George Town, Penang: 10 amazing things to do

George Town, Penang is one of the most vibrant cities I’ve visited. Thrumming with energy, it contrasts old and new in a way that’s dizzyingly beautiful. It has a thriving cultural scene, and is one of the top picks in South East Asia for food!

So how do you make sure you take advantage of everything George Town has to offer, especially if you are short on time? Luckily, I’ve prepared a handy guide to everything you shouldn’t miss. And a few things you should deprioritise…

How to get to George Town, Penang?

It’s easy to get to George Town from across Malaysia, and from a variety of destinations across South East Asia, via Penang airport. There are also buses, trains and flights available. I’ve prepared a detailed guide in my article Everything You Need to Know about George Town, Penang. 

Where to stay in George Town, Penang?

George Town is a small space, so any hotel you pick will be central. There’s a huge range of options. I’ve laid out some hotels in different price brackets in my Everything you need to know about George Town, Penang article.

Now that we’ve covered the practicalities, let’s get on to the good stuff!

My top 10 things to do in George Town, Penang:

1. Admire the street art

George Town, Penang is famous for its street art. The city actively invested in street art, bringing famous artist Ernest Zacharevic in 2012 to revitalise the city’s streets. It’s resulted in streets which take you by surprise every moment, with street art hidden in the most unexpected places. There are also the more famous spots. In some, you will have to queue to take your photo, particularly at weekends. But it makes the city a delight, and you can enjoy it either just walking around, or by following the street art trail (leaflets available).

2. Bathe in George Town, Penang’s multi-cultural history

Like much of Malaysia, George Town has three distinct cultures living side by side – Malays, Indians and Chinese. This is then layered with the influence of British colonisers who lived in the city for many years, until after the second world war. George Town is recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site, with many historic buildings having survived the second world war. Spend time walking around, keeping your eyes on the buildings to enjoy diverse architecture. Many buildings even have their founding dates on them.

3. Visit the stunningly reconstructed Blue Mansion

The Cheong Fatt Tze House, also known as the Blue Mansion, is a must-see in George Town. Built by one of George Town’s most successful Chinese merchants around the turn of the 20th century, it fell into disrepair as the family’s fortunes declined. Bought in 1989 on the death of his last surviving child, the new owners reconstructed the house as authentically as possible. For example, they sourced materials from the original manufacturers wherever possible. This resulted in a Unesco Heritage Award.

The house is now a luxury hotel, but you can visit on a guided tour 2 or 3 times a day – book ahead for this as numbers are limited. The tour guide takes you around the public areas of the house, explaining the history of the family and how the house has been used in many films since the 90s, most recently in Crazy Rich Asians.

You can find out details of tours here. 

4. Visit a bygone era at the Clan Jetties

There are 5 Clan Jetties in George Town, Penang. These are long jetties protruding into the sea, each historically owned by a single extended Chinese family, or clan. It’s now possible to visit all of them. I recommend visiting two: The Chew Jetty and the Tan Jetty. 

The Chew Jetty is the primary jetty visited by tourists. With a beautiful temple at the start, it’s beautifully decorated in typical Chinese style and full of tourist shops and street art. While there are still a few homes, most have been converted into shops or restaurants. This will be busy, but it will give you beautiful pictures for your Insta.

For a more authentic feel, visit the Tan Jetty. This forms a huge contrast, and looks much as it must have over a hundred years ago. It’s clear that people are still living in almost all of the houses and it’s easy to imagine that the houses have been passed down generation after generation. 

The end of the Tan Jetty forms a nerve-wracking walk out into the sea, a narrow walk ending in a wider platform. If you can bring yourself to cross the creaking boards, you’ll find yourself out in a beautiful breeze, ready to take a fabulous photo. 

5. Visit Kek Lok Si temple

Situated outside the town, near to Penang Hill, this temple is a must see. Built in 1891, the Buddhist temple is one of the largest in South East Asia, and the largest in Malaysia. One of the original donors was Cheong Fatt Tze of the Blue Mansion. 

The temple is spread out over several levels and features a number of different architectural styles. There is a cable car and golf buggies to help you tackle the different levels without struggling too much with the heat.

For full disclosure, I didn’t actually make it there as I was unwell the day I was due to go. I did though hear amazing things from other travellers I met in George Town. 

The best way to go to the temple is to take a Grab. I would advise going early in the morning – it’s a big site and this will help you to avoid the heat. In addition, traffic in George Town gets bad later in the day and I found that Grab prices often rose accordingly. 

6. Admire Khoo Khongsi clan house

One of the most beautiful structures in George Town itself is the Khoo Khongsi clan house. Take half an hour to wander around this elaborate building, marvelling at the decoration and workmanship. This is the largest Hokkien clan house in Malaysia, and the elaborate building was a sign of the wealth and power of Chinese families within George Town.

Originally built in 1851, it was destroyed by fire in 1901, and the Chinese believed this was due to its resemblance to the Emperor’s Palace. The current, less elaborate version (although this is hard to believe) was finished in 1906.

It’s not very well known within George Town, so it’s likely to be less crowded than other areas as well. 

7. Eat George Town, Penang’s famous street food

The food in George Town is legendary. Restaurants of every cuisine abound, and you can sample high end French food as easily as the local street fare. However, it’s the street food that you can’t miss in George Town – everything else you can try elsewhere. 

True to Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, there are three main cuisines to try – Malay, Chinese and Indian. Indian restaurants are clustered in Little India, while there are Chinese street food markets/halls near the clan jetties. 

Street food is so famous in George Town that the city provides a map of different spots spread out around the city, available in many hotels, and this is a great place to start. Make sure you take the time to try local specialities such as Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Curry Mee, Roti Canai and Char Koay Teow. 

8. Escape from the heat in George Town, Penang’s vibrant cafe scene

There’s no getting away from it – George Town is hot. Once you’ve walked around admiring the street art and the heritage buildings, you’ll need an aircon break. Luckily, George Town has a thriving cafe scene. You can take your pick from the ultra modern to the more laid back, and even head to the more traditional coffee houses (though these are less likely to have aircon). Some of my favourites:

• Bean Sprout Cafe – this is opposite the Goddess of Mercy temple, making it a good stop off before or after your visit. While it does have aircon and fans, it’s retained a more historic vibe in keeping with the old shophouse that houses it. Take your time chilling out and enjoying the leafy, laid back atmosphere. 
• Kota Express – right on the corner of Armenian Street, this ultra modern cafe absolutely blasts out its aircon. Step into the pristine white exterior to take a break from the crowds outside and get in some people watching while you’re at it.
• The Black Kettle – this is a huge space which provides full meals as well as cafes. It’s a great place to get some work done if needed, and I loved that it also sells books by Malaysian authors. 

9. Visit the oldest Chinese temple in George Town, Penang

On the edge of Little India, this temple dates to 1728. It’s a fascinating glimpse into George Town’s Chinese past. It’s also clearly still an active site of worship, and while I was there, was showcasing traditional Chinese plays inside. 

10. Understand George Town, Penang’s colonial past at the Eastern and Oriental

There’s no getting away from the British colonial influence in George Town. The British ‘founded’ George Town in 1786, and you can check out the statue of founder Captain Francis Light in the Cornwallis Fort on the seafront. One of the most enduring colonial relics is the Eastern and Oriental Hotel, more commonly known as the E&O. Once the haunt of the British colonial elite, it has transformed into a luxury modern hotel. However, it retains its colonial history, and you can experience this by having a tea, drink or dinner in one of the hotel’s restaurants.

Some things in George Town, Penang you could miss if you’re short on time

1. Penang Hill

Once where the British colonial elite had their second homes to escape the heat, Penang Hill has become a major tourist attraction. You can take the Funicular up the hill – the steepest in the world. You’ll then find yourself in an almost theme-park like atmosphere, with attractions including The Habitat nature reserve and a Little Village. There are also a number of restaurants. While I enjoyed the Funicular, I found the top of the hill to be the kind of tourist attraction that has no soul. I did though see some incredibly cute Dusky Leaf Monkeys. 

If you fancy trying Penang Hill – not least because it’s often cooler – you can take a Grab to the Funicular station. There are also RapidPenang buses from the waterfront for 2RM each, although it can be hard to find timings for these.

2. The George Town, Penang Upside Down Museum

This was my first experience of an Upside Down museum, which is a common attraction in cities across Asia. If you’ve done one before, you will find it much the same. However, if like me this is a novelty for you, it can be a good way to spend an hour, especially if you have kids. 

Once you’re inside, you follow a route around the museum into different upside down scenes. Staff take pictures for you in each, advising you on how to stand to create the best picture. 

3. The George Town, Penang waterfront

While George Town is on the water, I found that the waterfront itself left a lot to be desired. Primarily industrial, it’s crowded with boats and the water is clearly dirty. There is also a lot of plastic waste. While there is an esplanade, it’s not something I would prioritise.

4. Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis was created by the ‘founder’ of Penang, Francis Light, when he came across the area in 1786. The pentagonal fort was originally made of wood, and later converted to brick, and has survived ever since. While I appreciated the importance of this site for the history of George Town, Penang, I didn’t find my visit scintillating. There is relatively little information inside, and no interesting displays. The only point of interest is the statute of Francis Light himself. For me, I would have been ok just viewing the Fort from outside. 

Hopefully this gives you everything you need to have an amazing city break in George Town, Penang. Now check out my article Everything you need to know about George Town, Penang to find out how to get there, where to stay and other practicalities.