HILL IN PENANG MALAYSIA
Take a funicular ride to the hill in Penang, Malaysia, and witness the breathtaking city view of Penang Island, Georgetown, and its iconic bridge. Situated 833 meters above sea level, Penang Hill offers a fresh atmosphere and a relaxing place to visit. It is considered the must-visit list of places in Penang for visitors who wants to experience a different level of engagement with nature. Locally known as Bukit Bendera which means the “Flag Hill”, Penang Hill takes you on a unique train ride adventure to go up the hill.
- Where Is The Hill Of Penang
- How To Go Penang Hill
- Map Of Penang Hill
- Things To Do At Hill Of Penang
A. Witness The Sunrise
B. Explore The Habitat
C. Visit The Mosque and Temple
D. Discover The Edge Cliff Gallery
E. Play At Children’s Playground
F. Dine-In The Restaurants
G. Check The Little Village
H. Head Inside The Old House Gate - Final Thoughts
Where is the Hill of Penang
Penang Hill is located on Penang Island, Malaysia. It is situated in Ayer Itam area, which is 9 9 kilometers off the city center of George Town. The hill of Penang is near to the famous Kek Lok Si Temple.
How to go Penang Hill
Here are some common ways to get to Penang Hill;
- By Private Vehicle
From George Town, it takes 30–40 minutes to drive to the base of Penang Hill, where visitors park and then take the funicular railway up. - By Public Bus
Visitors can take public buses from George Town to the base of Penang Hill. Bus routes like the Bus 204 from Komtar Terminal will bring visitors to the Penang Hill lower station. From there, visitors will need to take the funicular to the top. - By Ride-Sharing Service
Book a ride from Grab (Ride Sharing service) to bring directly to the base of the hill station.
- The ticket counter at Penang Hill opens from 6:15 AM to 7:45 PM, while the funicular ride starts from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
Funicular Ticket Fare
The most popular way to reach the top of Penang Hill is by taking the Penang Hill Funicular Railway. The train takes about 10 minutes and offers a scenic ride while heading to the top of the hill. Visitors will need to purchase tickets for the funicular ride. Prices may vary from tourist and local visitors. . Below are the ticket fare information;
ADULT
(Two-Way | Locals/Malaysian)
RM 12 (Normal Lane)
RM 40 (Fast Lane)
SENIOR CITIZEN (Above 60 yrs old)
(Two-Way | Locals/Malaysian)
RM 6 (Normal Lane)
RM 6 (Fast Lane)
CHILDREN (4-12 yrs old)
(Two-Way | Locals/Malaysian)
RM 6 (Normal Lane)
RM 20 (Fast Lane)
DISABLED PERSON
(Two-Way | Locals/Malaysian)
FREE
ADULT
(Two-Way | Tourist)
RM30 (Normal Lane)
RM80 (Fast Lane)
SENIOR CITIZEN (Above 60 yrs old)
(Two-Way | Tourist)
RM 30 (Normal Lane)
RM 60 (Fast Lane)
CHILDREN (4-12 yrs old)
(Two-Way | Tourist)
RM 15 (Normal Lane)
RM 40 (Fast Lane)
DISABLED PERSON
(Two-Way | Tourist)
FREE
ADULT
(One-Way | Locals/Malaysians)
RM 6 (Normal Lane)
RM 25 (Fast Lane)
ADULT
(One-Way | Tourist)
RM 15 (Normal Lane)
RM 45 (Fast Lane)
For nature lovers, visitors can hike the trails through beautiful tropical forest and along historical paths. The Penang Hill Heritage Trail is a popular route, to reach the top of Penang Hill.
Map of Penang Hill
Things to do at the Top of Penang Hill
Once on top of the hill visitors can find different attractions like historical buildings, museums, and rain forests which are available for all visitors. On top of the tourist attraction, there are even a mosque and temple situated on top of the hill of Penang. There are food courts, and restaurants for visitors to enjoy the food while the view is from the top.
#1 Witness the Sunrise
Catch the sunrise from the top of the Hill of Penang and witness the magnificent view of the island. Currently, there is a promotion for Sunrise Special rate at RM 3 (two-way) for Locals/Malaysians which is available for purchase on-site only.
#2 Explore the Habitat
The Habitat offers a great way to experience nature on top of the hill. There are tree-top and canopy walks which make it interesting to explore the rain forest of Penang. The entrance to the Habitat is at RM 60 (Adult) and RM 40 (Children/Seniors).
#3 Visit the Mosque and Temple
Located on top of the Hill, Masjid Bukit Bendera is the highest mosque in Penang. The golden-colored domes reflect the distinct structural feature of the mosque. Also, right next is the Hindu Temple which caters peaceful solitude of Lord Murugan.
#4 Discover the Edge Cliff Gallery
Discover the Edge Cliff Gallery which showcases a ton of information about the history of Penang Hill. Located literally on the cliff, the place also offers a scenic view of Penang island.
#5 Head Kids at Children's Playground
Families with children can enjoy playing on the children’s playground.
#6 Dine-in at Restaurant and Hotel
Visitors who want to experience dining in the highest garden restaurant in Penang can indulge in David Brown’s Hilltop restaurant. On the other hand, Bellevue Hotel and Restaurant provides a panoramic view of Penang Island.
#7 Check the Little Village
For the entrance fee of RM 10, visitors especially couples can tie a padlock on the heart-shape structure “Love Arch” next to Little Village. Inside the little village, visitors can check on the mini-zoo, and dwarf village and even taste nature’s honey from the bee.
#8 Explore inside the Old House Gate
Known as “Bel Retiro Bungalow”, the old house gate serves as the residence for high officials and dignitaries of the government of Penang during the late 1800s. The building structure and arch entrance show the unique design from the British colonial period.
Final Thoughts
Penang Hill is one of the unique places to visit in Penang, especially for visitors who want to experience a funicular train ride towards the top of the hill. To enjoy the most of your visit to Penang Hill, we recommend visiting during the off-peak periods. The number of visitors could pile up a lot and some will need to wait in long queues just to get on the train. But still, it’s definitely worth visiting and witnessing the gorgeous view of the city of George Town.
