To visit or to live in Penang is above all to mix with a cultural, ethnic and religious melting pot influenced by China, Malaysia, India and Europe. Georgetown the capital of Penang, which long lived in the past in the shadow of Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, become more and more known, as it’s the kind of place that marks you indelibly with its unique atmosphere, a perfect blend of nature, culture, history and gastronomy. Here is a selection of things to do and to see in Penang. Follow the guide!
Strolling around the city
With a long and illustrious history to its credit, the capital of Penang has centuries of heritage and culture to share. It is one of the most colorful cities in Malaysia, which remains a little stuck in time and retained many of the British values from the past. Georgetown undoubtedly has a charm all its own.
What to see:
Clan Jetties – The Eastern & Oriental Hotel – Jawi Peranakan Mansion – East Indies Mansion –Cheong fatt tze (The blue mansion) – Gurney Drive – Beach Street – Muntri street – Love Lane, Lebuh King (Little india), Lebuh Pantai
The cultural essentials
Georgetown is a true kaleidoscope of charm and a true multicultural mosaic inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The city is full of museums and religious buildings with complex and traditional architectural elements.
What to see:
Kapitan Keling Mosque – Kek Lok Si Temple – St George church – The City Hall – Penang State Museum – Jubilee Clock Tower – Sri Mahamariamman temple – Kapitan Keling Mosque, Snakes Temple, Sun Yat-sen Penang Museum, Lebuh Acheh mosque – Pinang Peranakan manson – Wat Chaiyamangkalaram.
The town’s markets to not miss
Shopping is important in Penang and is an obsession shared by locals and tourists. Here is a list of the main markets in Georgetown.
Batu Ferringhi Night Market – Occupy Beach Street – Sunday Pop-Up Market at Hin Bus Depot – Little Penang street market – Artisan market at The Star Pitt street – Chowrasta Bazaar – Macallum street night market – Lorong Kulit flea market
To be one with mother nature
Penang is above all spaces of greenery where you can in a short time get away from the crowd. So if you want to be one with Mother Nature, this is where you have to go:
Penang Hill – The Habitat – Parc national Palau Pinang – Penang Avatar secret garden – l’Escape Theme Park – Tropical spice garden – Entopia Teluk Bahang – Penang Butterfly Farm (Teluk Bahang) – Penang botanical garden.
Taste an authentic cuisine
Georgetown is also the Malaysian capital of gastronomy and street food. The hawker centers, or food courts, are scattered throughout the city. Everyone orders his dishes at the nearby stands and settles at a table.
Where to go?
Along Chulia Street ou Kimberley street : Chinese cuisine
Masjid Kapitan Keling street : Indian cuisine
Red garden food paradise: Malaysian, chinese, japonese and even mexicain cuisine
Night market Chulia street. Malaysian, Asiatic
District of Lebuh Keng Kwee. Malaisien, asiatic cuisine
Little India. Indian cuisine
Few hawker centers
CF Hawker Center. Chinese, Asian, Malaysian cuisine
49-F, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, 10300 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
CF Food court : Chinese, Asian, Malaysian cuisine
Address: 10300, 48-58, Gat Lebuh Armenian, Georgetown, 10300 George Town, Penang
Le New Lane Hawker Centre : Malaysian cuisine
Address: Lorong Baru, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Cecil Street Food Court. Cuisine: Chinese, Asian, Malaysian cuisine
Address: 40-48, Lebuh Cecil, George Town, 10300 George Town
A drink? Yes but where?
There is many places to party in Georgetown. Here is a selection of the best bars and clubs:
Magazine 63 – ThreeSixty Revolving Restaurant and Skybar – 12 Senses – Narrow Marrow – Mish Mash – China House – Micasa – Beach Bar – Godspeed – Macalister Mansion (The ceillar) – Out of nowhere – The Tuns Wine Bar – Barfly – Scissor Sisters – The Whiski Bar & Lounge – Soundmaker 2.0 – Gentlemen’s League – The Press EST 1936
Stalking urban art
Street Art
In 2012, Georgetown organized a street art festival and invited Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic to paint as part of the Mirrors Art Project in Georgetown. Since then, the city has become a haven for Street art artists who covered the city of graffitis.
Where? : Zacharevic’s street art, Muntri Street, The Chew Jetty, Ah Quee Street, Cannon Street, Weld Quay, Muntri Street, Weld Quay, Lebuh Leith, Armenian Street, Ah Quee Street, Chulia Street, Armenian street, etc.
Apart from Street Art, Georgetown has a major art scene with a thriving community of artists, poets and bohemians. The Hin Bus depot area and the China House Cafe is full of cafes, artistic shops and restaurants. For craft lovers, the local Sunday market of the Hin bus depot is a must. Also take a tour at Art Lane (artlanepenang) a street art project led by Chinahouse a famous alternative teahouse set in the heart of G-town without forgetting of course to visit the Penang State Museum & Art Gallery.
Festivals
Georgetown is a vibrant city where dynamism and festivities never falter. Penang festivals are a colorful reflection of the multiculturalism and have kept an unparalleled authenticity in Asia. See all the list of festivals 2019 Here and Here
