Penang Hill or Bukit Bendera is a popular tourist spot for its glorious panoramic views of the city during clear weather!
You can either get to the top by hiking or taking the Penang Hill funicular service, which also happens to be one of the steepest railways in the world!
Since it is a must-see attraction for many, so be ready for a crowd if you’re planning to go on a weekend or public holiday. Start by reading about our experience below.
History
The development of Penang Hill began in the late 1700s when the British made it into a colonial hill retreat (with several bungalows) due to cooler surroundings.
Many of these grand bungalows like the Convalescent Bungalow can still be seen on the hill today!
While a notable retreat, getting to the hill was pretty cumbersome; the only way up were either going on foot, horseback, or being carried on a sedan chair.
It was only during the 1900s, when the first Penang Hill Funicular Railway was finished, that traveling up Penang Hill became more accessible.
Of course, even that railway didn’t come without complications, so a second one was built later on in 1924!
The ~2,000m railway last went through a total upgrade in 2011, which coincided with an increase in ticket prices for non-Malaysians!
Today, the funicular still holds the regional record for being the fastest, longest and steepest funicular!
Taking The Funicular Up
Penang Hill Lower Station at Ayer Itam is the starting point if you want to take the funicular up to Penang Hill.
If you’re driving there, there’s a paid multi-story car park (with a lift) just across from the station.
You can get tickets for the funicular service online or at the counters here. The counters open from 6:15am to 9pm daily.
The hourly funicular service operates from 6:30am to 11pm with the last departure from Penang Hill Lower Station at 9:45pm. The last departure from Penang Hill Upper Station back down to Penang Hill Lower Station is at 11pm.
Check the schedule here for the latest information.
Note: They may run the service more frequently as needed.
Funicular travel duration: around 10 to 15 minutes
Ticket Pricing:
| Ticket Type | One-way | Two-way | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children | Adult | Children | Adult | Senior* | ||
| Citizen | Normal | RM4 | RM8 | RM8 | RM16 | RM8 |
| Fast Lane | RM10 | RM25 | RM20 | RM40 | RM8 | |
| Tourists | Normal | RM8 | RM15 | RM15 | RM30 | RM30 |
| Fast Lane | RM20 | RM45 | RM40 | RM80 | RM60 | |
*Seniors are classified as being 60 years old & above
Special Pricing/ Promotions:
| Special Rates/ Others | Price (Malaysian) | Price (Non-Malaysian) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise & Sunset Rates (Round trip)* | RM5 | N/A |
| Disabled Person | Free | N/A |
| Monthly Season Pass | RM40 | RM120 |
| Monthly Season Pass (6 Months) | RM220 | RM660 |
| Annual Season Pass | RM440 | RM1,320 |
Notes:
- Sunrise/ Sunset rates are only applicable to Malaysians (MyKad and MyKid holders only).
- Sunrise/ Sunset rates, train charter and compartment booking are not available during long weekends, festive seasons, school holidays and peak seasons.
- Sunset/Sunrise tickets (and one-way tickets) can only be purchased at the Lower Station ticket counter between 6:30am to 8am
Other Ways To Get Up To Penang Hill
Before you buy those tram tickets, you may want to consider the following options too! Driving up the hill yourself is not an option as you will need a special permit to do so.
1. Hiking Trails From Botanical Gardens
Taking the tram up to the top of Penang Hill takes considerably less time than hiking up.
If you still wish to enjoy the hiking trails (or save some money), you do have the option of buying a one-way ticket up, before hiking back down yourself!
There are heaps of hiking trails that will take you to the top of Penang Hill, so whether you want the exercise or to save some money, check the routes out below:
Route 1 – Via Penang Botanic Gardens
Find the side path into the forest somewhere in the trees after you enter the Penang Botanic Gardens, keeping to the left until you pass the admin building.
You may need to stop a local for directions at this point, just to be sure!
Some challenging steep steps will take you back to the main road in Route 1 where you continue the rest of the trek for another ~3.5km.
Route 2 – Via Main Road To Penang Botanic Gardens (Moongate)
An alternate trail to the trail inside the Penang Botanic Gardens is the Moongate trail. This trail does involve more jungle-trekking. The trail is steep for the initial 1km but gets easier for the remaining 4km.
The Moongate entrance is on the side of the main road on the way to the Penang Botanic Gardens.
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Route 3 – Via Youth Park
There is another hiking trail that goes up to Penang Hill. But it’s not at Penang Botanic Gardens. It’s over at Youth Park which is a very nice park, in our opinion.
Walk through the visitor carpark to reach the entrance of Youth Park. The start of this hiking trail is right by the entrance.
In the early morning, there are usually a lot of locals taking on this trail for exercise. You might see a lot of people heading up (or coming back down) depending on when you arrive.
2. Jeep Service From The Botanical Gardens
There is a private jeep service that you can charter from the Botanical Gardens. It takes the same winding road that hikers use to ascend Penang Hill. And the jeeps will drop you off at the Cliff Café on Penang Hill.
- Price Range: ~RM120 to RM160 for a return trip
- Jeep Duration: ~20 to 30 Minutes
What To Do
There are some things to do whilst on Penang Hill, with the scenic environment providing a perfect backdrop.
1. Take In The Sunrise (Or Sunset)
Going early in the morning for sunrise means you’ll have the hill to yourself, with plenty of time for picture taking!
You might spot more local wildlife too.
If you plan on visiting The Habitat for the night-time nature walk, arriving before sunset is recommended.
Just make sure not to stay too long as you don’t want to miss the last train down the hill.
Note: Sunset tours for The Habitat are only available on weekends
2. Have 180 Degree Views Of George Town
Make the most of a clear sunny day to have panoramic views of the city at the Penang Hill Sky Walk and Sky Deck!
Other lookout points:
- Skydeck East
- Skydeck West
Just be aware that these areas can get crowded, so try arriving earlier if you can.
There are some binoculars (coin-operated) and signs to help you spot major landmarks.
Remark: Free admission
3. Go On A Nature Trail
The nature trails here are easy enough for most people. See if you can spot flora (like monkey cups/ pitcher plants) that aren’t usually seen in the lower (and warmer) mainland.
Just don’t forget to pick up a map from the funicular station to get started! You can also scan a QR code and download the map at the queuing area before entering the train.
If luck is with you (and if you keep quiet enough), there are some rare animals to be seen at Penang Hill typically during midday!
- Giant black squirrel
- Dusky leaf monkey
- Greater racket-tailed drongo (very unusual black bird with long tail feathers)
We did in fact see all of these during a weekday afternoon without even trying, just look up at the trees.
4. See The Old Train Coach
Before the modern blue and white train, there was the original wooden coach which operated on a 2-section railway with a mid-station between the upper and lower stations.
Visitors can still have a look at one of these wooden carriages that were in operation for ~50 years before the current train.
There is one coach on display close to the exit of the Upper Station.
5. Check Out The 32-Pounder Cannon
It might seem out of place, but Penang Hill has a 32-pounder cannon that weighs almost 3 tons!
With a striking range of 1,000 feet, the cannon most likely served as a warning for approaching pirates, although it’s currently used as a great photo opportunity.
You can see this cannon right at the top of the hill where the mosque and Hindu temple are.
6. Visit Some Temples
Penang Hill Mosque (Masjid Bukit Bendara)
Among the colonial structures on Penang Hill, sits a humble and tidy mosque built for the ease of Islamic visitors to conduct their daily prayers.
Sri Aruloli Trirumurugan Temple
Like other Hindu temples in Penang, Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan is a colorful place of worship dating back to the early 19th Century.
Expanding from just a shrine to the deity Lord Murugan, this elaborate temple has since grown in both size and visitor numbers!
7. Find The Heritage Post Box
Bright red and quintessentially British, there’s a bit of heritage and history with this post box!
Based on the insignia, you can see that the box is over a century old!
8. Pitcher Plant Lover? There Is A Monkey Cup Garden Up Here
For a fee of RM12 per person, you can access this high-elevation garden with more than 100 different varieties of pitcher plants, alongside other flora such as orchids and moss!
Note: Mosquito repellent is recommended!
This garden has a café on site (Kopi Hutan). And it’s possible to walk to Monkey Cup Garden from the exit of The Habitat (~1.2km away).
Many visitors opt to take the buggy service from the Upper Station to Kopi Hutan and back, but you can also walk (~30 minutes one-way) if you don’t mind the slight incline and buggies passing you by.
9. Curtis Crest Treetop Walk – The Habitat
Take a guided nature walk and relish the surrounding scenery from the canopy walk! Or go on your own to save on tour fees.
See our separate post on The Habitat.
What To Eat
1. David Brown’s Restaurant
David Brown’s Restaurant and Tea Terraces is an English tea house that has a lovely garden and a pleasant terrace for some outdoor dining. It’s also a marvellous spot for afternoon tea or a romantic dinner.
This restaurant has been on Penang Hill for many years.
- Contact: +604-828 8337
- Opening Hours: 12pm to 10pm on most days (closes at 8pm on Wednesdays)
2. Cliff Café (Astaka Bukit Bendera)
Astaka Bukit Bendera or Cliff Café is a spacious open-air multi-storey pavilion with nice views!
There are a number of hawker stalls to choose from, so you’ll be spoiled for choice! The lower level is where all the drinks and desserts are. While the second level is for local and Western food.
Vendors do not delivery directly to your table (i.e., self-collect basis).
If you want something sweet, look for a stall called Lily Penang Hill Ice Kacang. Their specialty are the namesake homemade shaved ice desserts (ais kacang) topped with fresh fruit and creative toppings!
They also use fresh juice is used instead of artificial syrup, which makes it that little bit healthier! The portions are large and up to 4 kids can share one serving.
Note: They are closed on Wednesdays and don’t open past 6pm except on Fridays.
Alternatively, you can look for Kak Nor Café as an alternative.
3. Kopi Hutan (Monkey Cup @ Penang Hill)
Monkey Cup Garden runs a café under the name of Kopi Hutan.
It’s a very photogenic spot. Sitting close to the ground on stools under the shade of large ferns makes for a novel experience for city folk.
Even if the beverages and cakes in general are nothing to rave home about.
And they do have their own convenient transportation service if you want to go back to the upper station. If you plan to walk here from the upper station, it takes ~25 minutes.
Read more about Kopi Hutan at Penang Hill.
Note: Service can be very slow on weekends and public holidays
- Contact: +6012-428 9585
- Opening Hours: Daily 9am–5:30pm
Hotels On Penang Hill
Fancy staying at one of the bungalows left behind by the British? A couple of them have been renovated to cater for guests wanting to stay overnight at Penang Hill!
1. Bellevue Hotel
There are only 12 rooms at this heritage British-colonial retreat with an on-site restaurant overlooking the city of Penang and the Straits of Malacca.
Facilities and interiors of the building are all dated with visible signs of age but if you don’t mind, it’s makes for an acceptable and convenient one-night stay since it’s not far from the Penang Hill upper station.
Price Range: RM300-500 per room per night. Check the price on Agoda.
2. Hickory On Penang Hill
Hickory is a grand hillside heritage colonial bungalow with 15 rooms that now serves as an elegant guesthouse on lovely grounds surrounded by jungle greenery!
PS: You can’t drive all the way up and will have to make your way here on foot
Price Range: ~RM180-660 depending on the room type. Check the price on Agoda or Booking.com.
3. Hillside Retreat Penang
Hillside Retreat Penang is a refurbished century-old bungalow that sits by the ancient rainforest.
Try some rustic activities like an outdoor BBQ, stargazing and hiking without forsaking modern comforts!
Price Range: RM68-300 depending on the accommodation type – you can bring your own tent!
Overview Of Penang Hill
What You’ll Like:
- Fantastic views (day or night) when the sky is clear
- Some unusual wildlife to spot
- Sky Walk is free to access
- The funicular train gets you to the top quickly
- Refreshingly cool in the early morning and evenings
- Plenty of places to get refreshments
Good To Know:
- Without a Fast Lane ticket, you might be waiting up to 2 hours for a spot on the train on a busy day!
- Expect long queues for everything during school holidays and public holidays (e.g. CNY)
- The popular time to go is late afternoon to evening (sunset and nighttime views of the city)
Getting To Penang Hill
1. Taxi/Car:
Of course, if you’re staying in Green Town, you can always get a taxi or Grab (use the code GRAB2PGHILL for RM5 off) to drop you off at the Penang Hill Lower Station in Ayer Itam to take the funicular!
If you’re driving your own car, there is covered paid parking at the lower station but it is often full on weekends and other busy periods!
2. Rapid Bus: 204 (From Jetty / Komtar To Penang Hill)
It can take you 40-60 minutes for a bus ride from George Town to Penang Hill but this is a very affordable option nonetheless!
Just be aware that you may have to wait quite long for an evening return bus during weekends!
3. Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus: City Route (Stop 05)
You can take the city shuttle from Chowrasta (Stop 05 in the shuttle’s route) to Penang Hill. The shuttle is punctual so don’t be late!
Penang Hill Shuttle Schedule:
| From Stop 05, Chowrasta: | From Penang Hill: |
|---|---|
| 10.00 AM | 11.00 AM |
| 12.00 PM | 01.00 PM |
| 02.00 PM | 03.00 PM |
| 05.00 PM |
Conclusion
Penang Hill is one of the most iconic places to visit while you’re in Penang, especially if you’re a fan of nature and scenic views.
Aside from the mesmerizing city views from the Sky Walk, you can have a go at riding the funicular train up and see all the attractions like temples, historic landmarks and The Habitat while enjoying the cooler climate!
Getting Around Penang
Not sure how you can get around Penang without your own car? We have more details on the local transportation services available in this Penang. And which bus numbers to look out for certain attractions.
Kek Lok Si Temple
This famous hill-side temple is a 6-minute drive from Penang Hill. And thus, we recommend visiting it in the same day. But this place can be overcrowded with tourists so you might want to read more about Kek Lok Si Temple before your visit.
