Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm — Attraction in George Town

For one of our kid's birthdays, we decided to visit Entopia. Before going, I had read mixed reviews, but given the limited options for family-friendly and somewhat educational activities, we decided to give it a try. This review is based on our experience as consumers and as a family—of course, everyone’s expectations may differ. One important thing to note is that as a foreigner, you will pay a higher price. Additionally, children aged 13 and above are charged as adults, which seems unreasonable since 13-year-olds do not earn a living. For our family, the total entry fee was around 70 USD, which is a significant budget. Even for locals, the price seems quite high for what is offered. If you have children under 13, there is a family package, but this information is not clearly stated on the ticket purchase page—it is only mentioned on the admission page if you read carefully. Moreover, this package is only available at the door, which makes me wonder why it isn’t promoted more transparently. Since this was our child’s only birthday activity, we went in with an open mind. Entopia has a lot of potential, but unfortunately, at this price, it does not live up to expectations. We had a good time as a family because we enjoy spending time together regardless of the location, but we have visited similar places that were better maintained and even free for children. For a 70 USD entry fee, one would expect everything to be in good working condition. However, several activities were broken and had not been repaired, an issue that has been mentioned in previous reviews yet seemingly not addressed. It is highly disappointing to be charged a premium price for an experience that is not fully functional. At the entrance, you are immediately asked to take a photo, which I personally found inappropriate. This is a paid service, but this isn’t made clear upfront. You’ve just spent a significant amount of money on entry, and before you even get to experience the place, you are already being asked to spend more. At that point, you haven’t even seen what the attraction has to offer—why would you want a souvenir of a place you may not even enjoy? This approach feels more commercial than educational, which is disappointing. Seeing butterflies is enjoyable, but considering the high price, the overall educational content is quite limited. There are also frogs, bugs, spiders, and reptiles, but these exhibits could use better maintenance—some glass panels were dirty, or even cracked, making it difficult to see inside. The dome is extremely hot and humid, which is expected for a tropical butterfly environment, but having misting stations would make it more comfortable, especially for young children and elderly visitors. Inside the exhibition area, the space felt quite empty, with very little information provided—just a few sentences here and there. My children, who are very passionate about nature, did not find anything they did not already know. There were no temporary exhibitions, and the few available activities were not particularly engaging As for refreshments, there is food available inside, but prices are high—9 RM for popcorn—and despite visiting on a Saturday afternoon, the place was nearly empty, with only about three families there. What stood out towards the end of the visit was the gift shop. Instead of reinforcing an environmental message, it was stocked with plastic-packaged souvenirs rather than educational materials. As much as I would like to recommend Entopia, I simply cannot in its current state. More than an educational centre, it feels like a tourist trap. Many world-class educational attractions offer better maintenance, richer content, and affordable pricing, making them more successful. A high entry fee with a subpar experience discourages visitors, while a fair price and well-kept facilities would attract more families and repeat visitors. A thriving, well-attended space is ultimately more profitable than an overpriced, empty one. Every customer should expect value for...

My Saturday visit was delayed, arriving around 5 PM, unfortunately missing the night session which commenced at approximately 7 PM. A Monday visit proved more efficient, with no queue due to the weekday traffic. Online ticket purchases appear to offer a discount compared to counter sales, though I'm unsure if a specific promotion was in effect.

This unique attraction features a diverse range of creatures, including butterflies, snakes, centipedes, snapping turtles, lizards, worms, fish, and more, making it an ideal educational and entertaining destination for children. Outdoor exhibits allow for immersive observation, complemented by a shop offering fish food (RM3), ice cream, and water. Appropriate attire for sunny days includes hats and light clothing.

The indoor exhibits focus on the butterfly life cycle, trivia, species identification, and reproduction, showcasing various butterfly species from egg to adult. A collection of preserved insects is also available for close examination. Additional amenities include popcorn and cookie stands, temporary tattoo services, a silk worm boutique, and other attractions. Checking the event calendar is recommended to enhance the visitor experience.

Lastly, we have the gift shop, offering a diverse selection of reasonably priced merchandise. This includes shirts, hats, plush toys, keychains, self-assembling robots, books, pins, and preserved butterflies. Additionally, a small café provides coffee and light refreshments. In summary, this is an engaging and enjoyable experience for all ages, and is fully accessible for strollers and...

Dear Entopia Management / Department of Wildlife and National Parks,

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and serious concern following my recent visit to Entopia Penang. What I witnessed was completely unacceptable and deeply troubling.

Visitors were openly crushing butterflies with their hands and children were forcefully grabbing butterflies. In fact, I personally saw three butterflies killed right in front of us.

Even more shocking: we informed both the front desk and security staff FOUR separate times, yet nobody reacted. This lack of action was extremely frustrating. We ended up stepping in ourselves to stop some of this unacceptable behavior — but this is not our job. We came to visit and enjoy the experience, not to replace your staff in protecting the very creatures your facility is supposed to safeguard.

As a sanctuary that claims to protect and educate about butterflies, this situation is intolerable. I strongly urge immediate action:

Active supervision by staff in all butterfly areas.

Immediate intervention when visitors mishandle or harm insects.

Clear signage and strict rules prohibiting touching or harming butterflies.

Proper staff training to ensure incidents are handled on the spot.

If these issues are not addressed, Entopia risks losing public trust and credibility as a responsible institution.

I hope you treat this matter with urgency and seriousness, and I look forward to hearing what corrective actions...