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Penang Upside Down Museum Review & Guide

Not a big fan of museums? Me neither. But don’t let the word “museum” scare you away from this one.

The Penang Upside-Down Museum is not the kind of museum where you spend hours reading descriptions on the wall. It’s designed mainly for taking creative photos.

You go in, let the staff tell you where to stand and how to pose, and come out with cool pictures that might impress your Instagram followers, or at least your nieces and nephews.

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What is the Penang Upside Down Museum?

The Penang Upside Down Museum is a quirky indoor attraction in George Town, Penang. It’s designed to look like a traditional Chinese house, with rooms such as a living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and other everyday spaces.

Except everything is upside down.

The sofa, bathtub, dining table, toilet, fridge, cupboards, and even the tiny household details are attached to the ceiling.

The idea is to take photos in each room, then rotate the pictures later so it looks like you’re walking on the ceiling, climbing walls, or floating in the kitchen.

It’s not exactly educational in the usual museum sense, but it’s very entertaining, especially if you enjoy silly photos.

Penang Upside Down Museum opening hours

The Penang Upside Down Museum is generally open daily from:

9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Last admission is usually around 5:45 p.m.

Opening hours may change during public holidays, maintenance periods, or special events, so it’s always a good idea to check their official Facebook page or call before going.

Penang Upside Down Museum entrance fee

Non-Malaysians

Adult: RM36
Child (5 – 12 years old): RM26

Malaysians (with MyKad):

Adult: RM26
Child (5 – 12 years old): RM14

Ticket prices may change from time to time. For the latest prices and promotions, check the official Facebook page or call ahead before your visit.

Pre-booking is not necessary, as you can buy your ticket at the counter.

Where is the Penang Upside Down Museum?

The museum is located in George Town, not far from many of Penang’s other popular attractions, cafes, street art spots, and heritage streets.

Address:
45, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 Penang, Malaysia

Contact number:
+604 264 2660

What to expect inside Penang Upside-Down Museum

Depending on the time of day and the season, there might already be a line of people waiting to enter. But don’t worry too much. You won’t have to fight strangers for a good photo angle.

Only one group of visitors is allowed in each room at a time. So if you’re visiting alone, it will only be you in the room. You won’t have to awkwardly crop random elbows and mystery aunties out of your photos later.

This is one of the things I liked most about the museum. It keeps the whole process very organized.

Each room has its own setup, and the staff will guide you through the photo-taking process.

In each room, a staff member will take your phone or camera, tell you where to stand, show you how to pose, take a few shots, and then move you along to the next room.

It sounds a bit rushed at first, and to be fair, it can feel that way.

You don’t really get a lot of time to stand around and admire the room details. I probably spent only one or two minutes in each room, and less than an hour in the entire museum.

But this system will make sense later.

The rooms are made to look like different parts of a house, including the living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and dining area.

I liked how much detail they put into the sets. It’s not just a chair stuck to the ceiling and called a day. You’ll see little household items too, like toiletries, cleaning products, kitchen tools, shelves, tiles, and other small touches that make the photos more believable once rotated.

There may also be some rooms or sections that play with perspective in a slightly different way. Not every photo spot is strictly upside down. Some may be sideways or designed to create other optical illusions.

Tips for visiting the Penang Upside Down Museum

1. Bring your phone or camera

This attraction is all about photos. Without a camera or phone, the visit would be almost pointless.

You can still look around, of course, but the whole fun of the museum is seeing the final pictures after they’ve been rotated.

2. Make sure your camera/phone has enough battery and storage

The staff will usually take more than one photo for each pose, so this is not the place to arrive with 3% battery.

3. Tie your hair up if you have long hair

To make the photos more believable, tie long hair into a bun.

Otherwise, your hair may hang in the wrong direction and expose the whole trick. Case in point:

Or, if you don’t have anything to tie your hair with, hold it like this:

You’re welcome.

4. Avoid skirts, dresses, or loose tops

For the same reason, try not to wear anything too flowy or loose. Skirts, dresses, wide sleeves, and baggy tops may fall in awkward directions when you pose.

5. Follow the staff’s posing instructions

You can use your own creativity, but the staff do this all day, so they know which poses work best.

Even if a pose feels strange in the moment, just go with it. Some of the weirdest positions can look surprisingly convincing once the photo is flipped.

6. Go earlier in the days if you dislike crowds

The museum is indoors, so it’s a good option during hot afternoons or rainy weather. But because of that, it can also attract people looking for the same escape from the heat.

For a smoother visit, try going earlier in the day or outside peak holiday periods.

7. Don’t expect a long visit

This is a short attraction. Most visitors probably won’t spend more than 45 minutes to an hour here, depending on the crowd and how many photos they take.

It works best as part of a George Town itinerary, not as the main event of your whole day.

Is the Penang Upside Down Museum good for solo travelers?

Yes, definitely.

In fact, I think solo travelers may appreciate it more than most people because the staff help take your photos for you.

Anyone who has traveled alone knows the pain of balancing your phone against a water bottle, running into position, and ending up with 27 photos of your left shoulder.

Here, you don’t have to rely on self-timer. The staff will take your photos and guide your poses, which makes the whole experience much easier.

You don’t have to bring a tripod, beg strangers, or perform the ancient solo-traveler ritual of pretending to check your phone while secretly waiting for someone who looks trustworthy enough to take your picture.

Is it suitable for kids and families?

Yes, the Penang Upside Down Museum is suitable for families and kids who enjoy funny photos and interactive attractions.

Basically, the opposite of dragging children through a museum where everyone has to whisper and pretend to be deeply moved by a stone.

How much time do you need?

I would set aside around 45 minutes to 1 hour for the Penang Upside Down Museum.

You may spend less time if it’s quiet, or a little longer if there are many visitors ahead of you.

Since the museum is located in George Town, you can easily pair it with other nearby attractions before or after your visit.

Final thoughts

Is the Penang Upside-Down Museum worth visiting?

Yes, I think the Penang Upside Down Museum is worth visiting, as long as you know what to expect.

At first glance, it may seem like a pretty superficial attraction. You go in, take funny photos, and that’s it. But I also think there’s a little more to it than that.

Because of how much detail they put into the rooms, the museum actually gives you a glimpse into what a traditional Penang Chinese house might look like, from the living room and kitchen to the bathroom, dining area, and small household items.

Of course, everything is stuck to the ceiling, so maybe don’t treat it as a serious anthropology lesson. But the details do make the experience feel more immersive than a simple photo studio.

I like that they have staff to help take photos and that they tell you how to pose, because otherwise you’d be wasting so much time trying to think of ideas.

The whole process is very efficient. Instead of letting everyone wander around randomly, they allow one group into each room at a time. This means you can get your photos without photobombers and awkward waiting.

At first, you may feel like you’re being rushed through the rooms. But it will soon make sense because this museum is something you can only truly appreciate after the visit, when you go home and look at the pictures.

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Penang Upside Down Museum

Address: 45, Lebuh Kimberly, George Town, 10100, Penang, MALAYSIA.

Contact Number: +604 264 2660

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