In this guide we tell you what to see in Penang y Georgetown, its capital, on a tour that you can do on your own in 2-3 days. If you're planning a trip to Malaysia, this island can't be missed on your itinerary. The Georgetown's cultural and culinary diversity is truly amazing., we had never seen anything like it! We visited Penang in May 2025 and we share with you the places you can't miss, with useful tips, a map, and a video at the end of the post. Keep reading because it's sure to help you plan your trip!
10 Things to Do and See in Penang and Georgetown
Georgetown It is the heart of Penang and was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008 for its historical and multicultural value. Its streets reflect the mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultures that have coexisted for centuries. Below, we share our list of recommendations what to do in Georgetown and Penang itself.
1) Admire the art on its streets
One of the most famous things about Georgetown Penang It's his urban art. The streets of the center are filled with murals and wrought iron sculptures that tell stories of the city. The best thing is to walk around them and discover them little by little. If you want to see the main attractions of the swing, the motorcycle, the bicycle, the bathrooms, etc., we have marked them on the map at the end.
2) Enjoy street food
If there is one thing she is famous for Penang, it is because of its street food. Don't forget to try the Char Kway Teow’s most emblematic landmarks, the Laksa Penang, the famous satay And even the Little India stalls like the samosa stall that even appears in the Michelin GuideThe best positions are spread throughout the city, but Gurney Drive and Chulia Street They are two of the areas with the most atmosphere.
3) Get lost in its multicultural neighborhoods
Georgetown Malaysia It is a mosaic of cultures. Here you can walk through Little India with its spice and textile shops, enter the Chinese mansions like the famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion or browse the bazaars of the shop houses traditional. The shop houses These are typical buildings in Penang and other areas of Southeast Asia. They combine living and commercial spaces: on the ground floor there is a business (shop, workshop, restaurant) and on the upper floor lives the owner's family. Architecture with Chinese and colonial influences is one of the icons of Penang to see, especially in Georgetown.
4) Visit Chowrasta Market
El Chowrasta Market It's one of the oldest in the city. Here you can see how the locals shop, try tropical fruits or take home a culinary souvenir. It is a good place to see local life in all its splendorFresh fish, unusual fruits, street food, music, flowers, etc. We recommend you also get lost in the surrounding streets. It's very lively.
- ⏰ Chowrasta Market Hours: Every day from 7:00 am to 12:30
5) Try durian, things to do in Penang
El durian is known as the king of fruits in Malaysia and especially in Penang, where they are organized durian festivals and there are plantations you can visit to try it freshly picked from the tree. Its smell is unmistakable and quite controversial, since not everyone likes it. In fact, It is prohibited to take it to many hotels and public places. Definitely, Trying durian is one of the things to do in Penang, if only to say you tried it. We tried Musang King, the most popular in Malaysia. Do you think we liked it? In the final video, we share our impressions, and on the map below, we show you a top spot to try it in downtown Georgetown.
6) Stroll through the clan jetties, one of the neighborhoods to see in Georgetown, Penang
The clan jetties are traditional Chinese communities built on water. You Stroll along the wooden docks and see how the inhabitants of these houses on stilts live.. The Chew Jetty It is the most visited. The reality is that, despite some areas, the contrasts that this neighborhood offers are something quite curious to see in Georgetown and Penang.
7) Dine at Gurney Drive Hawker Center
Gurney Drive Hawker Center is a street food market that comes alive at nightWe loved the atmosphere and ate for less than €10 for both of us, including fresh coconut! We recommend Order the Char Kway Teow at the stall we show in the video below. This market is quite far from the center, but you can take advantage and Combine it with a visit to the Gurney Plaza shopping center, the largest mall to visit in Georgetown. We've pinned it on the map at the end, and you can walk there from the mall.
8) Climb Penang Hill, what to see in Penang, Malaysia
Another of the plans What to do in Penang is to climb to the top of Penang Hill, with one best views on the islandYou can go up on the funicular and, if the day is clear, you will see the whole city and the sea. There are paths and gardens to walk around at the top. We did a A trail of almost 2 hours, getting lost in the jungle, and the truth is that it was super pleasant, since the weather in Penang Hill is somewhat cooler than in sweltering Georgetown. What we liked most was meeting the spectacled langurs, some monkeys that we had not seen until now during our entire trip through Malaysia.
- ⏰ Penang Hill Schedule: Every day of 6:30 h - 23:00 h (ticket sales office from 6:15 a.m. to 21:45 p.m.)
- 💵 Round-trip funicular price: 30 MYR (€6) per person. We bought the express ticket for 80 MYR (€16) per person and skipped the line.
9) Visit Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, what to do near Georgetown
A short distance from Penang Hill, there is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia: The Kek Lok Si Temple. On pagoda and great statue of Kuan Yin They were even visible from the Penang Hill viewing platform. We couldn't go because it started to pour down with rain, and the entire visit was outdoors. We had to take shelter in Gurney Plaza until it stopped raining, and then it closed early.Pay attention to the schedules!
- ⏰ Kek Lok Si Temple Opening Hours: Every day from 8:30 am to 17:30
- 💵 Entrance price: free of charge
10) Visit the National Park, other places to see in Penang
El Penang National Park It is one of the smallest in the world, but you can hike to beaches like Monkey Beach or get to the lighthouse Muka HeadAnother option is a boat ride. We ruled it out because we had been to Borneo and the reviews we read about the park didn't seem like it was a highly recommended visit. Still, if you are on the hunt for places What to see in Penang in 2 days or more, take note of this option.
Tips for visiting Penang
Our travel recommendations for Penang are the same as those we've given you for virtually every destination we've visited in Malaysia. Check them out below.
💡 Tips for visiting Penang:
📲 Website: we use the Holafly Asia eSIM with unlimited data. We had coverage in all areas of the islandsYou can reserve it from this link with a 5% discount.
✈️ Travel insurance: us We purchased the IATI Backpacker policy, perfect for this type of adventure travel. Book with a 5% discount from our link.
???? Bring cash to be able to enjoy the street food.
Where to stay in Georgetown, Penang
If you're looking for good hotel in the center, we stayed at the The Granite Luxury HotelIt is very well located, close to the main attractions, has all the amenities and a rooftop with infinity pool with city views. You can see prices and availability at this page.
Video with places to see in Penang
We will soon share a video with our experience in Penang and Georgetown. Follow us on our YouTube Channel so you don't miss it!
Restaurants in Georgetown, what to do in Penang
What if I told you that In Georgetown we ate at a Michelin-starred restaurant for €19 per person.Don't miss this opportunity and pay attention to thisa list of restaurants in Penang to enjoy authentic Malaysian, Chinese and Indian food.
- Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery, a classic with a Michelin Star
- Tek Sen Restaurant, typical Chinese food restaurant
- Gurney Drive Hawkers CentreWe recommend the Char Kway Teow at number 71.
- Penang Famous Samosa, a street food stall in Little India known for its samosas
- Sri weld Food Court, with food from different parts of Southeast Asia
- Tai Tong Restaurant, famous for its dim sum
- Durian Valley, ideal for tasting durian
Penang Map: What to See and Do
In the next On the map you will find a list of things to see in Penang. that we mentioned in this guide: murals, temples, markets and restaurants. In addition, we include the town of Balik Pulau, a very authentic area to visit on Penang Island, although we didn't have time. Save it for planning your trip.
And here are our recommendations on what to see in Penang y GeorgetownWe hope it helps you plan your next visit. If you want to continue exploring this wonderful country, here are some other articles from our route through Malaysia which will surely be of great help to you:
- 👉 Complete route through Malaysia and Singapore
- 👉 What to see in Kuala Lumpur in 2 or 3 days
- 👉 What to see in Malaysian Borneo
- 👉 What to see in the Perhentian Islands
- 👉 What to see in Singapore
- 👉 Recommendations for traveling to Malaysia
Don't forget to check out our Other travel guides to Malaysia to make the most of your adventure. Have a good trip!
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
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