Delivering the Best of Asia to Discriminating Travelers

Welcome to George Town

The bustling colonial city of George Town,on Penang island,can be described as a working museum of architectural history, where wonderful Victorian, Chinese, and Art Deco buildings exist side by side. Whether restored, “lived in”, or decayed, they make a great argument for the cultural value of preserving the past. Many of the best things to do in George Town involve visiting its marvelous buildings.

George Town is also a bit off the beaten tourist track, and is reminiscent of Hoi An, Vietnam, retaining much of its cultural identity, while essentially remaining a working town. It’s easily walkable, as most points of interest are no more than a ten-minute walk from each other. In addition, a thriving art gallery scene is beginning to emerge.

Its lively Chinatown is much more fun, we think, than those of Hong Kong and Bangkok. Streets are narrower, and auto traffic is less congested. The Little India neighborhood is just as much fun, with great eating spots and interesting shops.

Highlights

1) The two do-it-yourself walking tours developed by the Penang Heritage Trust are a must! The free tour booklet is available at the airport when you arrive, and at many establishments in town as well. Each tour point is illustrated with a photo and mini-history. We recommend taking your walking tours on successive mornings, as each takes roughly half a day. In just over 24 hours, you’ll have a good take on how the town looks, and works.

The View from Penang Hill 2) Khoo Kongsi. Built in 1906, this temple of the Chinese Khoo clan has been described as being among the best examples of Chinese temple architecture and craftsmanship in SE Asia, and that’s probably an understatement. We were stunned at the intricacy of the gilded wooden carvings, astounded at the architectural elements, and loved the ambiance. This is one of the jewels of SE Asia, and not to be missed. On the Penang Heritage Trust Walking Tour.

3) Pinang Peranakan Mansion. This splendid house/museum is described by Marketing Manager Peter Chan Chee Hong as a “fusion museum”, and that it is with eclectic elements from the Victorian, Chinese, and Baba Nyonya (Straits culture). The mansion itself is breathtaking, and Peter has a flair for design in the way he’s chosen to display the collection. The only museum we’ve seen close to this in philosophy is the Isabella Stewart Gardiner (sp?) museum in Boston. The mansion is on the Walking Tour, at GPS N05°25.077’, E100°20.437’

4) Penang Hill and Funicular Railway. At some 830 meters above sea level, the summit of Penang Hill affords a tremendous view of George Town and the mainland, including a planes-eye view of the Penang Island Bridge, reportedly the longest in SE Asia. The trip to the top is accomplished via a 30 minute funicular railway, initiated in the early twentieth century. The funicular station is a ten-minute cab ride from downtown George Town, at GPS N05°24.494’, E100°16.632’

5) Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Dubbed the “Blue Mansion” due to its striking exterior color, this extensive house was the home of one of Asia’s wealthiest men. Here, in this 38 room, five courtyard mansion, Chinese elements are melded with Art Nouveau and Gothic. Beautifully preserved, you can see the house on daily tours given at 11 am and 3 pm, or can stay overnight in several of the tastefully renovated rooms. On the Penang Heritage Trust Walking Tour.

6) Lunch at the E & O Hotel. Originally part of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel Chain (Raffles in Singapore, and the Strand in Rangoon are the others), built by the legendary Sarkies brothers, this stately Colonial Hotel fell to near-ruin, and is gradually being brought back-to-snuff. A very good RM20 prix-fixe lunch can be taken inside the dining room, or better yet, out on the rear patio, with a wonderful view of the cornice and waterway, with ocean breezes to cool you off.

7) Penang State Museum. This nicely-done museum details the history of Chinese, European, and Baba Nyonya cultures in Penang, with detailed exhibits and artifacts. Don’t miss the gilded, carved archway in the Chinese Reception Hall (Room 4), or the Nyonya wedding bed and bridal chamber (Room 5). On the Penang Heritage Trust Walking Tour.

Transportation

George Town’s taxis do not generally use the meter system, but provide flat rate fares. A taxi ride from the Clock Tower to the Penang Hill funicular station, for example, is RM40. Trishaws may be hired as well for leisurely sightseeing. Fares are negotiable, generally in the RM20-RM40 per hour range.

Airport to George Town

Penang Airport Flights arrive at Penang’s Bayan Lepas International Airport, 20 km south of George Town. Taxi fares from the airport to George Town are RM40 to most points in the city, and take 40 minutes to one hour, depending on the time of day.

Trains and buses arrive in Butterworth on the mainland, a few minutes across the channel. Ferry service operates around the clock, with departures as often as every eight minutes during peak times.

Site search powered by FreeFind

Visit enchanting Sarawak, paradise of Malaysia

Click here for breathtaking diving in the Andaman Sea!

Read Pa Farang's advice on life, love, and relationships in the Land of Smiles!