Rising 833 meters above sea level, this lush hilltop retreat has a funicular railway and panoramic views of George Town and the Malacca Strait.
Penang Hill rises 833 meters above George Town, offering cooler temperatures than the city below. This forested area includes a funicular railway that takes you to the summit, where you can enjoy wide-ranging views. You'll find nature trails for walking through the rainforest, colonial-era buildings to explore, and The Habitat Penang Hill with its canopy walkways and zip lines. At the top, you can dine at one of the restaurants while taking in the scenery.
You can reach Penang Hill via the funicular railway from Air Itam. The Swiss-made trains travel up the steep slope in about 5-10 minutes, covering nearly 2 kilometers. Trains operate from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM daily. Round-trip tickets cost RM30 for foreign adults and RM15 for children. If you prefer a more active approach, you can hike up one of several trails to the summit.
The upper station has viewing platforms that provide 360-degree views across Penang Island and the Strait of Malacca. On clear days, you can see as far as Langkawi. The views are particularly impressive at sunset when the city lights begin to appear below. For the highest vantage point, visit the Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk at The Habitat.
Penang Hill contains a 130-million-year-old rainforest with a variety of plants and animals. You can walk on hiking trails through the lush vegetation and spot wildlife like dusky leaf monkeys, flying lemurs, and over 100 bird species. The Habitat Penang Hill offers guided nature walks, canopy walkways, and zip lines for a close-up forest experience.
As Malaysia's first hill station, Penang Hill has remnants of its colonial past. You'll find bungalows, a post office, and other structures dating back to the late 1700s. The Bellevue Hotel, built in 1789, is an example of colonial architecture. You can walk the paths to discover these historical buildings scattered across the hilltop.
Several dining options allow you to enjoy a meal while taking in the scenery. The three-story Cliff Cafe food court serves local dishes like laksa and char kway teow. David Brown's Restaurant offers Western cuisine and afternoon tea on a terrace overlooking George Town. Kopi Hutan, which claims to be the highest cafe in Penang, serves coffee surrounded by green forest.
You can visit Penang Hill year-round, but the weather is generally cooler and less humid than in the lowlands. Early mornings provide the clearest views before the heat haze sets in. Weekends and holidays are often busy, so visit on a weekday if possible for a calmer experience. The last funicular train descends at 11 PM, allowing you to see the illuminated city below at night.
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![Kuala Lumpur is the national capital and most populous city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, covering similar area as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.5 million people as of 2012. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population and economy.
Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The city was once home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999. Some sections of the judiciary still remain in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in Kuala Lumpur. Rated as an alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city. Kuala Lumpur was ranked 48th among global cities by Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index and was ranked 67th among global cities for economic and social innovation by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index in 2010.
Since the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia's futuristic development [Wikipedia.org] | Johor Bahru in Malaysia](https://humbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/place-photo/5ffa2ff19ed1ddb22d235d13/6xc_BMxB-z_thumb.jpeg)
