Sun Tans and Sandy Feet: 10 Beaches in Penang Highly Recommended by Locals!
It’s no secret that Penang is home to many beautiful beaches, which is why it’s a popular tourist and beach destination! No matter where you go, you can find sandy shores, lush forests, beautiful wildlife, delicious food, and friendly locals!
It’s the perfect place to get away from the city— there’s nothing more peaceful than watching the sunset away from car horns and work emails! But with the many beaches on this tropical island, where should you go, exactly?
Here’s the lowdown on our favourite beaches in Penang. Sure, not all are exactly suitable for swimming because of jellyfish and strong currents, but they’re worth the visit anyway!
Batu Ferringhi
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Location: Jalan Batu Ferringhi Batu Ferringhi, 11100 George Town
Best For: Water sports activities, family-friendly activities
Batu Ferringhi Beach is one of the top destinations whenever you visit Penang Island. The sandy beach is perfect for morning strolls with the family, and it’s one of the magical places in Malaysia where you can watch stunning sunsets.
This place is ideal for families and sporty individuals. Keep in mind that the waters are home to jellyfish (there’s a lot!), so swimming is not suitable— but you can enjoy water sports, like jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, and banana boating.
Since this is pretty close to George Town, you can indulge in delicious Penang cuisine, shop ‘til you drop, and explore local attractions.
There are many hotels near the shore, but these are pricier. If you want to save some money, budget hotels are located a few minutes from the beach.
| Pro Tip: It’s best to come by around nighttime (starting at 5:00 pm) because this is when most shops and eateries are open. You can watch the sunset here before exploring the beach. |
Monkey Beach
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Location: Jalan Hassan Abas, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Tanjung Bungah
Best For: Boating, hiking, wildlife watching
Monkey Beach, also called Teluk Duyung, is exactly what it’s called. At the beach, you’ll see long-tailed macaques chilling in the trees, eating fruits, and sneakily snatching food from tourists.
Besides these adorable monkeys (don’t go near them because they are wild animals), you can also enjoy the beautiful environment. The clear turquoise water and white sands are truly a sight to behold!
To get here, you need to head to Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang. There’s an admission fee of RM10 for Malaysians and RM50 for non-Malaysians— don’t forget to bring cash!
The easiest way would be to take a Grab to the park (it’s the Southeast Asian version of Uber), but you can also take the Rapid Penang 101 and 102 buses to Teluk Bahang. Then, you can hike or ride a boat to Monkey Beach.
| Pro Tips: Hiking to the beach is challenging— wear light clothing because it’s going to be humid and bring water and snacks. However, monkeys do live here, so be careful with your belongings because they can get snatched quickly! The monkeys usually keep to themselves. Just keep your distance and don’t eat food near them! |
Pantai Kerachut
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Location: Teluk Bahang, Tanjung Bungah
Best For: Hiking, serene beach, visiting the turtle sanctuary
Situated in Penang National Park, Pantai Kerachut, also known as Turtle Beach, is a must if you want a quiet escape from the city. The atmosphere is very serene, and it’s even better while sunbathing on the shores of the clean beach.
This is located in Penang National Park, which means you need to pay an admission fee to enter and then hike or ride a boat to get to the beach. The hike will take roughly 1.5 hours, so bring lots of water because the humidity will make it more challenging.
Two things that you can see at Turtle Beach are the Pantai Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre and the Meromictic Lake, a rare phenomenon where saltwater and freshwater don’t mix, resulting in layers of water— this only occurs from May to August.
| Pro Tips: The hike is not easy, even though it’s short. Wear proper shoes with good traction because the trail will take you into the forest with ascents, descents, muddy tracks, and rooted pathways. Oh, and bring lots of water and snacks because there are no shops and seaside restaurants! |
Tanjung Bungah
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Location: 11200 Tanjung Bungah
Best For: Local attractions, tourist spots, nightlife
A family-friendly destination in Penang is Tanjung Bungah Beach, formerly a sleepy fishing village. It’s a popular tourist destination, so you can find lots to do and it’s fairly easy to get to— you can take Rapid Penang 101, 102, and 104 buses.
It’s not suitable for swimming because of the bloom of jellyfish living in the water. But there are other activities you can do, such as kayaking and visiting the local attractions. It’s also ideal if you want to experience local nightlife.
The Penang Floating Mosque is a spectacular sight that looks like it’s floating during high tide (during low tide, you can see the stilts the mosque is on).
If you’re brave enough to kayak to a rocky isle, you can visit the tomb of Seyad Mohamed Kuddoos Oliyullah, a mysterious figure and a Muslim saint.
| Pro Tip: Tanjung Bungah is a convenient place to stay. There are many shops, restaurants, and groceries, and public transportation is easy. It’s also in between Batu Ferringhi and George Town. |
Teluk Bahang
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Location: SBLH 3592 Persisiran Pantai Hujung Batu, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Teluk Bahang
Best For: Fishing village vibe, isolated charm, local activities
For locals and tourists looking for a charming beach in Penang, Teluk Bahang is a must! It’s surrounded by lush trees, which gives it an isolated vibe— but it does get crowded at times.
But if you compare it to Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang is way more peaceful. This is also a family-friendly spot since it’s close to many attractions, like the Toy Museum, which houses over 100,000 toys and collectibles.
Another activity is visiting Entopia, a butterfly farm, for hands-on learning. The Cat Beach Sanctuary is a beachside refuge for rescued cats. For tourists who want to get batik clothes, the Penang Batik Factory is a 15 to 20-minute walk away.
| Pro Tip: There’s not much to do here since swimming is not recommended due to jellyfish, but you can enjoy the nearby attractions. If you want to avoid crowds, better visit on a weekday. |
Gertak Sanggul
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Location: Surau Gertak Sanggol, Jalan Gertak Sanggul, Gertak Sanggul
Best For: Fishing boat watching, peaceful surroundings, seaside restaurants
Gertak Sanggul is a fishing village in the north side of Penang that you have to tick off your bucket list if you want a local experience. It has magnificent views for sunset watching and is perfect if you want to watch fishing boats on the open sea.
It’s ideal for a quiet environment since swimming isn’t suitable here. There are many fishing boats, so don’t be surprised to see them moored on the shore. It’s best to stroll around during the daytime because you won’t see the ropes at night.
There are restaurants in the area, perfect for your seafood cravings! The Gertak Sanggul Fishing Stage is a must for all your seafood cravings, but you can also visit seaside restaurants to enjoy the views.
We recommend this spot for photographers (it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or not!). The peaceful surroundings are perfect for uninterrupted photography sessions.
| Pro Tip: You won’t find lots of amenities here. We suggest bringing your own water in case you get thirsty to avoid purchasing pricier drinks at the seaside restaurants. |
Pulau Jerejak
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Location: 88C9+P5, Bayan Lepas
Best For: Quiet destination, historical visits, outdoor activities
A hidden gem, Pulau Jerejak is an island on the southeast point of Penang. It’s not the kind of place you can visit on a whim because you need to take a ferry ride from Bayan Lepas to reach the island.
It used to be a leper colony, held prisoners of war, and was a quarantine station. Nowadays, it’s turning into a tourist destination. If you trek the forest, you can even see abandoned buildings that are slowly being claimed by nature.
But it’s also the kind of place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main island and where you can enjoy outdoor activities, such as trekking, biking, and kayaking. The beach is perfect for sunset viewing because you can get uninterrupted views.
Pulau Jerejak will feed your IG feed with stunning photos because there are props for photo opportunities, like the stairway to heaven, a giant bird’s nest, and the rainbow pier.
| Pro Tip: A visit here mostly includes trekking and exploring attractions. Wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing. Try to avoid bringing heavy items that you don’t need. |
Teluk Kampi
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Location: Teluk Kampi
Best For: Remote beach, turtle watching, trekking
The blue water, white sand, and magnificent views make Teluk Kampi worth every drop of sweat! This is a secluded beach that requires a bit of adventure— you either trek the rough terrain or take a boat from the entrance of Penang National Park.
The travel is worth it because this quiet escape is a turtle nesting site. You can even watch baby turtles make their way to the open sea— note that the best time to visit is from February to April.
You need to pay an entrance fee to Penang National Park before starting your trek here (RM10 to RM50). For two beach visits in one day, we suggest hopping on a boat from Monkey Beach.
| Pro Tips: This is not a hike for beginners, so it’s best to avoid it if it’s your first time trekking and if you have a low fitness level. There are overgrown roots, fallen tree trunks, steep descents, and muddy paths. Remember to wear good hiking shoes and wear light clothing. Just pack your flip-flops in your backpack because this challenging trek will lead to sore feet if you’re not wearing proper footwear. |
Pulau Aman
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Location: Pengkalan Cassia, 14100 Simpang Ampat
Best For: Quiet surroundings, local experience, fishing village vibe
There’s something special about island hopping in Malaysia. Pulau Aman is one of those places, a fishing village you can reach by taking a ferry from Bukit Tambun.
Once you reach the island, there’s a peaceful ambience to it, given that there are less than 300 people living in it. It’s a place you visit if you want to experience a rural environment and mingle with locals.
The beach is ideal for water sports activities, like kayaking, but you can also enjoy the view— just don’t expect to see many activities since this is a rural place. There are vendors on the island if you want to take home souvenirs and try local cuisine.
| Pro Tip: Start your day early. Purchase a two-way ticket so you know exactly when to arrive at the terminal on the way back to the main island. This isn’t exactly a tourist destination, so you’ll only find homestays here. |
Pantai Pasir Panjang
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Location: Pulau Betong, 11000
Best For: Quest escape, soft sand
Pantai Pasir Panjang, also called Long Sandy Beach, is a scenic destination due to its soft white sand and clear water. It’s fairly quiet— the kind of place you go to for some peaceful moments since it’s not crowded.
It’s perfect to watch the sunset or if you simply want to enjoy the breeze. The water may be tempting but be warned that swimming is prohibited because of the dangerous waves and riptides.
This beach is an ideal spot for photos, though, because the beach is unobstructed. There aren’t any facilities, so make sure you eat before going here.
To get here, take the Rapid Penang bus 403 to Pulau Betong. And then, you need to take a long walk to the beach.
| Pro Tip: Avoid leaving at nighttime because the buses aren’t as frequent as in George Town. It’s very unlikely that you can catch a Grab ride from here because it’s an hour away from George Town. |
Tips to Enjoy Penang Beaches
For a smooth beach adventure in Penang, Malaysia, here are things you must know before venturing off:
- Bring water and snacks. Some beaches require trekking or long walks to reach. The hot and humid weather in Penang is no joke, especially if you’re not used to the temperature.
- Wear appropriate shoes and pack your flip-flops. Since you’ll be walking to reach the beaches, make sure you wear the right footwear to avoid injuries and foot pain.
- Wear loose and light clothing. Penang is hot and humid, so you want to avoid wearing something that won’t keep you cool.
- Be aware of wildlife. You might encounter monkeys and other animals while trekking or visiting some beaches in Penang, so keep your distance and avoid eating in front of them. Make sure they cannot smell your food if you have some.
- Bring cash. Penang is not completely cashless. For instance, Penang National Park only accepts cash.
- Check for warning signages at the beach. Penang beaches are notorious for having jellyfish. Most are not suitable for swimming due to this, so remember to do your research and check for warning signs.