Penang 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary: Day-by-Day Plan With Food Stops

Morning (9 Am – 12 Pm)

9:00 am — Start at Penang cafes for your first coffee. Urban Daybreak on Lebuh Bishop opens at 7:30 am and serves brunch until 4 pm (RM18–35 per plate).

10:00 am — Walk to Armenian Street (5 minutes). This is the heart of George Town's street art trail. Look for Ernest Zacharevic's "Children on a Bicycle" mural on Lebuh Armenian and "Boy on a Motorbike" on Ah Quee Street. The walk through surrounding lanes takes about 45 minutes at a casual pace.

11:00 am — Visit Khoo Kongsi (Cannon Square, RM10 entry). This ornate Hokkien clan temple is one of the finest in Southeast Asia. Allow 30 minutes.

Afternoon (12 Pm – 5 Pm)

12:00 pm — Lunch at Chulia Street or Lebuh Kimberley hawker stalls. Try lor bak (RM5), popiah (RM3) or wantan mee (RM6). See our Penang hawker food guide for the full list.

1:30 pm — Walk south to the Clan Jetties (15 minutes from Chulia Street). Chew Jetty is the longest and most visited. Stroll the wooden boardwalk over the water — 20 minutes is enough. Free entry.

2:30 pm — Walk to Fort Cornwallis and the Esplanade (10 minutes north along the seafront). The fort costs RM20 entry; the surrounding Padang Kota esplanade is free and offers good harbour views.

3:30 pm — Walk to Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul on Lebuh Keng Kwee (10 minutes). A bowl costs RM3.50. Queue moves fast.

4:00 pm — Cool off at ChinaHouse on Beach Street (5-minute walk). Order a slice of cake (RM12–18) and coffee. Rest up before the evening.

Evening (6 Pm – 10 Pm)

6:30 pm — Dinner at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. Grab ride from George Town is RM8–12 (10 minutes). Try char koay teow, oh chien (oyster omelette, RM8) and assam laksa (RM7) from different stalls. Budget RM20–30 for a full hawker dinner.

8:30 pm — Grab back to George Town. Walk along Upper Penang Road for a drink at one of the bars, or head to Love Lane for a low-key beer. See our Penang bars guide for options.

Morning (8 Am – 12 Pm)

8:00 am — Grab to Air Itam (RM10–15 from George Town, 20 minutes). Have breakfast at Air Itam laksa stall at Pasar Air Itam. A bowl of assam laksa costs RM6. The stall opens early and is busiest by 10 am — morning is the right time.

9:00 am — Walk uphill to Kek Lok Si Temple (10 minutes from the market). The main grounds are free. Climb the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas (RM2) for views. Take the inclined lift to the Kuan Yin statue pavilion (RM3). Allow 1.5 hours for the full complex.

10:30 am — Grab or bus to Penang Hill Lower Station (10 minutes from Kek Lok Si).

Afternoon (12 Pm – 5 Pm)

11:00 am — Take the Penang Hill funicular to the summit. Foreigners: RM80 return, RM30 one way. Fast lane: RM80 one way to skip the queue. The train runs every 15–30 minutes and the ride takes 5 minutes. At the top, walk the summit loop (30 minutes), visit The Habitat canopy walk (RM50), and enjoy the view. Allow 2–3 hours total on the hill.

2:00 pm — Take the funicular back down. Grab to George Town (RM15, 25 minutes).

3:00 pm — Late lunch or snack at Lebuh Presgrave hawker stalls, or rest at your hotel. If you skipped dessert on Day 1, try ais kacang at one of the Kimberley Street stalls.

Evening (5 Pm – 10 Pm)

5:30 pm — Walk to Pinang Peranakan Mansion (Jalan Gelugor, RM25 entry, closes 6 pm). This museum is packed with Peranakan antiques and takes 45 minutes to walk through. Skip if closed.

7:00 pm — Dinner at Tek Sen Restaurant on Lebuh Carnarvon. Arrive by 6:30 pm to avoid the queue — this place fills up fast. The double-roasted pork (RM16) and claypot tofu (RM14) are the go-to orders. Cash only.

8:30 pm — Walk to Three Sixty Revolving Rooftop Bar at Bayview Hotel on Lebuh Farquhar (10 minutes). Drinks from RM25. The revolving platform gives a 360-degree view of George Town and the harbour. Stay for one or two drinks.

Morning (9 Am – 12 Pm)

9:30 am — Check out and store luggage at your hotel. Walk or Grab to Siam Road Char Koay Teow (82 Jalan Siam). Opens at noon Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. If Day 3 falls on a closed day, go to Ah Leng Char Koay Teow instead (343 Jalan Dato Keramat, opens 10:30 am, closed Wednesday). A plate costs RM8–12. Queue for 15–30 minutes.

11:00 am — Grab back to George Town. Visit the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion on Lebuh Leith. Guided tours run at 11 am and 3:30 pm daily (RM25, 45 minutes). Book online in advance — tours cap at 24 people.

Afternoon (12 Pm – 3 Pm)

12:00 pm — Walk to Him Heang on Jalan Burma (15 minutes or Grab RM6). Buy tau sar piah (flaky mung bean biscuits, RM16 per box of 16 pieces). This is the most popular local product to take home from Penang.

12:30 pm — Head to Chowrasta Market on Jalan Penang (Grab RM6 or walk 15 minutes). Browse pickled nutmeg, dried goods and local snacks on the ground floor. The upstairs second-hand book section is worth a quick look.

1:30 pm — Final meal: light lunch at a hawker stall near your hotel, or a last coffee at Norm Micro Roastery on Church Street Ghaut.

2:30 pm — Collect luggage. Grab to airport (RM25–35, 30 minutes). Arrive 2 hours before your flight.