Ultimate guide to Penang Hill in Penang, Malaysia
Penang Hill, also known as Bukit Bendera, is a hilly forested area located west of George Town that has been developed into a hill station and a UNESCO recognized Biosphere Reserve. At 833m above sea level, Penang Hill is a perfect nature getaway that offers fantastic views of the island and even mainland Malaysia as well as a perfect way to get to know the local flora and fauna. Due to its elevation, the temperature cools down a bit, making it a great day excursion to avoid the Malaysian heat. In this guide to Penang Hill I will help you plan your visit to this wonderful escape from the bustle of George Town, which I think is one of the best things to do in Penang. In this guide to Penang Hill I will go through the best things to do there and the main attractions, as well as some practicalities on schedules and price and how to get there, including some amazing trails!
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Guide to Penang Hill: best things to do in Bukit Bendera
1. Enjoy the views
Penang Hill is one of the highest points in the whole island, so one of its biggest perks is the amazing views that you’ll get from the surrounding area, including George Town and even Butterworth in mainland Malaysia and the Penang bridge. On a clear day, you can even see Langkawi! There are several places with a great view, including even the funicular ride to Penang Hill, but my favourite ones were the Curtis Crest Treetop Walk (more on that later) and this one.
2. Come close to nature at The Habitat
For me, the best part of Penang Hill was the fantastic trail of The Habitat, a rainforest discovery center with treetop walkways that allow you to get close to nature and discover the area’s diverse flora and fauna. Put your explorer hat on and try to find the monkeys, birds, snakes and even flying squirrels! The whole area is very well maintained, easy to navigate and there are a lot of informative panels to get some info on the different species that inhabit the reserve.
Curtis Crest Treetop Walk
Curtis Crest Treetop Walk is the most popular attraction in Penang Hill. It’s an elevated vewing platform that has a walkway that spans 100m in a circular loop. This is the highest viewing platform in Penang and, as such, it offers some of the greatest views of the island. It also brings you closer to the canopy around. Fittingly, it was name after Charles Curtis, an English botanist of the 19th century.
Langur Way Canopy Walk
Langur Way Canopy Walk was my favourite attraction in Penang Hill. It is an elevated platform comprised by two 115m long bridges raised 40m from the forest floor. This allows you to get up close to the canopy and all of its inhabitants, including many kinds of monkeys (such as the Langur, from which it takes its name), squirrels, birds and even flying lemurs! The area has other paths besides the canopy walk, which are nicely paved swo it is accessible for any level of fitness. The paths also have panels with information about the flora and fauna of the area, so you can learn about this amazing ecosystem.
3. Enjoy a cup of coffee at the highest café in Penang
If you want to have a break from all the canopy walking, there is no better place than Kopi Hutan. This tiny outdoors café is the highest café in all of Penang! It is very nicely decorated, with lush vegetation and stone and wooden furniture. The owners are a very friendly local couple with two very friendly birds! The menu is short but the vibe is great. Kopi Hutan is located a bit far from the main tourist area, so you’ll also get to rest from the crowds. There are golf carts that can take you back and forth from the café, but if you have time I encourage you to have a relaxing walk on this beautiful park.
4. Eat out at Cliff Café or David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace
If you need to eat, there are a few options in the area, but none more popular than Cliff Café or David Brown’s Restaurant. Cliff Café, also known as Astaka Bukit Bendera, is a three-storey food court where you can taste many local dishes such as laksa, char kway teow or rojak. You can also purchase desserts, drinks and fresh fruits to complete your meal!
If you prefer something on the fancier side, then your best bet is David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace. Located in a colonial building and with a gorgeous and elegant garden, David Brown’s restaurant offers fancy English meals and high tea experiences with incredible views of Penang. This, of course, has a higher price range than Cliff Café, but it pays back in luxury.
5. DO NOT fasten a lock absolutely everywhere
Is everywhere else at this point, people has taken the chance to fasten locks at Penang Hill as a prove of love. I must say that, while I have nothing against this practice, when everyone does it it makes places look kind of tacky. Worse, Penang Hill is a nature reserve, so I feel like leaving hundreds of locks should not be allowed. In any case, you’re free to do as you wish, but I suggest that you and your significant other trust in the duration of your love without the need of locks!
6. See some pitcher plants at the Monkey Cup Garden
The Monkey Cup Garden is a garden that specializes in pitcher plants (Nepenthes). They are those plants that have modified leaves that look like a cup, where insects fall and are eaten by the plants for extra nutrients. While the garden itself may not be anything special, pitcher plants are one of my favourite plant, and they are rather hard to see in Europe, so it was a welcome sight! They have mostly local varieties from Malaysia and Indonesia, but they also showcase varieties from other areas like Madagascar or Brazil.
Guide to Penang Hill: How to get there
There are two ways to get to Penang Hill. You can use the Penang Hill Funicular Railway or, for those seeking a bit more adventure, you can hike your way up through one of the many amazing hiking trails!
The Penang Hill Funicular Railway
To get there, you can take the Penang Hill Funicular Railway that runs from the foot of the hill. It is rather expensive for non-locals, but it is a fast and hassle-free way to get to the top! You can find the lower station at the foot of the hill in Air Itam, the same area where the Kek Lok Si temple and the Air Itam market are located. To get there, you can take a taxi or use the bus network of Penang, which is quite good! You can take many of them, but if you’re based in George Town, I suggest you go to the Bus Station in Penang (Terminal Bas Komtar) and take the Rapid Penang Bus 204 to Penang Hill.
Once you get to the Lower Station, you’ll see two lines. One is to purchase the tickets and the other one is to get in the funicular. There are also some shops and eateries but they are rather expensive. The climb up is relatively fast, and it is divided into two rides, one to the Middle Station and one to the Upper Station. Already going up you’ll get some amazing views of the city so have your camera ready!
Hiking trails
For adventure-seekers, you can also hike your way to Penang Hill following one of the amazing nature trails. In this guide to Penang Hill I wanted to include some of the more adventurous ways to get there. The most popular trails are the Heritage Trail and the Moon Gate trail, but there are many others! They vary in scenery and difficulty, so choose the one that best suits your needs and fitness level.
- Heritage trail (4km): the most popular trail and also the easiest one. It starts behind the Lower Station of the funicular and it follows the railway to the top. The trail is paved with stairs and has several resting areas.
- Jeep track (5km): another relatively easy hike on a paved road that starts at the Penang Botanical Gardens. It is the road used for local vehicles.
- Moongate trail (6km): this trail is popular with the locals. It starts close to the Botanical Gardens and, while it is a harder trail, it compensates with scenic views and a closer contact with the rainforest.
- Batu Gantung trail (7km): this trail is easy but slightly longer for those looking to unwind a bit more. It has sections with concrete steps and dirt trails.
- Moniot trail (7km): Moniot trail is the oldest trail to Penang Hill. Some sections have collapsed but they are being rebuilt. In any case, it connect to other trails so it is still transitable.
Guide to Penang Hill: Schedule and Price
The hill itself has no schedule or price, but there are a few attractions in it that follow opening hours and ask for a fee. Here are a few:
- Penang Hill Funicular train – 6.30am to 11pm – 30 RM (6€)
- The Habitat Penang Hill – 9am to 6.30pm – 60 RM (12€)
- Cliff Cafe – 9am to 6pm
- David Brown’s restaurant – 9am to 10pm
- Monkey Cup Garden – 9am to 6pm – 12 RM (2.4€)
- Kopi Hutan – 9am to 6pm
How to Get to Penang
Despite being an island, Penang is very well connected to the rest of Malaysia and even internationally! You can access Penang by car, taxi or bus through the . Another option is to arrive by ferry, either from the nearby Butterworth, which only takes around 10 minutes, or from the island of Langkawi. The latter is a long and arduous trip, so it only happens during the dry season.
Lastly, Penang is home to its own international airport, so there are frequent flights from Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi or Ipoh, as well as some international destinations such as Bangkok and Singapore.
Closing statement
Penang Hill is one of the most interesting places to visit in all of Penang. While some of it retains a certain touristic attraction/theme park quality that I tend not to like, it is relatively easy to escape the crowds and tacky activities and immerse in nature, which is, in my opinion, where Penang Hill shines brightest. Even more so if you pair it with one of the heritage trails to get there! I hope you found this guide to Penang Hill helpful.
If you’re visiting Penang, I suggest you read my dedicated post on things to do in Penang, as well as the more specific posts that you can get to from it:
→ What to do in Penang, Malaysia: the island of cultural tapestry
And if you’re traveling around Malaysia, I think these posts can be useful!
Kuala Lumpur: discovering the Malaysian capital
Melaka, Malaysia: a Journey through Cultural Heritage
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia: where wild and tamed nature meet
Langkawi, Malaysia’s adventure island
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