11 Reasons why Penang is a perfect location for solo women travellers

My first three weeks on Penang were spent enjoying the pleasure of my son’s company and we had a great time exploring this beautiful island together.

After he flew back to the UK I was left to my own devices to experience Penang alone for three weeks and I loved it!

Let me tell you why….

My TOP 11 reasons why Penang makes a great location for solo women travellers:

Safety: as a very cosmopolitan and liberal island with a large expat population, Penang feels very safe. I didn’t experience any untoward male attention on public transport or on the streets. Both men and women are very courteous, helpful, and friendly. Of course, it goes without saying that like everywhere you need to have your wits about you, but on the whole, it feels safe.

Great transport network: Penang is easy to navigate using the Rapid Penang bus service, which runs around George Town and to the main areas of interest. Buses are very cheap and clean.

Grab Taxis: Grab is the Malaysian equivalent of Uber and as soon as you arrive in Malaysia I’d recommend downloading the app. All journeys are tracked thus adding to the feeling of safety. Fares vary depending on the time of day and availability but are generally very cheap, though a word of warning during busy times prices can soar and cars can be difficult to get hold of.

Yoga: I usually try to find a yoga studio when I travel for two main reasons. The first, to maintain my yoga practice and the second to meet like minded people in the area.

I enjoyed sessions at The Space Penang in Tanjung Bungah. It’s a lovely welcoming well equipped studio run by Elaine. She offers regular yoga classes and inner dance to small groups using a what’s app booking service. I attended 2-3 times a week.

Airbnb Experiences: there are lots of great organised activities and experiences available in Penang on Airbnb Experiences. These are brilliant for solo women travellers. The experiences are diverse and include cookery classes, bespoke photo shoots, Chi Kung, food tasting, tours and even make-up classes!

I decided on a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and it was great fun! Check out my review!

Hiking: there are many beautiful places to get out into nature and enjoy a good hike.

For more information read my post on hikes for some ideas and also check out Airbnb experiences for organised hikes.

Wandering: George Town is a fabulous city to roam as a solo woman. It offers a treasure trove of sights all within easy walking distance; from Little India to the Clan Jetties you can be guaranteed a culturally and artistically rich experience.

Check out my post on the Highlights of George Town for more information.

Foodie paradise: it goes without saying, Penang is a food lovers dream! It’s a place where you can happily graze and leisurely enjoy sampling a cornucopia of street food at your own pace.

The laid-back informal ambience makes this a perfect location to enjoy eating alone; or alternatively pop yourself on a communal table and more than likely you’ll end up chatting to the person opposite you.

Café culture: when you’re ready for coffee break or simply need a spot to plug in your laptop and check emails, this is a city with a great café culture including many in house roasteries that produce exceptional coffee.

Shopping: if shopping is your thing, George Town has it all! From large malls to funky vintage and craft fairs, there’s plenty to explore and splash out on.

Accommodation: I was really impressed with the standard and level of security at accommodation in Malaysia, hence why this section is quite long!

One of the fantastic elements about Malaysia is that you can rent a pretty luxurious apartment in one of the many high-rise condominiums for an excellent price, especially if you’re committing to more than 4 weeks.

I rented an apartment at Miami Green via Airbnb, just 10 minutes from Batu Ferringhi and it was excellent value for money. It has 3 good sized bedrooms, a large living and kitchen area with an ocean view balcony. The complex also has a large swimming pool, sauna, gym, tennis courts and strict security. And, with fibre optic Wi-Fi, this is a perfect work location and thus highly recommended to digital nomads if you’re looking for an out of city apartment.

The downside is you can’t walk anywhere from the apartment, as the main road is very busy and there are no pavements. Fortunately, the Rapid Penang bus stop was close by!

Opposite Miami Green is a little beach side café – Miami Café and they do a delicious lamb or chicken curry with paratha. It’s a great spot to watch the sun set; and if you’re lucky sometimes wild otters can be seen and heard playing in the ocean, which is mesmerising. The family who own the café are lovely and have captivating stories to tell of how their little daughter was washed away and returned back to them on a mattress during the 2004 tsunami. 

Budget Accommodation

As well as luxury condos, Penang has some great budget accommodation, including women only hostels. To make the most of the George Town festivals and night life, I spent a some nights in the centre of the heritage town. There are so many awesome looking places on Booking.com, it was actually very difficult to choose! However, I did, and I stayed at:

Moon Tree 47 – a beautifully decorated, very friendly hostel, with a lovely relaxed café just a few minutes’ walk from Love Lane. Private rooms and women only dorms are available. Loved this hostel!

Queen’s Hostel – a great women only hostel, in the heart of Little India which offers both private rooms and dormitories at a very low price.

White Mansion hotel – characterised by lovely clean classic design, close to the Hin Bus Depot.

I’d ASOLUTELY recommend Penang for solo women travellers. It has a comfortable friendly atmosphere and diversity is integral to the social makeup of this beautiful island.

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