Penang for Kids

Our regular series Holiday activities for Kids is back!
This time we travel to Penang, the island well known for its local food, colonial charm and Penang Hill. It is not hard to look for activities with kids in Penang, but if you need a little help, this guide might be useful for you.These are our top activities in Penang for kids. All tried and tested by The Wacky Duo.Tip, forget about tour groups, book a taxi to bring you around for the whole of the tour. It may be cheaper and more convenient with kids.

PENANG HILL AND SURROUNDINGS

Penang Hill

Penang Hill

A trip down to Penang will never be complete without a visit to Penang Hill. There are limited things to do up the hill. Sometimes the view up there may even get a little hazy. However the main attraction will be the tram up and down the hill. Be there early and grab the front or back seat. We recommend the back for the way up and the front for the way down.
The way down is especially cool if you get the front seat. You might even think you are on a roller coaster ride. Check out our instagram video to see for yourself!
Location
Jalan Stesen, Bukit Bendera, Pulau Pinang, 11500 Ayer Hitam, Malaysia
Website

Kek Lok Si

Kek Lok Si

Located about 2.5 km away from Penang Hill, a day excursion to Penang Hill could be combine with a visit to Penang iconic Kek Lok si Temple build in 1891.Billed as one of the largest and finest temple complex in Southeast Asia, a trip to the temple is worth considering. Explore the heritage treasures of found in temple halls, pagodas and hallways. Kids would love feeding the tortoises at the Tortoise Liberation Pond.
Location
11500 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Website

Tortoise Liberation Pond

GEORGE TOWN

George town is the capital of Penang. The inner city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, promising many interesting places to visit and explore.

Made in Penang Interactive Museum

Made in Penang

If you are in George Town, you should not miss one of Penang newer attraction, Made in Penang interactive Museum (MIP). MIP is Penang answer to Trick Eye museum featuring Trick art murals that has a local Penang flavor. In addition, it also features miniature exhibits and interactive 3D exhibits.If you children love to get wacky, this would be the place to be!
Location
3, Pengkalan Weld, Georgetown, 10300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Website

Penang Fried Kway Teow - YUM!

Penang Amazing World

Penang Amazing World

Penang Amazing World is the latest Penang attraction to open in 2015. Located next door to Made in Penang, this is billed as Penang's largest interactive museum. This is the place for geeks as it features interactive displays such as virtual reality. There is also a Trick eye gallery and a quirky village display filled with boxy celebrities.

Location
4, Pengkalan Weld, Georgetown, 10300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Website

The Village

UNESCO World Heritage City

The Blue Mansion

Georgetown has alot of historical buildings that you can explore. One of them was the Blue Mansion (previously known as Cheong Fatt Tze Legacy). If you are in Georgetown for a day, pick a few heritage buildings to explore. Fort Cornwallis, Clock Tower, Malayan railway building, Penang State Museum are a few other heritage buildings you can explore.

George Town heritage sites - Source

For the full list of heritage sites, refer to this map
Penang Street Art

Penang Street Art

Penang is synonymous with Street Art. These street art mimicks life in the city. The iconic street art were drawn by Ernest Zaharevic, a Lithuanian artist. If you have the time, you can have a treasure hunt with the kids to find the street art peppered through Georgetown.
Download the map here for a guide.

BATU FERRINGHI

Batu Ferringhi or popularly known as Foreigner's Rock is Penang famous beach area. There are numerous resorts as well as attractions for kids along this laid back stretch of fun.
Adventure Zone

Adventure Zone

If you are looking for the best indoor playground in Penang, Adventure Zone would probably come in tops on most list. Adventure Zone is part of the facilities provided in Golden Sands Resorts, nonetheless the playground is open to public as well.

The main reason for its status are the killer slides in the playground. From the speedy wave slides to the gravity defying drop slides, this playground is clearly not for the faint hearted. The almost 90 degree red vertical drop slide is the ultimate slide we had ever encountered in an indoor playground. We dare you to try it!

Thank goodness that there is a 2-storey play area alongside a toddler's area for those who are incline to less daredevil challenges.

Location
Jalan Batu Ferringhi, Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Website

Toy Museum Heritage Garden

Penang Toy Museum

Fancy a trip down to the world's largest toy museum filled with toys that are worth more than millions?

Give that proposal to any child and it would be hard to take no for an answer. Toys from almost all known popular lines fill the corridors of Toy Museum Heritage Garden ( Formerly known as Penang Toy Museum) . Alongside the toys are full size figures of numerous comic characters such as Spiderman, Hulk, Batman and more. Surprisingly LEGO is not part of this Toy Museum.
The only catch is that all toys are locked securely behind transparent plastic walls. So you can look but you cannot touch or play. It will be tough restraining your child with so many temptations on the left and right.

Location
1370,, MK2, Teluk Bahang, 11050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Website

Toy Museum

Batu Ferringhi Beach

Batu Ferringhi Beach

If you are looking for a laid back holiday where you are relac one corner. Then head to Batu Ferringhi Beach for a day of sun, sea and sand. We recommend you to stay here instead of George Town if you are looking for a chill out holiday.
For accommodation, do check out our review of Lone Pine Hotel located at Batu Ferringhi.

Penang Hawker Food (Long Beach Hawker Center)
For an authentic taste of Penang, head down to their hawker centers to have a taste of their legendary local dish. Amongst the favourite would be Penang Char Kway Teow.
If you are at Batu Ferringhi, just head down to Long Beach Hawker Center, just meters away from Lone Pine Hotel. All the favourite local dishes at very reasonable prices are here. This will be the best place to widen your child palate. Forget about calories count, after all you are on a holiday, not a boot camp!

Penang Char Kway Teow

There are lots more attractions to explore in Penang that we had yet to explore. The Penang Escape Park, Penang Youth Park, Botanic Gardens are but one of these attractions. If you are staying for a longer period in Penang, don't forget to check them out.

Tip on travelling in Penang
Forget about tour groups, book a taxi to bring you around for the whole of the tour. It may be cheaper and more convenient with kids. Remember to keep the taxi with you as there are locations where taxis are limited. There is also the Penang Hop On and Hop Off bus that can bring you around the major attractions of Penang. However if you are travelling with younger children, the taxi will still be your 'best friend'.
Enjoy the Pearl of the Orient!
For other travel guides for kids , do check out our following series :
Bali for kids
Genting for kids
HongKong for kids
Melbourne for kids
Sydney for kids
Tokyo for kids