Penang (George Town) travel guide
Best Things to Do in Penang (George Town)
The number one thing to do in Penang is to eat through George Town — the street-art trail, clan jetties and Khoo Kongsi clan house fit between hawker stops for char kway teow, asam laksa and cendol. For views, ride the Penang Hill funicular or climb to Kek Lok Si’s giant Guanyin statue.
What to do in Penang (George Town)
George Town is a grazing town: sightsee between meals, never the reverse. Mornings for temples and murals, midday for hawker centres, evenings for the jetties and a final bowl of something.
The best things to do in Penang (George Town)
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George Town street art trail · Art walk
Ernest Zacharevic’s famous murals woven through heritage lanes
Area: Core zone · Time needed: 2 hours · Cost: Free
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Kek Lok Si Temple · Temple
Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temple — pagoda, giant Guanyin, hill views
Area: Ayer Itam · Time needed: 2 hours · Cost: Free (pagoda RM2, lift RM6)
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Clan Jetties · Heritage
Stilted waterfront villages of the old Chinese clans, still lived in
Area: Weld Quay · Time needed: 1 hour · Cost: Free
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Penang Hill · Viewpoint
Funicular to 833m for the island panorama and cooler air
Area: Ayer Itam · Time needed: Half day · Cost: RM30 funicular return
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Pinang Peranakan Mansion · Museum
Opulent Baba-Nyonya townhouse frozen in the 1890s
Area: Church Street · Time needed: 1.5 hours · Cost: RM25
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Khoo Kongsi clan house · Heritage
The most ornate Chinese clan house in Malaysia
Area: Cannon Square · Time needed: 45 min · Cost: RM15
Also in malaysia
best things to do in Penang (George Town) — FAQs
What is the number one thing to do in Penang?
The number one thing to do in Penang is to eat through George Town — the street-art trail, clan jetties and Khoo Kongsi clan house fit between hawker stops for char kway teow, asam laksa and cendol. For views, ride the Penang Hill funicular or climb to Kek Lok Si’s giant Guanyin statue.
How many days do you need in Penang?
Two to three days is ideal for Penang: one for George Town’s heritage core and murals, one for Kek Lok Si and Penang Hill, plus grazing time at the hawker centres. Add a beach or national-park day at Batu Ferringhi if you want sand.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.