George Town
George Town
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- Haytham Abu FirasQatar20,602 contributionsCapital of PenangGeorge Town is the colorful multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. It’s famous for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques. A must visit spot of Malaysia. Many highlights needs to be covered in 2-3 days. The most famous highlight is Penang Hill.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten September 21, 2023
- LeonhknyHong Kong, China21,297 contributionsHistoric cityGeorge Town is our favorite city in Malaysia. The historic old town is full of architectural gems and cultural landmarks. The blend of different cultures and religions, where Buddhist temples stand next to mosques and Chinese clan shrines, makes Penang truly unique and unparalleled. The Peranakan influence, whether be lavish mansions or tempting street food, adds a lot of color and dynamics to the port city. Do spend a couple days here to experience the vibe.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten January 20, 2024
- Spirit BearPinner, United Kingdom437 contributionsInteresting town to see on footA fascinating town to walk around. It has a lot of character and we enjoyed seeing the colonial buildings, restaurants, street art and street entertainers with puppets. Well worth a visit since everything is close together you can easily walk around but it can get very hot around midday so we stopped for regular drinks and enjoyed an Indian lunch in a restaurant there.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten February 25, 2024
- Fifi FitriningrumCanberra, Australia137 contributionsA town for food loversThe town has a lot to offer, from modern malls to heritage sites, as well as yummy food. There are free buses to go around the town, which stop at almost every tourist attraction. Walking to a long-night market for yummy food is highly recommended. Spending time and enjoying all the mural arts can be fun too.Visited December 2023Travelled soloWritten March 17, 2024
- roy vTraralgon, Australia5,936 contributionsA great place to visitWe recently spent five days here and found the place very interesting. A melting pot of cultures and history. We used the public transport to get around and it worked very well. The free bus service around the main town is excellent and we used the paid service to go a bit further out of town like to Penang Hill. There is a lot of lovely architecture covering different eras and cultures. Some great old mansions to visit and churches. We visited some very old temples, The area known as Little India was interesting as was the port area with the famous Jetty complexes.plenty of huge shopping Malls and food courts, there are also plenty of local markets which are good value. The Street Art is amazing, loved the old part of town. Food places galore, lots of different types of food, we tried and liked the traditional foods even though we were not sure what we were actually going to get at times. We found that a lot of the staff in eating places had very little English which made it hard at times to converse. There are plenty of hotels, top rated ones to little local places. Easy place to walk around, we also enjoyed a Trishaw ride around the old town with a very fit rider who hardly raised a sweat and boy it was very hot. This was our first time to George Town and we enjoyed it,Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten March 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Travel & Treasures
Munich, Germany259 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We went to George Town as a layover day on our way to Langkawi and found it perfect for a day trip. The street art is easy to find and can be spotted everywhere around the district. Small artsy cafes and restaurants along with crafty souvenir shops create a nice easy going experience. Of you’d like to see all art pieces I’d recommend to get a map and look them up beforehand.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Poddy
Perth, Australia293 contributions
Sept 2022
Easy to travel by local transport or just walk around the area, spent a day in the area just checking out all the Murial's, steel art and eating spots. Local transport in the form of free hop on hop off buses, a good way to get orientated with the area. Lots of History here.
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
donavan94563
Orinda, CA210 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
Had one day in Panang during a cruise. Traveling with a family of 4 with college kids.
Combine three distinct and ancient cultures with indigenous and colonial architecture, shake for a few centuries, and garnish with some of the best food in Southeast Asia, and you've got the irresistible urban cocktail that is George Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.
Due to the intermingling of the various ethnicities and religions that arrived on its shores, George Town acquired a large eclectic assortment of colonial and Asian architectural styles. It also gained a reputation as Malaysia's gastronomic capital for its distinct and ubiquitous street food. Moreover, the city hosts unique cultural heritage, such as the Peranakans, whose legacies are still visible on Penang's architecture and cuisine.
The cruise ship terminal is conveniently located at the water's edge of George Town adjacent to the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower providing easy walking access to the sites of George Town.
Although most of George Town is old and not up to modern day western standards, the charm of Georgetown lies in its hidden alleys and architectural details. A way to navigate through the area is via the graphic street art depicting the life of the people of Penang.
An article by Maartje Hensen gives a detailed guide to George Town Street Art Area with map which includes the murals within the main part of George Town.
The article highly recommends starting your murals-hunt from Chew Jetty, and slowly make your way to the famous art street: Armenian Street. It’ll take you on a journey from faded (and repainted) art to the classics!
As you scavenger hunt for the murals you will meander through the eclectic mix of British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques. I loved how modern day cafe's, bakeries and restaurants have inhabited many of these old buildings providing refreshing air conditioned breaks along your journey. Be also adventurous and try the local food stalls and cafes.
All in all, a great way to spend the day at Penang/George Town with a family.
Combine three distinct and ancient cultures with indigenous and colonial architecture, shake for a few centuries, and garnish with some of the best food in Southeast Asia, and you've got the irresistible urban cocktail that is George Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.
Due to the intermingling of the various ethnicities and religions that arrived on its shores, George Town acquired a large eclectic assortment of colonial and Asian architectural styles. It also gained a reputation as Malaysia's gastronomic capital for its distinct and ubiquitous street food. Moreover, the city hosts unique cultural heritage, such as the Peranakans, whose legacies are still visible on Penang's architecture and cuisine.
The cruise ship terminal is conveniently located at the water's edge of George Town adjacent to the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower providing easy walking access to the sites of George Town.
Although most of George Town is old and not up to modern day western standards, the charm of Georgetown lies in its hidden alleys and architectural details. A way to navigate through the area is via the graphic street art depicting the life of the people of Penang.
An article by Maartje Hensen gives a detailed guide to George Town Street Art Area with map which includes the murals within the main part of George Town.
The article highly recommends starting your murals-hunt from Chew Jetty, and slowly make your way to the famous art street: Armenian Street. It’ll take you on a journey from faded (and repainted) art to the classics!
As you scavenger hunt for the murals you will meander through the eclectic mix of British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques. I loved how modern day cafe's, bakeries and restaurants have inhabited many of these old buildings providing refreshing air conditioned breaks along your journey. Be also adventurous and try the local food stalls and cafes.
All in all, a great way to spend the day at Penang/George Town with a family.
Written January 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roy v
Traralgon, Australia5,936 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We recently spent five days here and found the place very interesting.
A melting pot of cultures and history.
We used the public transport to get around and it worked very well.
The free bus service around the main town is excellent and we used the paid service to go a bit further out of town like to Penang Hill.
There is a lot of lovely architecture covering different eras and cultures.
Some great old mansions to visit and churches. We visited some very old temples, The area known as Little India was interesting as was the port area with the famous Jetty complexes.plenty of huge shopping Malls and food courts, there are also plenty of local markets which are good value.
The Street Art is amazing, loved the old part of town.
Food places galore, lots of different types of food, we tried and liked the traditional foods even though we were not sure what we were actually going to get at times.
We found that a lot of the staff in eating places had very little English which made it hard at times to converse.
There are plenty of hotels, top rated ones to little local places.
Easy place to walk around, we also enjoyed a Trishaw ride around the old town with a very fit rider who hardly raised a sweat and boy it was very hot.
This was our first time to George Town and we enjoyed it,
A melting pot of cultures and history.
We used the public transport to get around and it worked very well.
The free bus service around the main town is excellent and we used the paid service to go a bit further out of town like to Penang Hill.
There is a lot of lovely architecture covering different eras and cultures.
Some great old mansions to visit and churches. We visited some very old temples, The area known as Little India was interesting as was the port area with the famous Jetty complexes.plenty of huge shopping Malls and food courts, there are also plenty of local markets which are good value.
The Street Art is amazing, loved the old part of town.
Food places galore, lots of different types of food, we tried and liked the traditional foods even though we were not sure what we were actually going to get at times.
We found that a lot of the staff in eating places had very little English which made it hard at times to converse.
There are plenty of hotels, top rated ones to little local places.
Easy place to walk around, we also enjoyed a Trishaw ride around the old town with a very fit rider who hardly raised a sweat and boy it was very hot.
This was our first time to George Town and we enjoyed it,
Written March 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ysp_lelyana
Malang, Indonesia548 contributions
Aug 2019
I fall in love with George Town of Penang. Always wants to return to this nice heritage place. Yummy food is everywhere, safe and clean. Public transportation even free one will help the visitors to wander around. Go to Penang Hill and trekking to Penang National Park. It's fun!
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China21,297 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
George Town is our favorite city in Malaysia. The historic old town is full of architectural gems and cultural landmarks. The blend of different cultures and religions, where Buddhist temples stand next to mosques and Chinese clan shrines, makes Penang truly unique and unparalleled. The Peranakan influence, whether be lavish mansions or tempting street food, adds a lot of color and dynamics to the port city. Do spend a couple days here to experience the vibe.
Written January 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spirit Bear
Pinner, UK437 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
A fascinating town to walk around. It has a lot of character and we enjoyed seeing the colonial buildings, restaurants, street art and street entertainers with puppets. Well worth a visit since everything is close together you can easily walk around but it can get very hot around midday so we stopped for regular drinks and enjoyed an Indian lunch in a restaurant there.
Written February 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean N
Sydney, Australia9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
I spent 5 nights in Georgetown after KL. I absolutely loved the street art and food was amazing. The city is a bit crowded but kept as clean as possible. The locals are extremely hospitable. The highlight of my holiday would have to be the street art & food.
I felt very safe but please take care crossing roads, I came within cms of being hit by a motorcyclist who came out of nowhere.
Plenty to do during my 5 days and I was more than happy to walk to all tourist sites with the added bonus of the free CAT (courtesy city bus) that stopped right outside my hotel. I was even able to take my checkin suitcase on the bus from the ferry terminal to my hotel.
Thank you Georgetown for your amazing hospitality.
I felt very safe but please take care crossing roads, I came within cms of being hit by a motorcyclist who came out of nowhere.
Plenty to do during my 5 days and I was more than happy to walk to all tourist sites with the added bonus of the free CAT (courtesy city bus) that stopped right outside my hotel. I was even able to take my checkin suitcase on the bus from the ferry terminal to my hotel.
Thank you Georgetown for your amazing hospitality.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fifi Fitriningrum
Canberra, Australia137 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
The town has a lot to offer, from modern malls to heritage sites, as well as yummy food. There are free buses to go around the town, which stop at almost every tourist attraction. Walking to a long-night market for yummy food is highly recommended. Spending time and enjoying all the mural arts can be fun too.
Written March 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony W
Sydney, Australia4,598 contributions
Apr 2023
If you travel to the island of Penang you should seriously consider allowing one day to explore George Town. From the old colonial buildings, Fort Cornwallace, the street art murals, the waterfront and port areas to the markets and the incredible choice of dining options and shopping experiences. This city is bustling and alive with energy. Always a place we enjoy visiting.
Written May 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any beaches in George town or nearby
Written May 25, 2017
Georgetown is on the coast but any beach is pretty average. Head north to Tanjung Tokong it gets better the further u go. Around 4ks north of Georgetown, taxis very very cheap and all over the place.
Written May 25, 2017
Hi, we are planning to stop by one day in Penang and like your suggestion to ride on Trishaw. How much is a trishaw ride of 1 or 2 hours?
Written December 27, 2015
You can get a tri shaw ride for Ringett $35 per half hour,ride into the Heritgae Market..the tri shaw riders know where to go in that time.Safe ,exciting and a great thing to do to visit "old Penang".
Written January 20, 2017
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