Penang is one of the Malaysian states that is always packed with visitors all over the world as it has a broad selection of tourist attractions. It is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Malacca Strait. It has been divided into two parts, George Town, Penang Island’s capital city and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula and is both connected by Malaysia’s two longest road bridges.
It is popular as a food paradise as the state is rich with a variety of cultures including the Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, Indian Tamils, Malays, and the British. Penang is the second smallest state in terms of landmass but it is still filled with many interesting places such as museums that you can visit with your loved ones. Here are the top 9 best museums in Penang.
What To Look For In Finding The Right Museum To Visit?
Visiting a museum can be a fun and memorable way to spend the day with your loved ones. There are many museums in Penang that you can go to but how exactly do you find the right museum to visit? Worry not as these tips can be helpful to you before making a decision such as doing some research, finding the right type of museums based on your preference and planning your budget.
- Do Research
Before visiting a museum, it is best advised to do some research so you can get some insights into the place. It is better to be prepared to avoid any possible disappointment.
- Preference
There are multiple types of museums that can be found in Penang so you have to know what kind of museum is suitable to your preference to allow you experience the museum to the fullest.
- Budget
One of the factors to consider before visiting a museum is your budget, as some museums may charge you a fee. Plan your budget wisely to avoid overspending your money.
9 Best Museums in Penang 2023
1. Upside Down Museum
Upside Down Museum is located in George Town, Penang and is a playful museum with multiple rooms that create a trippy illusion as if the visitors are walking on ceilings and walls. If you want to visit a fun museum with your family or friends, this museum is the right choice as it is not the usual museum that you can find elsewhere. Challenge your vision and balancing ability by visiting this museum!
Address: 45, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 8:45 am – 6:30 pm (Weekdays)
8:45 am – 7:30 pm (Weekends)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
2. Penang 3D Trick Art Museum
Penang 3D Trick Art Museum is an interactive museum that is located in George Town, Penang. This museum uses the method of transforming 2D paintings into 3D images so all the paintings will appear to be realistic. It is a museum with a lot of decorated rooms that have comical photos and optical illusions that can trick your mind. The museum has over 40 mind-blowing pieces of artwork including optical illusion paintings and sculptures.
Address: 10, Lebuh Penang, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
3. Pinang Peranakan Mansion
Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a museum dedicated to Penang’s Peranakan heritage located in George Town, Penang. This museum has a distinctive green-hued exterior that once housed the residence and office of a 19th-century Chinese tycoon, Chung Keng Quee. You will be in awe of its remarkable Peranakan interior designs as they reflect the lifestyles of Peranakans in Penang. The museum also showcases a large amount of Peranakan artefacts, antiques and collectables that can be admired by visitors.
Address: 29, Church St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Operations Hours: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
4. Wonder Food Museum
Wonder Food Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum that showcases realistic plastic replicas of Malaysia’s local foods. You can discover as many as 100 well-known street foods to traditional dishes. This is the perfect museum for food lovers as it is packed with Malaysia’s quirky and delicious foods that come from the country’s multi-racial diversity. It offers life-sized local food replicas at the Wow Zone that will amaze its visitors.
Address: 49, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 9:30 am – 6:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
5. P.Ramlee Birthplace House Museum
P.Ramlee Birthplace House Museum is a wooden house located in George Town, Penang which was the house where Tan Sri P.Ramlee was born on the 22nd March 1929. He was a popular Malaysian singer, composer, film director and actor. The Nipah roofed house comes with wooden flooring and was built in 1926 by P.Ramlee’s father, Puteh Bin Karim with his uncle, Rejab bin Hussain. It was then restored and is now under the maintenance of the National Archive of Malaysia. This museum gives you some insights into his life, family and friends plus works and scenes from his iconic films.
Address: Lot 2180, Jalan P. Ramlee, Taman P. Ramlee, 10460 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday)
9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Friday)
Closed every Mondays
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
6. Ghost Museum
Ghost Museum is Malaysia’s first-ever ghost-themed museum that features as many as 30 kinds of mannequin ghosts such as Pontianak, Toyol, Headless Ghost, Pocong, Orang Minyak and many more. There are costumes provided for the visitors to wear before taking eerie photos with the ghosts. The ambience of this ghost museum may be unsettling as it contains strobe lights with fog effects to allow you to experience the creepy surroundings.
Address: 57, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
7. Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi’s Clan House and Museum
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi’s Clan House and Museum is located in Cannon Square, George Town. The Khoo Kongsi is a large Chinese clan house that has magnificent architecture as an indicator of the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang. The Khoo Kongsi is among the city’s prime historic attractions and is also the grandest clan temple in the country. The temple has preserved its genuine historic setting such as a traditional theatre and row houses built in the late 19th century for the clan members.
Address: 18, Cannon Square, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
8. Dark Mansion – 3D Glow In The Dark Museum
Dark Mansion – 3D Glow In The Dark Museum is the first glow-in-the-dark museum located in George Town, Penang. It is a modern art museum that is suitable for those who are keen on arts that have a mixture of technology. The skilful artists use special painting materials with special light settings to create a glowing effect and impressive “day-to-night” transitions. You can admire and interact with the amazingly painted 3D paintings and artworks in two different kinds of lighting effects such as daylight and black light.
Address: 145, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
9. Penang War Museum
Penang War Museum is reported to be the largest war museum in South East Asia that is located on top of Batu Maung Hill. It was originally a military fortress built in the 1930s by the British to defend the Straits of Malacca from the Japanese attack. This museum is a 19.36 acres of military fortress housing a cannon-firing bay, lockup, command centre, sleeping quarters for soldiers, and a cookhouse that all can be admired by the visitors.
Address: Jalan Batu Maung, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang
Operations Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Daily)
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
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Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
