Penang is an island on the North West coast of Malaysia and is a superb family holiday destination, offering sun, sea and sand along with historical sights and monuments.The island’s capital is Georgetown, a multicultural city with fantastic museums, shopping centres and of course the UNESCO world heritage centre. Street art is a must see here and the café culture which is growing within the city is also worth taking in. There are plenty of modern hotels (See Where to Stay), restaurants and air conditioned shopping centres in the city where you will be able to buy all your essentials.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Georgetown there are plenty of beach towns and resorts dotted around the island which are suitable for families. Perhaps the most famous of these is Batu Ferringhi which is about a 25 minute drive from Georgetown. Batu Ferrenghi is a great option for families with young kids as there are plenty of child friendly hotels, restaurants along the beach where kids can play while you relax and a fantastic night market with loads of bargains from art work to leather goods to immitation big brand name products.
Outside of Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi there are some terrific family focused resorts which cater well to families with babies, toddlers and young children. There are also plenty of activities for kids to enjoy on the island from nature reserves to beaches to the indoor soft play areas which offer a break from the mid-day heat.
Penang is accessible by air or by bridge from the mainland. AirAsia run a number of flights a day there from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Please see below for all the information you will need for travelling to Penang with a baby, toddler or young child.
