Do yourself a favor and make sure to include an interactive museum into your Penang trip! Most of these museums have a way of educating and entertaining their visitors simultaneously.
Such museums offer a closer look at the culture and history that surrounds Penang! Use this list to decide which ones you want to visit!
Get ready to see wonderful architecture, optical illusion galleries, and learn about local ghost stories. Or pick up a new skill!
1. Wonderfood Museum Penang
Gigantic and miniature hyper-realistic models of quintessential Malaysian food provide a new perspective on the local culture!
The well-thought-out displays are just as fun as they are informative with astounding attention to detail!
If you’re like us, you will likely leave the quirky museum hungry for the actual food! Read about our personal experience exploring Wonder Food Museum.
2. Straits And Oriental Museum
Straits and Oriental Museum on Stewart Lane have an impressively large private collection of beautiful antique ceramics to view. Many are from shipwrecks in Malaysia.
We thought a bunch of old plates would be boring, but the exhibits are well prepared, and they have some very attractive pieces too.
Read about our full experience at the Straits and Oriental Museum.
3. Batik Painting Museum Penang
Another reason to visit Armenian Street is for this private collection of exquisite batik art paintings from over 90 artists on display!
Fees are relatively inexpensive at RM10 per person.
We enjoyed this multi-storey gallery more than we thought we would. Read about our experience at the Batik Painting Museum.
PS: The main paintings are not for sale but visitors can pick up other batik paintings instead.
4. Penang State Art Gallery
We came here because entry is free, and the gallery is fully air-conditioned. And we found ourselves staying for the artwork. There are some cool sculptures and grand paintings to see in this gallery!
Read about our full experience at the Penang State Art Gallery.
5. Penang Peranakan Mansion
Step into this gorgeous Peranakan 2-storey townhouse that was once the family home of a fabulously wealthy man called Chung Keng Kwee.
Daily tours (minimum 5 pax) at 11:30am and 3:30pm allow visitors to have a peek into glamorous and opulent lifestyle of upper-class families in the past!
Read more about our experience at Penang Peranakan Museum.
6. Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang
Sun Yat Sen Museum is yet another historic gem in George Town. The museum is tribute to Sun Yat Sen, a prominent figure/ leader of the Chinese Revolution of 1911.
The wonderfully preserved house is home to a permanent exhibition on Sun Yat Sen’s influence in Penang while he was living here!
Tours by the custodians there are very insightful. Entrance fees are RM10 per adult.
7. Meowseum Museum Of Cat Art & Craft (FOR ADULTS ONLY)
Note: Permanently closed
Meowseum Museum Of Cat Art & Craft has cats (the owner’s) roaming around but visitors are encouraged to leave the cats alone and pay attention to the artwork instead.
Note: For the above reason, children are no longer allowed into the gallery. There were previous injuries and damages.
The air-conditioned gallery is full of cat-themed paintings, figurines, books, and other knick-knacks (there are 2 floors) and you can enjoy viewing them for under RM20 (if you’re Malaysian, foreigners pay a bit more).
Read more about Meowseum Museum In George Town.
Museums That We Are Planning To Visit Next:
Teddyville Museum Penang
This is a fun place to visit with kids if you are in Batu Ferringhi!
They use teddy bears creatively in beautiful displays to re-enact typical and historical local scenes! While you are here, you can learn the history of teddy bears in general too.
If you are staying at Hilton, you can get half price on the entrance fees. For visitors that are not staying at the hotel, you should know that the car park fee per car is RM5.
Glass Museum Penang
Technically not a museum as Glass Museum Penang is a sales gallery for decorative glassware. And hence, you can purchase any piece here if they take your fancy!
The entrance fee includes a short glass-decorating demonstration.
Visitors can sketch out a design on a piece of glass, and after some sand-blasting, they can bring it home as a souvenir!
George Town Mansion
George Town Mansion shares the same owner as the Penang Peranakan Museum. And while George Town Mansion is still new, you can view both museums with just the Penang Peranakan Museum entrance ticket.
This pretty gallery of Peranakan, Malay and British colonial artifacts is smaller than its established counterpart (Penang Peranakan Museum). But the tours by the passionate staff are just as informative.
It’s also worth checking out the well-kept grounds of the building. And the vintage car they have on-site!
Penang 3D Trick Art Museum
There are over 40 3D works made from paintings on the floors, walls, and ceilings!
Look like you’re underwater without actually being underwater! Or go sky diving without the fear of heights.
Many of the themes center on Malaysian culture although they do have some random themes like “Escape with E.T.”!
Don’t worry about capturing the perfect angle as their friendly staff will help you!
Ghost Museum Penang
While the exhibits here are not that frightening to adults, kids may get a good scare out of the haunting displays!
Plan to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour here looking at scary setups and learning stories from different cultures!
Penang War Museum
Up on Bukit Hantu (Ghost Hill), is an old British military fort where many grisly acts were carried out here after the Japanese took over.
Today, visitors can explore the barracks, underground tunnels and ammunition stores.
Reliable historical information is lacking though as the focus is on the scare factor – they even have night tours!
Remark: Bring a hat, insect repellent and long sleeves!
Upside Down Museum
Make some surprising memories at this optical illusion gallery and have a blast while doing so!
You’ll have a lot of funny photos (with friendly staff to help!) afterwards to remember your time in Penang!
But it can feel like you’re being herded into the next room like sheep though! Even when there aren’t many customers.
Also, you can’t wear your shoes inside. They do provide lockers for shoes.
PS: You might want to bring socks
Asia Camera Museum
Appreciate the evolution of cameras from the 1000-strong collection of antique cameras at this specialty museum on Armenian Street!
Including German camera brands, Leica and Zeiss!
Many of these cameras still work as the passionate proprietor will demonstrate using old photography techniques! Visitors can have a shot at developing photos in a dark room too.
Tech Dome Penang
Within this hall are many delightful interactive exhibitions for anyone to gain more science related knowledge!
If you get the all-day combo ticket for The Top, this location should be your priority!
You can easily spend around 3 hours here! And once a year, they host a Japanese technology and culture fair!
Entrance Fee: See the current rates here.
Penang Indian Heritage Museum
Penang Indian Heritage Museum does a superb job of exhibiting Malaysian Indian heritage and culture!
There are rare items such as old childhood games and traditional Indian household items!
It’s free for visitors to visit this museum too which is under the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB)!
Recommended Tour Services For Penang
It’s great to have someone who actually lives in Penang to show you the sights first-hand!
And the benefit of a tour service is that you don’t have to worry about how to best utilize your time. Or use up your energy planning and deciding where to go (and how to get there).
Here are 2 different but highly-rated tour services if you want to have a better understanding of the food, history, and culture of Penang:
- 4-hour Walking Food Tour – mixed group (9 pax max), food and drinks included, pick-ups not provided
- 6-hour Tour Plus Transport – private tours, customizable itinerary, pick-ups (anywhere on Penang Island) included
Conclusion
A visit to any of these museums in Penang are a welcome activity (with air conditioning) from the usual attractions.
Which one are you most interested in visiting yourself? Let us know in the comments.
What To Do In Penang With Kids
Penang has a bunch of truly unique museums that are great fun for all ages as they are highly immersive! This is great for when you’re in Penang with kids!
Things To Do In Penang
There are more attractions in Penang beyond museums. We recommend checking them out. If you have limited time, then your focus should be on George Town, Kek Lok Si, Penang Hill and possibly, the clan jetties.