Top 15 indoor activities in Penang to keep you cool and dry

1. Entopia

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Open 9am to 6pm every day except Wednesday when Entopia is closed

It’s almost forty years since the Penang Butterfly Farm opened, and it’s still an enjoyable and informative place to visit, especially if you have an interest in these beautiful creatures.

There’s no shortage of activities to keep you all occupied, as you’d expect it’s heavily focused on butterflies but you’ll also get the chance to see other insects including silkworms and spiders.

Entopia is split neatly between two distinct areas, an indoor educational centre where you can learn all about the lifecycle and habitat of butterflies, and an outdoor garden area where you’ll get to experience the butterflies in their natural habitat. The indoor section is one of the best indoor activities in Penang and perfect for a rainy day or to escape the heat.

There are numerous walking trails with helpful, friendly staff on hand to answer your questions and provide extra information about the butterflies. The outdoor gardens are wheelchair and pushchair friendly, which is a welcome feature, not always commonplace in Malaysia.

Try to set aside half a day for your visit, with the park open from 9:00am to 6:00pm (closed on Wednesday). It’s quite an expensive activity (RM260/£45 for a family of two adults and two children), so make your own judgement if that’s good value based on your love of butterflies and other insects.

Admission prices are:

• International adult/senior/child: RM75/55/55
• Malaysians adult/senior/child: RM59/39/39

Entopia is located in the north-western tip of the island, quite close to ESCAPE (see below). The ever-useful 101 and 102 buses from George Town will drop you at Escape which is only a five minute walk from Entopia. The journey from central George Town should take j

2. Cheong Fatt Tze, The Blue Mansion

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Two tours daily at 11am and 2pm, or book a self-guided audio tour

Painted in distinct indigo-blue, Cheong Fatt Tze (more commonly known as ‘The Blue Mansion‘) is an impressive Chinese historical mansion and one the the top things to do in George Town.

Built at the end of the 19th century by the merchant Cheong Fatt Tze, who was once regarded as the richest person in Malaya, this mansion is now a boutique hotel (and one of the best hotels in Penang) and also offers tours for visitors to marvel at the architecture and understand more about Chinese history on the island.

There are two tours daily at 11am and 2pm, lasting 45 minutes. Numbers are capped at 35 and the tours are very popular, so pre-booking is advised.

Alternatively, you can also book online for a self-guided audio tour. You are able to enter the mansion between 11am and 6pm, although there is a maximum of 12 per day, so again, pre-booking is advised. This is the much more relaxed way to enjoy a tour of the Blue Mansion, but unfortunately there is no guide to ask questions to. Ensure you download the tour app onto your smartphone before your visit (a link is provided when you book your ticket) and that you have earphones to connect and listen.

3. Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

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Open daily from 9am to 5pm, including public holidays

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is arguably one of the grandest Chinese clan community centres in Malaysia. The temple, which is the focal point, is beautifully ornate and stunning to walk around.

You will also find here a small museum providing information on the history of clan buildings and culture, as well as Chinese history on Penang, plus a souvenir and snack shop.

No need to pre-book. Just turn up and pay the entrance feel (RM15) at the ticket booth at the entrance, just along Lebuh Cannon, opposite the ‘boy on a chair’ street art.

6. Tech Dome Penang

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Open daily from 10am to 7pm

Tech Dome Penang is Penang’s Science Museum, showcasing 120 interactive science and technology exhibits all under the one roof. This is a superb Penang indoor activity for any science-buffs!

Understand gravity with the G-Drop, code your bot around a maze, try an escape the laser beams, float balls with air, and take on the climbing wall. This science museum is brilliant fun and will get you thinking.

Tech Dome Penang is on Levels 4 and 5 of the Komtar building. The main entrance is on Level 5 where you’ll find the ticket gates. On the same level, near the main entrance, is the ticket office where tickets can be bought for the Tech Dome (and all the other activities in the Komtar building).

7. Ghost Museum Penang

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Open 10am to 7pm every day

Sometimes, you just need a change of pace, and a change of scenery. The heritage streets of George Town are wonderful places to soak in the history and culture of Penang, but if you need a break for an hour, the Ghost Museum on Malay Street might just be what you’re looking for.

Don’t expect a relaxing visit though, this three-storey museum is full of ghoulish models, scary stories and realistic zombie rooms. It’s a world away from what you’d normally experience in George Town so, if for no other reason than that, it might be worth some of your time.

Be warned, the Zombie room on the top floor is particularly scary and not a place we’d recommend taking young kids.

8. Afternoon tea at The E&O

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Serving 3pm 5pm every day

The Eastern & Oriental Hotel, commonly known as the E&O Hotel, is an iconic and historic landmark situated in the heart of George Town. Established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers, who also founded the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the E&O Hotel exudes an old-world charm that transports guests to a bygone era.

It’s one of Penang’s most luxurious hotels, but you don’t need to pay the hefty price tag to enjoy its grandeur. Afternoon tea at The E&O is one of the top things to do in Penang, and as it’s indoors, this is a perfect indoor activity for a rainy day or beating the heat.

The three-tiered English afternoon tea that is served every afternoon between 3 and 5pm is the quintessential E&O experience. Please not that there is a dress code after 3pm;  smart-casual attire is required (Polo T-shirts are acceptable but guests are discouraged from wearing shorts, singlets, flip flops and gentlemen’s sandals).

Pre-book your afternoon-tea online to guarantee a table.

However, a little tip… You don’t have to book for afternoon tea to experience The E&O. You can actually pop into the Palm Court (next to the lobby) earlier in the day for just a standard tea or coffee costing just RM18. Lunch is also served here from 12pm.

9. Play virtual golf at MST Golf Arena

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Open 10am to 10pm every day

Do you like the idea of a round of golf but don’t fancy walking around in the Penang heat? Perhaps you’re new to the sport and want to see what all the fuss is about? Either way, MST Golf Arena in Gurney Paragon Mall is a fun, inexpensive, and air-conditioned activity for all ages and abilities.

You honestly don’t need to worry if you’ve never played golf as there are lessons and clubs available or, for non-playing members of your party, a chance to sit back and enjoy some food or drink.

There are twenty Tech Bays where you can play one of the many available courses, practice on a driving range, or play other fun games. These courses are exact replicas of real courses around the world, so you’re (sort of) playing the real thing.

The technology behind them is a launch monitor which observes each shot you’ve hit and measures a bewildering array of values including lateral spin, ball speed, clubhead speed, direction and launch angle. Based on this data, it can accurately calculate where your ball would have travelled and displays the result on the screen in front of you, all in real-time.

Note that you use real clubs and balls, so the effect is quite accurate to real life. There is a seating area for each bay, allowing your party to sit, have some drinks and cheer/criticise your golf game.

10. Teddyville Museum Batu Ferringhi

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Open 9am to 6pm every day

If you’ve heard about the Penang Teddyville Museum in Batu Ferringhi, you might be wondering whether it’s just a place to visit with young kids. After all, as cute as teddy bears can be, do they really justify a museum all to themselves?

As it turns out, this clever (and deceptively large) museum at the DoubleTree Resort is much more than just a collection of teddy bears and actually has something to offer everyone, especially if you’re interested in the history of Penang. You’ll see displays depicting Penang’s most famous sites, e.g. Kek Lok Si Temple, George Town UNESCO Heritage Area, Fort Cornwallis, and Penang Hill.

The detail and design of the teddy bears is intricate and manages to enhance the displays and dioramas, meaning adults and kids alike will always find something of interest. The information boards are well-written and explain different periods of Penang’s history, including pre-colonial, the arrival of the British, WWII, and modern-day.

11. Penang War Museum

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Open 9am to 6pm every day

For a thought-provoking and often bleak glimpse into the island’s darkest period, Penang War Museum is an unmissable excursion. Originally a British fort built in the 1930’s, the complex was taken over by the Japanese in 1942 and used as a prisoner of war camp.

Abandoned after the war, it has since been reclaimed from the jungle to serve as one of the most important war museums in Southeast Asia. Small details like bullet holes in the wall and the haunting remains of a guillotine stand are reminders of the horror which took place here.

Whilst not strictly an indoor activity, Penang War Museum is mostly sheltered. It’s also one of the few Penang indoor activities that’s not located in George Town. Instead it’s located to the southeast of the island on Batu Maung Hill.

12. Get a massage

Lots of different options around Penang. Best to check Google Maps for a spa close to you.

One of my (Jenny) personal favourite things to do on a free rainy afternoon in Penang is to get a massage. An hour or two of pure, relaxing bliss to zone out and reset.

Massages in Southeast Asia are always so much cheaper (and better) that ones back home in the UK, so I never feel guilty with the mini splurge.

The easiest way to find a spa near to where you are based in Penang is to check Google maps. For downtown George Town, Bliss Wellness or Spakita Reflexology are both good options. And along the main stretch of Batu Ferringhi (where you’ll find Penang beach resorts) there are lots of options. For something a little more upmarket, try De Villa Spa or Tower Spa Penang.

13. Batik Painting Museum Penang

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Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm (closed Sundays and Mondays)

Walking along Armenian Street, you’d be forgiven for not noticing this unassuming gallery and museum, as many tourists no doubt do on their way to and from the Penang street art.

Set over three floors, she Batik Painting Museum Penang is more gallery than museum, showcasing as it does almost one hundred original batik paintings, although it also gives visitors an introduction and understanding of this exquisite art form.

Before you start looking around, you’ll be offered the chance to watch a ten-minute film explaining the batik painting process and some of the techniques used. It’s well worth watching and helps you to understand just how much skill and patience is needed to bring these detailed pieces of work to life.

15. Tanjung Bungah Market & Food Complex

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Open every day 7am to 12pm

Tucked away in the vibrant neighbourhood of Tanjung Bungah, the Tanjung Bungah Market & Food Complex is a must-visit for those who want to experience the local way of life on Penang Island. It’s all undercover, so a good place to visit to escape a tropical downpour or the heat, and is open 7am to 12pm every day.

It’s a very manageable size and not at all a place you may feel lost in, but still has that typical bustling market feel you expect of local markets across Asia with fresh produce, seafood, meats and local delicacies to purchase. Bring cash, although you can pay via Grab Pay and Touch ‘n Go e-wallet (which you may have if you are living in or travelling Malaysia long term).

While the produce might not be significantly cheaper than what you find in supermarkets, the experience of navigating the market offers a unique glimpse into the daily life of Penang locals.

After picking up some fresh mangoes and papaya, head to the adjacent food stalls serving up Penang’s iconic street food. There are three sections to the food stalls, so make sure you take a walk around them all before you decide on whether to have a char kway teow, a bowl of aromatic laksa, or just some simple roti canai with a curry dip.