6 Amazing Penang Photography Spots For Unique Photos
Penang & Georgetown is a photographer’s playground, you’ll find photo opportunities around pretty much every corner. You can download my Penang photography spots map at the end!
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Penang Photography Spots
Looking for some awesome places to take photos in Penang? I’ve got you covered. I spent a full 5 nights here wandering around and finding some fantastic photography spots.
Penang is basically heaven on earth for photographers – from the unique street art and colonial buildings; the charming Clan jetties and amazing nature, you might want to bring a couple of extra SD cards because you’ll be taking photos around every corner!
However, due to Penang’s popularity – it can sometimes be difficult to take photos that don’t have other travellers in it! Not to worry! For each of the Penang photography spots, i’ve included my best tips for taking photos there as well as the best time to go!
Is Penang worth visiting for the photography opportunities alone? Absolutely!
So, without further ado, here are 6 amazing Penang photography spots to check out on your trip:
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1. Chew Jetty
Chew Jetty is very conveniently within walking distance of the main area of Georgetown. One of six main Clan jetties in Georgetown, it’s also one of the coolest Penang photography spots. The morning I visited, I took some amazing photos and i’ll always remember it from when I was backpacking Penang.
The Clan Jetties were originally a place where immigrants settled and fished for a living, it’s now become something Georgetown is known for and it attracts heaps of visitors due to it’s street art and colourful stall fronts! It really is one of the best Penang photography spots.
Chew Jetty Photo Tips:
Whilst the jetty is photogenic on its own, having people in the photos really elevate them to another level. What makes it one of the coolest Penang photography spots is that occasionally, you’ll see people riding their motorbikes through the jetty – time it well and you can catch them as the drive into the little areas of sunlight!
Best time to visit Chew Jetty for photography
The best time to visit Chew Jetty for photography is undoubtedly in the early morning before it is packed full of people. I visited around 8am and the light was perfect for taking photos.
Arriving early also gives you the chance to see everything opening, which can make for some pretty nice photos.
2. Lee Jetty
Just down the road, you’ve got Lee Jetty. It is one of the more unique Penang photography spots and it’s my personal favourite of the jetties purely because of how damn photogenic it is! It is mostly residential and incredibly unique because of the arches that run all the way to the end.
Lee Jetty Photo Tips:
What most people don’t know is that at night, until around 8:30pm these arches actually light up in vibrant purple and blue! Come here with your tripod so you can set up a long exposure to get the best quality, as it is quite dim.
Out of all of the Penang photography spots i’ve listed, this one is probably the most unique because of the lights.
Best time to visit Lee Jetty for photography
The best time to visit Tan Jetty for photography is in the early morning or sunset. The benefit to arriving in the morning is the lack of people around and the light is amazing.
The end of Tan Jetty is a fantastic spot to watch and take photos the sunset, and many hostels bring groups here as a social activity too.
Arriving in the morning and you’ll see the locals start their days.
Check out my Penang 3 Days Itinerary
3. Bomba Street Art
“Bomba” means “fireman” or “firefighter” in Malay, and Bomba Street is dedicated to Malaysian rescue services, like the bombas!
Located near the Central Fire Station, Bomba Street is one of my favourite Penang photography spots. One half of the street is a pathway with colourful lanterns overhead and mini fans that spin in the wind.
The other half contains murals of some of Malaysia’s heroes, first responders.
Bomba Street Art Photo Tips:
I recommend experimenting with different angles and focal lengths on Bomba Street! Don’t be afraid of getting down low to create more effective leading lines to a potential subject in the middle.
Try and catch some of the sun behind one of the lanterns too in a more close-up shot, it’ll make for a great photo!
Best time to visit Bomba Street for photography:
I believe the best time to take photos on Bomba Street is after sunset! Sadly, I didn’t bring my camera when I walked through at night. I was kicking myself!
At night, the lanterns of Bomba Street light up – creating a pretty bloody spectacular scene (it’s very romantic too).
4. Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam is probably the most well-known attraction in all of Penang, and for good reason – it’s one of the biggest Buddhist temples in South East Asia. Here, you’ll be blessed with so many great photo opportunities around every corner – making it one of the great Penang photography spots.
And the most important part, it’s free to visit! It’s very simple to get there too – you can visit by bus or Grab taxi. I go into this further in my Backpacking Penang Budget Travel Guide.
Kek Lok Si Temple Photo Tips:
The temple is HUGE, and it’s divided into a few different levels. I recommend starting at the top and then making your way down towards the bottom. The top pretty much just has a massive statue that can be difficult to take photos of due to the awkward angles.
A lot of the smaller buildings in the temple have circle windows too, which gives you the chance to experiment with some unique framing! Try it out and let me know how you go!
After visiting, walk around Air Itam itself for some fantastic photo opportunities of street food. I reckon it’ll make you pretty hungry too!
Best time to visit Kek Lok Si for photography:
Kek Lok Si Temple is open from 8:30am until 5:30pm, so it’s not possible to arrive for sunrise. That being said, it’s best to get there early as possible to take as many photos as you can before more people come!
Check out my guide to Backpacking With Camera Gear
5. Armenian Street
By now, you’ll have figured out that Penang & Georgetown is known for its street art. Armenian Street, is home to some of the islands best murals including the “Kids on Bicycle”, making it one of the best Penang photography spots.
It was originally named ‘Malay Lane’ but was renamed ‘Armenian Street’ in the early 1800s after the arrival of a bunch of Armenian merchants and traders who lived on the road.
Now, long after the Armenian presence has left, it’s dotted with charming street art and shops.
Armenian Street Photo Tips:
Armenian Street is hands down the most popular street in Georgetown for checking out street art. Naturally, it attracts so many visitors so it can be difficult to get the photos you want with everyone in the way!
“Kids on Bicycle” is the most famous artwork, but it is not the only one. Take your time exploring the street finding other pieces to take photos of! Here’s a great guide on all of the different street arts on Armenian Street.
Best time to visit Armenian Street for photography:
So many of the best Penang photography spots are popular attractions, making it hard to simply turn up and take photos! I was there at around 9am and there were already people wandering around.
Try and get there a bit earlier to beat the crowds!
Make sure you know How To Get Around Malaysia On A Budget
6. Penang Hill
This peak offers the greatest panoramic view of Georgetown and is one of the best Penang photography spots. It’s quite a pricey venture if you choose not to hike up, but I mention in my Penang Backpacking guide how to get to Penang Hill on a budget.
Penang Hill Photo Tips:
Once you get to the top, avoid the first lookout you see because it’s usually crowded and doesn’t have the best view. Instead, walk along the road and you’ll find heaps more lookouts that are often better. Chances are that you’ll have them to yourself too!
Best time to visit Penang Hill for photography:
Sunrise and sunset are both fantastic times to take photos at the peak of Penang Hill. The first funicular train heads up at 6:30am, so you’ll be up there in time for sunrise around 7:30am (depending on the time of year).
At sunrise, you will be facing the sun and at sunset, it will be towards your right if you’re looking out to Georgetown.
Make sure you’re ready for visiting Penang with my Backpacking Malaysia Packing List
Travel Insurance For Penang
It’s always best to have travel insurance when you’re travelling, especially if you’re carrying around photography gear. I use World Nomads who are easily the best insurance company for long-term travellers and photographers. Before you go checking out the best Penang backpacking spots, get insured!
Penang Photography Spots: Final Thoughts
These Penang photography spots are seriously impressive. For the photographers reading or even just people looking for cool Instagrammable places in Penang, you’ve now got six great places to visit in between wandering around.
Don’t miss out on these Penang photography spots!
Leaving Penang soon? Check out all of my posts about Malaysia
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with HostelWorld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use World Nomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.