Penang · Month comparison
November vs February
February ranks #1 overall vs November at #11. The driest and most festive month — Thaipusam and Chinese New Year together.
November
#11 of 12 months
Worth considering
Near the wettest month — Deepavali is spectacular but weather is genuinely challenging.
- ↑Deepavali (usually November) transforms Little India on Penang Road and Queen Street into one of Southeast Asia's most spectacular Hindu festivals: 3am oil lamp ceremonies, rangoli floor art, and the smell of rose water and jasmine garlands through the pre-dawn streets. The celebration at the Nagarathar community temples is open to respectful visitors.
- ↑Despite the rain, hawker culture is at full operation and prices are at their lowest. A Penang trip focused entirely on eating — from the prawn mee soup at Lorong Selamat to the Nyonya kueh at Joo Hooi café — is entirely viable at November prices.
February
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The driest and most festive month — Thaipusam and Chinese New Year together.
- ↑February is statistically the driest month in Penang (58mm) and often the sunniest. The combination of excellent weather and major festivals makes it arguably the single best month to visit.
- ↑Thaipusam at the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple on Waterfall Road is one of the most extraordinary Hindu festivals in Southeast Asia: devotees in trance carry kavadi (steel frames pierced through skin) up the temple steps, surrounded by drums, chanting, and incense. The procession through George Town on the eve of the festival is genuinely breathtaking and open to respectful visitors.
| Factor | November | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 9 |
| Value score | 8 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 6 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30.8°C | 32.2°C |
| Monthly rain | 184mm | 58mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.2hrs | 8.4hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓184mm of rain is the wettest month of the year alongside October — days of persistent rain are frequent. The beach is firmly off the agenda.
- ↓Some evening street events and outdoor markets are disrupted by rain; the covered food courts take over as the primary social venues.
February trade-offs
- ↓The overlap of Thaipusam and Chinese New Year (when they fall close together) makes February the most visited month of the year — accommodation must be booked very far ahead, and prices for quality heritage guesthouses can double.
- ↓Street congestion during festival processions makes certain parts of the old town difficult to navigate by car or tuk-tuk — though the compact walkability of George Town makes this manageable on foot.
Scores compare months within Penang. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →