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Penang: when your ship stops here

Walk the old streets of George Town, ride the hill railway, see the big temple; the beach strip is a long ride away.

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Penang is an island state on the north west coast of Malaysia. Ships tie up at Swettenham Pier on Weld Quay, inside the old town of George Town: the pier opened in 1904, got its cruise terminal building in 2009, and since 2017 has been the busiest cruise port in Malaysia. The historic centre of George Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, and the city is known as the gastronomical capital of Malaysia.

Sources: Wikipedia: Swettenham Pier; Wikipedia: George Town, Penang

Top 3 things to do

  1. 1. The old town on foot

    The heritage streets start at the pier. Khoo Kongsi, at Cannon Square in the oldest part of the city, is the grandest Chinese clan temple in the country: first built in 1851, burned down in 1901 and rebuilt by 1906. On walls near by are the six murals Ernest Zacharevic painted for the 2012 George Town Festival, among them Children on Bicycle; they now carry plaques and are landmarks of the town.

    Tip: Street food is the thing here. Eat where the locals queue.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Khoo Kongsi; Wikipedia: Ernest Zacharevic; Wikipedia: George Town, Penang

  2. 2. Penang Hill by the funicular railway

    The hill is the highest point on the island at 833 m (2,733 feet), about 9 km (5.6 miles) west of the city centre. A funicular railway has run from Air Itam up to Flagstaff Hill, at 735 m, since 1923: 2,007 m of track, and since the 2010 rebuild a non stop ride takes five to ten minutes. It carries more than a million visitors a year.

    Tip: Go early. The railway is busy, and the cable car from the Botanic Gardens meant to ease the queues was still being built in 2026.

    Source: Wikipedia: Penang Hill

  3. 3. Kek Lok Si temple

    The largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, at Air Itam at the foot of the hill, built from 1890. Its seven storey pagoda, 30 m (98 feet) high and finished in 1930, has a Chinese base, a Thai middle and a Burmese crown; a bronze statue of the goddess Kuan Yin stands under a 60.9 m (200 foot) pavilion finished in 2009. Inclined lifts carry visitors up the hillside.

    Tip: It is about 3 km (1.9 miles) from the hill railway station, so the hill and the temple go together in one half day.

    Source: Wikipedia: Kek Lok Si

What to skip

  • Batu Ferringhi beach on a port day

    The resort beach strip is about 11 km (6.8 miles) north west of the city centre on roads prone to traffic jams, and the sea off it has had jellyfish problems blamed on poor water quality. It is famous for its night market, which a ship that sails in the afternoon never sees.

    Source: Wikipedia: Batu Ferringhi

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in Penang

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in Penang, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

Sources

Read on Nov 1, 2026. Opening days, hours and rules change: check with the place itself before you go. legtolegcruises.com is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or any place named here.

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