Penang

Just a 55 minute flight from Kuala Lumpur and an established resort, Penang is a popular island linked by a 10 mile bridge to the Peninsula. The resort is made up of green hills, sandy beaches, historic towns with lots of old British colonial buildings, superb hotels and some excellent shopping. The local restaurants also offer some of the tastiest food in Malaysia. The weather is at its best October - May, although it is a year round destination.

Click here for day trips and sightseeing tours

Fact File

CapitalKuala Lumpur

LanguageBahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, indigenous dialects

ClimateTropical without extremely high temperatures. Days are very warm, while nights are fairly cool. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains (November to February) in Sabah and in Sarawak. However, it is difficult to generalise about the country’s climate, as rainfall differs on the east and west coasts according to the prevailing monsoon winds (north east or south west)

CurrencyMalaysian Ringgit (MYR)

VisaNo visa required

HealthAll travellers to Malaysia should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, and malaria

PassportsPassports should be valid for more than six

Time ZoneGMT + 8 hours