Penang - Tourist Information

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Tourist Information

Penang

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Asia Malaysia Penang Tourist Information

Overview

Tourist Information The guide was updated: 2021-09-26

Passport / Visa

Passport / Visa

Travellers need a passport or an internationally recognised travel document in order to enter Malaysia. The documents must be valid for more than six months from the date of departure. Furthermore, certain nationals require a visa, while others are granted one upon arrival (VOA - Visa on arrival). Visit the following website to check whether you require a visa or not: www.evisamalaysia.com/visa-requirements.

Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit

Penang is a great place to visit nearly all year long. However, the season between November and January might be best, as the weather is very pleasant and the atmosphere – due to feasts such as Christmas and New Year, when restaurants and bars are full of people – most lively. The time from February to April, in contrast, is less crowded, while the season from May to October is the wettest and, thus, also the most deserted one, when it comes to tourism.

Airport

Airport

Penang International Airport is located 20 km (13 miles) from George Town city centre. The most cost effective way of travelling from the airport to George Town and surrounding areas is to take one of the bus services (bus line 102, 306,U401,401, 401A and 401E) that leave every 30 minutes. The bus operator is called "The Rapid Penang", and they have their own ticket counter on the ground floor of the arrival hall. Taxis operate on a fixed price coupon system: purchase coupon at taxi desk inside arrival hall, and the price depends which zone you are going to. However, be aware that taxi drivers often try to cheat foreigners and refuse to use the meter, so make sure that the meters is always turned on if not a fixed price is already set.

Public transport

Public transport

Taking the bus is probably the easiest and cheapest way to get around in Penang and surrounding areas. The main bus terminals are located in George Town’s Weld Quay and KOMTAR buildings. Bus services around the island include Rapid Penang Bus, and it has an extensive route covering both island and mainland. If you are travelling frequently, you can save money by buying the travel card 'rapid Preferred', as it offers unlimited travel around Penang. For any inquiries, head over to information counters (Rapid Kiosk): Lorong Kulit, Rapid Penang Headquarters Weld Quay & Komtar Penang Sentral & Bukit Jambul

Trishaws

Trishaws

A pedal trishaw is a great way of getting around in George Town or Batu Feringghi – for those who are not in a hurry, as they move not faster than walking speed, but allow passengers to stop anywhere along the way to shop or take photos or videos. There is no set fare, so you must agree a price before setting off – it is easier to bargain for a price by the hour than for a specific journey from point to point.

Taxi

Taxi

Taxis are numerous and´they can be flagged down on the street, picked up at ranks or booked by phone or from the hotel reception. Taxi drivers are usually reluctant to turn on the meter (or to admit to speaking English): insist on the meter, or bargain over the fare before boarding. Standard (red) taxis are more numerous and they are not air conditioned. Air conditioned taxis are much more comfortable, but also more expensive. Shared taxis are also used for longer journeys (including trips to the mainland).

Pharmacy

Pharmacy

Pharmacies can be found in George Town and practically every suburb, township and neighbourhood in Penang; while some of them operate independently, there also are a few chaines: Guardian Pharmacy, Georgetown Pharmacy and Eu Yan Sang (for Chinese medicine), and a subsidiary of the first one is found quite central and close to the shopping area of 1st Avenue. Most of the pharmacies, at least the ones of a chain, are usually open from 10am-10pm, and also on Sundays.

Post

Post

The main post office for Penang is the General Post Office (GPO), located within Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra along Downing Street in George Town. The post boxes in Malaysia are painted red and some of them date back to the British era. Occasionally, there is a second post box with yellow colour, and these are for express mails.

Telephone

Telephone

Country code: +60 Island code: 4

Electricity

Electricity

240 V. 50 Hz. G

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