George Town, Penang

Best Places to hang out and visit in George Town

If there is one thing Penang has a lock on, it’s the beautiful Georgetown. Between the rows of historical and cultural landmarks, hawker food stalls, street arts, and colonial architecture, this neighborhood practically begs to be the best touristic destination ever in Penang island. UNESCO has recognized the section of streets in George town as a World Heritage Site in South East Asia.

 When people say Penang, it’s usually Georgetown that comes to mind. And while its true that this is a lively town, its roots are grounded in wealth and gentility. No matter what the allure is, visitors will find it pleasing to visit the places in Georgetown. If you were to ask any Malaysian about Penang, the first thing people would definitely tell you is to try the food they offer to the visitors.

The charming town of Georgetown is just 5 hours north of Capital city Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s perfect for a 2-day trip, you will find many attractions and establishments suited for a variety of visitors. Spend those 2 days exploring the area, eating at hawker stalls, temples and art-filled street in different areas.

Penang is known as the food capital of Asia; you can experience a variety of culinary tastes in this part of south-east Asia that is easy to fall in love with. Some of the favourite foods to try in Georgetown are Char Kway Teow, Nasi Kandar, Cendol, Pasenbur and Assam Laksa.

The vast selection of delicious dishes can be found on many different streets in Georgetown. You will drool at the thought of the array of foods hawkers have to offer. The best places to eat different kinds of foods are in Lebuh Chulia, Gurney Drive, Little India and Lebuh Kimberley. China House is the best spot for a variety of desserts in Georgetown.

The Mugshot Cafe in Lebuh Chulia Street

The major tourist drawcard in Georgetown is its street art. Without checking at least one piece of street art, you can’t leave Georgetown. Each piece of street art is unique on its own right, and you will find pieces located in every corner of the city. Popular street arts can be found in Armenian Street, Chulia Street, Love Lane and Lebuh Ah Quee.

Street Art

Georgetown has an abundance of culture along with its diversity. To experience this, try walking along the streets of Georgetown to find harmony between four main religions.

St.George’s Church, Chinese Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple, and Kapitan Keling Mosque are the gods of four religions gathered at the intersection of one of the streets in Georgetown. If you walk along the street you will find many clan temples associated with Chinese culture.

Wat Chayamangkalaram Buddhist temple

Georgetown boasts of the many amazing and unique wall arts, which you won’t find elsewhere in Malaysia.

However, some other main attractions in Georgetown are Clan Jetties, Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, Komtar, Dinosaur Park, 3D Trick Art Museum, Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Fort Cornwallis, Colonial Penang Museum, Upside Down Museum, Wonderfood Museum, Love Lane, Wat Chayamangkalaram Buddhist temple and other small places, which all are near to each other and make this place more beautiful for tourists.

One of the Clan Jetty

Brimming with Colourful lights, Nightlife in Georgetown is very beautiful compared to the daytime. You can find a lot of entertaining places at night time in Lebuh Chuliah Street. Alcohol and food are very cheap at some places like Antarabangsa Liquor Store and Little India. In the Georgetown area, you will enjoy the night as you have never enjoyed it before in your life!

Sri Mahammarian Temple in Little India

How to Reach:

You can explore Georgetown by rickshaw, cycling or simply walking around the area.

To reach Georgetown, you need to first reach Penang by bus or plane. From there you can take the local bus from Penang bus terminal to Georgetown. Local buses are available from morning 5.30 AM – 11.00 PM In Georgetown.

If you would like to tour around the Georgetown area on a bus, you can hop on and hop off the Cat bus for tourists, which visit the places around Georgetown for free.

Click on the link for How to Reach Penang by bus, train, and flight for more details.

Posts related to Georgetown:

1. Travel Tips – From Lonely Planet.
2.  5 Trendy places every Hipster Needs to Visit – From The Travel Intern.
3. Travel Guide – From Trip Savvy.
4. 20 Fun things to do in Penang – From Trip Zilla.