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Penang Hill: Traveler Reviews

Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia
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Ranked #10 of 32 attractions in Georgetown
Type: Mountains, Scenic Railroads
Activities: City walk sightseeing
Description: This 2,750 foot hill has a funicular railway that can take you to the top.
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784 reviews from our community

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Singapore
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
“The view was best”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 16, 2011

I think the cost is a little high (RM70 for 2 adults 2 kids) for the amount of things you can do up there; but I have also seen more ridiculous costs elsewhere. We went on a weekday, so the crowd is smaller. The train is airconditioned. I think wheelchair access is for one cabin of the train only, and the staff have to help. The train speed is about 10m/sec at its fastest, if I remember correctly. The temperature is a little cooler, but no sweater needed. I'm the kind of "fast" visitor so my thoughts could be a little skewed in that sense. The view is what you'd expect from on top of a hill at about 500m above sea level. The pictures will give you a far better idea.

There's a trail for a nature walk but I didn't go on it. There's an Indian temple and a small mosque next to it and a small playground in between them. There are a few guys who offer to take visitors for a ride on their golf buggies for RM30 around the area at the hilltop.

I like the view best. If you go, wear comfy walking shoes, a hat and sunglasses. I'd say the place takes only about 2 hours top. You can take taxi there and there are many taxis at the bottom waiting to take visitors away too. Alternatively, you can walk to the main road and get on a bus to Komtar, which has a bus interchange. Taxi ride will probably cost about RM30something. The bus ticket is RM1.40. The buses are clean and wifi ready (but I didn't get a chance to try the wifi). The frequency of the buses is a bit disappointing though, so the locals say. So if you get there and one just left, it may be a 20-30min wait.

One last thing--may be a good idea to call and find out if the Hill train is working before you go. They shut it down sometimes for repair. This is the phone no. from their visitor website: 04-8288880/39

Visited June 2011
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Ask A_Tan about Penang Hill
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Singapore
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
22 attraction reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
61 helpful votes 61 helpful votes
“A good experience”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 13, 2011

The tram ride is expensive for foreigners but enjoyable. I paid RM70 for 2A2C if i am not wrong which i find the price gap is too wide between foreigner and locals.

It is very cooling up there but there' s nothing much to see. I doubt i will go there again. Good to go there if you never been.

Visited June 2011
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Ask SforSingapore about Penang Hill
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Penang Island, Malaysia
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
14 attraction reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
“Wait for next few years for it to develop”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2011

Penang Hill will be develop to one of the great tourist attraction, currently it was under development. Train is ready but hill top activities, food, accommodation is lack of.
Penang Food Review, http://tasteiest.blogspot.com

Visited March 2011
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brisbane, Australia
Top Contributor
56 reviews 56 reviews
23 attraction reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
50 helpful votes 50 helpful votes
“Penang Hill Sightseeing”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2011

The view from Penang Hill is well worth the trip at only $9 AUD. The new train takes only 15mins each way, but the view and the walk when you get there it is well worth it. You can stay up there as long as you like, there are walks you can go on, there is an enclosure with exotic parrots (5MYR) was well worth it if you like birds. If you walk through to the back of the hotel where the restaurant is the view is spectacular.
We got stuck up there as a dog crossed the line and broke one of the cables however it worked out fine, they got us all down and then closed the line so they could make the repairs.

Visited May 2011
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Ask Denstrip about Penang Hill
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Penang Island, Malaysia
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Newley opened Fenicular Railway PENANG HILL foreigner rip off”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2011

The last couple of weeks has seen the reopening of Penang Hill and the new fenicular railway which now takes 5 mins to get to the top of the hill instead of 30 mins as the previous train took. This sounds great and possibly is for the locals adults who are being charged RM8 return for the trip but for "Foreigners" the same trip costs RM30. I have lived in Penang for a number of years and have had many visitors from abroad, staying with me. Penang Hill was always a must on their Itinery of places to see so I'm saddened that the Penang Hill Corporation have seen fit to go down this road, very short sighted of them. I will not be incouraging and more of my visitors to visit this attraction, by the way I am a "Foreigner" .

Visited May 2011
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Ask Pippa075 about Penang Hill
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