Homestays and Guesthouses in Penang
Guesthouses · Apartments · Whole-house stays
A guesthouse or homestay puts you in a neighbourhood rather than a hotel complex. In George Town that usually means a room in a shophouse, close to the food streets. On the north coast around Batu Ferringhi it is more often an apartment or a house near the beach. Balik Pulau, on the quieter west side of the island, suits a slower, village-style stay. Check each listing for the room set-up, the area and how to reach it.
Short-term rentals in Penang need a council licence; see our guide to the rules. Stays whose licence we have checked are on the licensed stays page.
14 stays
Sorted A to Z
100 Cintra St
Community-style heritage guesthouse and art residency in an old Cintra Street house in the middle of George Town's UNESCO zone.
22 Macalisterz by MyKey
Short-stay serviced apartments by MyKey in a 36-storey tower in George Town, Penang, a short walk from KOMTAR.
23 Love Lane
Boutique heritage hotel on Love Lane, built across five architectural periods dating to the 1800s and set around its own walled garden.
Ascott Gurney Penang
Serviced residence on Gurney Drive, George Town — the first Ascott-branded property on Penang island, with studios to two-bedroom apartments.
Bao Sheng Durian Farm
A third-generation organic durian farm in the Balik Pulau hills that offers farmstay accommodation, best known for stays during the durian season.
By The Sea
Beachfront two-bedroom serviced apartments on Batu Ferringhi beach, with a 50-metre infinity pool, a children's wading pool, direct beach access and balconies looking over the sea or the hills.
Citadines Connect Bertam Georgetown Penang
A modern 70-unit serviced apartment by Ascott on Jalan Penang in central George Town, with a rooftop pool, studio-to-two-bedroom layouts and Prangin Mall a few minutes' walk away.
Citadines Prai Penang
Ascott-run serviced apartments in Bukit Mertajam on mainland Penang, with 168 units, in-room kitchenettes and a 39th-floor pool and gym.
lyf Georgetown Penang by The Ascott Limited
Ascott's co-living 'lyf' brand on Jalan Penang in the heart of George Town, with studio-to-three-bedroom serviced apartments, social kitchen, gym, pool and laundrette — a MICHELIN Guide 2025 selection.
Macallum Central Hotel
Ten one- and two-bedroom suites behind a heritage shophouse façade on Lebuh Macallum, a short walk from Komtar and Penang Times Square.
Magazine Vista Hotel
Suite-only boutique stay on Jalan Magazine in central George Town, managed by The Ascott Limited. Two- and three-bedroom units with kitchenettes.
Nature Fruit Farm - Farmstay
A private tropical fruit-farm estate in the Balik Pulau countryside offering farmstay accommodation among the orchards.
Pin Seng Hotel
Long-running budget guesthouse on Love Lane in George Town, popular with backpackers for its low room rates and central heritage-zone location.
More ways to choose a hotel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a homestay and a guesthouse in Penang?
A guesthouse is a small commercial stay with a front desk or an on-site host, often a few rooms in a converted shophouse. A homestay is usually a private home, apartment or house rented to visitors, sometimes with the host living on site. Listings here are grouped by how the stay is listed, not by a legal definition.
Do short-term rentals in Penang need a licence?
Yes, under the 2026 Penang private homestay by-law. Our guide to the rules explains who must hold one and how to check. Stays whose licence Visit Penang has checked are listed on the licensed stays page.
How were these stays chosen?
Each one has a full listing on Visit Penang and is listed as a guesthouse or apartment, or its listing names a homestay, whole house or kampung stay.
Which areas do these stays cover?
The largest groups are in George Town (9), Balik Pulau (2), Batu Ferringhi (1), Bukit Mertajam (1). Use the area finder on our where-to-stay page if you are unsure which suits your trip.