Pantai Cenang

Langkawi's liveliest 2-km white-sand beach and resort strip, with paragliding, jet skis, beach-bar sunsets and duty-free shops. Most visitors base themselves here.

Pantai Cenang sits on the southwest of the main island, about 5 km south of the airport. It is Langkawi's earliest and liveliest beach resort. The beach is about 2 km long, with fine, gentle white sand, and in the dry season the sea is clear and calm, suitable for swimming and a range of water activities: paragliding (about 100–150 ringgit), jet skiing, banana boats and sunset sailing. Behind the beach runs Jalan Pantai Cenang, the main street, lined with accommodation from backpacker hostels to high-end resorts such as Casa del Mar and Meritus Pelangi, Malay and Western restaurants, massage parlors, car rental agencies, duty-free shops (Cenang Mall, the most convenient place to buy chocolate and liquor) and beach bars at night. Watching the sun set between Rebak Island and Tepor Island from the beach in the evening is a daily ritual. At the north end of the beach are the Underwater World aquarium (about 60 ringgit, with penguins and an undersea tunnel, good for families and rainy days) and the Laman Padi rice museum. Beyond the headland at the south end is the quieter Pantai Tengah (Central Beach). The beach is free and open all day. Sunset is around 18:30–19:00. Recommendation: stay around Cenang, rent a car for daytime trips, return to the beach for sunset and eat dinner on the main street, where grilled Malay fish, Indian food and seafood are good value. Getting there: a taxi from the airport takes about 15 minutes (about 25–30 ringgit), and Grab is available. You can walk the main street or rent a motorbike. Notes: during the rainy season (May–October), watch for jellyfish warnings and red flags. The main street is busy with cars at night, so take care when crossing. Vendors sometimes approach people on the beach, and a firm no is enough. Duty-free liquor is limited to 1 liter per person when leaving the country.

Pantai Cenang

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby