15 Best Beaches In Penang You Have To Visit

Penang is an exotic tropical island on the north-west coast of Malaysia presents a fascinating fusion of the East and the West. Penang managed to embrace the modern waive while still managing to preserve its traditional charm. This harmonious multicultural city today is one of the world’s street food capitals with an incredible mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay food. There are many good reasons to visit this island but in this article, we’ll focus on the best beaches in Penang you shouldn’t miss visiting. 

However, as I said, don’t think that Penang is all about beaches and food. One could argue that Penang, alongside Singapore, is the most multicultural cosmopolitan city in Southeast Asia. After all, Penang is called the Pearl of the Orient and this Penang travel guide will show you why.

Getting To Penang

You can reach Penang by any form of transport. Penang has an international airport which is an hour away from Kuala Lumpur. While we’re at it, if you’re looking for the cheapest flights to Penang, use this Qatar Airways discount code to save 20% off on your flight. Alternatively, you can also reach the island via a bus or train with the bus being the cheapest option.

If you’re coming from Kuala Lumpur, the bus will take around 6 hours. Check out this article if you’re planning a road trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.  You can also reach by boat since Penang has one of the biggest ports in the country. Finally, you can rent your own car and drive on your own. If you’re planning to do this, get 30% off with this AutoEurope special offer. 

Where To Stay In Penang

As for accommodation, there are a lot of options to choose from. If you want to be close to all the clubs and the vibrant nightlife, the right place for you is George Town. George Town is the capital of Penang. Once an important international trading hub, George Town will blow you away with its stunning street art, bustling shops, historic buildings, amazing nightlife, and of course, multiculturalism. Walking down the streets of George Town feels like a Mini-Asia of itself where people don’t hold grudges against people from different ethnicities and religions.

For a place close to the beach choose either Batu Ferringhi (a more expensive option) or Tanjung Bungah ( a more budget option). If you are a nature lover and you want to stay away from the urban area, you can get the perfect accommodation in Bayan Lepas. Finally, if you love street food, sightseeing, and shopping, the best area to stay would be Gourney Drive.

The Best Beaches In Penang

Now that we covered some basics about the beautiful island of Penang, let’s focus on what this article is really about- the best beaches in Penang, starting with…

Batu Ferringhi Beach

Batu Ferringhi Beach is always the first place I think of when someone mentions Penang. Despite its popularity, what surprises me every time is how it maintains its cleanliness; unlike most similar popular spots, the beach looks even better every next time I visit; the landscapes are some of the most beautiful on the island and the variety of activities available for visitors remains unmatched by any of the other beaches on the island. You can try surfing, jet skiing, banana boating, and kayaking and of course, try some street food at the Batu Ferringhi Night Market, the perfect spot to dive into Penang’s famous street food scene.

Tanjung Bungah Beach

Located right next to the suburbs of Georgetown, Tanjung Bungah is one of the best beaches in Penang for sailing and parasailing. Getting to the beach is an adventure on its own that guides visitors through the picturesque rustic, and laid-back neighborhoods of the island’s capital. Next to the beach, you’ll also find a charming fisherman village that in addition to the gorgeous landscapes, offers a glimpse into local life.

Pulau Jerejak

Pulau Jerejak, an island with a name meaning “grill”, mirrors its history as a place of confinement and seclusion. Located off Penang Island’s southeastern tip, it spans about 362 hectares​​. This small island has seen a multitude of phases: from being crammed with people afflicted with leprosy and tuberculosis, diseases marked by profound suffering and unmistakable symptoms​​, to its transformation into a cluster of Malay villages, a quarantine station, and a high-security detention center, before finally becoming a resort island​​.

Monkey Beach

Monkey Beach, or Teluk Duyung, located on the northwesternmost coast of Penang Island within Penang National Park, is a place that could ignite anyone’s creative muse. Known for its friendly crabs and fine white sand, it’s celebrated as one of Penang’s most famous and beautiful coves​​​​. The name itself, derived from the Crab-eating Macaques that inhabit the area, adds a layer of intrigue and natural wonder to the setting​​.

Teluk Bahang Beach

Teluk Bahang Beach, located in the northwest corner of Penang, Malaysia, exudes a charm that could spark any writer’s imagination. Renowned for its laid-back atmosphere, which starkly contrasts with the bustling energy of Georgetown, the beach offers an old, rustic, and relaxed feel​​​​. As a busy fishing village, Teluk Bahang features a quaint jetty and shallow inlet where small fishing boats are moored, painting a picturesque scene reminiscent of a simpler time. The village, originally a strip of wooden houses along the beachfront, has gracefully expanded inland, adding a few blocks of low-cost housing and diversifying its landscape​​.

Tanjung Asam Beach

Next on our list of the best beaches in Penang, we have Tanjung Asam. Its distinct feature is a lone tree at the headland, standing as a silent witness to the ebb and flow of time and tides​​. Known also as Pantai Tanjung Asam, this picturesque coastal retreat in the Bayan Lepas area offers a serene environment with its sandy expanse tinged with a golden hue and the clear blue waters of the Malacca Strait providing a stunning backdrop​​.

Pantai Kerachut

Pantai Kerachut, also known as Turtle Beach is one of our favorite Penang hidden gems. The beach is accessible only by boat or a challenging hike, attracts those who seek a piece of tranquility. The beach’s uncommercialized nature adds to its charm. The absence of vendors and the necessity to bring one’s own supplies create a setting where the focus is on the natural surroundings and personal experience, rather than external distractions​​. And of course, we shouldn’t forget about the turtle sanctuary responsible for the area’s nickname (Turtle Beach). If you like turtles and would like to see some baby turtles on your trip to Penang, this is one place your really shouldn’t miss.

Gertak Sanggul

Gertak Sanggul, with its swaying coconut palms and white sandy beach, really embodies the picture-perfect Malaysian fishing village. It’s a place where the rhythms of traditional life continue against the backdrop of the sea. The village’s name has a whimsical origin: during World War II, under Japanese occupation, local Malay women cycling along uneven roads would often have their hair buns (sanggul) come undone. The Japanese, observing this, began referring to the area as Gertak Sanggul.

I came across a fascinating detail about Gertak Sanggul – it’s known as the place where the Yellow Bus turns around. This is the final stop for buses at the southwestern tip of Penang Island before they head back to the bustling city. There’s something poetic about this – a place that signifies both an end and a beginning, a pause before the return journey.

Pasir Panjang Beach

Pasir Panjang, once a serene fishing hamlet in Balik Pulau, Penang, has undergone significant transformations over the years. Nestled on the southwestern tip of Penang Island and facing the Straits of Malacca, it used to be a simple place with just a few fishermen’s huts along its sandy shores. But now, those huts are replaced by Kem Bina Negara, an outward bound camp.

Teluk Kampi

If you’re looking for a place that’s a little off the beaten path, Teluk Kampi in Penang is a real gem. Tucked away in Penang National Park, it’s this tranquil, gently curved bay that’s not swamped with tourists known for sea turtles who are frequent visitors to the shore where they lay their eggs. So, if you’re there at the right time, you might get to see baby turtles hatching​. Getting there is a bit of an adventure – it’s a good two or three-hour hike through some stunning natural landscapes. But trust me, the views you get are totally worth the effort.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach in Penang, not to be confused with its Floridian namesake, is a quaint stretch of coastline nestled between Shamrock Beach and Moonlight Bay in Batu Ferringhi. In the ’60s and ’70s, it was a popular picnic and camping spot, but it has since seen significant development, including housing estates and hotels like the Miami Green Condominium and Hydro Majestic Hotel​​​​.

Getting to Miami Beach is pretty straightforward – the Miami Cafe is your landmark. Once there, you’ll find stairs leading down to the beach. It’s accessible by bus from either Weld Quay Bus Terminal in George Town or Penang International Airport​​.

Pantai Kilat

This list of the best beaches in Penang can’t be complete without mentioning Pantai Kilat; a tranquil beach nestled along the pristine Andaman Sea with soft golden sands and serene landscapes. It’s one of Penang’s dog-friendly beaches and a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, or having a picnic by the beach. If you’re up for some adventure, there’s kayaking and paddleboarding too

Tropical Public Beach

If you’re trying to find the best beaches in Penang, you just got to check out Tropical Public Beach, known for its soft, golden sand and waters that shimmer in shades of blue and green. As its name suggests, it’s a public (meaning free of charge) beach but it’s still a bit hidden and therefore not a lot of tourists end up making it here.

Dana Beach

Dana Beach in Teluk Kumbar, Malaysia is one of the best beaches in Penang that you probably never heard of. Nestled in a quaint, relatively unfrequented town, and on top of that, in a secluded area, this hidden gem offers mesmerizing views that make the not-so-short journey required to get there completely worth it. The beach is known for its cleanliness and is particularly family-friendly, making it an ideal place for a day out with the kids​​, perfect for a family looking for a quiet getaway.

Sungai Batu Beach

Last but not least, we conclude this list of the best beaches in Penang with Sungai Batu. Sungai Batu is a quiant beach in southern Penang that somehow (to my large personal surprise) retains much of its untouched, rustic charm. This coastal village, nestled between Bayan Lepas and Teluk Kumbar, is a serene getaway from the more developed parts of Penang. The local community, primarily fishermen, adds to the authentic feel of the area​​. One of the highlights near Sungai Batu is Teluk Bayu, a stretch of sandy beach lined with casuarina trees providing ample shade, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely day.

Helpful Tips For Visiting The Best Beaches In Penang

For the cheapest flights to Penang, this Qatar Airways discount code can get you up to 20% off on your flight. I use it when booking all of my flights to Asia and it helped me save a lot throughout the years.

For the best travel insurance deals on the market, check out SafetyWing.

If you want to rent a car in Penang, save as much as 30% off with this AutoEurope special offer.

To save on all bus, train or ferry rides in Malaysia, book with 12goasia and save big on all transportation bookings in Malaysia.

To save on accommodation in Penang, use this Booking.com discount code to get discounts on all accommodation rentals in town.

Finally, don’t forget about the visa requirements. Malaysia’s visa regime is quite liberal but if you’re from a country that requires a visa, you can get an eNTRI visa here quickly and hassle-free.

Bonus tip: if you have a flexible calendar, try to visit Penang in January or February to witness the Thaipusam, one of the most unusual festivals in Asia. This festival features an 8 km procession from George Town to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani at the top of the hill. Devotees have a couple of different ways of celebrating the festival. The softest form includes carrying kavadis, which is a big pot of milk over their head. The most severe form includes piercing their cheeks and tongues with skewers to stop themselves from talking during the next month.

 Did you like this list of the best beaches in Penang? Did you ever visit any of them? Do you think there are some things I forgot to mention? Let me know in the comments!

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