Penang

Set up in 1860, this clanhouse is also known as Kew Leong Tong, which means Hall of Nine Dragons. — Lonely Planet

Once a granite quarry, Penang's Botanical Gardens were founded in 1884 by Charles Curtis, a tireless British plant lover who collected the original specimens and became the first curator. — Lonely Planet

The site is teeming with history to learn from and experience so this is a definite must for anyone with an interest in history. — Time Out

Staggered on hillside terraces overlooking Air Itam, around 8km from the centre of George Town, Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple is a visual delight. — Lonely Planet

Once at the top, you'll find a viewing deck, a mosque, a temple, a food court, souvenir stands, an eclectic owl museum and other curiosities. — Time Out

This beautifully decorated and maintained clanhouse, belonging to the Penang Teochew Association, dates back to 1870. — Lonely Planet

Sri Mariamman was built in 1883 and is George Town’s oldest Hindu house of worship. — Lonely Planet

The Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple is probably the most famous Hindu temple in Penang. — Time Out

Situated on the banks of the Air Itam river, around 5km west of George Town’s centre, it’s a grand building with sweeping verandahs, a massive ballroom and a breezy colonial plantation feel. — Lonely Planet

You can discover some 500 species of tropical flora and fauna during a wander around Tropical Spice Garden's three winding trails. — Fodor's

Housed in a delicately restored museum, visitors will get to browse from over 1,000 pieces of Peranakan (Straits Chinese) memorabilia, antiques and artefacts. — Time Out

There’s dark room that will give you an inkling of now almost forgotten film processing procedure, an interactive camera obscura and pin-hole camera rooms and a large format camera room. — Time Out

Expansions in the 1900s topped the mosque with stunning domes and turrets, adding extensions and new roofs. — Frommer's

More than 120,000 toys locked up in this giant shed with nobody to really love them. There's everything form Super Mario to ET and the Smurfs here. You'll find it behind Craft Batik. — Lonely Planet

At 23 sq km, this is Malaysia's smallest national park, but it's beach-fringed forests are home to silvered leaf monkeys, flying lemurs, leopard cats and abundant bird, amphibian and reptile species. — Lonely Planet

The House of Yeap Chor Ee hosts a neat cluster of 19th-century antiques, Peranakan furniture and old portraits that belonged to one of Penang’s richest trader, Yeap Chor Ee. — Time Out