MY · Penang · 5.41°N 100.33°E

george town

Street art, clan jetties and a different hawker dinner every night.

Best time
December to March is usually driest. It's warm all year, so do your walking early.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
About 4 hours' drive from KL over the Penang Bridge, or the ETS train to Butterworth and the ferry across. Short flights land at Penang International.
MY · Penanggeorge town5.41°N 100.33°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Street art, clan jetties and a different hawker dinner every night.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGeorge TownMY, Penang

George Town's UNESCO-listed core is a grid of shophouses, clan houses and temples, with some of the best street food in the country. Walk it in the morning and eat your way through it at night.

Makan

  1. Char kway teowFlat noodles fried over high heat with prawns, cockles and bean sprouts.
  2. Assam laksaSour, spicy, fish-based laksa. The stalls at Air Itam market are famous for it.
  3. Nasi kandarRice with curries poured over. Line Clear and Kapitan are long-time names.
  4. CendolThe Penang Road stall has queues for a reason.
  5. Hawker dinnerGurney Drive and New Lane come alive after dark.

Things to do

  1. Armenian Street and the street artMurals, wrought-iron sculptures and shophouse cafés.
  2. Clan jettiesWooden houses on stilts over the water. Chew Jetty is the best known.
  3. Khoo KongsiAn ornate clan house hidden behind the shophouses.
  4. Penang HillThe funicular up to cooler air and views over the island.
  5. Kek Lok SiA huge hillside temple complex in Air Itam.

Where to stay

Inside the heritage zone so you can walk everywhere; there are plenty of restored shophouse hotels. Batu Ferringhi if you want the beach.

Good to know

  • Hawker stalls keep their own hours and rest days.
  • Parking in the heritage zone is tight. Leave the car at the hotel and walk or take Grab.
  • Avoid walking in the midday heat; go early or late.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.