What are some fun things to do in Penang if you have kids you? As a top tourist destination in Malaysia, Penang has outdoor and indoor activities to engage all members of the family!
And a family trip need not be expensive or take up more than a weekend either. See for yourself in this post!
We’ve got a line-up of family-friendly activities in Penang to get the ball rolling. There are multiple theme parks, museums, parks, farms and more!
1. ESCAPE Penang
ESCAPE Penang is a theme park in a natural setting. The theme park comprises of a water park as well as an adventure park. They have plenty of rides and activities to suit young children and adults alike!
What you need to know is that the service is good, facilities are well-maintained, and queues are inevitable for popular water slides. Prepare to spend a full day here.
Adventure Park Highlights:
- 35m flying fox
- high elevation rope course
- trapeze station
Water Park Highlights:
- World’s longest water-slide
- Diving show
Notes:
- Swimwear is necessary for the water park (e.g. no shorts and t-shirts)
- Bring cash
- No outside food is allowed
- Children below 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult
Read more on what we think of Escape Penang.
Alternative:
Adventure Zone Penang – 2 hours is enough to have a fantastic time at this 10,000 sq ft indoor air-conditioned complex! The wide variety of play equipment and custom-made UK slides will delight kids (and adults)! There’s a discount if you are a guest of the Golden Sands Resort.
2. Wonderfood Museum
The Wonderfood Museum while small, is an amazing museum that the whole family can appreciate! You can learn some history and facts about the local food and dining culture. As well as have fun taking photos with giant models of famous Penang dishes!
Read more about our visit to Wonderfood Museum.
We think museums are reliable family-friendly activities and Penang has no shortage of interactive or unusual museums to escape a rainy day too. See more museums that are worth checking out.
3. Street Art
You’ll notice the queues in front of the more notable attractive street art while exploring the heritage zone!
These often have a 3D element to them that making posing for photos more fun and interactive for kids.
Because there are so many around George Town, you can make a game of spotting them with the kids! Try searching for murals around Armenian Street and Cannon Street.
- Make sure to protect the kids from the harmful sun rays!
4. The Top Penang
For a one-stop location, The Top Penang has numerous entertainment facilities and activities in store for families!
You can buy tickets individually per attraction. Or buy a full-day pass!
Attractions (the main ones!) include:
- Rainbow Skywalk – An open-air glass bridge that you can walk on to see Penang below your feet!
- 7D Discovery Motion Theater – Immersive movie experience using virtual reality simulators
- Penang Boutique Aquarium – A collection of different live fish to learn about their ecosystems
- Ocean Explorer – Feel like you’re in the ocean through the use of high-resolution projectors!
- Tech-Dome –Over 100 well-executed science exhibits and informative staff
- Jurassic Research Center – Outdoors; Has some life-size replicas.
Notes:
- Not much else is for sale except souvenirs
- Amazing New Years Eve fireworks show
- Seniors over 60 get discount with proof of ID
- Indoor Penang street food court on the third floor
- Alternative parking next door at Prangin Mall for RM2 on a weekday!
- Call beforehand to check if attractions are under maintenance!
- Top floor will not be open on a rainy day!
5. Penang Hill And Funicular Tram Ride
Riding a tram will thrill the kids! And Penang Hill has nature walks and The Habitat! The Habitat (additional fees to enter) has a canopy walkway and a sunset package including Curtis Crest and a guided night jungle walk!
If you’re planning to visit on a weekend or public holiday, we recommend that you read our guide on Penang Hill first!
Notes:
- Last train goes down at 10pm
- Always best to visit Penang Hill on a weekday!
- Entrance to Penang Hill is free
- Fees apply for the funicular and The Habitat
6. Penang Botanical Garden
Penang Hill hiking trails like the Moon Gate trail (1 hour one-way) typically start here.
See manicured gardens, local wildlife (e.g. dusky leaf monkeys), exotic plants and walking trails which older kids can participate in as these usually involve a lot of stairs!
This park unfortunately has no playground for little ones. But it is a very spacious park!
See more photos of Penang Botanical Garden.
7. Tropical Fruit Farm
Take your kids to visit this farm in Balik Pulau for a tour of their orchards. They will be able to see (and maybe even taste) a variety of local and exotic fruit as well.
We enjoyed our time at the Tropical Fruit Farm and highly recommend it if you’re traveling with family.
They have a nice deck to enjoy fresh fruit juice as well!
8. Penang National Park
At Penang National Park, trek through the jungle to remote white sand beaches! Some of the trails are not well maintained, so we don’t recommend hiking if you have small children.
See an unusual salt water and freshwater lake, a lighthouse and a turtle sanctuary (Pantai Kerachut). Camp overnight if you’re feeling adventurous!
Notes:
- If you don’t want to hike, take a boat from the entrance of the park to and from Monkey Beach or Pantai Kerachut.
- 30 minutes’ drive from George Town
9. Penang Municipal Park (Also Formerly Known As Penang Youth Park)
It costs nothing to use the facilities at this 40-acre park. This shady park is more suitable for families with young children than the Penang Botanical Garden in our opinion.
There are a couple of wonderful playgrounds, shaded jogging tracks, a skate park and gym equipment. To top it off, this park has a splash pool with shower facilities too!
We highly recommend a visit here if you have a morning or evening to spare. Pack swimwear for the kiddies!
See more photos of Youth Park.
Notes:
- Not easy to get a Grab driver from this location
- 10 minutes’ walk from Penang Botanical Garden
- Free parking (usually full-on weekends)
- There is a cafeteria at the park
- If you bring food, watch for the monkeys!
- No dogs allowed
10. Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park
Having gone through a major makeover, the Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park opened to the public in November 2019.
The most outstanding feature is the Prangin Canal which is now a beautiful koi pond. Other facilities include a public square and a children’s playground.
This place is very enchanting in the evenings too! Perfect for walking off a full belly while the kids spend the very last of their energy for the day!
11. Kek Lok Si Temple
Few temples in Malaysia can match the majesty of Penang’s hilltop Kek Lok Si Temple! It’ll take 1-2 hours to stroll around the temple complex!
From the main pavilion, go right to see the 9-storey pagoda!
Or go left for the giant Guan Yin statue with its own pavilion! In between are lovely prayer halls and gardens!
Kids will be able to release their energy exploring the spacious temple grounds. They might find the inclined lift interesting as well even though it’s a short ride.
Notes:
- The inclined lift costs RM16 (return trip) to get to the top where the Guan Yin statue is
- In front of the temple are souvenir and food stalls (Look for Air Itam Penang Assam Laksa and Sister Curry Mee!)
- It costs RM2 to enter the Pagoda (or RM1 for kids)
- Temple looks best during Chinese New Year (very crowded though)
12. Clan Jetties Of Penang
Hailing from the 19th century, these floating villages of Penang are still home to many Chinese families.
Of these, most tourists will choose to visit the more vibrant Chew Jetty over the calmer Tan Jetty. Either way, kids will find it thrilling to walk on the old boardwalks.
Note: To escape the crowds at Chew Jetty, visit early in the morning or after 8pm when most of the shops are closed!
13. Entopia By Penang Butterfly Farm
Entopia is a research and education center with a strong drive to introduce the public to the world of insects!
The center is larger than it looks and houses thousands of butterflies and other small critters! It is easy to spend hours here. See more pictures and read about our experience at Entopia By Penang Butterfly Farm.
Notes:
- Don’t worry about rain as there is an indoor section
- Not far from the ESCAPE Penang
- The target audience is children, but adults can still pick up some interesting facts!
- Wheelchair-friendly
- On-site café
Other places we have not been to yet:
- Saanen Dairy Goat Farm – It’s free to visit the Saanen Dairy Goat Farm and see the milking process. You can buy fresh goat milk here as well. Visitors can also pet and feed the well-kept goats and other friendly domestic animals at this small farm in Balik Pulau, a rural area of Penang famous for its numerous durian orchards.
- Penang Bird Park (At Mainland) – Observe over 300 species (including ostriches) at this 5-acre bird park in Butterworth – the largest in Malaysia! The bigger birds are kept in free-roaming enclosures, but most are caged.
- Countryside Stables – Other than the riding horses, you can bring your kids here to see and feed many types of horses at these well-kept stables in Balik Pulau! They have donkeys and deer too!
- Rozana’s Batik – An hour of this class allows you to attempt a hand at this difficult craft! Participants can make their own design or follow a template to bring back as a one-of-a-kind souvenir painting!
Where To Stay In Penang With Kids
Accommodation is not an aspect you want to overlook for your family trip. We recommend the following hotels for their family-friendly rooms and facilities in order of value-for-money to luxury!
1. Tropicana 218 X Airlevate Suites
10 minutes’ drive from George Town, this modern apartment has everything you need!
A kitchenette, dining and living space too! Facilities include a pool with city views and a children’s playground!
2. The Bayview Beach Resort
Get an attractive quality-price ratio at this hotel with its expansive family rooms and almost seaside location!
You can walk to the beach where there are many water activities to try!
3. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang
Facilities such as a kid’s pool, wet play areas, and kid’s club make DoubleTree Resort suitable for family with children.
Their buffet also thoughtfully serves kid-friendly food at a lower height so that children can reach the food on their own.
4. Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Luxurious kid-friendly suites, beautiful surroundings, multiple swimming pools with slides, evening live performances and a tasty breakfast buffet at Hard Rock Hotel will win your family over!
5. Shangri-la’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa
Family rooms at Rasa Sayang are huge with comfortable beds and a bathtub!
The pool and breakfast spread will certainly please your family too! Plus, the beach is next door!
Notes:
- More convenient to have your own car for sight-seeing in George Town
- Adventure Zone is close to this hotel (1 min drive or 4 minutes’ walk)
Booked a hotel yet? See these recommendations for hotels in Penang. If you prefer a homestay situation, we have recommendations for homestays in Penang too.
Conclusion
Planning ahead will help contribute to a smooth-sailing trip.
Have a fun day with the family by adding a few of these family-friendly things to do in Penang!
Penang Itinerary
We’ve got more ideas for how to plan a solid itinerary if that’s your goal! Including must-see attractions we recommend for first time visitors!
Things To Do In Penang
For a little more culture and history, check out our list of things to do as well!
Things To Do In George Town
If your hotel is in this area, and you don’t mind exploring on foot, you might want to read about all the attractions you can find in George Town!