Penang is an island in Malaysia full of delicious food, intriguing architecture and culture. Boutique hotels, in particular, are spreading through Penang. So where are the best areas to stay in Penang and what are the best hotels to stay in? After multiple visits to Penang and spending 5 weeks there recently, here are our favourite picks for where to stay in Penang and our Penang Accommodation Guide…
Contents
Where To Stay In Penang?
Booking Accommodation In Penang
Accommodation Guides
- Absolute Splurge
- Luxury For Less
- Hotels In Penang Under $150/night
Where To Stay In Penang?
Choosing where to stay in Penang might seem confusing at first but there are really only a couple of main choices, Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi.
Georgetown is the main town of Penang, home to beautiful colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and temples. This multicultural town is vibrant and quirky, with hardware shops that have so much stuff that the shop owners need to hold everything in before shutting the doors, the always busy motorbike mechanic and the many picture framers. The streets come alive in the evening with street food stalls. Georgetown is my pick for where to stay in Penang for food and for first-time visitors. There is a range of accommodation in Georgetown from budget to luxury hotels.
Batu Ferringhi is the beach area of Penang and is home to a few resorts and luxury hotels. This is a more relaxing area of Penang, a good option for where to stay in Penang for a family or couple, although Georgetown is still a good option too. Batu Ferringhi is lacking some of the culture of Georgetown. I have to say that Penang is not known for its beautiful beaches, so although it is relaxing to be by the beach, don’t expect pristine water.
We have stayed in both Batu Ferringhi and Georgetown and whilst I loved both, I feel the real heart of Penang is in Georgetown. There are, of course, other areas like Gurney and Tanjung Tokong which have an expat feel, but I feel these areas are better for longer stays as there are many Airbnb and apartment options here.
Booking Accommodation In Penang
When booking accommodation in Penang, there are two main websites that I use.
Booking.com
Booking.com has some of the best prices and a large number of accommodation options available. We love using it for our travels.
Airbnb
I love seeing what’s available from Airbnb, from getting to stay with a local host or having your own place to yourself, there’s something for everyone.
Sign up here to get $50 credit towards your first Airbnb stay
Penang Accommodation Guides
We have put together a guide of our favourite accommodation in Penang from our experience of our time there and research. We want to save you as much time researching as possible and have shortlisted what we think are the best hotels in Penang. This includes where to stay in Georgetown, boutique hotels in Penang and luxury hotels in Penang.
Please note: Prices below were based on peak season, per night and are in Australian Dollars. Prices were correct at the time of publishing this article.
Absolute Splurge: Luxury Accommodation In Penang
George Town
Macalister Mansion | $306 | Check Prices
Seven Terraces | $215 | Check Prices
Eastern & Oriental | $225 | Check Prices
G Hotel Kelawai | $154 | Check Prices
Batu Ferringhi
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa | $223 | Check Prices
Luxury For Less
George Town
The Edison | $145 | Check Prices
Noordin Mews | $124 | Check Prices
Loke Thye Kee Residences | $139 | Check Prices
Yeng Keng Hotel | $123 | Check Prices
Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion | $137 | Check Prices
Campbell House | $114 | Check Prices
Muntri Mews | $123 | Check Prices
Jawi Peranakan Mansion | $122 | Check Prices
Hotel Muntri Grove | $123 | Check Prices
Hotels In Penang under $100/night
George Town
Nam Keng Hotel | $93 | Check Prices
Ren I Tang Heritage Inn | $70 | Check Prices
The Southern Boutique Hotel | $48 | Check Prices
We will continually update this post to make sure we’re recommending the best Penang Accommodation, to help you choose where to stay in Penang.
Read More:
Healthy Food In Penang Malaysia
Where To Eat In Penang: Street Food, Restaurants & Dessert
Getting The Train From Penang To Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Our Favourite Travel Resources
What’s your pick of where to stay in Penang? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below…
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, we may make a small commission if you decide to book a hotel.