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Penang Hill is dense, green and cool. Think Lonavala, but much denser. It's one of the top things to do in Penang.
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The funicular
We booked tickets in advance (on Agoda). The funicular station has nice storyboards on the hill's flora and bird species.
- On busy days the normal-ticket queue is 1–1.25 hours, and an express ticket skips it.
- We took a normal ticket and got lucky, with almost no wait.
The top
An observation deck and photo point with views over the whole of George Town. It's noticeably cooler up here. Don't miss the prettiest little hill-station police station you'll ever see.
The Habitat
A friend suggested this, and it was the highlight. It's called the gateway to the UNESCO Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve. There's a village-vibe café, and a nature walk you buy tickets for.
- The trail takes about 45 minutes. It's cool, fresh and deeply green, with no heat even in the sun.
- Langur Way Canopy Walk: a bridge through the treetops. It was empty when we went, and so were the langurs. They come out towards evening.
- Giant swing: for photos.
- Curtis Crest Treetop Walk: a platform at the top of the hill with a 360° view over Penang Hill, among the clouds. Totally worth it.
By the end of the day we'd hit 14,000+ steps. Travel while you're healthy!
Tip: The Habitat's café closes around 5 pm.
That evening we went to the night market. More: George Town guide.
FAQs
Do I need the express ticket for the Penang Hill funicular?
Only on busy days, when the normal queue can be 1–1.25 hours. We had a normal ticket and barely waited.
How long is The Habitat nature walk?
Around 45 minutes at an easy pace. The café near the entrance closes around 5 pm.
TAGS: PENANG · PENANG HILL · THE HABITAT · FUNICULAR · NATURE · MALAYSIA
💬 Questions & answers
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Prashant & Sunaina
A travel couple from Pune with Kashmiri Pandit × Maharashtrian roots, 8+ countries and counting. Every rupee shared.
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