Table of Contents
Penang is an amazing place for adventurous tropical travel. In this article we will share some amazing hidden gems in Penang in 2026. You won’t believe these places are in Penang!
We have traveled Penang extensively and have even lived in Penang for a couple of years. We love exploring and finding the best hidden gems in Penang. So we’re super excited to share some of these amazing places with you.
Planning a trip to Penang? Don’t miss our guide on THE BEST areas to stay in Penang
What is a hidden gem in Penang?
Before we start, a little disclaimer. The hidden gems in Penang that we’re going to share in this article are not necessarily places which are absolutely hidden and unknown to anyone. If you are looking for something like this, then we recommend that you just go and explore off the beaten track.
The hidden gems in Penang that we share in this article are places that holidaymakers and tourists often miss. These are places that are known better to locals and expats living in Penang. The hidden gems in Penang that we share in this article may not have much written about them online. And they are amazing places with unique character and charm. Each of these hidden gems in Penang have something that makes them well worth visiting.
Planning a holiday in Penang? Don’t miss our amazing one week Penang itinerary. Step-by-step ideas and inspiration for the perfect Penang holiday.
If you are planning to travel to Penang to experience something unique and make real memories, keep reading…
Map of the best hidden gems in Penang
Here is a map to help you navigate to these hidden gems in Penang…
1 Relax at a secret beach (Pantai Tropical)
If you are planning a holiday in Malaysia the chances are you are hoping for some sun, sea and sand. One of our hidden gems in Penang is a secret, secluded beach on the North Coast.
The aptly named Pantai tropical (Tropical Beach) is a small, clean, serene beach located near the tropical spice Gardens between Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang. This little beach is occasionally frequented by locals but it is rare to see anyone else here. Depending on when you visit, there is a good chance you will have this lovely little beach totally to yourself.
If you farm visit Pantai tropical don’t miss the Tropical Spice Gardens on the other side of the road. This is a small beautiful garden with winding paths, little ponds and water features. You can also take guided tours of the tropical Spice Garden and learn more about local trees, herbs and spices.
Don’t miss our FULL guide to THE BEST beaches in Penang
2 Stay at the Lost Paradise
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on the Lost Paradise Resort
The Lost Paradise is a stunning little resort located on the North Coast of Penang near Batu Ferringhi. This lovely resort has 3 outdoor swimming pools, breathtaking coastal views, and grand suites with elegant and artistic interiors. This resort has a beautiful rustic ambiance with Moroccan, Indonesian and Malay influences. Small ponds, tropical foliage and relaxing seating areas.
The Lost Paradise can also hook you up with trips and tours in the area. The only disadvantage of this resort is the lack of on-site restaurant. However, there are some great food places nearby. Don’t miss Sri Ananda AND JJ Garden Food court in Tanjung Bunga (both a short drive from the Lost Paradise). ALSO for breakfast the wet market has amazing hawkers.
The Lost Paradise enjoys and excellent location on the 101 bus route – you can easily access Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi from here. The rooms and suites at Lost Paradise are large, spacious and have great views. They also have bathtubs and other attractive features. For the money the Lost Paradise really is an amazing Hidden Gem in Penang. If your planning to splash out don’t miss the decadent Maharaja Suite. BOOK early to avoid disappointment.
OH YEAH, if you choose to stay at this superlative resort you are also supporting their special needs school – providing a caring and inclusive education to special needs children in Penang.
3 Trek to the secret Penang Hill rest stop
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on this trek
If you are looking for intrepid hidden gems in Penang then Penang Hill is the spot for you. Penang Hill is a large, jungle-covered hill in the centre of Penang Island with loads of small secret trails and hidden gems.
Before you read on, it is very important to be aware of safety if you’re planning to go trekking on Penang Hill. The number of paths and trails can make navigation quite challenging. We recommend using a good map or a phone with offline maps and GPS to help you navigate.
We also strongly recommend that you stay on trails and never try taking off trail short cuts through the jungle. Many people go missing on Penang Hill, so safety is paramount. Also as you are walking on Penang Hill be aware of poisonous snakes and insects on the trail and in trees.
This is a male wagler’s pit viper. We spotted him in a tree in the Botanical gardens. His bite is potentially lethal.
Hidden on the ridge of Penang Hill is the Penang Hill exercise park and rest station. This secluded spot is known to locals as Rest Station number 5. This is a very beautiful, secluded, scenic and natural area in Penang. The locals are also very welcoming and are likely to share coffee with you.
To get to the Penang Hill Rest Station 5, you need to start from the road just before the Penang Botanical Gardens. Before you get to the main park in the botanical gardens there is a moon gate (to the left) with a trail leading up Penang Hill.
Follow the steep trail up the hill, keep trekking up the steps and eventually you will get to the Penang Hill rest station and exercise Park.
When you get there you will find exercise machines, seats and beautiful views. There are also toilets and locals often share coffee and snacks here.
After you have enjoyed the Penang Hill Rest Station 5, you can continue to trek along the ridge for another couple of kilometres. Stay on the main trail.
Eventually you will reach the steep winding jungle Road which connects the top of the hill with the Botanical Gardens (close to your starting point). If you follow this road downhill you will eventually get back down to the Botanical Gardens. The whole trek is likely to take several hours and we have included a super helpful route map for you.
This is a relatively challenging trek and we recommend leaving at least 3 or 4 hours for the full route. Remember to wear good shoes suitable for trekking in the jungle. We recommend trainers. Also bring plenty of water and snacks for the route. Due to the hot climate and steep hill this is a pretty challenging route. The whole trek is around 6km. Bring plenty of water. If you see monkeys on the trail don’t show them your snacks!
4 Have a Nasi campur lunch at the floating mosque
Another hidden gem in Penang is the Nasi Champur place opposite the floating mosque.
Nasi campur is a Malaysian traditional food. You will be given a plate of rice and then you choose to add different vegetables, curries, eggs, chicken and seafood. Nasi campur means “mixed rice”. And this is the perfect name for the dish. The great thing about nasi campur is that it tends to be very good value for money. Expect to pay between 5 and 15 ringgits for a generous plate of nasi campur (depending what additional things you select).
The Nasi Champur place opposite the floating mosque is one of those hidden gems in Penang known only to locals. Many tourists and holidaymakers who visit Penang do not know about this place and therefore miss it.
The best time of day to eat nasi campur is at lunchtime. This place can get quite busy with locals at lunchtime. In our opinion this just adds to the awesome atmosphere.
5 Visit the Penang turtle sanctuary (National Park)
This is one of our favourite hidden gems in Penang. You can visit a cute little turtle sanctuary on Turtle Beach in the Penang National Park.
The Penang Turtle Sanctuary is committed to CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION and EDUCATION to protect wild sea turtles. They monitor wild sea turtles which naturally lay eggs on Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut).
The turtle sanctuary also protects the buried eggs and monitor hatching (it takes 7-10 weeks for eggs to hatch).
Baby turtles are placed in a small pool to allow them to grow before being released into the wild. The Turtle Sanctuary welcomes visitors throughout the year to help people LEARN and CONNECT with these majestic animals.
At the Penang Turtle Sanctuary it is possible to see the area where eggs are protected by hatching baskets. The eggs themselves are buried deep in the sand to provide a safe environment and a stable temperature for egg development.
There are TWO ways to get to the Turtle Sanctuary:
- Trek along a beautiful jungle trail to Turtle Beach (3.5km each way)
- Take a boat from the Penang National Park entrance to Turtle Beach.
It is also possible to trek OUT to Turtle Beach and then take a boat back. However, if you choose this option you will need to wait at Turtle Beach for a boat that is ready to return. There is no phone signal at turtle beach – this really is a wild intrepid location.
The walk to turtle beach is around 3.5km each way and takes 1 – 1.5 hours to walk depending on your pace and stopping time.
The other way to get to the Penang Turtle Sanctuary is to go to the National Park entrance and arrange a boat. Boats cost RM100 (around £20 or $25) for a one way trip to Turtle Beach and RM200 (around £40 or $50) for a return trip. You do not need to book a boat in advance. If you are hoping to save some money we recommend asking other travelers at the National Park entrance whether they would like to share a boat with you. Boats can take up to 10 passengers.
It is FREE to visit the Penang Turtle Sanctuary. BUT you do need to pay the National Park fee to visit the Turtle Sanctuary on Turtle Beach.
The Turtle Sanctuary is located in Turtle Beach in the Penang National Park. The Penang National Park are planning to introduce entry fees for the National Park. It is RM50 for an entrance ticket (foreigners). The exact date that they plan to start charging is still to be confirmed. It is likely to be between July and September 2022.
- Registration at the Penang National Park 8am – 4.30pm daily
- The Turtle Sanctuary is open daily from 10am – 4.30pm
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on the Penang Turtle Sanctuary
6 The Penang wet market and local breakfast
This is not the most secret of our hidden gems in Penang but it is well worth a mention. The Penang wet market is located in Tanjung Bungah, an area that is out of the way of the main tourist attractions in Penang. This is where locals buy fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. The Penang wet market is open early in the morning until late in the morning. This lovely market is normally open around 6 a.m. until midday. The best time to visit the Penang wet market is around 7 – 8 a.m. Just next to the Penang wet market is a Hawker Centre.
The Penang wet market Hawkers sell a range of foods including Roti, Hokkien Mee, Char Kway Teow, Dim Sum, Chinese steamed buns and much more. We absolutely love the atmosphere in the Penang wet market hawkers. This is a very popular local breakfast spot. Locals sit together chatting, eating and laughing together. If you are having breakfast at the Penang wet market hawkers, don’t forget to take a stroll around the wet markets itself to take in the atmosphere of this lovely local place.
The Penang wet market is out of the way of the main tourist attractions in Penang. To get to the Penang wet market you will need to take a bus or taxi from Georgetown. If you take a taxi you can use Grab in Malaysia. Alternatively buses are a fast and convenient way to get around Penang. From Georgetown take the 101 bus which runs from Georgetown to Teluk Bahang.
7 Have a local breakfast at the Transfer Road roti place in Georgetown
If you are only staying briefly in Georgetown this is one of the more convenient hidden gems in Penang that is easy to do. The transfer Road roti chenai is the Georgetown chaos at its best. This is not the most secret of hidden gems in Penang, but it is well worth a visit if you want to experience the real crazy Georgetown vibe and buzz.
The Transfer Road roti chenai place is a small street side stall which is very popular with the locals for breakfast. We love the crazy, lively and fun atmosphere of this place. The transfer Road roti chenai place is open for breakfast from around 7 a.m. until late morning. If you decide to try roti chenai here you may need to wait to sit down. Many locals come here to enjoy roti for breakfast. The roti chenai at the Transfer Road store is very cheap and very tasty, costing a couple of ringgits a plate.
You can order a variety of different types of roti. You can have plain roti with dal, roti with egg or roti with chicken curry. If you order roti with chicken curry it will be delightfully served with your chicken curry slopped on top of the roti. If you plan to eat here we also recommend trying the local drink, Teh Tarik. This is a sweet and spicy Indian tea with a lovely froth on top.
8 Trek to a secret hill temple with an amazing view
This is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Penang. This one is definitely well off-the-beaten-track. If you follow the trail above Air Itam dam in Penang, you can reach a very beautiful Hill temple. Ngor Hean temple is located in a remote and quiet area of Penang Hill. Ngor Hean temple (五显) has a beautiful flower garden and an amazing view over balik pulau (the back of the Island).
It is free of charge to visit this beautiful Temple. However, you will need to get there on your own steam and be prepared for some hill trekking. The trek starts by Air Itam dam. There is a carpark at this location.
We recommend bringing good shoes, light loose fitting clothes and a bag with snacks and plenty of water. We have marked this secret Penang Hill temple on the map the help you locate it and get there.
Also, if you love amazing Chinese temples, a much more popular Temple is called Kek Lok Si temple. This temple is much bigger and closer to civilization. Kek Lok Si Temple is located on a hill in Air Itam. Kek Lok Si Temple is too popular to count as one of the hidden gems in Penang, however it is a very beautiful and remarkable Chinese temple with stunning artwork and amazing views over Georgetown. Well worth a visit.
9 Visit the secret lily pond at the Botanical Gardens
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on the Penang Botanical Gardens
The Penang Botanical Gardens may not be one of the hidden gems in Penang in its own right. They may be beautiful but the Penang Botanical Gardens are well known. However, they do have a range beautiful little secrets. For example, there is actually a large waterfall in the Penang Botanical Gardens. Officially, however, it is not possible to see this waterfall because it is part of a private Water Treatment Plant.
However, if you are visiting the Penang Botanical Gardens, there is a secret jungle trail leading to a beautiful little lily pond in the jungle. The walk to the lily ponds at the Penang Botanical Gardens is not too far or challenging. So this is one of the more accessible hidden gems in Penang. Another great thing about the Penang Botanical Gardens is the array of beautiful wildlife. It is almost impossible to take a walk in the Penang Botanical Gardens and not see some amazing creatures.
10 Have dinner at Viva – local food Haven
Don’t miss our guide on THE BEST Penang Hawkers and THESE must try Penang Hawker Dishes
No list of hidden gems in Penang would be complete without its fair share of food. The best way to find great food in Penang is to look at where the locals go.
Another one of our hidden gems in Penang is the Viva Hawkers located near the large Lotus supermarket in tanjung tokong.
Malaysian Hawkers are places that have a common seating area and lots of small stalls selling street food. In a Malaysian Hawker you find the table and then go to the stalls to order your food and tell them your table number. They will then bring the food to your table where you pay.
The Hawkers at Viva are fantastic. Although this is not the most secret of the hidden gems in Penang, this place is quite well known to locals. It is slightly off the tourist trail in Penang. The Viva hawkers sell a wide range of food, especially Chinese Malaysian dishes. Here are a few things but you can get at the Viva hawkers. We absolutely love the Claypot chicken rice here. The Char Koay Teow is also excellent. At Viva you can also get an excellent oyster omelette. If you are in the mood for a kebab there is a stall selling kebabs and wraps.
On the other hand, if you fancy some sushi there is a stall selling fresh sushi and sashimi for very reasonable prices. And there’s lots more here. As ever, this Hawker Centre also has a cafe serving a range of local drinks including fresh juices and hot drinks like Teh Tarik.
The food prices at Viva are very cheap. Many dishes start at around 5-10 ringgits. More expensive dishes may cost 20-30 ringgits.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION? Don’t miss our ONE WEEK Penang itinerary and our FULL guide on THE BEST things to do in Penang
