Malaysian Culture is best discovered through food and there’s no better way to do that than visiting Penang!
Our short 3-Day DIY itinerary covers all the essentials when visiting the island. This itinerary is only on places in and around George Town. Read on and discover how we packed 4 flights from Manila to Penang and back, on just a long weekend!

View of Penang Island from Kek Lok Si Temple
Day 0
- Flight 5J 501 Manila to Kuala Lumpur
- Arrive at KLIA2
- Pick-up KKDay Malaysia Travel Sim Card at KLIA2
Day 1
- Flight AK6110 Kuala Lumpur to Penang
- Arrive at Penang
- Bus to George Town (MYR 2.7 per person)
- Arrive at Red Inn Court and leave bags
- Breakfast at Roti Bakar Hutton Lane (MYR 5.00 per person)
- 2nd Breakfast at Hong Kee Wan Thun Mee (MYR 9.1 for 2)
- Wan Thun Mee (6.20)
- Pork Bun (2.40)
- Coconut drink at the street (MYR 1.00)
- Exchange money
- Lunch at Jawi House Cafe Gallery (MYR 45 for 2)
- Water – (1.00)
- Lentil Rice – (8.00)
- Tomato Rice – (8.00)
- Beef Masala – (16.00)
- Chicken Curry (12.00)
- Explore George Town and Mural-hunting (Click here for my George Town Street Art Guide and Map!)
- Check in at hotel and afternoon nap
- Visit Chew Jetty and buy souvenirs
- Bunch of Magnets (MYR 15.00)
- Dinner at Restoran kapitan (MYR 30.20 for 2)
- Chicken Lani Butter Naan (11.70)
- Chicken Lani Cheese Naan (12.20)
- Mango Lassi (4.60)
- Buy snacks and toiletries at a convenience store (MYR 15.00)

Morning at George Town

Me and Boy on a Motorbike mural
Day 2
- Breakfast at the hotel (Free)
- Walk to Jetty
- Bus 204 to Ayer Itam (MYR 2.00 per person)
- Lunch at Ayer Itam Laksa (MYR 4.80 per bowl)
- Buy drinks from a nearby stall
- Grass Jelly Juice (MYR 1.40)
- Sugar Cane Juice (MYR 1.7)
- Visit Kek Lok Si Temple
- Purchase one-way elevator (MYR 8.00 per person)
- GrabCar to Penang Hill Station (MYR 6.00)
- Penang Hill Train Station
- Buy round-trip tickets (MYR 30.00 per person)
- Queue for 90 Minutes
- Arrive at Penang Hill
- Early dinner at the Cliff Cafe (MYR 31.00)
- Mee Goreng (7.00)
- Nasi Goreng Ayam (6.00)
- Nasi Goreng Tom Yum (6.00)
- Mango Smoothie (7.00)
- Watermelon Smoothie (5.00)
- Explore Penang Hill
- Snack at Kacang Putih (MYR 5.00)
- Spiced Chickpea
- Queue for the train back to the lower station
- Arrive at the lower station
- GrabCar back to hotel (MYR 14.00)
- Night snacks at Chulia Street Night Hawker Stalls
- Almond Susu (2.50)
- Teh Susu (1.70)
- Chicken and Beef Satay (13.00)
- Oyster Omelette (16.00)

Wayne and I sharing a table with strangers for a bowl of laksa

At the top of the hill station
Day 3
- Breakfast at the hotel (Free)
- Checkout and leave bags at the hotel
- Explore Little India
- Lunch at Nasi Kandar Imigresen
- Nasi Kandar (MYR 7.50 per plate)
- Lemon Juice (MYR 1.60 each)
- Visit Chocolate Museum
- Visit Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
- 2:00 PM Guided Tour (MYR 16.00 per person)
- Snacks at Rollney
- Chimney Cake Ice Cream w/ 3 Toppings (MYR 17.90)
- Buy Souvenirs at Pasar Chowrasta (Around MYR 60.00 for the both of us)
- Snacks at Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul (MYR 3.30 per bowl)
- Walk back to hotel to get bags
- GrabCar to the airport (MYR 22.00)
- Dinner at McDonald’s Penang Airport (MYR 24.00 for 2)
- Flight AK6119 Penang to Kuala Lumpur
- Another Dinner at KLIA2, Quizinn by RASA Food Court (MYR 20.00 for 2)
- Flight 5J502 Kuala Lumpur to Manila

Street stall of Nasi Kandar Imigresen

Front porch of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Expenses
Roundtrip Flights Manila to Kuala Lumpur | via Cebu Pacific | PHP 1,588.95 per person |
Roundtrip Flights Kuala Lumpur to Penang | via AirAsia | PHP 2,244.975 per person |
Red Inn Court | 2 Nights Dormitory | PHP 544.00 per person |
KKDay Malaysia Travel Sim Card | via KKDay | PHP 257.32 per sim |
Food Expenses, Local Transportation, etc... | MYR 300.00 | PHP 3,840.00* per person |
TOTAL | PHP 8,475.245 per person |
*Estimated currency exchange of MYR 1.00 = PHP 12.80

Me at Chew Jetty
Penang is easily my favorite Malaysian destination. From the welcoming locals to its diverse cuisine. It’s the perfect place to get a taste of Malaysia. It has culture, arts, food, and nature! It even has a growing community of Filipinos. It’s not as accessible as Kuala Lumpur, but given that more and more Pinoys go there for vacation or work, a direct flight from Manila is not far-fetched.
Check out our guide on Penang Food and Restaurants!