What springs to mind when someone mentions Penang as a travel destination?

More than likely, you will think of its two most popular Penang offerings—its palate-pleasing food variety and charming street art. 

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, Penang Island is a multi-faceted city offering an enchanting blend of culture, nostalgia and outdoor action to visitors. Adventure seekers can explore Penang’s action-packed activities, while heritage lovers can indulge in its Baba and Nyonya culture or visit the city’s unique museums. 

If you are visiting this northern Malaysian Island for the first time, here is a list of the top 12 things you can do to learn about Penang culture and heritage, recommended by the PARKROYAL Penang Resort team:

1. Top Religious Places to Visit
2. Best Walking Tours
3. Best Places of Interest

Prepare for a towering sight at the largest Buddhist religious building in Malaysia—the renowned Kek Lok Si (极乐寺) temple. Erected in 1930, the highlight here is the soaring 36.5 metre-tall Goddess of Mercy statue, which attracts both local and overseas visitors. This world’s tallest Guanyin statue is surrounded by 100 smaller figures (each two metres tall) around its base. 

Nearby is the 30-metre tall Ban Po Thar pagoda, which houses 10,000 mini Buddha statues. Examine the pagoda’s facade to learn about the city’s diverse influences. While its core structure is a traditional eight-sided Chinese base structure (known as a Bagua), its middle section draws inspiration from Thai design while the top is a Burmese style crown. Visitors can soak in panoramic views of the area from the pagoda, for a small fee of MYR2.

Architecture lovers can look forward to the hybrid of Neo-Classical, Georgian and English Palladian styles at St. George’s Church. Southeast Asia’s oldest Anglican church, the building is modelled after the St.George’s Cathedral in Madras, India. Look out for a portico with distinctive columns, and learn why this is the only building on Penang Island listed as one of the 50 National Heritage Treasures of Malaysia. A Victorian-style Greek Pavilion beside the church pays tribute to Sir Francis Light, the founder of Penang (a former British Colony).

Take your time to admire the detailed hand-sculpted facade of the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple in Georgetown. Start your spiritual ascend with the 513 steps to reach the temple, which sits at a hilltop. Created by 19 South Indian temple builders and artisans, the seven-storey temple is the largest temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war, outside India.

Be wowed by the stunning stained glass works and calligraphy-filled walls of the sprawling Kapitan Keling Mosque. Traditionally designed on the outside, the mosque’s whitewashed walls are topped with giant golden-yellow Mughal-styled domes. It’s interior features lofty Gothic, Moorish and Roman arches, creating an illusion of depth in its prayer hall. Look out for the mosque’s centrepiece—a giant sparkling chandelier that hangs above the hall. If you wish to visit, do remember to be appropriately attired with long pants or skirts for women and shirts and long pants for men.

Dive into the history of George Town with this guided walk that takes you through historical places such as Acheen Street, Armenian Street and Cannon Street to learn about Penang’s social heritage. Free of charge, you can learn more and sign up for the Lacala Discovery Walk here.

Get acquainted with more than 500 species of flora and fauna under the cooling cover of night. At the Tropical Spice Garden, night walks are conducted by well-trained guides with in-depth knowledge of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. Some standout plants here include the Victoria Amazonica plants and a sleeping tropical songbird.

Not as scary as it sounds, you can unearth Penang’s history and culture with the Francis Light Cemetery Tour. The one-hour tour honours the life and works of Captain Francis Light, who founded the British colony in Penang in 1786.  As you walk through the cemetery, your guide will narrate how the significant early settlers in Penang influenced the cultural landscape of George Town in its formative years.

Discover a different side of bustling George Town when the sun sets by signing up for the George Town Night Trail. Experience how the town’s atmosphere changes after dark. Focused on architecture and local culture, the two-hour guided tour schools you on its colourful history and heritage.

Immerse in all things Peranakan at the Pinang Peranakan Museum, which is dedicated to Penang’s Peranakan heritage. Housed in a 19-century mansion that belonged to Chinese tycoon Chung Keng Quee, the museum holds thousands of exquisite and elaborate Peranakan artefacts, antiques and collectables. Soak in the opulence and luxury of the lives of Babas and Nonyas as you gaze at showcases of Peranakan interior design and customs reflecting the lifestyles of Peranakans in Penang. The mansion itself is visually stunning, with a fusion of Chinese, English, French and Scottish influences.

Gain insight into Penang’s rich musical heritage at the Penang House of Music. Walk through the local community’s diverse musical traditions and local music genres, such as bangsawan (Malay opera) and boria (a form of Malay theatre of Indian origin). There are also interactive elements in this museum, with listening posts, a virtual reality room and a mini cinema screening old movies.