Touring Penang is always exciting.
The only caveat being that you must know what to do there.
The island has a list of touristy gifts.
You just have to make the most of them.
The range of things to do in Penang just surprises one.
Being among the most visited places in Malaysia, it has something for every visitor.
Having so much things of tourist value, it is a place one must not miss during holidays in Malaysia.
Sightseeing Sightseeing, as everywhere, is first thing the travelers to do.
First of all, visit the beaches of the likes of Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang.
When you have enough of the beaches, you go to temples like Mariamman, Kek Lok Si, Khoo Clan, Quan Yin or Dhammikarama.
St George Church, Esplanade and City Hall are some other good places to visit.
Monkey park, stretching over 30 hectares of forested hills, is quite popular among children.
Those interested in local history could visit the state museum.
Dining Penang is known for delicious local dishes.
You would find hawkers in all parts of Penang serving traditional food.
Most of them offer cuisine altered to Western preferences.
So if you want to get the real local taste, ask the cook not to Westernize the preparation.
You could go to places such as Char Kway Teow, Lor Bak, Tau Sah Piah and Penang Laksa for enjoying traditional hawker food.
Nightlife You could always entertain yourselves in pubs and bars which abound in Penang.
Most nightlife places in Penang are located in Batu Ferringhi.
As soon as the sun sets, people start thronging these nightlife spots.
Most of these places were once discotheques catering to the locals.
With the growth of tourism, the discos, to cater to the taste of foreign tourist, were refurbished as western style nightclubs.
However, some of these are developed in classical style, taking care of the needs of the locals.
Pulau Tikus hosts most classical style clubs.
Shopping Although Penang is not famous for shopping, one can take home some good souvenirs.
One could look for intricate handicrafts and hand-made jewelry to designer goods like watches, leather bags and sportswear.
Most tourists like to shop at the road-side shops.
If you prefer mall-hopping, visit Georgetown, the capital of Penang.
For first time shoppers, shopping in the 'pasar malam' or the night markets is a quite pleasure-filled experience.
These markets give the visitors a glimpse into the life in Penang.