An abundance of things to do in George Town Penang means you can easily spend a full day here!
Most attractions are accessible on foot. Or by trishaw! And many revolve around the history present at this UNESCO World Heritage zone.
There’s street art, Little India, hidden temples and more to discover including places to try the best of Penang food so start planning your trip!
Table Of Contents:
- Gaze Upon Georgetown’s Historical Colonial Landmarks
- Admire The Symmetry Of St. George’s Anglican Church
- Enter The Stately Kapitan Keling Mosque For A Visit
- See Georgetown’s Places Of Worship
- Discover The Clan Community Of Penang
- Visit A Penang Museum
- Take Delight In Peranakan Culture
- Satisfy Your Taste Buds With George Town’s Famous Food
- Seek Out Penang Street Art
- Treat Yourself At A Hipster Café
- Have A Bird’s Eye View Of Penang From KOMTAR
- Shop At A Penang Mall In George Town
- Stay Out Late In Georgetown
13 Fun Things To Do In George Town, Penang
1. Gaze Upon George Town’s Historical Colonial Landmarks
Those keen on finding the architectural wonders of historic George Town should hang around the north-east coast corner of Penang Island.
You can see these landmarks as part of the Penang heritage trail which starts from Armenian Street.
Continue to the clan jetties and up along the coast to where Pengkalan Weld (Weld Jetty) is.
Make a loop by turning west to Gurney Drive and back down through Little India.
1.1. Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower
This beautiful landmark features Moorish design and has 3 stories to it.
As the name suggests, the clock tower was built by a local Chinese businessman to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubiliee (1897).
PS: It still works.
Location: Lebuh Light, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
1.2. Penang Town Hall or Penang City Hall
Penang Town Hall stands out from its neighboring landmarks with its pleasant yellow exterior. It overlooks a field and is roughly 120 years old at this point (built in 1903).
While the public cannot enter this building, there is a Penang city exhibition room just for tourists on the immediate left at the entrance.
Location: Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
1.3. Fort Cornwallis
Entrance fees are compulsory (RM10) to enter the compound, but you can also see the fort from afar by walking around it.
This is the place to learn more about Francis Light and his contribution to Penang. And also, to get some selfies with the few remaining cannons!
Full article on Fort Cornwallis in George Town.
- Location: Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 8am to 11pm
- Contact: +6016-4110000
2. Admire The Symmetry Of St. George’s Anglican Church
Taking inspiration from its namesake in Madras (Chennai), 19th century St. George’s Anglican Church was built in 1817 with sand and limestone.
Miraculously, much of the church retains the original structures and material except for the tile floor and flat roof. The latter had to be replaced a few times!
In 2007, the church received much needed funds from the government with recognition as a national treasure!
Location: 1, Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
Note:
- Next to Penang State Museum & Art Gallery
- There is a Heritage Centre in the premises. Open between Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm
- The church is closed on public holidays, Fridays and Sundays! Or if there is wedding/ funeral.
- Church goers can go for the service on Wednesdays (9:30am) and Sundays (8:30am to 10:30am).
3. Enter The Stately Kapitan Keling Mosque For A Visit
Kapitan Keling Mosque dates to the early 19th century. It was built by Indian Muslims who came to Penang under the East India Company.
The distinguished mosque is right at the heart of the chulias (Tamil Muslim neighborhood).
Its current exterior features Indo-Moorish influence and is recent relative to its origins with expansion works taking place in 1930.
Location: 14, Jalan Buckingham, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
4. See Georgetown’s Places Of Worship
Aside from Kapitan Keling Mosque, there are other places of worship:
The oldest of them are in or close to Little India Penang – Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Kuan Yin Temple (Goddess of Mercy Temple).
And further from Georgetown in Pulau Tikus, you’ll find the impressive hilltop Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple and the oldest Thai temple in Penang (Wat Chayamangkalaram)!
4.1. Sri Mahamariamman Temple
- Location: Lebuh Queen, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
4.2. Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
- Location: 17, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang Island
4.3. Kuan Yin Temple
- Location: 30, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 5am to 6pm (hours vary during festivities and celebrations)
4.4. Wat Chayamangkalaram
Location: 17, Lorong Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10250 George Town, Penang Island
5. Discover The Clan Community Of Penang
In the 19th century, many mainland Chinese came to Penang to work in the then-booming trading industry.
As they became more comfortable in Penang, they brought their families and extended families.
They preferred to stay together, forming their own little communities within Penang.
To this date, visitors can come and see the preserved clan houses in Georgetown!
5.1. Clan Jetties Of Penang
- Location: Pengkalan Weld, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 9am to 9pm
- Contact: +6019-593 5333
Read more about Clan Jetties of Penang.
5.2. Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
- Location: 18, Cannon Square, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm
- Contact: +604-261 4609
Read more about Khoo Kongsi.
5.3. Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi
- Location: 8, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Contact: +604-261 3837
6. Visit A Museum
Penang has a surprising number of wonderful museums showcasing Penang’s history and culture! There’s even a museum that is dedicated to popular food (Wonderfood Museum)!
For some good old fun, you can try novelty galleries like the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum and Ghost Museum! Other museums in Penang.
7. Take Delight In Peranakan Culture
The Perankans or the Baba-Nyonya are a unique people descended from Chinese settlers in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesian Archipelago.
They are known for their delicious Nyonya cuisine. And the wealthy folk back in 19th century Penang loved to emulate their eclectic colorful style into their own houses!
A couple of these houses have been restored and are now galleries with daily tours!
7.1. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion)
Tours have a duration of about 45 minutes. The maximum number of participants per tour session is 42 pax. Online reservations are recommended to avoid disappointment.
- Location: 14, Leith St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
- Opening Hours (Tour slots): 11am to 12pm; 2pm to 3pm
- Contact: +604-262 0006
- Entrance Fee: RM25 (Adult), RM13 (Child between 6-12 years old); Free evening tours for guests
Related: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion) – Relive The Peranakan Glory Days
7.2. Pinang Peranakan Mansion
- Location: 29, Church St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
- Opening Hours: 9:30am to 5pm
- Contact: +604-264 2929
- Entrance Fee: RM20 (Adult)
Related: Penang Peranakan Mansion: Make A Trip To This Worthy Historical Museum
8. Satisfy Your Taste Buds With George Town’s Famous Food
Don’t forget to try some Penang food while you wander the streets of George Town!
Chulia Street Night Market is open from the evening onwards. It consists of roadside stalls selling all the quintessential Malaysian street food. Like popiah, char kway teow, apom and more!
And you’ll have to go early to beat the queues at the original stall of Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol (and Penang asam laksa)! But it’s worth it!
Read more: Penang Famous Cendol – 9 Best Cendol In Penang That You Can Try Today!
9. Seek Out Penang Street Art
A full day may not be enough to see all the iron sculptures (Welden Iron Wall Caricatures) and street art in Penang!
Let alone all the ones by famed Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic!
Some Street Art By Ernest Zacharevic
- Boy On Motorbike
- Little Boy With Pet Dinosaur
Then there’s Art Lane Penang too– a hidden gallery of wall murals by local and international artists!
Another collection of paintings around Georgetown is part of an animal awareness project featuring cats (101 Lost Kittens)!
But most recent was the PenangInternational Container Art Festival (PICAF) which ran began in January to end of May 2020. You can still see some of painted shipping containers around Penang.
10. Treat Yourself At A Hipster Café
Penang has a wonderful cafe scene and is thus a tempting haven for coffee addicts and photographers! Or as an in-between break from local food (and the heat).
There are many cafes to choose from in George Town alone! Most serve a mixed menu consisting of Western and Asian cuisine.
Some specialize in coffee while others focus on cakes and desserts!
Cafes To Try:
- Macallum Connoisseurs Coffee Company
- Kafka Penang
- Dolce Dessert
- More Options For The Best Cafes In Georgetown Penang
- More Penang Cafes Including Batu Ferringhi And Ayer Itam
Read more: 11 Best Night Market In Penang: Monday To Sunday (Especially #5)
11. Have A Bird’s Eye View Of Penang From KOMTAR
KOMTAR Penang like Penang Hill, is high enough to offer aerial views of the city via a glass bridge (Rainbow Skywalk)!
A full-day pass means you can try the main attractions at KOMTAR without having to buy individual tickets!
Other Main Attractions At KOMTAR:
- 7D Discovery Motion Theater
- Jurassic Research Center (Outdoor)
- Penang Boutique Aquarium
- The Top Boutique Aquarium
- Ocean Explorer
- Tech-Dome
And if you can summon the courage, you can try The Gravityz experience which will give you the opportunity to face your fear of heights!
Read more: 21 Fun Things To Do In Penang With Kids (Ultimate Guide) + Food & Hotels
12. Shop At A Mall In George Town
In the mood for shopping in Penang? While it may no longer be a duty-free state like Langkawi, Penang shopping malls still hold appeal for the masses!
The best time to go is during the nationwide sales in August!
Queensbay Mall is a one-stop dream with more than 400 retail stores! But it’s at Bayan Lepas which is a 20 minutes’ drive from Georgetown.
Alternatively, you can visit shiny high-end Gurney Paragon mall along with its larger neighbor, Gurney Plaza!
Read more: 11 Best Massage In Penang – For Full Body & Foot Massage
13. Stay Out Late In George Town
Just cause it’s evening doesn’t mean the fun’s over! See some landmarks (e.g. Fort Cornwallis, Cheah Kongsi or The Blue Mansion) when they are lit up!
Dive into the hawker stall experience at Red Garden Food Paradise, Chulia Street Night Hawker Stalls (Chulia Street Pasar Malam), Presgrave Corner or Kimberly Street!
And later, recount the day over a beer or cocktail at the bars of Chulia Street and Love Lane!
- Micke’s Place At Love Lane
- Chulia Court The Tavern
Read more: Penang Itinerary 3 Days: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Penang Trip In
Getting To Penang George Town Attractions
Even though it’s easy to navigate on your feet in George Town:
Having a local around to show you Penang can be eye-opening! With the added advantage of a flexible schedule and comfortable private transport with air conditioning.
Private tour service, RayTheTour has these benefits and more:
- We use MPVs and vans
- Reliable tour guides who speak English or Chinese
- Tours to Ipoh, Taiping and Cameron Highlands
- Pick up or drop off from any Penang hotel or the airport during your tour with us
To book, head to our WhatsApp.
Further reading:
- 4 Best Ways For Getting Around Penang (With All Penang Transport Options)
- How To Get From Penang Airport To Georgetown (4 Easy Ways)
- How To Get To Penang Island From Kuala Lumpur (KL)
- Best Way To Travel From Langkawi To Penang (All Methods + Cheap Option)
Conclusion
With so many things to do in George Town, Penang, you’ll probably want to extend your trip!
Marvel at beautiful buildings and learn their history. Savor the local cuisine or chill at one of many cafes! Pop into a museum or two if you want to escape the heat or rain.
And keep your eyes peeled for street art every time you turn a corner.
Other posts you might like:
- 23 Best Things To Do In Penang At Night
- 13 Best Penang Souvenirs To Pick Up
- 15 Best Penang Hotels To Stay At
- Best Time To Visit Penang: When Not To Go & Special Events To Look Out For
- 9 Best Places To Eat Durian In Penang
