An Itinerary: 3D2N in Penang with my parents
Visiting Penang Island has been in my mind for the longest time.
As a resident of Singapore, the little red dot under peninsula Malaysia, visiting Penang should be fairly easy – time and cost-wise. I could just book a short budget flight to the little island west of Malaysia, close to the Thai-Malaysia border.
But here’s the funny thing about me. As a corporate slave, I am scrupulous with my limited annual leave. They’re either for gorgeous hikes, for countries I haven’t been to, or for emergencies. And Penang in Malaysia does not fall into any of those categories.
Then why visit Penang?
For the food! For this island next to the Peninsula, which has its own cultural charisma – Georgetown is a UNESCO site. And to satiate my curiosity – this other state in Malaysia that I’ve not visited. Sabah, you’re next!
But the true bottom line of why I finally visited Penang is because – drumroll – I have a birthday leave I have to clear in January. And that is how this blog post came to be – a 3D2N trip I haphazardly decided on in December, with two anticipatory parents, because a solo trip doesn’t work well for me.
I visited Penang Island in Jan 2024. This post contains affiliate links that cost nothing to you but support my blog! It may also be updated periodically. Cheers!
Getting to and around Penang
Malaysia Visa
First and foremost, check if you need a visa to enter Malaysia!
As a Singaporean citizen, needless to say, we are good neighbours, hence do not need a visa to visit Malaysia.
You can find your visa eligibility here.
Flight
There’s an international airport at the bottom of Penang Island with flights from many countries – Singapore, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
Direct flights from Singapore alone account for at least 16 flights, from 5 airlines – Singapore Airlines, Scoot, AirAsia, Firefly, and Jetstar.
For my trip, it cost slightly over S$100 for a return flight on Air Asia, with no check-in baggage, flying out on Saturday morning, and back on Monday late afternoon. Check for your best flights here with Skyscanner.
Bus
You could take the bus to Penang from Singapore, but that’s insanity. 10 hours cramped in the bus! Not for me! Pssss, I did endure a 10 hour bus ride elsewhere – from Padang airport to Kersik Tuo for Kerinci, the tallest volcano in Indonesia…
There are multiple bus options from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, with costs averaging around RM 40 for a one-way 5-hour ride to Butterworth. You’d need another transport to travel from Butterworth to the main attractions of Penang at Georgetown – either ferry, bus, or private hire.
Make sure you pick Sungai Nibong if you’d like to be dropped on the island, close to Georgetown.
Ferry
If you’d like to experience the cheap thrill or romanticism of travelling to Penang Island from Butterworth across the Straits, check out this updated and detailed account by the Penang Insider. The journey takes around 15 minutes.
Taxi/ Private Hire
It’s easy to find a private hire and travel around Penang with Grab, although I believe there are other private hire providers as well. But Grab is so prevalent and easy to use in SEA – I used them to travel within big cities of Vietnam and Thailand – that we just stuck to this provider.
Just download the app, register an account, choose your mode of payment, and you can call for one wherever you are.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling with young children or elderly parents or with a larger group, renting a car to self-drive or a chauffeur to save yourself from the hassle of driving might be more affordable.
Brief Background of Penang
Penang, the state, comprises the island and a stretch of land on the peninsula, sandwiched between Kedah state and Perak state. For this post, we’re just going to explore the island, as that’s where most of the attractions are.
Penang was already a busy trading port even before the British arrived in the 18th century. Indian merchants, Muslim traders, and Chinese sailors had all set foot on the state before it became the first British trading post in 1786. It later combined with Malacca and Singapore to form the Straits Settlements in 1826. Penang soon became a bustling market and trading house from the mid-19th century onwards.
The Malaya peninsula fell to the Japanese in 1941. The war ended in 1945, and the state remained under British rule until 1957 when independence was declared.
Penang island is predominantly Chinese due to the influx of Chinese immigrants in the 19th century, and the movement of Peranakans from the mainland to the island.
Best Time to Visit Penang
As with many other Southeast Asian countries, Penang is generally hot and humid all year round – in fact, I find it hotter than Singapore!
End-November to February is generally the best time to visit Penang, not so much for a cooler climate since it remains the same, but because it is drier – you won’t like a day-long thunderstorm in Southeast Asia! But this period, especially December, coincides with the school holidays and year-long breaks, so expect crowds and higher prices.
Take note of the celebrations in Penang, especially Lunar New Year, as some shops may be closed for days or even a couple of weeks as staff goes on break.
August to early November sees the highest number of rainy days.
Regardless of the months you’re visiting, remember to pack your brollies against a random unsuspecting raincloud!
Things to do in Penang
There are plenty of attractions to visit and activities to do in Penang, catered to all age groups. Needless to say, visit Penang with an empty stomach, and be prepared to be awed by its delicious food!
Eat your fill away!
This section shall take the bulk of things to do in Penang because we’re primarily in Penang for the food!
Char Kway Teow
One of the dishes you must have in Penang is Char Kway Teow or fried rice noodles in Hokkien.
Unlike those in Singapore, these here in Penang, and Malaysia in general, have some serious wok hei! Wok hei, in Cantonese, loosely refers to the smoky taste resulting from strong open fire, or the breath of the wok. Any food will taste exceptionally good with wok hei thrown into it.
We didn’t plan to visit any shops solely for their Char Kway Teow, going with just the queue, the aroma of the food, and our hungry bellies as we ambled around. Turns out all the stalls we patronised served delicious Char Kway Teow!
The area along Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendol has a couple of stalls to start your Char Kway Teow exploration. Otherwise, hop over to Chulia Street Hawker Food for your fix after dusk.
Check out this article by BBC on Penang’s Char Kway Teow.
Kway Chap
Kway Chap is a dish originating from Teochew. It comprises juicy sheets of broad rice noodles served in a bowl of piping hot brown or black broth, usually enjoyed together with an assortment of pork offal, braised eggs and firm soya bean curds.
We went to Kimberley Street Duck Kway Chap from the reviews of other bloggers and Google. Instead of piggy parts, they serve duck offals and meat.
Verdict? Passable, but not the best. Their soup was plain, the meat tough and the kway rough. Still makes for a great meal if you haven’t tried Kway Chap before! Just make sure you order a Cheng Tng or dessert from its adjacent stall too, since they own the tables and seats. Their aunties will keep bugging you until you’ve bought a bowl.
For our meal, we ordered 3 bowls of Kway chap and 2 servings of offal for RM43.
Kway Teow Tng
If you’d like something soupy and less greasy, go with Kway Teow Tng, or flat rice noodles in clear soup. The dish usually comes with fish balls, pork slices, fish cakes, and perhaps slivers of vegetables.
Pitt Street Koay Teow Th’ng serves one of the rarer kway teow soups. Instead of fish, they used eels to make their meatballs! If you fancy some chicken feet, try having them braised alongside your usual kway teow soup at Super Star Chicken Feet Koay Teow Soup. Ah Boy Koay Teow Th’ng is another contender with fairly high reviews.
Penang Assam Laksa
Assam Laksa is the next must-try dish, after Char Kway Teow. What’s served is thick rice noodles drenched in a delicious hot bowl of intense flavours and texture – sour from the tamarind, spicy from the chilli, sweet from the sweet prawn paste, bitter from the herbs, and umami from the mackerel meat.
Penang Road Famous Laksa is one of the popular Laksa stalls in Georgetown. Otherwise, the so-called best laksa is a ride away at Air Itam (Penang Air Itam Laksa). We wanted it for lunch after Kek Si Lok Temple, but the stall was closed. Better luck next time!
Curry Mee
The curry mee in Malaysia is referred to as laksa in Singapore. But what truly sets the curry mee or laksa of both countries apart is the key ingredient – blood curds! I could never ever enjoy this in Singapore due to regulations!
Similar to Assam Laksa but with a different broth, curry mee consists of thick rice noodles or egg noodles soaked in curry soup, paired with bean curd puffs, bean sprouts, cuttlefish, shrimp, cockles, and blood curds! Toggle the spicy level by altering the amount of sambal!
We had ours at Air Itam (Air Itam Sister Curry Mee) since the stall was near Kek Si Lok Temple. Delicious! Other curry mees around Georgetown include Duck Blood Curry Mee, Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee, and Hot Bowl White Curry Mee.
Our curry mee cost RM18 for 3 small bowls.
Satay
We had a year of satay consumption within one sitting – my dad ordered 20 sticks without telling me from a Chinese stall, and I ordered another 13 from an Indian stall. That’s 33 sticks split between 3!
You could get your satay fix from the streets. We had ours from Chulia Street Hawker Food.
My 13 sticks of 5 chicken, 5 beef and 3 mutton totaled up to RM21. We washed them down with beer. Yums.
Chendol
The perfect dessert to beat the heat while strolling through the streets. You can find chendol – a coconut, shaved ice concoction served with chewy green rice flour jelly, red beans and a splash of gula melaka syrup – pretty much anywhere.
But the most famous stall (Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul) was what most tourists went with. Like them, we were attracted by the long but fast queue and proximity to the tourist zone. We had ours for RM4.5.
Zi Char/ Economical Rice
Zi Char shops are simply eateries where you order the main dishes you’d like from a menu – could be soup, stir fry vegetables, steamed fish, or braised meats – and these are freshly prepared within moments. The Asian way of enjoying food – sharing the main dishes with others over rice.
We had a delicious dinner at Teksen Restaurant. Having a meal there wasn’t planned. As any curious Asian does, we queued because the queue was long, and it seemed popular. We had Teochew Steamed Fish, Stir fry Kai Lan, Mei Cai Kou Rou, a kind of rare black herbal soup, three bowls of rice and 2 herbal drinks. All these for RM164. Delicious.
Economical Rice stalls refer to choosing the dishes you’d like to pair with your rice. Choosing from a wide range of choices often leaves me paralysed. Since our initial plan of enjoying a slurping hot bowl of Assam Laksa at Air Itam was foiled, we settled with a plateful of goodness from a particular stall in Air Itam Food Court. I had chicken feet, sambal kangkong, sprouts and clams – all for just RM12! Tears of happiness.
Pose with Street Art
Those out on the hunt for funky street murals – you’re in luck!
There’s plenty scattered around Georgetown. Some are massive – occupying the entire wall or alley in vibrant colours. And yet some are small, delicate and weaved themselves onto the facade of the building they occupy. Like this boy tiptoeing on a chair, reaching out to a small rectangular hole above him.
Explore Heritage Street Houses
It’s fun strolling down the street houses and streets of Penang.
While most are decrepit or unoccupied for years, there are some boasting with character in the form of dozens of hanging air plants, colourful gates, and beautiful glistering tiles.
Don’t be fooled by some of the exteriors! Within this, you may discover a niche cute shop selling cat-themed souvenirs, chic cafes, or boutiques featuring trendy clothes.
Thinking of learning more about the UNESCO-worthy heritage street houses and history of Georgetown? Join this half-day tour with a professional guide to learn all about the nitty gritty!
Visit the Blue Mansion
Chong Fatt Tze was a wealthy merchant who settled in Penang and built his business empire.
His blue mansion – a lauded architectural gem of Penang – has now been converted into a museum about his life, and a hotel.
The house isn’t that big, hence has limited rooms. It was a challenge to reserve a room in advance – I tried but failed! According to the images and reviews from booking dot com, staying a night in the old house could almost transport you back into the past. Except you’re now living a life that’s wealthier than the man with modern amenities like a jacuzzi and aircon! A pity, really, considering the images and its beautiful courtyard.
We spent an hour browsing through the artefacts left behind by the family while learning more about his business and lifestyle. Expect lots of beautiful backdrops for your endless IG-worthy photos. We spent RM25 each for a self-guided tour that recommends downloading an app with pre-recorded audio.
The Blue Mansion is technically open 24/7 since it is a hotel, but visiting hours for non-guests are from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Dress up and Tour the Peranakan Mansion
The Peranakan Mansion is similar to the Blue Mansion of Chong Fatt Tze with its opulent exterior and an interior steeped in heritage. Having been to a similar museum of such nature in Malacca and Singapore, we decided to forfeit this opportunity.
It cost RM25 to explore the mansion. You could also rent a traditional attire, and entertain your dreams of living like an affluent Nyonya or Baba in the beautiful mansion.
The Peranakan Mansion is open daily from 9.30 AM to 5 PM.
Side note, if you’re curious about Peranakans, or wonder why there’s a craze amongst the younger Asians on Peranakan culture, watch the drama The Little Nyonya. This is a Singapore-produced decade-spanning historical drama aired in 2008 that became so popular the Chinese did a remake of it in 2020.
Wander in Kek Lok Si Temple
Visiting Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang should rank fairly high on your list.
This Buddhist temple complex – the largest in Malaysia – has many smaller temples and pagodas that require at least a morning’s worth of exploration to do it justice.
The jewel in the crown of heritage temples in Malaysia, Kek Lok Si Temple is a blend of Chinese culture, Penang’s heritage, and Mahayana Buddhism.
I’ve written about my visit to Kek Lok Si Temple here.✨
Most people visit Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill together. If you find arranging for the transportation a hassle or would like a guided tour of the temple, check out this value tour.
Soak in the views from Penang Hill
Comprising a cluster of 6 peaks at the centre of Penang Island, Penang Hill was the first colonial hill station developed in Malaysia. With the highest peak set 821 m above the island, Penang Hill offers an unparalleled visage from the top, and a chilly climate that is a pleasing contrast to the hot and humid sea level.
For me, the funicular train up the hill took me by surprise! It was so fast. We later learnt that this funicular track is one of the oldest and steepest in the world.
There’s not much to do at the top of the hill unless you don’t mind shedding some more ringgit for the treetop walk at The Habitat, or sipping some tea in the highest cafe of Penang.
Alternatively, you could hike the trails of Penang Hill.
Penang Hill is also a great spot to catch sunrise or sunset!
Enjoy a relaxing massage
Knead away the knots and tension for an hour or two under the hands of a professional masseur in Penang! I knew I had to squeeze in a full-body massage while on my trip, and was glad to find a 90-minute spot with Pinang Spa House – one of the best massage parlours in Georgetown with the highest review.
Booking a massage slot is relatively easy in Penang. Most reputable parlours have a social media presence, where you can locate and WhatsApp them for their prices and availability.
Catch the sunrise or sunset
Penang Island is an island. Naturally, you’ll have beaches. With that, comes the chase for the resplendent hues of sunrise and sunset.
Batu Ferringhi, a beach resort located northwest of Georgetown, is known for its water activities, beaches and resorts. Having seen the water quality there, I’d pick beaches elsewhere. Nonetheless, it is a great spot to relax and enjoy the dancing hues of a sunset.
Clan Jetties, located in Georgetown, is the place for sunrises, at least according to what the usual Google reviews and Tripadvisors suggest.
The best place to catch both is none other than at the highest peak – Penang Hill! Or you can spot a seat at the skywalk of the TOP tower.
Visit the malls/ entertainment museums/ amusement parks
I shan’t elaborate too much, since malls and amusement parks aren’t my interests. Nevertheless, know that there are several entertainment centres scattered across Penang island.
- The TOP Penang theme park. Penang’s highest entertainment tower at level 65 with a bird’s eye view of Georgetown. Comes with a see-through glass bridge known as the Rainbow Skywalk to tickle those with a fear of heights.
- Wonder Food Museum. Oversized food sculptures to spend a fun hour at. Perfect for those with young children or a group of friends.
- 3D Trick Art Museum. Another artsy and fun place to pose and act out with friends and family.
- Dark Mansion Museum. Glow-in-the-dark art installations for more entertaining photos! Wear white to glow along with the flowers.
- Upside Down Museum. Filled with highly interactive themed artworks to showcase your acting and photo-posing skills.
- Queensbay Mall. The largest mall in Penang. 11 km south of Georgetown.
- TeddyVille Museum. Travel north toward Batu Ferringhi for more photo opportunities with the cuddly teddy bears dressed to the theme.
- Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm. One of the largest butterfly farms in Malaysia located on the west coast of Penang. They have over 15,000 free-flying butterflies and an extensive collection of other insects and plants in their enclosures. Perfect for nature lovers or those with young children.
- Escape Penang Theme Park. Unleash your inner child and slide down the world’s longest water slide – a full 3 minutes – that meanders through a jungle! Water slide aside, Escape has the longest zip coaster at a whooping 1,135 m! In case you’re wondering, a zip coaster is a hybrid between a zipline and a roller coaster.
Hike the National Park
Located at the northwest corner of Penang Island, the Penang National Park is for any avid hiker wishing to trek within pristine Malaysian jungles. This National Park has two main treks and over a thousand recorded species of plants. You may even encounter a stray pangolin, a lesser mouse deer, or a white-bellied sea eagle, to name a few.
Given the park’s location to the sea, it has a meromictic lake – a lake with layers of water that do not mix – at Kerachut Beach or Pantai Kerachut, one of the remotest beaches in Penang. Green turtles nest at the beach from April to August, and you can learn more about this at the turtle conservation centre in the park.
Our Itinerary
I’m an ambitious backpacker, especially if travelling alone or with another buddy. But when the travel includes two aged parents, plans shift a little to accommodate their needs, wants and fitness level. So here’s how my itinerary panned out, with my parents in mind.
Day 1: Georgetown
Afternoon Flight into Penang
We reached Penang on a Saturday afternoon via budget airline AirAsia. Getting through the immigration was breezy, though les parents were a little anxious since it was their first overseas trip post-pandemic.
I booked a Grab ride that arrived within moments. There’s wifi, but I’d suggest you purchase an e-sim early if you’re worried, or get it from one of the shops in the airport.
Georgetown exploration by foot
After checking into a value-for-the-buck no-frills hotel, we headed out to late lunch at a ravenous hour of 2 PM. Some kway chap at Kimberley Street Duck Kway Chap that did not live up to our standards.
We walked through the street houses, took photos with street art, cooled down over some delicious chendol, and spent a considerably long time shopping for Penang’s famous pastries at Ban Heang, before heading towards the Blue Mansion for some exploration.
The sun was blazing hot when we were back on the streets to pop by the Peranakan Mansion, where les parents had no interest. Then it was a slow trip through Little India back in the comfort of the hotel for a short nap until dinnertime beckons.
Dinner was a variety of greasy street food at the Chulia Street Hawker Food, where the parents had their fill of char kway teow, satay and what-not, washed down with beer. We also stopped by for some mango sago pudding at a nondescript dessert shop because la maman complained about the greasy aftertaste.
Day 2 – Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si vicinity
Day 2 was the highlight of the trip, as apart from the food, my parents’ main goal was to visit the Kek Lok Si temple compound.
Morning Walk at Air Itam
As always, calling for a Grab was convenient and fast, but traffic was slow towards Air Itam. Les parents got very excited as the car slowed down by the narrow roads surrounded by a bustling marketplace.
We had some delicious – albeit very heavy breakfast – Air Itam Sister Curry Mee, and then it was out to explore the streets and immerse ourselves in the morning chaos.
Along the way, the father couldn’t resist and bought some chewy fried tapioca balls from one of the many stalls.
Then, la maman stopped by to buy some apples from a fruit stall and was later attracted to a shop proclaiming to sell the best butter cakes in Penang.
Kek Lok Si Temple
With both parents very happy with their exploration and purchases, we left the hustle and bustle of the morning marketplace towards the Kek Lok Si Temple.
The best butter cake in Penang from Fusion dangled from the arms of my papa, as la madre insisted it must be held straight at all costs as we explored the entire temple complex.✨
Lunch
The initial plan was to head down to the marketplace and look for the famous but elusive Air Itam Laksa.
Sadly, fortune wasn’t on our side for the laksa, nor for any of those sinful but mouth-watering local fare. The busyness of the morning crowd was replaced with a deathly silence – shops were closed, and no one was out walking like us under the afternoon sun.
But Lady Fortuna did a double take and offered us some delicious economical rice options instead at one of the food courts at Air Itam. This then became a pre-lunch discussion topic amongst my parents, as they strategize on the dishes to order on their plate of rice. I’ve taken the stir-fried lady fingers and brinjal, stir-fried cabbage and pan-fried fish; go pick something else and we share-share!
Penang Hill
With the lunch assignment completed, les parents finally had enough of walking, and we called for a Grab to the foothills of Penang Hill funicular.
We spent comparatively little time at the top of the hill vs at Kek Lok Si Temple, visiting only the free attractions as my baba and mama decided they could do a treetop walk for free at MacRitchie, rather than spend some money to do the treetop walk at Penang Hill.
What impressed them the most was the speed of the funicular and the view of the 13.5 km Penang Bridge that connects the island to the mainland.
Afternoon Siesta
We had planned to get a soothing massage in Georgetown – though El Papa wasn’t interested in one – but realised that most reputable massage parlours were fully booked until 7 pm! Point to note: Book your massage appointments early!
So el padre y la madre went for more shopping in aircon comfort instead of heading back to the hotel for a siesta, while I managed to find one parlour that squeezed me in for a 90-minute full body massage at Pinang Spa House.
Dinner activities
We queued for an unusually long time at the Teksen Restaurant, just because the queue was long and the eatery looked uncommonly packed relative to other eateries.
We went in with no expectations but lots of hunger and were pleasantly blown away by the eatery’s delicious main dishes. Some of these are so rare to find in Singapore nowadays, like the black herbal soup. A taste of grandma’s cooking, you may say!
As we ambled back to the hotel, we happened to stop by and spectate the lantern lights opening ceremony at the Armenian Garden. A festive way to end the last night at Penang!
Day 3: Batu Ferringhi
Morning Affairs
Day 3 started early as we grabbed to Batu Ferringhi.
Who knew what went into my mind when I decided to catch the sunrise on the northwest tip of Penang Island. We saw no sunrise – I’d like to blame the clouds – but had a good time strolling down the beach and watching other tourists on horses.
Breakfast was back at Georgetown at Cecil Street Market Hawker Centre that the parents wanted to go after hearing about it from some shop owners during their shopping. I’d grown a little sick of greasy food by then – we had duck kway teow, hokkien mee, and lor mee.
The Grand Finale
What’s for lunch just before the afternoon flight back home?
La Mama decided it was durian at one of the stalls along Jalan Macalister, and that was what we had. By then, my face had retaliated with small reddish bumps – too much heaty and greasy food!
We walked back (disclaimer: my parents like to walk, and I did not force them to) to the hotel to claim our bags. Then it was the last grab to the airport.
A decent three-day trip in Penang, I have to say.
Accommodations in Penang
There are plenty of accommodation options in Penang at bargain rates.
My initial plan to reserve a spot at the Blue Mansion for the novelty came to a naught when I found the mansion fully booked.
Then it was with the next best alternative at the Coffee Atelier. But the hotel later cancelled our reservation as they were skeptical about providing enough water since our travel coincided with a waterwork renovation around Georgetown.
After scanning the list of hotels, I decided on B Street Hotel for its location and price. I have to say this no-frills hotel is value for money. Not at all luxurious, but served the purpose of making our stay comfortable. It’s also located at a quieter spot in Georgetown.
Budget solo traveller. For the solo backpacker, bunk beds are uncommon. Your best bet is with 24 Kimberley, for at least they have high reviews and female dorm rooms. Your next alternative is with hotels that provide single bed options at slightly lower prices like Kooning, which comes with ensuite toilets!
Mid-tier, no frills. There are many boutique options. Apart from the B Street Hotel, check out Ren I Tang Heritage Inn and the Ke-lan-tan House.
Higher-end comfort level. The Blue Mansion should be on the list. There’s also the luxurious boutique 88 Armenian and the Maritime Suites by Comfy, which has giant windows overlooking the sea.
Conclusion and Rambles
And that’s from me for my 3D2N weekend trip to Penang with my parents in tow! Penang Island is definitely a fun place to spend a relaxing weekend. Though the midday sun can be very punishing!
You are spoilt by choice on the number of food decisions to make! Food to eat, food to bring home, and food to marvel at because you’re too full to eat. But Penang, as with other parts of Malaysia, may not be ideal for vegans, since meat plays a pivotal role in the main dishes, or the health-conscious, since they’re mostly greasy and savoury (and that’s why they’re tasty).
The island is also catered for tourists of all backgrounds. Parents with children in tow can spend time in air-conditioned comfort humouring their children in the funky museums. There’s a theme park boasting slides of world acclaim for the adventurous-at-heart. History lovers/ Architecture fanatics/ Artists can enjoy the heritage houses this UNESCO site provides. And the outdoor lover has a national park with pristine jungles facing secluded beaches with native turtles.
I’m glad I’ve finally visited Penang Island and put an end to my curiosity.
More Pointers for a great Penang Trip
- Reserve for your choice accommodations in advance. Especially for those rustic-vibey ones, or when the travel period coincides with holidays.
- Have cash ready. Cash is king for street food. You can get cash from ATMs located in the bank or some convenience stores.
- Download the Grab app. Set up an account beforehand. You’ll need this to travel around.
- Have your sun protection ready. Your sunglasses, sunhat, and umbrellas if you’re planning to walk all over Georgetown. Umbrellas are your saviour in case it pours.
- Bring along a portable fan. To beat the heat.
- Hydrate yourself frequently. Greasy and heaty food, on top of a punishing climate, can be disastrous.
- Set pointers on Google Maps. And note the opening hours of eateries or museums you’re going to.
- Buy your tickets early. Beat queuing for tickets.
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