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Which beach is the best beach in Penang in 2026? In this article we will share a few of Penang’s best beaches and then give our humble opinion on THE BEST beach in Penang in Penang.
Before you read on, a lot of things have changed in Penang recently and there is a lot of out of date information on the internet. In this article we share fresh up to date information on Penang beaches.
We are also going to focus on beaches located in the north of Penang – beaches which are more accessible from the primary tourist locations (Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi).
Penang does have some beautiful beaches – but if you’re planning to spend lots of time on the beach – we think the beaches in Langkawi are nicer. Don’t miss our guide for a full comparison of Penang and Langkawi
Love a good beach? Don’t MISS our selection of THE BEST beach resorts in Penang
Looking for more inspiration? Don’t miss our AMAZING one week Penang itinerary
The best beach in Penang map
The BEST beach in Penang? Keep your expectations in check
Before you read on, it is important to keep your expectations in check. If you are looking for the best beach in Penang, bear in mind that many beaches in Penang are not clean. Sadly, there is often a lot of plastic and rubbish on beaches in Penang. Furthermore, the water around Penang tends to be quite murky and often has jellyfish. There can also be large waves and strong currents, depending on the season.
We are not trying to put you off, the beaches around Penang are lovely in their own right. But if you are dreaming of crystal clear waters and pristine tropical beaches, we recommend trying some other locations around Malaysia (or Thailand!) For example the Perhentian islands, Redang Island and Tioman island have cleaner water and also cleaner beaches.
Important changes to the Penang National Park
To enter the Penang National park you will need to obtain an entry permit from the ticket office (at the park entrance). The prices are as follow:
- Non-Malaysians RM50 and Malaysians RM10
- Non-Malaysian student RM20 and for a Malaysian student RM5 (bring a student card).
- For children 3 – 12 years old it costs RM15 for mon-Malaysians and RM5 for Malaysians. Children under 3 years old are FREE.
- Both Malaysian and Non-Malaysian Senior Citizens (60 years and older) are FREE.
1 Batu ferringhi Beach
Batu Ferringhi beach is an absolute classic. If you are looking for good holiday vibes, watersports, beachside restaurants and bars – Batu Ferringhi may be the BEST beach in Penang for you.
The main downside of batu ferringhi beach is but it is more busy due to tourism in the area. There are lots of large resorts and hotels along the beachfront in batu ferringhi so be prepared that you will be sharing the beach space with other happy people (that doesn’t sound so bad does it?)
Depending on the time of year and which part of the beach you are on, it is possible to see the sunset over the ocean from batu ferringhi Beach. The sunsets are genuinely very beautiful in Penang and this is a great spot to enjoy a sunset and the chilled out beach culture of Batu Ferringhi. Batu Ferringhi also has loads of lovely restaurants serving local and international food and a fabulous night market. Although we love Batu Beach, we don’t think this is the best beach in Penang.
LEARN MORE – Things to do in Batu Ferringhi
2 Tanjung Bungah Beach
Tanjung Bungah is a residential district on the north coast of Penang with a few condos along the seafront. This sandy beach is relatively clean. There are trees giving some shade too. There are a couple of areas that allow access to the beach in Tanjung Bungah. For a built up area the beach is actually relatively quiet here.
Tanjung Bungah is mostly home to locals and expats living in Penang. So, if you’re looking for a beach that is relatively quiet and not too hard to get to – the Tanjung Bungah beach may be a good option for you. This beach does however lack the beautiful wild tropical vibes of some of the other beaches in Penang. There is also a lack of restaurants and amenities that you will find on Batu Ferringhi beach. Tanjung Bungah beach is nice but in our opinion it is not the best beach in Penang. ALSO not far from the Tanjung Bungah Beach is the Mercure hotel which also has a LOVELY section of beach.
4 The USM Beach in the National Park (Teluk Ailing)
Located in the Penang National Park, between the park entrance and Monkey Beach you can find Teluk Ailing. This is not the best beach in Penang. Despite being in the Penang National Park, this sorry beach lacks the charm and beauty of the other beaches in the National Park.
In the middle of the beach is a large pier. Boat services sometimes stop here to drop off and pick up passengers. Teluk Ailing is also home to the USM Centre For Marine and Costal Studies (CEMACS). In our view, this beach doesn’t have a lot to offer. The surrounding National Park landscape is beautiful – but this is the case along the entire coastline. The trail from the National Park entrance to Teluk Ailing is in reasonable condition and you can walk this route. The trail from Teluk Ailing to Monkey Beach is overgrown in sections and has many broken walkways and stairs. If you are visiting the National Park we recommend taking a boat to Monkey Beach or trekking to Turtle Beach.
5 Monkey Beach in the National Park
It costs RM50 to enter the Penang National Park. Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on Monkey Beach Penang.
Further along the coast past Teluk Ailing is Monkey Beach. Monkey Beach is a beautiful beach with trees, a couple of small cafes and even a small campsite. The aptly named monkey beach is a great place to see Macaque monkeys and the beautiful Dusky Leaf Monkeys. In the past you could trek to Monkey Beach from the entrance to the National Park. At present the trail is officially closed. Many of the wooden ramps and steps have fallen into disrepair.
The best way to get to Monkey Beach from the National Park entrance is to take a boat (RM100 return of RM70 one way). Boats can take up to 10 people. These are private boats so they wont wait for a big group to share the cost. However, we do recommend asking around if you see other people looking for a boat. Be aware that everything is very basic here. We recommend bringing plenty of water and food.
Monkey Beach is now the only place you can camp in the National Park without a guide. The Campsite is called LazyBoys campsite. They have 2 person tents. It costs RM30 per night for a tent. It costs RM15 per person per night to use the facilities at Lazy Boy (toilets, showers and drinking water). Be aware that this is a very basic and simple campsite – what you would hope for in a national park adventure! On the hill above monkey beach you can also trek up to the beautiful Muka Head lighthouse. We do love monkey beach – but this is not our absolute favourite beach in Penang.
5 Turtle Beach in the National Park (Pantai Kerachut)
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on Turtle Beach Penang – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO NOW
Turtle beach is one of the nicest beaches in Penang. Turtle beach really does have all of the tropical vibes. We love the wild feel of this paradise beach. There is soft sand, trees for shade, a picturesque pier and this beach seems cleaner than the other beaches in Penang.
There is a meromictic lake at the entrance to turtle beach – the unique mix of fresh water and salt water creates a very unique ecosystem here. There is also a small Turtle Sanctuary located on turtle beach. It is possible to see turtles at this beach:
You can often see turtles throughout the year at the Penang turtle sanctuary. There is not necessarily a preferred season for egg laying.
Free entry and it is open 10am – 4.30pm every day of the week (may be closed on some public holidays).
If you’re looking for a paradise beach and don’t mind a mission to get there then this may be THE BEST beach in Penang.
To get to turtle beach you need to trek for around 1-2 hours from the entrance of the National Park. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.
However, this is a challenging trek due to the hill, terrain and heat. We recommend bringing plenty of food and water if you plan to visit Turtle Beach. There is also a beach slightly further into the National Park called Teluk Kampi. You can walk to this beach from Turtle Beach.
Boats cost RM100 one way and RM200 return. However, the drivers may charge more if you try to arrange your boat from turtle beach. Also be aware that there is no phone signal on Turtle Beach, so we recommend arranging boats at the entrance to the National Park. It costs RM50 to enter the Penang National Park.
7 Pantai Tropical (The Tropical Spice Gardens)
In our opinion this is THE BEST beach in Penang. Pantai Tropical is a small sandy beach located in front of the Tropical Spice Gardens on the road between Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang. There is some off road parking available at this beach. Pantai Tropical is a relatively small and quiet beach nestled into the jungle covered surroundings. A couple of local food restaurants overlook the beach.
Pantai Tropical is relatively easy to get to (the 101 bus runs along this road). It also affords all of the charm of a tropical beach – without having to pay the entrance fees of the national park and trek or take a boat.
What is THE BEST beach in Penang?
Which is the best beach in Penang? Admittedly this question is pretty subjective. It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want the classic holiday experience (bars, restaurants and watersports) then Batu Ferringhi is the best beach in Penang for you. If you want an adventure to a wild tropical beach – then Turtle Beach is probably the best choice for you. If you want a beautiful tropical beach that is relatively easy to get to then Pantai Tropical is the best beach in Penang for you.
What is the BEST beach hotel in Penang?
If you’re looking for a hotel next to a quiet and tranquil beach in Penang check out The Angsana. This is also a great location for attractions in Penang.
If you’re looking for a hotel on Batu Ferringhi beach we would recommend The Hard Rock hotel – lots of fun and great value for money.
