Penang

Where to stay

George Town's backpacker core runs along Jalan Chulia and Love Lane, where most of the budget hostels cluster within easy walking distance of the UNESCO heritage streets, clan jetties at Weld Quay, and the street art on Lebuh Armenian. Staying here puts you close to almost everything without needing transport for the first couple of days.

Getting around

• The free CAT (Central Area Transit) shuttle loops through George Town's heritage core on a fixed route. Use it to cover ground without paying for a Grab every time.
• Hawker stalls at Lorong Baru (New Lane) run late into the night and charge a fraction of what the tourist-facing coffee shops on the main streets ask for the same char kway teow or assam laksa.
• The Butterworth-Georgetown passenger ferry costs almost nothing and the crossing takes about ten minutes. If you're arriving from Kuala Lumpur by train, this is the practical and cheap way in rather than a taxi over the Penang Bridge.

When to go

Hostels fill fast and prices jump around Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February) and again in December. April through early June is generally the quietest stretch, with lower nightly rates and no festival crowds.