Malaysia's first hill station, Penang Hill is 830 meters (2730ft) above sea level, visitors can ascend to the top by either hiking up or by the funicular railway which has been operational since 1922. Apart from the cool, refreshing climate and the fantastic view at the summit, visitors can also view the picturesque bungalows, a beautiful flower garden and a bird park.

There are bungalows for rent and a hotel for those who want to stay for more than a day. Visitors can also indulge in refreshments and snacks at a convenient tea kiosk located on top of the hill. There is a good walking track up the hill. It takes 4 hours to reach the top and is recommended only for the more energetic. The jungle trail begins at the 'moongate' at Jalan Air Terjun, approximately 300m from the Botanical Gardens entrance.

The most popular way up the hill is via a funicular train, which takes about half an hour. Walking up the hill takes about four hours.

The funicular rail service begins at 6.30am and ends at 9.30pm
Fare: RM4.00 adults & RM2.00 children.

Batu Ferringhi is a haven for a string of world-class resorts including rows of specialty restaurants and shops. Business is often brisk here, and one particular business that's currently thriving and attracting the tourist mass is the sidewalk bazaar that's held every evening. As the sun sets, the sidewalks facing the Batu Ferringhi road become cluttered with makeshift stalls.

The string of stalls stretch all the way from Shangri-la's Rasa Sayang Hotel to the Casuarina Hotel, offering tourists a variety of cheap merchandise especially of the 'bootleg' sort. While there's a wide assortment of 'Penang' handicrafts, there's an even bigger selection of imitation goods ranging from designer apparel, leather bags, watches to CDs, VCDs and computer games. Nearly every stall has them and the prices are more or less the same from stall to stall.

You can try haggling but it's always wiser to compare prices first before buying. In that way you'll know you're getting a good deal or not. For those who prefer to shop in a less congested setting (minus the hurly-burly sales talk) will find a handful of curio shops nearby more suited to their taste. These shops mostly offer handicraft souvenirs at nett but affordable prices.

The stalls operate from about 6.00pm to 12.00am daily.