The 10 Best Co-Working and Study Spaces in Penang

The spacious working area
The spacious working area | © Settlements
Michelle Leong

Nap rooms, phone booths and designated work desks – the best of Penang’s co-working spaces often boast all three, usually with a café to boot.

Thanks to Penang’s growing community of entrepreneurs and digital nomads, new spaces have sprouted up all around the state to offer non-office workers a new working home. In the vein of co-working trends set by Kuala Lumpur and other cities, these hotspots are typically supported by a robust creative community and lots of caffeine.

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Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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@CAT

Building

ACAT Penang hot desk
© @CAT

Supported by the Penang State Government, @CAT has a well-established presence in the local startup and freelance community. The space is enormous, with open working desks and lockers, as well as event rooms and a help-yourself kitchen. @CAT also hosts workshops and seminars geared towards startup businesses and tech education (Ruby and Python, anyone?).

Common Ground

Building

Common Ground
© Common Ground

Don’t underestimate this newcomer to Penang. Common Ground has a uniquely international reach, with branches in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia (up to 11 branches in Kuala Lumpur). The decor is homely yet contemporary, and the work desks are ‘individual,’ which means there are no excessively long desks where your working neighbours can peek at every website you’re looking up on the world wide web.

Scoopoint

Building

Scoopoint
© Scoopoint

If you like nap time, table tennis and a panoramic view of Weld Quay, this is the place for you. This creative, laid-back space is a popular hub for young creatives and students who like their work and leisure in equal measures – and thanks to a nap room, comfy lounge and table tennis area, they can do that without anyone batting an eye. Students and social enterprises enjoy special rates.

MSOGO

Building

MSOGO Penang
© MSOGO

This vibrant, contemporary space could be your new working home. The space is generous and comfortable, offers ‘fat-pipe Wi-Fi,’ and lets you unwind in a game room (yes, you read that right). It is also located inside Prangin Mall, which means that putera and puteri lilins (people wary of sunlight) won’t need to sweat it out under the Malaysian sun if they need to pop out for a bit of local kuih (cake). We like.

Settlements

Building

Settlements
© Settlements

If you prefer foosball to table tennis, and you like beanbags as much as standing desks, Settlements is the space to hit. The open-plan layout tends to be particularly conducive to group work and professional collaboration, and you can easily slip between work and leisure. The latter involves a ‘green’ chill-out area with rattan chairs, a hammock, and multiple pots of lush vegetation.

CoHere

Building

CoHere
© CoHere

Are you a startup business looking for a new home? This sleek, minimalist space champions all that is modern and mainland, thanks to its strategic location in Icon City, Bukit Mertajam. Private office rooms offer individual tables and ergonomic armchairs for up to six people per room.

Bersama-sama Coworking Community

Building

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© Bersama-sama Coworking Community

If you have to be self-employed, why not do it with other people? ‘Bersama-sama’ means ‘together,’ and together is how they do it here. Located across the Sunway Carnival Mall, Bersama-sama offers a comfortable work space, community events like ‘nasi lemak networking’ and a prayer room. Free day passes are available by signing up on their website.

Habitat Coworking Café

Building

Habitat Coworking Cafe
© Habitat Coworking Cafe

With a full-menu on-site café, this space successfully blends the casual coziness of a café with the bustle of digital nomads. Personal lockers, high-speed Wi-Fi and free drinking water are par for the course, but it’s the easy spaciousness that wins many Penangites over. Day passes start from RM 25 (USD $6).

Regus Penang

Building

Regus Penang
© Regus

Looking for a sleek, elegant office space? Regus is a heavy-hitter in the flexible workspace industry, with over 3,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Its branch in Penang doesn’t disappoint – it is modern, comfortable, with lots of natural light, and available at different price points for a range of SMEs and enterprises.

FlexiSpace

Building

FlexiSpace tables
© FlexiSpace

The first co-working space in Butterworth, this simple, wallet-friendly space is big on events, including tequila tasting get-togethers and workshops for venture capitalists. Looking to network with professionals, freelancers and in-betweens? The one-day pass starts at RM 25 (USD $6).

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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