Must visit places in Penang — 19 Must go places, top places to visit in Penang & best places to visit in Penang Malaysia
Penang is a historic city with a rich culture and history, and its capital, George Town, is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Visiting Penang to get away from the stuffy and find the lovely and old. And I’m not sure why Penang gives me the same vibe as Hoi An. Although it is a lively, contemporary town, it is an old town in Vietnam. But, at the end of the day, Penang is still a quiet historical city with no shadow of large buildings, kind people, and welcoming. So, you’re looking for some of the top locations to visit in Penang, Malaysia. Let’s take a look at our where to go in Penang blog with 19 top places to visit in Penang including interesting places to visit in Penang, most visited place in Penang, must-see places in Penang, places to see in Penang Malaysia, must-visit places in Penang, and must-see places in Penang to find out the best answer!
Penang, located in Penang state and adjacent to the Malacca Strait, is Malaysia’s sole island metropolis and the country’s third most populated city. People frequently refer to Malaysia’s pearl island, called “The Pearl of the Orient,” as a country of the past, present, and future. Penang was previously a British colony, and the ancient town of George Town still has signs of its former life as a key trade port on the Asia-Europe sea route.
Penang has acquired independence and is now one of Malaysia’s most developed tourism and industrial cities, despite numerous ups and downs. Today, when people think of Penang, they frequently think of clean, sunny beaches; George Town – the city of heritages and wall painting art in harmony with modernity, and a street food heaven like no other. Penang was named one of the top ten greatest destinations in 2016 by Lonely Planet magazine.
Georgetown Old Town and wall painting art
Georgetown, the capital of Penang, is located in the northeast of the island and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. The old city of Georgetown, with its mix of cultures and faiths, is considered Penang’s heart. It also has several works of art, religious structures, and historical sites. Unique architecture from many countries, including India, China, Malay, and even Western culture, may be found here. The impact of Chinese culture is particularly visible in historic dwellings, Buddhist pagodas, and temples. Indian culture may be found in Little India. Many colonial constructions have also been maintained and repaired. So, when visiting George Town, going along every street is a must. So when coming to George Town, wandering on every street is a different experience that will make you admiring and surprised.
When people think of Georgetown, they think of street art, 2D and 3D artworks on the walls. Since this Penang tourist hotspot has been designated as a global cultural heritage site, the city has began to produce one-of-a-kind paintings. Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian painter, breathed fresh life into Georgetown’s old town in 2012. He made 2D and 3D drawings that were blended with real items, making him appear both hilarious and troll since it was often difficult to tell the difference between genuine and phony.
Following it, there was a trend of other street painters who painted in alleyways and on corners. Georgetown keeps its historic appearance while while becoming more intriguing, energetic, and hip. Anyone who got here must be looking for the first artworks to check in.
Georgetown is a must visit place in Penang, but if you have not yet visited, you have not yet to come Penang. Here, there is a collection of artworks that cannot be found in any museum or gallery, but are displayed right on the walls of the city.
What to eat in Georgetown?
China House
Address: 153, Beach St, Georgetown, 10300 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Hours: 9AM–1AM
Phone: +60 4-263 7299
Chulia Street Night Hawker Stalls
Address: Chulia St, Georgetown, 10450 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Hours: 6PM–12AM
Surely here you will find many delicious Malay-Chinese dishes, do not forget to try the fried kway teow (Malaysian Stir-fried rice noodles), wanton mee, mi goreng, nasi lemak are specialties in Malaysia.
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
Georgetown is home to many ethnic Chinese living, the architecture here also brings a bit style of Chinese architecture. The clans in Georgetown have built many houses to settle, called kongsi.
Kongsi represents the clan’s success and wealth and is also a place for family gatherings and ancestor worship.
The Khoo clan is one of the largest in Penang’s Fujian community. Khoo, like other clans, erected a magnificent structure known as Khoo Kongsi. Despite being almost 650 years old, this home has remained quite sturdy. The structure vividly demonstrates the impact of Chinese culture that the Fujians brought to Penang. One of the most visited residences is Kongsi of the Khoo clan. This is also one of the most spectacularly designed mansions, with gold sculptures and stone figures.
If you visit Khoo Kongsi, you will admire stone carvings and sculptures, granite dragons, golden artworks and beautiful paper lights. For those who love history or architecture, Khoo Kongsi is a memorable stop in Penang.
Address: 18, Cannon Square, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opened: 1906
Hours: 9AM–5PM
Phone: +60 4-261 4609
What to eat near Khoo Kongsi?
Edelweiss Cafe
Address: 38, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: Monday: Closed /11:30AM–3PM, 6:30–10PM / Saturday: 12AM–10PM / Sunday: 11:30AM–6PM
Phone: +60 4-261 8935
Ping Hooi Cafe
Address: 179 Lebuh Carnarvon Georgetown, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 8AM–2:30PM
Phone: +60 16-458 0926
Stop to try Malaysian coffee after visiting!
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion)
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is more famous for its name as the Blue Mansion, due to its striking indigo blue color. This tourist destination in Penang was built in the 1880s and named after a wealthy merchant.
The Blue Mansion is carefully preserved from the 18th century, so it still retains the characteristics of Hakka – Teochew architecture. This is one of the few traditional Chinese mansions that still exists in foreign countries to today.
Blue Mansion’s architecture is vast and stunning, with 38 rooms, 5 granite tile courtyards, 7 stairs, and 220 wooden windows. Part of it is still used as a private property, while the other is a museum that tourists can freely visit. There are also some rooms available for homestay. What would it be like if you had the opportunity to stay in this one-of-a-kind house for a night?
Cheong Fatt Tze is a traditional Chinese mansion, built in the late 19th century, using the best materials from around the world. It was extraordinary that a rich man, at that time, could build a mansion in Chinese-Hakka architecture style, right in the heart of Penang.
This mansion is now a hotel, and is also a sightseeing spot in Penang that attracts many tourists. You can come here to admire the architecture, stop to enjoy a delicious meal, even stay overnight.
Address: 14, Leith St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opened: 1904
Hours: 11AM–12PM, 2–3PM, 3:30–4:30PM
Phone: +60 4-262 0006
What to eat near Cheong Fatt Tze?
Hameediyah Restaurant (Combination of Malay-Indian cuisine with curry dishes)
Address: 164, Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 10AM–10PM / Friday: 10AM–12:30PM, 3–10PM
Phone: +60 4-261 1095
Kek Seng (Where you can find desserts: ice cream, sweets, shaved ice, jelly … all on a plate, sweet, cool)
Address: 382 & 384, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Hours: 9AM–5PM / Monday: Closed
Phone: +60 16-412 1300
