Thanks to its history as a spice trading port, Penang is arguably the food capital of Malaysia.
In the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, you’ll experience mouthwatering dishes that carry influences of Chinese, Thai and Indonesian cuisine. Walk it off through the winding streets of Georgetown, Penang’s colonial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The island is best weather wise from November to April as during the summer months there is higher rainfall and increased sea swells are visible. The island is reached by 60 minute flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Greig
Travel Specialist
Where to go in Malaysia
Malaysia travel information
When to visit Malaysia
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Best time
Good time
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- Time zone: +8 GMT
- Flight time: 13-16 hours
- Recommended airlines: Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qatar, Emirates
- Currency: Malaysian ringgit
- Tipping guideline: 10-15% of total bill
- Health considerations: There is a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,500m or higher. There is a risk of dengue. There is a risk of Zika virus. There is a low risk of malaria in mainland Malaysia. There is no risk of yellow fever in Malaysia, however, yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Capital: Kuala Lumpur
- Population: 34,671,896
- National languages: Malay, English
- Electricity and plugs: Type G, 240 V
- Mobile phone coverage: Good
- UK passport visa requirements: You don't need a visa for Malaysia if you have a British passport - for a maximum of 90 days
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