Things to Do in Penang

When Captain Francis Light landed on this spot in 1786 and took the island from the Sultan he built a wooden fort, Fort Cornwallis, to defend it against the French, Kedah and pirates during the Napoleonic Wars.

Rebuilt in 1808 using Indian convict labour it is the largest and most intact fort in Malaysia. Once protected by a great moat this was filled in after a malaria outbreak in the 1920s.

The famous great cannons guarding Fort Cornwallis date back as far as the 17th century.

Snake Temple (Fu Xing Gong) may not be the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, but it’s certainly one of the strangest. True to its name, this small Chinese temple in Penang is filled with Wagler’s pit vipers and tree snakes perched on trees and wooden frames throughout. The smoke of the always-burning incense, combined with midday heat, renders the snakes largely immobile, but visitors are still advised to avoid handling the reptiles.

According to local legend, snakes began entering the temple on their own shortly after it was built in the mid nineteenth century, and the monks at the time allowed them to stay. The monks will tell you that the snakes are “blessed,” and that’s why they’ve never bitten anyone.

The temple itself is free to enter, but for a small fee, you can also tour the onsite snake farm where it’s possible to see several species of snakes and handle a few of them under expert supervision.

ESCAPE Adventureplay is one of Penang’s most unique destinations. This sky-high playground is as much for kids as it is for adults, making it the perfect place for families to escape the hustle of the city and embark on an adventure that’s designed for nothing but fun.

Travelers love the mile high ropes course known as the Monkey Tower that throws visitors into an all-out balancing act above the forest floor. Guests can navigate complex obstacles that increase in difficulty the higher they climb. Serious athletes can challenge other travelers to a race up the steep Gecko Tower, where a scramble to the apex is followed by a rush of adrenaline after abseiling back to the ground below.

But there’s still plenty to keep the kids entertained. The Zoom Bug scooter park keeps little ones (and the less adventurous) closer to the ground, as they skate across well-paved tracks that wind through tropical foliage.