Dec → Feb
29 to 31°
nights 25°
- 19 rainy days · 158 mm
- sea 30°
When is the best time to visit Penang?
- Jan30°recommended
- Feb31°recommended
- Mar31°recommended
- Apr30°fair
- May30°not recommended
- Jun30°not recommended
- Jul30°not recommended
- Aug30°not recommended
- Sep29°not recommended
- Oct29°not recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec29°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Penang, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 25° | 141 mm | 19 d | 30° | ✓ |
| February | 31° | 25° | 113 mm | 15 d | 31° | ✓ |
| March | 31° | 25° | 182 mm | 23 d | 32° | ✓ |
| April | 30° | 25° | 319 mm | 28 d | 32° | |
| May | 30° | 26° | 398 mm | 28 d | 32° | |
| June | 30° | 26° | 224 mm | 23 d | 32° | |
| July | 30° | 26° | 190 mm | 22 d | 32° | |
| August | 30° | 25° | 310 mm | 26 d | 31° | |
| September | 29° | 25° | 335 mm | 27 d | 31° | |
| October | 29° | 25° | 409 mm | 28 d | 31° | |
| November | 29° | 25° | 408 mm | 30 d | 31° | |
| December | 29° | 25° | 219 mm | 23 d | 30° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Penang, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (George Town) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
30 to 31°
nights 25 to 26°
- 26 rainy days · 300 mm
- sea 32°
Jun → Aug
30°
nights 25 to 26°
- 24 rainy days · 241 mm
- sea 32°
Sep → Nov
29°
nights 25°
- 28 rainy days · 384 mm
- sea 31°
Book early for December to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Penang, month by month
EventsThaipusamJanuary to FebruaryChinese New YearJanuary to FebruaryGeorge Town FestivalJuly to AugustNine Emperor Gods FestivalSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Penang, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- January to FebruaryThaipusam
In January or February, Tamil pilgrims climb to the temple on Waterfall Road, kavadi on their shoulders, to the sound of drums.
- January to FebruaryChinese New Year big crowds
Between late January and February, the temples and clan houses of George Town open for fifteen days, with lion dances in the lanes.
- July to AugustGeorge Town Festival
In July and August, exhibitions and performances fill the shophouses, warehouses and jetties of the heritage-listed centre.
- September to OctoberNine Emperor Gods Festival
Between late September and October, the city goes vegetarian for nine days, with processions and stalls outside the Chinese temples.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended30°25° at night
- 141 mm · 19 d
- sea 30°
High season, book early
February
Recommended31°25° at night
- 113 mm · 15 d
- sea 31°
High season, book early
March
Recommended31°25° at night
- 182 mm · 23 d
- sea 32°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair30°25° at night
- 319 mm · 28 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended30°26° at night
- 398 mm · 28 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended30°26° at night
- 224 mm · 23 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended30°26° at night
- 190 mm · 22 d
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended30°25° at night
- 310 mm · 26 d
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended29°25° at night
- 335 mm · 27 d
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended29°25° at night
- 409 mm · 28 d
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair29°25° at night
- 408 mm · 30 d
- sea 31°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended29°25° at night
- 219 mm · 23 d
- sea 30°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 141 mm over 19 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 31 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 113 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 31 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 182 mm over 23 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 319 mm over 28 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 398 mm of rain over 28 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 224 mm of rain over 23 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. A very wet month, 190 mm of rain over 22 days. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 310 mm of rain over 26 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 335 mm of rain over 27 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 409 mm of rain over 28 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 408 mm over 30 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 219 mm over 23 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Penang?
December to March: over these months, recorded highs range from 29 to 31 °C, with 20 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, George Town).
Which month should you avoid in Penang?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 409 mm over 28 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (George Town).
What is the hottest month in Penang?
February, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (George Town).
What is the coldest month in Penang?
September, with 29 °C at best during the day and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (George Town).
What is the driest month in Penang?
February: 113 mm over 15 days of rain, against 409 mm in October, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Penang?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 30 to 32 °C depending on the month (warmest in March), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (George Town).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Penang guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Malaysia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
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