How many days should you spend in George Town and Penang?
Give Penang enough time for more than one food crawl and a mural walk. Two nights gives you a taste; three or four lets George Town, markets, heat breaks and the wider island start to make sense.
Answer
Penang is easy to under-plan because it looks compact and food-led. Two nights can work if you are passing through, but three or four usually feels better for a first visit. That gives you time to eat without turning every meal into a mission, wander George Town early or late, take a heat break, and decide whether you want beaches, hill views or a temple-and-market day. The mistake is trying to finish Penang like a list: one mural, one laksa, one temple, next city. The place is better when you repeat the small pleasures and let the streets become familiar.