Cenang Beach (Pantai Cenang)

Pantai Cenang Beach in Langkawi is the most popular place for travelers to visit. Well known for their complete infrastructure, the main beach stretches for about two kilometers with a wide assortment of accommodations and things to see and do. It is also located nearby the Langkawi Airport therefore getting here simply takes about ten minutes by taxi. As I have visited Pantai Cenang many times over the years, much has been improved in terms of lodging and shops which offer all kinds of services from mainstream shopping to travel agents.

The north part of Cenang Beach

Overall, the beach here is one of the most popular with many locals and foreigners due to the outstanding layout and accessibility. From the main Pantai Cenang Road, you just walk in about a hundred meters and you are on the main beach. A number of resorts, motels and guesthouses line the entire stretch so choices are abundant here. For the less pricy accommodations, they are located across the road inland. 

One of the beach bars at pantai cenang

Nightlife in Pantai Cenang is also touted as the best place to have a great time. A number of bars and restaurants offering a variety of choices in food and beverages are found scattered along the main road. From Italian right to your regular 'mamak' (Indian Muslim) stall, there are also seafood restaurants to fancy five star dining options here. While pubs or bars are well spread here, you will find a couple of them located right on the beach while most of them are further towards the end of the road here. 

As Langkawi is a duty free island, you can be assured of cheap prices for beers and liquors here. Most locals would be seen heading to Kuah town for the Langkawi Duty Free Shopping to buy loads of beer and then have barbecues and beach parties at Pantai Cenang.

A common hotel along pantai cenang

Beach lovers relax

Pantai Cenang Beach in Langkawi

Red Tomato at Pantai Cenang, Langkawi. One of the popular restaurants here

One of the must see views is Pantai Cenang in Langkawi from the plane just before you land. Make sure you are sitting on the right side of the plane for this. While staying here, you have the option to rent motorbikes, cars or bicycles to move around. Depending on how far you want to go around the island, you best double check. There are many restaurants of all sorts available here from Western, Chinese, Malay, Fusion right to halal Arabic food. Cafes and bars are also found along the main road but not as much as you would think. There are quite a number of convenient stores and a number of traditional massage centers here too. 

One of the main attractions called Underwater World is also found along this main road. If you go right to the end of Pantai Cenang, you will come to a junction and take a right and immediately left, it leads further in to more restaurants, hotels, resorts and cafes. A place to check out here would be the Sun Cafe or Matahari, a Malay styled restaurant. Traveling all the way in would lead you pass the Holiday Villa Resort, Frangipani Resort and at the end, Awana Porto Malai Hotel which serves as one of the boat jetties. 

Having been here many times over the years for work, I keep seeing much development being done only to make the place look more interesting. On my last visit, I came across a Cabin Hotel here which is made from container cabins. Quite different and reasonable. A visit to Langkawi Island will not be complete if you do not visit Pantai Cenang Beach.