Travel Info About Penang
Penang is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is Malaysia's second largest city and has the highest population density in Malaysia. Penang is a tropical paradise that not only boasts beautiful beaches and lush rainforests, but also listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of George Town in 2008 for its cultural sights. Centuries of heritage, gorgeous colonial and pre-war architecture, an active arts and festivals scene, world famous gastronomic culture is all juxtaposed against the backdrop of an international city.
Penang International Airport (PIA) sees incoming flights from many international destinations such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Qatar.
It is now simple and easy for Chinese citizens to obtain a visa to enter Malaysia. There are three types of Malaysia visas that travelers from China can apply for, including the Malaysia e-Visa introduced in recent years to facilitate travel.
Climate
Penang boasts a warm tropical climate with temperatures ranging from a low of 21°C (70°F) to a high of 32°C (90°F) all year round. During the southwest monsoon from April to September, Penang experiences plentiful rainfall, adding a refreshing remedy to its tropical warmth.
Language
As a multicultural destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is difficult to define Penang in just one word. As such, knowing the local culture beforehand will help you understand Penang better. Most signs are written in Malay and English, with some in Chinese. Names of roads and main destinations are in Malay as well. It would be helpful to know some basic Malay although English is widely spoken in many areas.
Currency
The currency of Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), with ringgit (RM) being the dollar equivalent. Foreign exchange booths are available all over Penang, with the ones situated in shopping malls operating seven days a week. The exchange rate for major currencies traded are displayed clearly at the booths. Major credit cards, including American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at most places.
Transportation
Penang is directly accessible from 25 major local and regional airports, and over 100 local and international destinations via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2).
Located in Bayan Lepas, the Penang International Airport is :-
- 16 km or a 30 minutes’ drive from George Town
- 30km or a 45 minutes’ drive from Seberang Perai
- 32 km or a 1 hour’s drive from Batu Feringghi
- 326 kilometres or a 50 minutes’ flight from KLIA
By Air
Penang is one of the largest secondary hubs in Peninsular Malaysia. We have direct air links between Penang and major Asian Cities, such as Malaysia Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air Asia, Malindo Air and many more.
In the recent year of 2020, we have gladly announced our first exclusive direct air connectivity from Penang to capital city of Sichuan Province, China. These is in order to continue to boost the visitor arrivals into Penang, and vice versa.
By Land
As Penang is so compact, travelling around the island and exploring the mainland is relatively easy whether you choose public transport or rental vehicles. The Rapid Penang bus service offers comprehensive routes around the state; and all buses are air-conditioned. In addition to taxis and e-hailing services, rental of cars, motorbikes and bicycles are extremely popular in Penang.
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Penang's DNA
Penang's DNA
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