Penang Island

Penang Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia. Penang, around 100 kilometers south of Langkawi, is an island for history buffs. It's home to George Town, a Unesco-listed trade town teeming with Buddhist temples, Chinese boarding houses, and late-1700s British colonial buildings.

Examine the cannons at Fort Cornwallis, the East India Company's star-shaped bastion, then travel to the city limits to the enormous Kek Lok Si Temple in the foothills, which has a distinctive gold-topped pagoda tiered in Chinese, Thai, and Burmese styles. Visit the classic Penang Botanic Gardens by day or the LED-lit Penang Avatar Secret Garden by night by taking a cab north of George Town. The funicular in Taman Lintang may take you to the summit of Penang Hill - part of the Penang Hill National Park. The funicular at Taman Lintang can take you to the summit of Penang Hill, which is part of a mountain range that runs along the island's center, where you'll discover a rainforest nature reserve with views of George Town.

Area: 293 km²