14 Fantastic Things to do in Batu Ferringhi – Penang 2025

In this article we are going to share the best things to do in Batu Ferringhi in 2025. Finding accurate and up-to-date info on activities and attractions in Batu Ferringhi can be hard. This area has changed so much over the years. So we decided to write this article to fill the gap and provide some super helpful up-to-date information.

We want to commend you for researching and planning before you go. Batu Ferringhi has so much going on; you can end up missing some of the best bits if you try to wing it. We really want to help you plan your visit. In this article we will include all of the best things to do in Batu Ferringhi so you don’t miss any of the main attractions. We will also include some hidden gems that other people miss. Oh yeah, and we will also give you specific details such as prices, locations, and other tips to help you make the most of your visit.

In this article, we are drawing on our own first-hand knowledge and experience of Batu Ferringhi. We have visited many times over the years and also lived in this area (twice!). So, we really do have a lot of excellent things that we are excited to share with you. We hope that our experience and recommendations help you plan an amazing trip.

Map of the BEST things to do in Batu Ferringhi

1 Explore the Night Market

Batu Ferringhi is best known for its night market. This is a relatively big and impressive night market which runs along the main road through Batu Ferringhi. The night market has a wide range of stalls including clothing, jewelry, fashion, toys, gifts, artwork, and lighting.

The prices at the night market are relatively high due to the touristy nature of this area. Bartering is acceptable; however, it can be challenging to get prices down to a reasonable amount. The night market generally starts around 6:00 pm and runs late into the evening. The night market is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, whatever the weather.

2 Watersports on Batu Ferringhi beach

3 Visit the Tropical Spice Gardens

If you are looking for a more natural and wild activity in Batu Ferringhi, then we highly recommend a visit to the Tropical Spice Gardens. The Tropical Spice Gardens is the perfect way to learn how local spices are grown and processed as you walk around the small footpaths, exploring this beautiful garden. There is a real sense of peace and natural beauty. This is the perfect spot to immerse yourself in a beautiful tropical ecosystem and learn about the unique plants and animals in the jungle.

If you are lucky, you may get to see dusky leaf monkeys playing in the trees. You can also see a wide variety of lizards. We have even seen a giant black tree squirrel in the area. The Tropical Spice Gardens has a jungle swing, jungle slides, a kid’s play area with a sandpit, a river where you can dip your feet in for a natural fish spa, and if you are feeling brave, there is also a poison garden. The Tropical Spice Gardens is one of our favorite activities in Batu Ferringhi. There is genuinely something very peaceful, mesmerizing, and enchanting about the Tropical Spice Garden.

The Tropical Spice Garden is situated around 10 minutes from Batu Ferringhi (on the road that leads west to Teluk Bahang). You can either take a Grab taxi or you can drive here. There is some parking available on the road outside the Tropical Spice Gardens.

4 Take a horse ride on the beach

Another way to enjoy the beautiful Batu Ferringhi beach is to take a horse ride along the beach. There are plenty of horses to ride; all you need to do is speak to the owner and negotiate a deal for a horse ride. We particularly recommend a horse ride around sunset when the temperature is cool, and you can enjoy beautiful sunset views over the ocean. In order to arrange a horse ride, you will need to speak to a local with a horse and agree on a time and price. It should cost around RM40 for a 30-minute horse ride along the beach (roughly £8 or $10). They may try to charge more than this; however, this is a fair price and you should be able to get this price if you barter.

5 Take a rickshaw ride

If you’re looking for a unique way to explore Batu Ferringhi in the evening, then why not take a rickshaw ride? It may be touristy but it’s fun and quirky! You can sit back and enjoy taking in the vibrant atmosphere of Batu Ferringhi in the evening as your ride pedals along the main strip of Batu Ferringhi. The rickshaw bicycles are well-illuminated with lights. You can fit up to four people on a rickshaw. The best place to arrange a ride is in front of Ferringhi Walk; you will see lots of rickshaws waiting. Just introduce yourself and remember to barter to get a fair price. The starting price (without bargaining) is RM50 (£10 or $12) for the short loop and RM70 (£14 or $16) for the long loop. You should be able to get a lower price if you barter and ask around.

6 Try some Nasi Champur local food

Malaysia has a beautiful diverse culture with Malays, Indians, and Chinese people living side by side. Batu Ferringhi is a diverse community with a lot of local food and local culture. If you are hoping to experience some authentic local Malaysian culture, then we highly recommend trying some Nasi Champur in Batu Ferringhi. This is a traditional Malaysian cuisine which is generally eaten around lunchtime (generally starts around 10am and finishes around 2pm). When you eat Nasi Champur, you will be given a rice plate and then you can select from a wide range of curries, vegetables, egg, fish, and fried chicken. Just pile up a tasty plateful.

One of the best places for Nasi Champur is called Umi’s. The prices are a little higher than other places, but the quality is genuinely excellent. We highly recommend the amazing pineapple curry. Umi’s is situated on Jalan Sungai Emas (not far from the petrol station). We have marked the location on the map to help you find it. This place is open most days of the week; however, it is often closed at lunchtime and it may also be closed during public holidays and Ramadan. A large plate of Nasi Champur is likely to cost around RM15 – RM25 (£3 – £5 or $4 – $6).

7 Visit the Batu Ferringhi fun fair

Batu Ferringhi has a fun fair which is perfect for younger kids (3 – 8 years old). The fun fair is situated opposite Ferringhi Walk. It generally opens early evening around 5:00 p.m. and stays open late into the evening. There is a good range of small activities including a mini roller coaster, a small train ride, trampolines with harnesses, and a few other activities. They have a shop selling snacks and drinks; it is free to enter the fun fair and there is a car park next to it (RM5 for parking).

You have to pay for tokens to go on the rides. Most rides require 2 – 4 tokens and it costs RM3 per token (around £0.60 or $0.80). Once you have purchased the tokens they are not refundable, so we recommend planning what rides your kids want to do before you purchase the correct number of tokens. Expect to pay around RM40 per child if they want to do a few rides (roughly £8 or $10)

8 Visit a Chinese temple

If you are interested in connecting with the rich local culture in Batu Ferringhi, then you can also take a visit to a small and very beautiful Chinese temple situated on the side of Jalan Sungai Satu. The Chinese temple is called Soo San Ching Tua Pek Kong Temple; the temple often holds celebrations and festivals. For example, during Chinese New Year, you can see Chinese lanterns and celebrations at the temple. They also hold celebrations for the hungry ghost festival, so if you are interested in Chinese Malaysian culture, make sure you check out this small and fascinating temple.

9 Take a morning stroll on the beach with a coffee

If you are spending some time in Batu Ferringhi, we highly recommend a peaceful morning walk on the beach. There are several coffee shops situated around Batu Ferringhi; the best coffee shop is called Zus. The coffee is genuinely excellent and very good value for money; it is also open relatively early so you can grab a morning coffee and take a peaceful morning stroll along the Batu Ferringhi beach. The beach remains relatively cool and shaded until around 10 am when the sun rises over the hills to the east. Some people do swim in the ocean here; however, we do not recommend this due to the high numbers of jellyfish.

10 Enjoy sushi on the beach

If you are looking for a superlative splash-out experience, then why not try some fresh, delicious sushi on the beach? If you are a sushi lover, then we highly recommend a meal at Natsu Bar & Dining. This is situated at Ferringi Walk (next to the Zus Coffee Shop).

The beautiful restaurant has seating on the beach, and they serve a creative and innovative menu of Japanese fusion food, including a range of fresh fish sashimi, sushi, and much, much more. The prices are relatively high; however, the quality is absolutely excellent.

11 Watch a fire dance performance

If you are looking for a unique thing to do in Batu Ferringhi, then we highly recommend watching one of the fire dance performances on the beach in the evening. Several of the bars and restaurants along the beach have performances every night (normally around 8 – 9 pm). We recommend the fire bounce performance at the Bora Bora Beach Bar and Restaurant. The performance is genuinely very impressive. The bars can get quite busy, and it can be challenging to find a table on the beach, so arrive early.

12 Try a local roti breakfast

If you are looking for unqiue hidden gems in Batu Ferringhi, why not try a local breakfast? There is a fantastic Roti place situated on the main road (close to the junction for Jalan Sungai Satu and opposite the Park Royal). Roti is a fried Indian bread. They can also add other ingredients such as egg (this is called “Roti Telur”). This small street-side cafe is genuinely a local gem; you will see locals enjoying Roti and Dahl. The prices are excellent.

A plate only costs RM2 – 3 (or £0.40 – £0.60 or $0.50 – $0.80), and the roti and curry are very fresh and tasty. Also, make sure you try the local tea called Teh Tarik; this is a sweet Indian tea with local spices. This small street-side cafe has a lovely atmosphere, and this is a great way to immerse yourself in an authentic local experience in the heart of Batu Ferringhi. This cafe is open most days from 7am – 12pm (may be closed on fridays and public holidays).

13 Get a massage

If you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Batu Ferringhi, then we highly recommend stopping at one of the local Spas for a massage. There are several small Spas situated along the main road Batu Ferringhi; you can get a 60-minute full-body massage for RM100 (around £20 or $25). For example, check out the Desire Spa & Reflexology Centre. This opens around 4 pm and late into the evening. They offer a range of relaxing treatments. If you’re looking for a more luxurious spa experience, then we highly recommend checking out the Hard Rock Hotel; this hotel has a spa which is open to the public. You can book a range of decadent treatments, and they often have special deals and discounts. For example, you may be able to get reduced prices in their bar or restaurant if you book a treatment at the Spa.

14 Visit the Ferringhi Station food court

And finally, if you are visiting Batu Ferringhi in the evening, we highly recommend trying the local food court called Ferringhi Station (Formerly Long Beach). This is a medium-sized food court with lots of small stalls (called hawkers); they sell a wide range of dishes, including Indian food, Chinese food, Western food, Seafood, and Middle Eastern food. When you arrive, you need to find a table and take note of your table number; you can then explore the wide array of food options.

Once you have decided what you want to eat, you can order your food at the stall and tell them your table number. They will bring the food to your table (pay when it arrives). We recommend arriving nice and early because this food court gets quite busy after 7pm. The whole experience is a lot of fun. There really is a wide variety of delicious fresh food and the prices are very affordable. Most dishes range in price between RM10 – RM15 (£2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4).