Islamic Heritage & Sites in Penang
From the Kapitan Keling Mosque in George Town to the Floating Mosque at Tanjung Bungah: where to go, when, and what to wear
Islamic Heritage in Penang
Muslims have lived in Penang since before George Town was founded in 1786. Masjid Jamek Batu Uban, which began as a surau built in 1734 by Haji Mohammed Saleh from Sumatra, is said to be the oldest mosque in the state. In George Town, Indian Muslim traders built the Kapitan Keling Mosque and an Acehnese merchant prince founded the Acheen Street Mosque in the early 1800s.
JAKIM counted 206 mosques and 498 surau in Penang in April 2014. The four below are in George Town, Air Itam and Tanjung Bungah. All are working mosques, so go outside prayer times and follow each mosque's rules for visitors.
Ramadan brings evening bazaars, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marks its end, brings open houses.
Key Facts
Oldest Mosque
Masjid Jamek Batu Uban (began as a surau in 1734)
Largest Mosque
State Mosque, Air Itam (about 5,000 worshippers)
Mosques and Surau
206 mosques and 498 surau (JAKIM, 2014)
Major Festival
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (end Ramadan)
Major Islamic Sites
Visiting rules, dress and how to get there
Kapitan Keling Mosque (Masjid Kapitan Keling)
George Town's Indian Muslim mosque, founded 1801
In 1801 Lieutenant Governor George Leith granted land to Cauder Mohuddeen, headman of the South Indian Muslim community, and the mosque grew up on it. A 1930 renovation gave it its present look: the prayer hall was enlarged and its height doubled. It is run by the Penang Islamic Council and is still a working mosque.
Location
Corner of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) and Lebuh Buckingham, George Town
Hours
Non-Muslim visitors: daily 11am-1pm, 2pm-4:30pm and 5pm-6pm; Fridays 2pm-6pm only. Hours may change during Ramadan.
Admission
Free (donations welcome)
Dress Code
Cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair. Robes are lent free at the entrance.
How to Get There
Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling in the heritage core, a short walk from Lebuh Chulia and Little India.
Visit Tips
- •Non-Muslims cannot enter the central prayer space or step on the prayer mats
- •Photography is generally allowed in visitor areas; ask first if people are praying
- •Keep your voice low and follow the attendants' directions
Penang State Mosque (Masjid Negeri Pulau Pinang)
Penang's largest mosque, opened 1980
The state mosque was officially opened on 29 August 1980. It was designed by the Filipino architect Efren Brindez Paz for the Public Works Department and holds about 5,000 worshippers, which makes it the largest mosque in Penang. It stands on a 4.6-hectare site.
Location
Jalan Air Itam at the junction with Jalan Masjid Negeri (Green Lane), Air Itam
Hours
No visiting hours are published.
Admission
No fee published
Dress Code
Cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair.
How to Get There
Rapid Penang buses 201, 202, 203, 204, 306 and 502 stop on Jalan Air Itam near the mosque. The driveway entrance is on Jalan Air Itam.
Visit Tips
- •The prayer halls are not open to non-Muslim visitors
- •Check prayer times on JAKIM's e-Solat (zone PNG01) and avoid them
Floating Mosque (Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah)
Built on stilts over the sea, opened 2005
The mosque stands on stilts over the bay and only looks as if it floats at high tide. It replaced a small 1967 mosque that had outgrown its site. Building started in 2003, it opened to the public in January 2005 and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opened it officially on 16 March 2007. It holds 1,500 worshippers.
Location
Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Bungah (across the road from Mar Vista)
Hours
No visiting hours are published.
Admission
No fee published
Dress Code
Cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair.
How to Get There
On the coast road at Tanjung Bungah, on the way from George Town to Batu Ferringhi. Grab or car is easiest.
Visit Tips
- •There is parking for about 50 cars
- •Ask at the mosque before entering, and avoid prayer times
Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Aceh)
Founded by an Acehnese merchant prince
The mosque stands on land given by Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, an Acehnese clan leader who settled on what became Acheen Street. Wikipedia dates it to 1808; Penang Travel Tips gives 1801. Its Arab-style minaret has an Acehnese roof, and the founder's family cemetery lies next to the mosque. The area was once a gathering point for pilgrims sailing to Mecca.
Location
Lebuh Aceh (Acheen Street), George Town
Hours
No visiting hours are published.
Admission
No fee published
Dress Code
Cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair.
How to Get There
Lebuh Aceh in the heritage core, a few minutes' walk from the Kapitan Keling Mosque.
Visit Tips
- •Go outside prayer times and ask before entering
- •Syed Alatas Mansion, the former Penang Islamic Museum, is nearby on Lebuh Armenian
Halal Food in Penang
How to tell what is certified. See our halal guide for restaurants.
JAKIM-certified premises
Certified restaurants show the JAKIM halal logo. You can search the register at halal.gov.my by state and premises type.
Muslim-run restaurants
Many nasi kandar, mamak and Malay restaurants are Muslim-run but do not hold JAKIM certification. Look for the logo or ask.
Hawker centres
Hawker centres mix halal and non-halal stalls. Check each stall for a halal sign before you order.
Islamic Festivals & Seasons
Dates follow the Islamic calendar and move about 11 days earlier each year
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr)
2026: Saturday 21 March. The 2027 date is announced after the moon sighting.
Marks the end of Ramadan. Families visit each other, wear new clothes and hold open houses, and the day starts with morning prayers at the mosques.
Highlights
- •Morning Aidilfitri prayers at the mosques
- •Open houses
- •Festive Malay food
Visitor Tips
- •Mosques are full on the morning of Aidilfitri; non-Muslim visitors should keep away from the prayer halls
- •Dress modestly if you are invited to an open house
Ramadan (Month of Fasting)
2026: Thursday 19 February to Friday 20 March. The start date is announced after the moon sighting.
Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan bazaars sell food for breaking the fast, and mosques hold tarawih prayers at night. Penang Island City Council runs bazaars across the island.
Highlights
- •Ramadan bazaars (pasar Ramadan)
- •Breaking the fast (iftar) at sunset
- •Tarawih night prayers
Visitor Tips
- •Avoid eating or drinking in front of people who are fasting
- •Some Muslim-run restaurants change their hours during Ramadan
Practical Information for Visitors
Prayer Rooms
Malaysia Airports lists surau at Penang International Airport on Level 2 (international and domestic departures) and Level 1 (arrivals). Friday (Jumaat) prayers take the place of the midday Zohor prayer; check the time on JAKIM's e-Solat, zone PNG01.
Halal Food
Look for the JAKIM halal logo, or search the register at halal.gov.my. Muslim-run does not always mean certified.
Modest Dress
When visiting a mosque, cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair. The Kapitan Keling Mosque lends robes free at the entrance. Shoes come off before the prayer areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-Muslims visit mosques in Penang?
Some mosques welcome visitors, but rules differ. The Kapitan Keling Mosque has set hours for non-Muslim visitors (daily 11am-1pm, 2pm-4:30pm and 5pm-6pm; Fridays 2pm-6pm) and keeps its central prayer space closed to them. The State Mosque's prayer halls are not open to non-Muslims. Elsewhere, go outside prayer times and ask before entering.
What should I wear when visiting a mosque?
Cover your arms and legs; women also cover their hair. You take your shoes off before the prayer areas. The Kapitan Keling Mosque lends robes free at the entrance.
What are the 5 daily prayer times?
Subuh (dawn), Zohor (midday), Asar (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and Isyak (night). The times shift through the year. JAKIM publishes the official times for Penang on e-solat.gov.my under zone PNG01.
What is Ramadan and how does it affect a visit?
Ramadan is the month when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Evening Ramadan bazaars sell food for breaking the fast, and mosques are busier at night. Some Muslim-run restaurants change their hours. Visitors are welcome; avoid eating or drinking in front of people who are fasting.
How do I find halal food in Penang?
Look for the JAKIM halal logo, or search JAKIM's register at halal.gov.my. Many Muslim-run restaurants are not certified, so ask if certification matters to you. Our halal guide lists certified chains and how to check others.
Can I take photographs inside mosques?
At the Kapitan Keling Mosque photography is generally allowed in visitor areas; ask first if people are praying. Never photograph worshippers during prayer without permission.
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