George Town
George Town is the vibrant, colorful capital of Penang Island in northern Malaysia. As a historical trading hub of the Malacca Straits, it became a center of cultural diversity. The city’s rich history can be seen through the British-style colonial architecture, various Chinese shophouses, diverse religious centers, as well as in the eclectic cuisine.
Travel tip #1: City- and culture-wise, I feel George Town more closely resembles Singapore than Kuala Lumpur. It’s a wonderful place to travel solo or with companions due to its safety, cleanliness, and island-vibes. Plan to spend at least 4 or 5 days here if possible!
Places of Interest
Penang Street Art: The work of Ernest Zacharevic, a London-trained Lithuanian artist, can be found throughout the streets of George Town. His artwork is spread out along roads such as Muntri Street, Weld Quay, Lebuh Leith, Armenian Street, and Ah Quee Street. Many of his pieces and works by other artists can be found on Google Maps.
Penang Hill: Locals refer to this area of the island as Bukit Bendera, but it’s also known as Penang Hill. On a clear day you can see the mountains of Langkawi and north Kedah from the top, but the sunset and night time view of George Town are awesome. Other than the views, there are lots of nature trails to enjoy, some food stalls, and a temple.
Penang Funicular Railway: To get up and down Penang Hill, you can hike, drive, take the bus, or hop on the funicular railway. The Penang Hill Funicular Railway has the steepest tunnel track in the world with gorgeous, scenic views. Tickets are a little pricey, but the ride is definitely worthwhile. Prices and schedules are available here.
Kek Lok Si Temple: Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple in the Air Itam area on Penang Island. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and an important pilgrimage center for Buddhists. With its grand size comes beautiful architecture and stunning colors. There is a small tram to take you up and down the hillside, but walking takes between 10-30 minutes depending on which direction you’re going.
Sri Mahamariammam Temple: This is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang. It was built 1833 and is now in the Little India neighborhood of George Town. Sri Mahamariammam Temple features intricate sculptures of gods and goddesses over the main entrance.
Waterfall Hill Temple: Balathandayuthapani Temple, officially the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil, is better known as Waterfall Hill Temple. It’s name comes from the waterfall that runs behind and along the hillside. To reach the top, you need to climb 513 stairs. After the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur, this temple is the second most-visited for the Hindu festival of Thaipusam.
Wat Chayamangkalarm: Wat Chayamangkalaram, known as the Sleeping Buddha Temple by locals, is a Thai temple in the Pulau Tikus area outside of historic George Town. This temple features a gold reclining Buddha statue that is 33 meters in length, making it one of the largest statues of its kind.
Cheong Tze Fatt Mansion: The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as The Blue Mansion, is one of the most iconic buildings in George Town and a popular filming location. Here, the fusion of Hakka, Teochow, and Southern Chinese influences with western architecture and Chinese feng shui come together beautifully. The only way to enter the mansion is by staying at their hotel, eating at the restaurant Indigo, or taking an informative short tour. More information can be found on the website, click here.
Pinang Peranakan Museum: The Peranakans were a prominent community of Chinese immigrants who created a unique culture in the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. They were also known as the Babas and Nyonyas, as well as as the Straits Chinese. These people were typically very wealthy and this mansion is a great way to see inside their high-class lifestyle. You will need to pay to enter and see the mansion. More information can be found on the website.
Chocolate & Coffee Museum: Although the small museum isn’t too impressive, admission is free. You have the opportunity to learn about the production of both, as well as sample many local chocolates and coffees. Supporting local businesses and products is always a plus, so head here to purchase some famous Penang white coffee or local chocolate to take home rather than buy at the airport.
Wonderfood Museum: This interesting museum teaches you about the different cuisines within Penang through thought-provoking food displays and creations. Many of these displays are life-size or larger-than-life, making for cool photos! The food replicas are inspired by those in Japan and are handcrafted by the museum’s owner, Sean Lao. It’s not a large museum, but it’s quite interesting and there’s a small gift shop at the end.
Penang National Park: Even though this national park is the smallest in Malaysia, it is said to be one of the most beautiful. The National Park has gorgeous beaches, lush hiking trails, and pretty views waiting to be explored. It’s located on the northwestern side of Penang Island, about one hour from George Town.
Chew Jetty: The Chew Jetty is one of the eight clan jetties of Pengkalan Weld. The origin of these villages built on stilts over the water date back to when Chinese settlers first arrived in Penang. Now, you can walk around, eat, and shop at these jetties. If you can’t get up to Penang Hill for sunset, sitting along the end of the Chew Jetty is a nice alternative.
Travel tip #2: George Town is incredibly tourist-friendly, but simultaneously authentic with tons of little shops and shophouses to poke in and out of. Finding unique souvenirs, special treats, and cute postcards is quite easy as long as you set aside time to wander around the different areas.
Food
Some Must-Eat Dishes in Penang
- Char koay teow
- Wantan mee
- Penang assam laksa
- Hainanese chicken rice
- Roti/ roti canai
- Kaya toast with butter + egg
- Nasi lemak
- Curry mee
- Popiah
- Oyster omelette
- Nasi kandar
- Hokkein prawn mee
- Lok lok
- Penang white coffee
- Teh tarik
Huang Chen Tao Tea Art: I stopped by here while in Chinatown and was very impressed. The owner and tea creator is kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. He grows and produces his own tea, selling it in this single shop in Penang. Come here for nice tea souvenirs.
The Mugshot Cafe: A more Westernized coffee shop and cafe along Chulia Street, The Mugshot Cafe serves tasty coffees, teas, juices, and small eats in an artful space. The bagels here are notably good, as well as the yogurt. It’s more expensive than street food, but a nice place to start the day.
Toh Soon Cafe: A popular local spot in Chinatown for charcoal-grilled kaya toast with butter, as well as coffee and tea—be sure to try the kaya toast with an egg! It can prove quite difficult to find a seat, as the tables are typically packed throughout the morning hours—even on weekdays. The nasi lemak is also another favorite menu item here.
Transfer Road Roti Canai: Another popular local spot on the other side of George Town that’s famous for its roti canai and roti canai with curry. This stall is along a large street and people park their motorbikes in line with it. Take a seat and someone will come take your order, then pay after your food is delivered. I believe they’re only open during breakfast hours, but check online to be sure.
Kheng Pin Cafe: A fantastic historic kopitiam (a traditional coffee shop) on Penang Road that’s been a favorite for many years. Come here to try multiple local dishes, such as porridge, Hainanese chicken rice, wantan mee, and char koay teow. Although small in size, it’s a nice spot to pick up breakfast or lunch.
Little India: Little India in George Town is best visited around lunchtime or in the afternoon, as there isn’t too much going on in the morning. The food is really good here, especially the nasi biryani, curries, and samosas. I loved the nasi biryani I ordered at a sit-down place because it was served out of a bamboo tube with unlimited curry!
Restoran Kimberly: On Kimberly Street (Lebuh Kimberly), there are lots of delicious and famous spots for street food. This street is known for its Chinese influence, like at Restoran Kimberly where they serve kway chap with duck. Kway chap is a Teochew noodle soup that’s usually made with pork, but here duck is the star of the dish. It was very tasty and the perfect meal to end a long day of walking!
Penang Air Itam Laksa: Some don’t like Assam Laksa due to its heavily fishy smell, but the taste is amazing and definitely a dish you should try from this famous hawker stall in the Air Itam area near Kek Lok Si Temple. Penang Assam Laksa is a version of laksa with a pretty thick broth that owes most of its flavor from mashed mackerel and tamarind. It’s complemented by chewy noodles, mint leaves, onions, cucumbers, and chilies. The dish is sour, tangy, and spicy.
Deen’s Maju Nasi Kandar: This Penang original dish originated from Indian-Muslim traders who came to Penang many years ago. Now, it’s found throughout the island. It’s typically a plate of rice that comes with various side dishes and curries. I really enjoyed the lamb at Deen’s because it was super tender while their kari campur was just the right amount of spicy. It’s normal to eat this dish with your hands, so don’t be surprised to see others literally digging in when eating!
Penang Road Famous Cendol: Cendol looks weird, but tastes good. It’s the perfect dish to cool down in the tropical heat, too. At Penang Road Famous Cendol, there’s usually a long queue for this yummy treat. If seats in the coffee shop are sparse, it’s okay to stand around the outside and eat!
Chulia Street Night Market: One of the famous areas for street food in George Town. I liked this spot because it was close to my hostel and also had a lot to choose from. The curry mee was very good here! I believe they start selling food around 6 pm each day, with some hawkers taking days off in the middle of the week.
Gurney Drive Street Food Market: Another great place for street food, but a little further away from the city center. Gurney Drive opens in the evening, serving some delicious favorites. Lots of tables and seats, but it can be crowded on weekends and holidays. There tends to be more tourists here than other hawker centers, yet the food remains authentic.
Travel tip #3: Eating is an important aspect of Malaysian life and street food is integral to this lifestyle. Eat where the locals do (hawker centers, food stalls, night markets) and you’ll not only sample some of the best dishes, but you will also save a lot of money compared to eating at restaurants!
Transportation & Accommodation
Penang Island is quite compact, making traveling around the island and George Town very easy. Taxis and the ride share service, Grab, are common on Penang Island. Both taxis and Grab have similar price points, but Grab does allow digital tracking and hailing through your phone. I chose to use Grab during my time in George Town because it was fairly inexpensive and very convenient. Most locals are bilingual or multilingual with majority speaking English as one of their languages. I did not find it difficult to communicate with drivers in George Town and they all were more-or-less friendly.
If you have ample time and would like to save money, the local bus system is reliable and inexpensive. The Rapid Penang bus operates throughout the day with routes connecting George Town to Penang National Park as well as in the opposite direction toward Kek Lok Si Temple. When boarding the bus, you can let the driver know your destination if you’re unsure of exactly where to get off—drivers in Penang are usually very helpful. Remember to have exact change for the bus as change is not given. Additionally, the free CAT (Central Area Transit) bus runs in the central part of Georgetown and connects popular tourist spots. Read more about CAT services [here].
There is also a Hop-On, Hop-Off Shuttle Service that connects major sightseeing spots around the island. This is no longer a free service and requires a ticket. More information can be found by following this link.
Alternative forms of transportation from those above include motorbikes, bicycles, trishaws, and walking. I recommend utilizing these four if you’re planning on staying in the historic area, as everything is pretty close distance-wise. Bicycles can be rented from many hotels or hostels for a small daily fee. Many bike rental shops are also available along the stretch of Batu Ferringhi. Trishaw is a more traditional-style transportation method and can be hired for time increments or for one-way trips. With trishaws, be sure to agree on a price before getting in.
If you’re traveling to Penang Island from Kuala Lumpur (or vice-versa), train is a comfortable way to make this journey. The ride from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth takes approximately six hours and costs around 80 MYR (~$19.50 USD). Once you reach Butterworth, you can go to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal to catch a 20-minute ferry to Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal on Penang Island. The ferry is about 1.20 MYR (~$0.30 USD).
Hostels, hotels, and guesthouses are plentiful in George Town! There are many places to stay, but George Town’s historic area, Batu Ferringhi Beach, and Gurney Drive are popular locations. I stayed at Queen’s Hostel in the Little India neighborhood and loved it! It’s a female-friendly hostel with a wonderful sense of community. The beds are clean, you can do laundry here free of charge, and there’s a large shared space on the first floor. For those who prefer more private accommodation options and non-hostel options in George Town, you can search on Booking.com.
Travel tip #4: Traveling around George Town is fairly simple due to its small size. I felt it was much easier to pay the extra money and use Grab, as the bus systems can take extremely long because of winding routes. However, traffic can get bad at peak times (morning and evening work commutes), which can cause Grab prices to increase.
Climate
The weather in George Town is tropical and wet most of the year, meaning temperatures don’t fluctuate too much even between seasons. On average, temperatures range between 29-35 degrees Celsius (~84-95 Fahrenheit) during the day and 26-29 degrees Celsius (~78-84 Fahrenheit) at night. Heaviest rains occur between April to November during the annual rainy season. Dry season—January and February—still sees some rain, but not as torrential as other months. June and July are the hottest and most humid. The best time to visit Penang Island is between November and February due to the mild weather and number of clear days, which is great for sightseeing. However, Mid-February as well as most of March and April are good times to visit to avoid crowds while experiencing favorable weather.
