Top 5 Must Visit Penang Museums on a Malaysia Holiday

When you think about Asian vacations, Malaysia certainly does pop up into your mind. Unarguably, Malaysia is one of the most sought-after Asian holiday destinations that are renowned for its stunning cities, beaches, and thrilling attractions.

While Kuala Lumpur is the most happening city to visit in Malaysia, the neighbouring state of Penang is popularly tagged as a culturally enriched region. There are many things to see in Penang that are rich in art, history, and heritage. To get a good insight of what exactly Penang is, take a peek into its fascinating collection of museums that reflects Penang’s colonial past and its unique interests in the field of art and entertainment. Here are our top 5 Penang Museums which you definitely should not miss during your visit to Penang, especially if you want to learn about the rich cultural heritage of Penang.

Top 5 Penang Museums

1.Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

One of the premier places to visit in Penang is the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery. Located in Central Georgetown on Lebuh Farquhar, the museum presents a comprehensive collection of Penang’s history and national treasures for its visitors inside a heritage building. Take a trip down the historic memory lane when you visit the museum. It is a great way to seek knowledge about Penang’s historic era, its communities, and events on how the region has developed into a modern destination with Asian and British colonial elements. The museum’s art gallery comprises artworks from local and international artists and gives opportunities for temporary artists to showcase their talent.

2.Penang 3D Trick Art Museum

A museum made just for pure entertainment, the 3D Trick Art museum located at King Street in Penang plays around with optical illusion and creativity. It is an interactive museum where your participation makes 2D illustrations into 3D images. Here, you can photograph yourself skydiving and tell your friends that you took the heart thumping leap from the sky even though you just faked it. And there are loads of such exciting scenarios you can be part of – scenes like petting pandas in a panda village or getting your head bitten off by a great white shark. It is the ideal attraction that entertains all age groups. Surely kids would love the tricky illusions and have a thrilling time here.

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3.Sun Yat Sen Museum

A fascinating museum created to honour Sun Yat Sen – a Chinese nationalist figure who had a pivotal role in establishing The Chinese Republican. The museum is set in the former residence of Sun Yat Sun who moved to Penang and used this mansion to create strategies to fuel the revolution in China. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site, Sun Yat Sum Museum conveys the legendary story of Sun Yat Sun, about his life events, the Chinese Revolution and uprising he operated through dioramas, documents, and photographs. Located in Armenian Street, a tour of this rustic heritage house and its courtyards is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Penang.

4.Dark Mansion – 3D Glow in the Dark Museum

If Trick Eye Museum Penang caught your interest, then the Dark Mansion is certainly going to blow your mind. Located in the heart of Georgetown in Penang, Dark Mansion is Malaysia’s one and only 3D glow in the dark museum. This Penang museum has a bizarre collection of 2D paintings which when illuminated turns into brilliantly bright and colourful 3D images. The effects are mind-boggling, particularly the transition of day into night of the ‘Water & Fire’ installation based on Edgar Mueller’s famous artwork. It also happens to be the world’s largest Anamorphic glow in the dark painting. Other ‘not to miss’ attractions are the enigmatic Pandora forests and the glowing bridges in the Infinity Room. The museum is the trendiest tourist attraction to visit in Penang and is a five minute walk from Komtar, 1st Avenue Mall, and Prangin Mall.

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5.Batik Painting Museum

Batik is one of the oldest and popular textile arts of Malaysia that has been thriving for many decades. This exquisite art form of dyeing fabric with floral motifs or elaborate geometrical designs is beautifully showcased in an old heritage house in Lebuh Armenian which is famously known as Batik Painting Museum. This museum showcases the history of Batik printing in Malaysia, about its finest artists and techniques on how different forms of Batik designs are made. The museum displays around 70 art forms depicting the rise of Batik art in Malaysia, of which some are designs created through new techniques and early paintings done by Chuah Thean Teng – known as the ‘Father of Batik Painting’. There is also an international section that includes works of Batik artists from China, Thailand, and Indonesia. This Penang point of interest is an ideal place to experience the traditional art scene of the region.

6. Penang Wonderfood Museum

Discover a sensory extravaganza at Penang’s amazing Wonderfood Museum! Enter an environment where massive amounts of Malaysian cuisine are served. Admire the very lifelike replicas of traditional foods that the museum’s proprietor has painstakingly created utilizing amazing Japanese food reproduction techniques. This place, located in an incredible 1940s colonial building in the center of town, takes visitors on a delicious journey at larger-than-life scales.

7. Cool Ghost Museum in Penang

Visit the Cool Ghost Museum in Penang to venture into the paranormal! Beyond the conventional haunted home, this spine-tingling museum showcases the scary spirits of Malaysian and other civilizations. Explore the fascinating tales of Pontianak, Orang Minyak, and other places. Get a peek at how real-life-size replicas of iconic horror film characters and creepy stuff will shroud you with bones. Have creative and frightful pictures made, unveil mind-boggling illusions 3D artistically shaped, and get immersed mercilessly in interactive virtual reality presentations.

8. Penang War Museum

If you wish to go back in time to World War II and the Japanese occupation of Tanah Malaya, visit the Penang War Museum. Originally constructed as a British military stronghold to protect the Straits of Malacca from Japanese invasion, this hidden relic sits atop Batu Maung Hill. Enjoy an eye-opening walk of a real cannon-firing bay, anti-aircraft firing pits, soldiers’ sleeping quarters, prison, and more at this wartime history site. All these traits have long since withstood the test of history molding personalities since 1942. Familiarize yourself with the tunnels serpentine pathways and a gallery adorned with gunshot holes which you are sure to get the creeps from. You’ll also see some WWII images along the way. Thus, this is your time to learn about Penang’s legendary past during the pre-independence era if you’re eager for a unique experience!

9. The Straits & Oriental Museum

The first private archive in Penang, the Straits & Oriental Museum showcases more than 250 collections of china and pottery from ancient shipwrecks and different dynasties. These amazing discoveries span three museum rooms and date to the Song, Qing, and Ming periods.

You may observe how porcelain developed from ceramics here, as well as how the artistry advanced throughout time. A well-liked display features the blue-and-white Kraak dishes, which were much sought after in the West. The Cizhou jars, which are painted in vivid shades of green and yellow, are another eye-catching exhibit.

After you’ve finished your exploration, make sure to visit the St. Joseph’s Chapel, a calm historical landmark with exquisite second-floor carvings! Even more justification to include the Straits & Oriental Museum on your list of Penang’s must-see institutions.

10. Glass Museum

A trip to Glass Museum Penang would be cherished by any traveler and art enthusiast. The longest glass painting in Malaysia with a batik pattern is housed in this first glass museum. It feels like you’ve entered a different world as you walk through this vibrant archive, especially the tunnel with the geometric mirrors that reflect your image incessantly.

There are plenty of ornaments made from recycled glass along the route, each with a unique artwork and style. We said that you might participate in their hands-on glass painting session. Yes, you may make your glass-painted craft that is recognized by the Malaysian Book of Records and take it home as evidence that you visited this glassy repository!

These listed museums are just a few of the famous museums that are popular Penang tourist attractions. But there is an amazing assortment of museums based on numerous unique themes that are extremely entertaining. For instance, if you like photography, then be sure to check out Camera museum. If you are a foodie, then Wonderfood museum will surely tantalise your appetite. Looking for a good scare just for the thrill? Then take a detour to Ghost Museum and enjoy a day amid all sorts of ghosts and zombies. There’s an Upside down museum, Teddyville museum dedicated to teddy bears, and toy museum which will give you and your folks a merry time in Penang. So if you are planning to visit Malaysia, apply for Malaysia tourist visa and plan a travel itinerary that clubs Penang with Kuala Lumpur or Langkawi for the ultimate Malaysian holiday experience.

FAQ’s About Penang Museum’s