Travelling to Penang with kids?
Though it's mostly known for its mouthwatering street food and historical sights, Penang is also home to a theme park with the longest tube water slide in the world, a butterfly farm with over 15,000 free-flying butterflies, a colourful island with beautiful sunsets, as well as a handful of fun and unique museums that can keep you and your children occupied for hours. You'll be surprised what a family-friendly destination this city is!
If you're planning a family trip to Penang with your little ones in tow, we hope this guide on 16 best things to do in Penang with kids will inspire and help you with your trip planning. Add them to your trip itinerary now!
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Fun Things To Do In Penang With Kids
1. ESCAPE Theme Park
Home to the world's longest tube water slide (that spans an incredible length of 1,111m!), ESCAPE Theme Park is definitely at the top of our list when it comes to attractions in Penang for a trip with kids! Surrounded by lush greens, the theme park offers over 30 thrilling activities including ziplining, twisting water slides, challenging rope courses, rock climbing, refreshing pools, and more - all in one space.
Most of the rides and games within the theme park are designed for a wide range of age groups, abilities, and energy levels, so you'll have just as much fun here as your little ones. Check out our complete guide to ESCAPE Theme Park and get your discounted admission tickets on Klook!
2. Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm
Housed in a giant glass-house conservatory, Entopia Penang Butterfly Farm is a magical space where butterflies and all sorts of other insects come out to play. It is a safe home to over 15,000 free-flying butterflies and remains one of the most popular family outing spots in Penang.
Stroll around the space dotted with beautiful waterfalls, ponds, caves, vertical gardens, and winding trails, they even have an indoor discovery centre that features two floors of learning exhibition, interactive edu-stations, and indoor activities that are perfect for the curious little ones. Kids can literally spend hours here learning and having fun!
3. Penang Hill
Set 821m above Georgetown, Penang Hill offers breathtaking views of the city from the top as well as cool, unpolluted air with a slightly chilly climate that's about five degrees cooler than at the lowlands. Bring your kids on a ride on the iconic Penang Hill Funicular Train, a Swiss-designed funicular that runs on one of the oldest funicular systems in the world! They'll definitely gasp in awe as the train brings them to the top, whooshing past lush greens along the way.
Much fun awaits at the top, from the highest cafe in Penang to The Habitat Penang Hill, a space that allows visitors to reconnect with nature in its purest form. Bring your children on a nature walk and get ready to be surrounded by a myriad of flora and fauna including rare animals such as cheeky dusky leaf monkeys, giant black squirrels, flying lemurs, and over 100 species of birds!
Another fun activity to do with your kids is the Wild Immersion Virtual Reality Experience, especially if you're on the lookout for something educational. Visitors get to learn more about our planet and its inhabitants through immersive VR movies specially made to bring awareness to our ecosystem.
4. Saanen Dairy Goat Farm
Located in Balik Pulau, Saanen Dairy Goat Farm is a hidden gem where you can interact with gentle animals such as dairy goats, ostriches, chickens and more. Feed, pet, cradle, and take selfies with these adorable creatures in this family-friendly farm.
The Saanen Dairy Goat Farm is a family-run business and admission is free! You can even contact the owner directly for arrangements if you're planning to visit in large groups. Be sure to grab some fresh goat milk, goat milk pudding, or a yogurt drink before you leave.
5. Trishaw Ride
Penang is one of the few places in Malaysia where you can still ride a trishaw. Also affectionately called a 'beca' by the locals, the trishaw is a three-wheeled taxi that shaped the city's transportation since the 1950s. Thousands of these trishaws used to be all over Penang, but the number has reduced to only about 200 today and they remain an important living heritage of the city.
If you're looking for a unique way to explore the city, hop on a trishaw and go sightseeing from a different angle - book a Heritage Trishaw Ride on Klook and allow your rider to bring you on a local tour covering most of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Fort Cornwallis, Penang Town Hall, Khoo Kongsi, Goddess of Mercy Temple, and Little India! Children aged 0 - 3 can join this activity for free, and there are discounted rates for children aged below 12 as well.
6. TeddyVille Museum
Did you know that Penang is home to some of the most unique museums in Malaysia? One such museum that's great for family holidays is the adorable Teddyville Museum that houses Malaysia's first and largest collection of teddy bears from various nations and eras. The collection includes one of the first batches of teddy bears ever made, and teddies of all sizes from miniature ones to human-sized bears!
Much effort is also put into making this 9000sqft space reflect the rich culture and history of Penang, which is why you'll spot teddies dressed like locals and placed in sets representing the many attractions in Penang. For children who love teddies, they will definitely have so much fun roaming amongst these fluffy furry friends. Visitors can even build their very own teddy here as a souvenir!
7. Wonderfood Museum
As Malaysia's food heaven, of course there has to be a museum dedicated to food in Penang. Located inside a colonial building from the 1940s, the Penang Wonderfood Museum houses larger-than-life displays of Malaysian dishes handcrafted with food replication techniques from Japan. Snap photos with giant replicas of Penang delicacies such as char kuey teow, ais kacang, cendol, and rojak.
There is also an Educational Zone where your little ones can learn some interesting facts about food. Trust us when we tell you you'll leave the museum feeling hungry and looking forward to your next plate of Penang char kuey teow. Book your discounted vouchers on Klook and simply flash it at the counter to redeem your tickets!
8. Penang Bird Park
With a collection of over 300 species of birds from all over the world, the Penang Bird Park is the first and largest bird park of its kind in Malaysia. This 5-acre park consists of giant-sized walk-in aviaries, little huts, winding paths, and beautiful ponds where you can befriend all sorts of gentle birds from tiny sunbirds to 8-foot tall ostriches, free-roaming pelicans, elegant swans, well-trained parrots, owls, flamingos, hornbills, storks, and colourful ducks.
The bird park imitates the natural habitat of the birds, has a nice calming vibe, and promises hours of fun for people of all ages who love birds. Besides birds, it is also home to several species of deer, fishes, pythons, crocodiles, tortoises, and other wildlife. Book your discounted Penang Bird Park tickets on Klook for a fun and hassle-free visit!
9. Audi Dream Farm
Take a short trip to the quieter Southwest region of Penang Island and visit Balik Pulau, a quaint town worthy of a visit. One of our favourite things to do here is spending some time at the Audi Dream Farm, a charming mini zoo and farm that is suitable for family trips. This lovely space offers a breath of fresh air and something different from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Spend a day with your loved ones by experiencing nature up close at the farm. Here, you can enjoy their line-up of fun hands-on activities, like animal riding, plant potting, bird feeding and more. Book a Klook Exclusive admission ticket to the Audi Dream Farm, that includes an exciting camel riding experience!
10. DE'8000 Mini Golf
Another fun and unique activity you can do with your family is miniature golf. At DE'8000, challenge your putting skills with their colourful golf courses of different difficulty levels. This mini golf cafe accommodates everyone regardless of expertise. Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned pro, everyone's bound to have a good time.
You'll even receive a score card upon arrival to jot down your winnings. This 18 section mini golf course doubles as a cafe too, so you won't have to worry about looking for food elsewhere - dine and play with ease and comfort!
11. Pulau Jerejak
Get ready to embark on a colourful adventure at Pulau Jerejak, a picturesque historic island located a short 10-minute ferry ride from Penang Island. This hidden gem is dotted with beautiful photo spots including a rainbow pier and a romantic swing on the beach; it's also known for its breathtaking sunsets that will paint the sky pink, yellow, and orange!
Pulau Jerejak has had a long, eventful past, but is now a colourful and laid-back island, perfect as a day trip destination from Penang. You can even spend a night here at the beautiful Jerejak Island Resort.
12. Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi consists of a long stretch of sandy beach and is one of Penang's most popular destinations! It's all sun and fun in the day time and lined with bars and restaurants to chill at once the night falls.
Let your little ones run around in the soft sand, fly some kites, build sandcastles, or try out the range of water sports available here from jet-skiing to parasailing, banana boat, and more. We'd suggest popping by to catch the sunset (pack a mat and some snacks for a picnic if you'd like!), and head to the popular Batu Ferringhi Night Market that's open till past midnight. If you love the beach, consider booking your stay at a hotel by the beach!
13. Kampung Agong
If you think Penang is all about that city life, you're wrong. Get transported to a timeless kampung that looks straight out of a postcard from Bali at Kampung Agong, a picturesque countryside space surrounded by swaying coconut trees, paddy fields, and traditional wooden kampung houses built on stilts. We believe this is a great place to allow your little ones to have a glimpse of kampung life, especially if they've been brought up in the city!
Visitors can take photos all around the space as well as participate in a variety of village activities including coconut picking, fishing, putting on traditional attire, and learning how to weave coconut leaves into coconut brooms. You can rent a bike or explore the area on foot!
#KlookTip: Kampung Agong is located in mainland Penang, a 20-minute drive from Butterworth jetty terminal, so it's best to drive here.
14. Hunt for street art
Did you know that Penang is known for some world-famous street art? You can't leave the city without hunting some down! One of the hotspots to find these artworks is along Armenian Street, where you can find famous works such as the Brother and Sister on a Swing, Boy on Motorbike, as well as Kids on Bicycle.
With these interesting murals serving as an artistic backdrop at every corner, don’t be shy to stop for a photo and show off your #OOTD! Make sure you load up on sunscreen too, as the sun can be quite harsh during the day.
15. The TOP Komtar
Level up your exploration of Penang by catching the best views of Georgetown. One of the best places to enjoy the dazzling city lights would be from the rooftop of the island’s landmark, THE TOP Komtar. From 68 floors above, their Rainbow Skywalk is a semi-circular glass bridge that offers stunning seamless views of Georgetown, with its clear glass bottoms and sides.
The TOP Komtar is Penang's highest iconic entertainment tower. You can also head to their Observatory Deck that offers equally stunning views of the city. There are a handful of other family-friendly attractions here as well, including a 7D Motion Theater, a Jurassic Research Center (with over 200 dinosaurs!), a boutique aquarium, and a bar and bistro that serves some great tapas food and cocktails.
16. Penang Municipal Park
Previously known as Youth Park, the Penang Municipal Park is a nice and vibrant space for your little ones to run around at. This sprawling park has a water park (with a pool that's great for refreshing swims on a hot day!), a children's playground (with swing sets and slides), jungle gym, a street art park, and even a skating rink! Make sure you bring along a bottle of water to keep you and your family hydrated while you have some fun out in the sun.
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More Inspiration For Your Penang Adventure
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