Penang Beaches and Islands: 9 Beaches, Coves and Island Trips
Penang beaches are not the white-sand island beaches of Langkawi or the east coast, but the island has more variety than its reputation suggests. Batu Ferringhi on the north coast is the busy resort strip, while Penang National Park hides coves that you can only reach on foot or by boat. On the rural south-west coast, fishing villages and long empty beaches look west towards the sunset.
This guide covers 9 beaches, coastal spots and island trips in Penang: the beaches of the national park, the north coast, the south-west coast and a boat trip to Pulau Aman off the mainland. Each entry lists access, fees, boat prices and safety notes, checked in October 2026. Most beaches are free; the national park charges an entry fee.
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At a glance
Penang Beaches in the National Park
Penang National Park's beaches are reached by forest trails or by boat from the jetty at the park headquarters in Teluk Bahang. Register and pay the park fee first.
Monkey Beach (Teluk Duyung)
Monkey Beach, or Teluk Duyung, is a sheltered cove inside Penang National Park named after the macaques that forage along the sand. A small cafe and beach rentals operate here, and the water is usually calmer than at Batu Ferringhi.
Walk in on the coastal trail from the park headquarters (allow roughly 1.5 hours each way) or take a boat from the park jetty (RM70 one way or RM100 return per boat). Register and pay the park fee first. Keep bags zipped and food hidden from the monkeys, and leave enough time to walk or boat back before late afternoon.
Pantai Kerachut (Turtle Beach)
Pantai Kerachut is a long sandy beach on the west side of Penang National Park, best known for the Pantai Kerachut Turtle Conservation and Information Centre. Green and olive ridley turtles nest here, and the state recorded 273 turtle landings and more than 15,800 hatchlings released between 2021 and early 2026. Behind the beach is a meromictic lake, where a layer of fresh water sits on top of sea water; it is usually at its fullest from about May to August.
The trail from the park headquarters is about 3.8 km one way and takes around 1.5 hours, flat at first and then climbing steadily over a forested ridge. A boat from the park jetty costs about RM100 one way or RM200 return per boat. The turtle centre is free once you have paid the park fee. Strong currents make swimming risky, so stay in the shallows.
Teluk Kampi
Teluk Kampi is the longest and most remote beach in Penang National Park, a curve of pale sand backed by forest with rocks at either end. Few day visitors get this far, so you may have it nearly to yourself on a weekday. There are no shops or toilets; a basic campsite here can be used with advance booking at the park office.
Reach it by continuing on foot from Pantai Kerachut, about an hour more over a steep section with a rope handrail; the total is roughly 6 km one way from the headquarters. Bring all your water and food, and turn back in good time to reach the headquarters, or arrange a boat pick-up from Kerachut, before late afternoon.
Muka Head Lighthouse
Muka Head Lighthouse stands on the headland at the far north-western tip of Penang Island. The 14-metre tower was built by the British in 1883. From the compound at the top you look out over Monkey Beach, the Strait of Malacca and nearby islands, and sea eagles often circle overhead.
The path starts at the far end of Monkey Beach and climbs steps through forest; allow about 30 to 45 minutes up from the beach, or roughly 2 km and 200 metres of ascent. Whether you can climb the tower itself varies, so treat the view from the grounds as the reward. Combine it with a swim at Monkey Beach and a boat back to the jetty.
North Coast Beaches
The coast road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang runs past the island's resort beaches. Bus 101 from George Town follows it all the way.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
Batu Ferringhi is Penang's main beach strip, a long stretch of sand backed by resorts about 30 minutes from George Town. Operators along the sand rent jet skis and run parasailing and banana-boat rides; agree the price and duration before you pay.
The beach is free and open all day. After sunset the Batu Ferringhi Night Market sets up along the main road with souvenirs and street food, and seafood restaurants line the beachfront. Bus 101 from George Town runs along the coast road.
Teluk Bahang Beach
Teluk Bahang Beach fronts the fishing village at the western end of the north coast, about 5 km past Batu Ferringhi. It is a working beach rather than a resort strip: wooden boats anchor offshore, fishermen land their catch at the jetty, and the forested headland of the national park rises at the end of the bay.
The sand is free and open all day, and it is a popular weekend spot with local families. Seafood restaurants near the jetty cook the day's catch, and the national park entrance, the Tropical Spice Garden and Entopia are all within a few minutes. Bus 101 from George Town ends here.
South-West Coast Beaches
Beyond Balik Pulau the island turns rural, with fishing villages, orchards and quiet beaches facing the sunset. You need a car or Grab.
Pantai Pasir Panjang (Long Sand Beach)
Pasir Panjang is a 600-metre stretch of pale sand on the rural south-west coast, past the village of Pulau Betong. It faces due west, so it is a good place to watch the sun go down over the Andaman Sea, and it sees few visitors. A military facility sits behind the beach and parts of the land are restricted, so follow the signs and do not go past the checkpoint.
There are no facilities: no food, drinks, toilets or lifeguards, and mobile signal is patchy. The current is strong, so swimming is not advised. Plastic washed in by the sea collects along the tideline. Get a Grab to the end of the road, or take bus 403 to Pulau Betong (RM1.40) and walk about 40 minutes. Eat at the small restaurants in Pulau Betong village.
Gertak Sanggul
Gertak Sanggul is a fishing village at the southern tip of Penang Island, with a rocky, tree-lined shore, coconut palms and a view of the small island of Pulau Kendi offshore. Wooden boats are pulled up along the beach, and it is one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset away from the crowds.
There is no fee. Seafood restaurants near the shore serve the local catch, and the coast road from Teluk Kumbar makes a scenic drive or cycle. Swimming is not really the point here: come for the views, the fishing boats and dinner. You need a car or Grab; allow 45 minutes to an hour from George Town.
Island Trips from Penang
Several small islands lie in the channel between Penang Island and the mainland. Pulau Aman is the one with a regular boat service and a village to visit.
Pulau Aman
Pulau Aman ("Island of Peace") is a small fishing island off the southern mainland of Penang, home to a village of a couple of hundred people. A 10-minute boat ride from Batu Musang Jetty takes you to a different pace of life: a 1789 well called Telaga Emas that still gives fresh water, an old mosque, beaches for kayaking and fishing, and a jungle path that crosses the island in 30 to 40 minutes.
Boats run on demand rather than to a timetable, especially at weekends, and the fare has been about RM8 per adult, paid by cash or QR; ask the boatman what time the last boat leaves. Kak Timah's stall is known for mee udang (prawn noodles, about RM15). Chalets and homestays are available if you want to stay overnight. Batu Musang Jetty is on the southern mainland near Batu Kawan, so you need a car or Grab to get there.
Penang Beaches: Safety and Practical Tips
Swimming and jellyfish
There are no lifeguards on most Penang beaches. Currents are strong at Pantai Kerachut and Pasir Panjang, and jellyfish appear at times, especially in the drier months. Swim close to shore, ask locals about conditions, and avoid the water after heavy rain.
National park boats
Boats leave from the jetty by the park headquarters in Teluk Bahang and are priced per boat for up to about 10 people: around RM70 one way to Monkey Beach and RM100 one way to Pantai Kerachut. Agree the pick-up time before you are dropped off, and register at the park office first.
Water sports at Batu Ferringhi
Jet ski, parasailing and banana-boat operators are independent. Agree the price, duration and what happens if the weather turns before you pay, and check that life jackets are provided.
Best time to go
The sea is generally calmest and clearest from December to April. From May to November afternoon storms are more frequent, so go in the morning.
Other islands
Pulau Jerejak, off the south-east coast, no longer has a public ferry since its resort closed, and a bridge to it is still at the planning and early works stage; the island is mostly visited by kayakers. Pulau Kendi off Gertak Sanggul has no regular boat service.
Penang Beaches: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach in Penang?
Batu Ferringhi is the best for facilities, water sports and hotels. For a quieter, more natural beach, Monkey Beach, Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi in Penang National Park are the most attractive, though you have to hike or take a boat to reach them.
Can you swim at Penang beaches?
Yes, but with care. Batu Ferringhi and Monkey Beach are the usual swimming spots. Currents are strong at Pantai Kerachut and Pasir Panjang, there are no lifeguards on most beaches and jellyfish appear at times, so stay close to shore.
How do I get to Monkey Beach in Penang?
Register and pay the fee at the Penang National Park headquarters in Teluk Bahang, then walk the coastal trail (about 1.5 hours each way) or take a boat from the park jetty for about RM70 one way per boat.
Are there islands you can visit from Penang?
Pulau Aman, off the southern mainland, is the easiest: boats from Batu Musang Jetty take about 10 minutes and have cost around RM8 per adult. The island has a fishing village, a historic well, beaches and a short jungle trail.
Are Penang beaches free?
Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang, Pasir Panjang and Gertak Sanggul are free. Monkey Beach, Pantai Kerachut, Teluk Kampi and Muka Head Lighthouse are inside Penang National Park, which charges RM50 for foreign adults and RM10 for Malaysians.