Penang Hill lies just to the West of the main city of George Town. It has amazing views out over the city and surrounding region, and on clear days the entire mainland can be seen for miles is each direction. The Hill is a favorite destination not just for visitors to Penang, but also for locals who flock there in their hundreds, especially on weekends. Penang Hill is also very popular for both sunrise and sunset.
A visit to Penang Hill is a great way for any visitor to get a good overview of the city and surrounds. There is a lot more to enjoy than just the views too, and in this Penang Hill Guide, I will go over some of those things, as well as how to get there, what to expect, and how much it will cost.
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Table of Contents
- About Penang Hill
- Where is Penang Hill?
- How to get to Penang Hill
- Penang Hill Funicular Train
- Penang Hill – What to do up top
- Where to stay for Penang Hill
- Summary
About Penang Hill
Penang Hill is a resort complex that is made up of several different peaks. The highest peak, at 833 meters above sea level, is the Westernmost peak that most people refer to as “Penang Hill”. An interesting fact is that it actually has several different names, including Bukit Bendera, the local name, and Flag Staff Hill.
Penang Hill was first used as a resort area by the British as early as the late 1700’s. Several bungalows were constructed on the hill, and were used as a resort getaway to cooler climes from the tropical climate below. It was a very popular place, even if access was long and hard. In those early days, climbing Penang Hill to reach the bungalows meant coming by foot, horseback, or being carried in a sedan chair. To this day there are still 52 Bungalows on Penang Hill, 40 of which are privately owned.
It was the early 1900’s that the first Funicular Train was put in place. As can be imagined, this opened up Penang Hill to many more people. This original railway was upgraded in 1923. The current iteration is the 4th overall.
The Funicular train that runs up Penang Hill is the longest in Asia, at 1996 meters. The Funicular tunnel, at 79 meters long, not far from the top station, holds the world record as the steepest Funicular Tunnel in operation.
Where is Penang Hill?
Penang Hill is located to the West of the city of George town. It is easy to reach by bus, which will take about an hour.
To be exact, Penang Hill is only 6 kilometers from the George Town City Center. It isn’t just the one peak, and visitors can still be confused about which peak they are visiting right up to the point that they arrive at the bottom. This is because Penang Hill actually refers to a group of peaks in the one area. The local name of Bukit Bendera, however, refers mostly to the main peak, which is the most developed.
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How to get to Penang Hill
Getting to Penang Hill is relatively easy, especially if you are staying in George Town. The hill is a very popular place, and many people visit every day, so access is not hard! Here are the best ways to get to Penang Hill.
BUS
Bus is simply the easiest way to get around Penang full stop! The services run everywhere, even as far as Penang National Park! Although the timetables are fairly fluid at the best of times, they have enough services running that you never seem to have to wait very long. Also, I find that because Penang is a relatively small place, it never actually takes long to get anywhere!
To get to Penang Hill you need to catch the 204 Bus. This can be caught at the Pangkalan Weld Jetty Bus Terminal. Find it at THIS LOCATION on Google Maps.
There are two Terminals at Weld Jetty, A and B. For the 204 you will need to be at the main Terminal, which is terminal A. The 204 bus stops right at the main point next to the timetables and seating area. Jump on, get comfortable and ride the bus right to the end of the line, which is the Penang Hill Lower Train Station.
The fare for the bus will only cost 2 MYR. Pretty cheap really. They do expect you to have exact change, but this fare is an easy one. Just keep those 1 MYR notes put aside for your visit to Penang Hill. No coins required!
Of course, there are points throughout the city that you will also be able to catch the 204 Bus to Penang Hill. Just check out your local bus stop. Most of them will have a clear display of what buses you can catch from them.
TAXI or GRAB
The other way to get to Penang Hill is by Taxi or Grab.
Taxi is straightforward. Just make sure it has a meter and you are sweet. Personally I would prefer to use Grab. This is like Uber, and you call a Grab Car by using the App on your phone. The benefit is that you know the price before you even get in the car, and it will pick you up from a pre designated spot.
Grab can be a bit hit and miss in Penang as far as how good or clean the car is. But if you prefer to travel by car rather than bus, then this is your best option.
For me, Bus is the way to go, and definitely my recommendation!
Penang Hill Funicular Train
The Funicular Train runs every day from 6.30am to 10.30pm. It is the main access to the top of Penang Hill, and carries hundreds of passengers every day. The track is 1996 meters long, and is the steepest Funicular Track in Asia. In fact, it is the only Railway of its kind in Malaysia to date.
In the years prior to the pandemic, the Penang Hill Funicular Train was transporting over a million passengers to the peak each year.
NOTE – The Funicular train is not the only way to reach the Penang Hill Peak. There is very popular hiking trail, and if you are fit enough, then why not try it? It is an approximately 3 mile out and back trail, taking just over 3 hours to complete the return trip. It is considered a challenging hike by local enthusiasts.
Price of Funicular Train
The price of the Penang Hill Funicular Train is different, depending upon whether you are a local or visitor. This is something that is common all over South East Asia, and although visitors complain about it, (including me at times), I actually think it is a great initiative.
I look at it this way. The price is not HIGHER for a visitor. It is LOWER for a local. This allows the locals to be able to afford to visit, and bring their kids to visit, one of their local attractions. If they did this in Australia, then big attractions there would not be just seen as “tourist” attractions.
FOR FOREIGN VISITORS – You can get your tickets online from KLOOK before you arrive by following THIS LINK
So without further ado, here are the current (at writing) prices for the Penang Hill Funicular Train:
Local Rates (MyKad/MyKid)
- Children – RM 6 Normal Lane, RM 20 Fast Lane
- Adult – RM 12 Normal Lane, RM40 Fast Lane
- Senior Citizen – RM 6 for Normal Lane and Fast Lane
Standard
- Children – RM 15 Normal Lane, RM 40 Fast Lane
- Adult – RM 30 Normal Lane, RM 80 Fast Lane
- Senior Citizen – RM 30 Normal Lane, RM 60 Fast Lane
Note that Disabled Persons are Free of charge.
You can also get one way tickets. This would mostly apply for those that hike to the top and then wish to catch the train back down. Tickets are available at the top.
Penang Hill opening hours
The Penang Hill Funicular Train Service is open 7 days a week. Opening hours are as below.
- Funicular Train – 6.30am to 10pm (last service from the Upper to Lower Station)
- Ticket Office hours – 6.15am to 7.45pm
Train services run every 30 minutes, however during the busy hours through the middle of the day will run every 15 minutes, or as required.
What to expect
When you arrive at the Lower Penang Hill Station, you will be greeted by the sight of a ticket counter and queuing area. Off to the right are some turnstiles, but this is for people coming back out again.
Head to the queuing area, and take note of the prices that are on a large sign above the windows. This can be a little confusing for foreigners, but just remember that there are different prices for locals and tourists. For clarification, check the section above.
Purchasing a ticket is simple. Just hand over the cash and get given the ticket. No need for passport or ID or anything that can be so annoying at other places in South East Asia.
Remember to keep your ticket with you! You will need to show it a few times going up, and then to get on the train and come back down again. Then, you need it to scan at the exit point. This didn’t make sense to me at first, until I remembered that there are hikers going to the top, and they want to make sure you have paid when you board to come back down.
Take your ticket and leave the queuing area. Walk around to the entrance which is off to the left, show your ticket and head through to line up. You have the option to get your photo taken, as you can do at other places such as the Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Otherwise, just keep walking.
If you got an express ticket, head down the express lane, otherwise stick to the left. This is where you will be kept waiting, and depending upon how busy it is, you could be there a while. Think, the lines at Disneyland on a decent day. It can be very reminiscent!
Mid point you will scan your ticket again, and continue until you finally get to the train.
Once at the train, try and get the best seats. Unless you are scared of heights, this will be the very front or back seats. Simply because you have an unobstructed view out the windscreen at the track. Personally, I preferred the back seats, where you look out the window as the view below opens up. It’s pretty awesome!
Have your phone or camera ready!
The trip up takes 7 minutes. You will pass a couple of mid stations that are used later in the day for staff to get on and off. You will even pass a really old “previous version” of the Funicular Train, which is interesting to see. It looks pretty dodgy by today’s standards!
When you arrive up top, you will step out into the station, and follow the walkway right to the top of the hill.
Penang Hill – What to do up top
There is a lot to do on Penang Hill. A lot more than I realized when I first went up. The main thing people come for, of course, is the view. So once you emerge from the Funicular Train, head to the right and follow the path around to a viewing area. Here, you will find some big binoculars you can rent, or just stand at the fence and take in the view yourself.
You will probaby also find a few touristy things. A portrait sketcher, ice cream cart, and people offering to take your photo. All in all though, it is a pretty peaceful experience, and the views are amazing. Often times they are a bit hazy, but that is to be expected.
Many come to the peak for sunrise or sunset. Sunset is the most popular I believe, although I can imagine that if you get up there for sunrise it would be pretty spectacular.
At the viewing point you will also see some monkeys running around. From my experience they stayed away from people, so basically don’t bother them, and they won’t bother you. I would hold onto my camera though, because after living in Bali I still don’t trust monkeys!
Other than the views, here are several other things you can do on Penang Hill:
- The Habitat – One of the most popular attractions on Penang Hill is the chance to discover the flora and fauna of the Penang Hill Peaks. It is the 230m long circular Treetop walk that is the biggest hit though, boasting the best views on the island! Get tickets HERE.
- David Brown’s Restaurant – The highest restaurant in Penang is this British Colonial Restaurant and Tea House located at Penang Hill. A beautiful location, incredible surrounds and amazing food!
- Penang Hill Gallery @ Edgecliff – This amazing gallery is located in a heritage bungalow on the edge of the cliff near the main view point. Find out the history of Penang Hill, and discover many amazing facts along the way.
- Earthquake and Typhoon Pavilion – Incredible 3D technologies allow you to witness and experience Earthquake, Typhoon, Tsunami and Tornado affects.
- Astaka Cliff Café – Located just to the left as you emerge from the Funicular Train, the café caters for all tastes, and can be a very cheap lunch! The food is great, and you will also be able to shop for souvenirs on the levels below.
- Monkey Cup Garden – A beautiful café that is surrounded by nature, in particular the “monkey cup” flower of the Nepenthes plant. There are over 100 varieties of them in this garden alone.
- Penang Hill Mosque and Temple – Located just above the café and off to the left, the Mosque and Hindu Temple attract many visitors, and not just for worshipping. The unique designs and construction are very popular for tourist photos!
- Naturewalks – For the hiking and nature buffs, grab a guide to take you on a tour of the surrounding forests and learn all about Penang Hill.
- Little Village – This quaint attraction is great for lovers or kids. Walk through the love arch, have your photo taken and even put a love lock on the fence. Stroll through the garden past Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cottages, and into a rabbit petting zoo!
Besides the above mentioned places, there are also plenty of other things to see on Penang Hill. Wander around and discover an old cannon or postbox along the way. There are small stalls, craftsmen and many other things to keep you occupied, or just peak your curiosity.
Penang Hill is a place that you will go for an hour, and stay for the entire day.
Where to stay for Penang Hill
Penang Hill is accessible from anywhere. I would not really advise that you should stay close to Penang Hill, as that would not be convenient for other things that you want to do in Penang. Instead, my advice is to do what I did, and stay close by to the Weld Jetty Bus Terminal. This really makes your days so easy, right from the very start.
So here are my choice of places to stay in George Town, with easy access to Weld Jetty and the Busses.
LUXURY – The Prestige Hotel Penang
The Prestige Hotel is one of those places that just does it right! From the rooftop pool with incredible views, to the comfortable rooms and amazing breakfast. This is one of the best places to stay, right in the heart of George Town, and only a short stroll from Fort Cornwallis and the Clan Jetties.
MID RANGE – Hotel 19
This hotel is a bit of a surprise, as it is billed as a 2 star hotel, but is rated by guests at 4 stars. The attraction for me, and this article, is that it is right across the road from the bus terminal, and in VERY easy walking distance to everything around town. If not, just walk across the road and catch the free CAT bus!
BUDGET – Cocoa Mews Cafe and Homestay
On my first visit to Penang I stayed at Cocoa Mews. It is budget, and the room are certainly budget. But the place makes up for it with hospitality, cleanliness and charm. The owner is amazing and gives heaps of great tips for places to eat and go. There is even nice local snacks each morning for a complimentary breakfast!
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Summary
Penang Hill is a great place to visit when you are in Penang. I certainly recommend any first time visitors to Penang to check it out, as it is a great introduction to the city and surrounds. Plus, the other facilities provide for a great day out!
This review was super helpful for me! One stop and got all the info I needed plus more!
I’m glad it helped Alyssa. Have fun!