With its rich colonial heritage, mouthwatering cuisine, and a captivating mix of old-world charm and modern flair, Georgetown and Penang stand out as one of Malaysia’s most compelling destinations. Once part of the British Empire, Georgetown is home to beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 18th century, each offering a glimpse into the island’s prosperous past. Over the centuries, a diverse range of communities have made their mark here, shaping the city’s unique blend of architecture, culture, and flavours. In recognition of its historical and cultural significance, Georgetown was proudly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Georgetown is rich in history, with countless buildings that trace back to both colonial and pre-colonial times. During the last century, the arrival of wealthy Chinese immigrants gave rise to a unique blend of Malay and Chinese culture known as Nyonya or Peranakan. This vibrant fusion has deeply influenced Penang’s culinary and architectural identity. Today, Nyonya cuisine is a local favourite, and you’ll find several authentic Nyonya restaurants tucked within the charming old streets of Georgetown.
How to travel to Georgetown from Kuala Lumpur?
Like most major cities, Georgetown is easily accessible by all modes of transport. You can travel to Georgetown, Penang, in one of the following ways:
Catch a bus from the BTS Kuala Lumpur
Several quality bus services operate from the BTS, the main bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur. The ticket costs around RM 40, and the travel time is 5 hours. The road network across Malaysia is world-class, and the journey is quite comfortable with several stops along the way. For budget-conscious travellers, this is probably the most convenient way to travel to Malaysia.
Book Kuala Lumpur to Penang Bus Ticket Online
Driving from Kuala Lumpur to Penang
I have always preferred to rent a car and drive from KL to Penang as the trip can be broken down into a couple of stages. A direct drive is approximately four to 5 hours. You can stop at Ipoh or Butterworth if you have more time to yourself. The benefit of having a car is that you can explore most places within Georgetown with ease. There is considerable driving time between downtown Georgetown City and Batu Feringgi and other remote places on the Island. Click to book a car at KLIA or KLIA
Catching a flight from KL to Penang
If you are constrained for time, the best way is to catch a flight from KLIA2 to Penang Airport. AirAsia offers amazing discounted deals to Penang throughout the day. Booking can save a substantial amount of $$. Compare online rates for the best local budget airlines in Malaysia.
Step Back in Time: Exploring Old Georgetown, Penang
The northeastern tip of Georgetown has plenty of historical buildings and architecture, giving a glimpse into the glorious past of this island. Because of its beauty and history, Penang is UNESCO-listed. This includes the area south and east of Lebuah Farquhar, Lebuah Cinta and Lebuh Melaya. You will find a maze of streets and historical shops, some preserved and some marking the signs of time.
The 2.4 sq. km of UNESCO World Heritage Site area can be explored on foot and has over 1700 historical buildings. Most of the buildings are restored to reflect the original design and taste of early settlers arriving from trading communities in China and Europe. The multi-coloured shop fronts are richly decorated with bright colours and motifs reflecting the aesthetics of early 20th-century designs.
The main street in the UNESCO area includes Lorong Carnarvon and Gat Lebuh Melayu. The “Street of Harmony” reflects the rich cultural mix of the region through the ages.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion – Blue Mansion
The walls in the downtown historical quarters of the town are beautifully painted with historical murals, giving an interesting insight into the rich cultural history of the region. Do not forget to visit Cheong Fat Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion) and Pinang Peranakan Mansion (Green coloured building)
Penang Peranakan Mansion
Walking through the richly painted and decorated interior of the building takes you back to the time of the early settlement of affluent Chinese in this area. The cross-marriage between upper-class Malay and Chinese families brought about a rich Baba-Nyonya Culture (Peranakan), with distinct living and cooking styles. A visit to a nice Peranakan Restaurant is a must to get a feel for the real flavours of Penang.
Historical Architecture of Georgetown Penang
Useful Information
Note that the centre of Georgetown is served by CAT Shuttle providing you with a free ride through most historical parts of the city including colonial district, Lebuh Mintri then taking you along Jalan Penang to Kotmar Building.
Sky-High Serenity: A Day on Penang Hill
Penang Hill is one of the major attractions in Georgetown, built as one of the first hill resorts in Peninsular Malaysia. Located at 850 m above sea level, Penang Hill is protected by dense tropical forest, which makes it relatively cooler compared to Georgetown City. Also, known as Bukit Bendera or Flagstaff Hill, this amazing location must be on your list when planning a trip to Penang. The vantage point and a skywalk a the top of the hill command amazing views of Georgetown and its surrounding areas.
Funicular Tram on Penang Hill
Take a funicular tram for RM 15 (children) and RM 30 (adults) up Penang Hill to get a breathtaking view. Ticketing starts from 6:30 am to 9:45 pm. Experience canopy walks, trails and zip lining in the rainforest at The Habitat a magnitude 8 earthquake and level 12 typhoon at Earthquake and Typhoon Pavilion and explore the unique indigenous flora of Malaysia/Indonesia at the Monkey Cup Garden. There is a handful of eating places, from David Brown’s colonial restaurant to a pushcart selling snacks.
Staying at Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang
During my first stay in Penang, I stayed at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel on 1 Penang St. The hotel is a well-preserved reminder of the rich colonial heritage of Penang with 5-star comfort. The interior is richly decorated in colonial-era style furniture and decor. Even the doorman is dressed in the clothing worn by early Colonial Settlers.
The beautiful building overlooks the water and its jetty. An outdoor pool faces the waterfront and provides great views of Gurney Drive. The outdoor pool is ideal for beating the summer heat while enjoying chilled pina coladas.
Nightlife around Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang
At night time 1 Penang Street is packed with activities, with tourists flooding the top-end bars and night venues. Recently, several new fine dining venues have opened, including Don Western & Grill Cafe, Olive Kitchen Bar, and Kirishima Japanese Restaurant, among others, all located within walking distance of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel and Bayview Hotel.
Celebrities like Rita Hayworth, Rudyard Kipling, and Joseph Conrad have graced the hotel with their presence. You will find pictures of Hollywood celebrities decorating the ballroom. Enjoy local and continental food in cafes and restaurants on-premises. Sarkies offers a great lunch menu as well as a buffet dinner menu for around RM100. Planters Lounge, Forest Canteen and Palm Court, located on E&O premises, serve coffee and snacks all throughout the day.
On a warm sunny day, you cool off the summer heat with a chilly lemonade while dipping in the beautiful pool overlooking the ocean. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and laid back. The service and facilities are great. The historical location is a must-visit if you want to enjoy Georgetown in style.
The lobby has one of the biggest domes in the region. The decor and choice of furniture in the hallways and lobby area capture the richness and opulence of colonial design. E&O is one of the finest establishments in Georgetown, Penang.
Flavours & Views: Discover Gurney Drive, Penang
Gurney Drive is more interesting for nightlife, modern shopping malls, cafes and nightclubs. The spot is quite popular for night food markets where you can find plenty of local seafood and Malay restaurants. Gurney Drive has some uptown and modern apartment complexes and hotels. Gurney Plaza is a world-class shopping centre featuring leading fashion brands, food outlets, cinemas, and banks.
Some luxury hotels like G Hotel Gurney Drive are located on Gurney Plaza. Another interesting hotel is Evergreen Laurel Hotel, which is very reasonably priced and located within walking distance of the Shopping Malls. If you plan to stay in the Gurney Drive area, this should be your first choice.
A night market is held near the roundabout in the Gurney Drive area. There are plenty of nice seafood restaurants with an outdoor sitting area located at the waterfront. There are plenty of fast-food chains and restaurants located at Paragon Shopping Mall on Gurney Drive.
Gurney Drive, Georgetown, Penang
Gurney Waterfront is well-lit at night and offers a great spot to walk along the waterfront. You will see plenty of couples sitting along the balustrade enjoying the cool night breeze from the ocean. You can see the Penang Bridge and Butterworth across the water. The place stays crowded till midnight, and you can see lovers hanging around in the waterfront area till later hours of the night.
Interior of Gurney Plaza in Georgetown, Penang
Restaurants & Bars in Georgetown, Penang
An interesting and unique experience is finding a large number of restaurants located right next to each other for blocks at the end. Each restaurant specialises in a certain kind of food and cooking style from the region.
As the sun goes the whole area is lit up with brightly coloured lights and the restaurants are filled with hordes of people. Most Malaysians travel to Penang to enjoy the region’s amazing cuisine, which makes it a unique culinary destination in Malaysia.
While exploring Penang, you must try the following dishes:
- Asam Laska: This is a delicious combination of noodles and spicy fish gravy, both sweet and savoury.
- Nasi Kandar: Offering a good mix of meat and seafood dishes, including prawn and squid curry served with a good mix of vegetarian dishes and fish cakes. Nasi Kandar is the food of Indian Muslims who migrated to Penang, and the name comes from the food served at the ports of Penang at the turn of the century
- Char Koay Teow: Flat rice noodles served with prawns, chilli, bean sprouts and Chinese sausages. The noodles are stir-fried in a wok over high heat to create a charred flavour.
- Rojak: A dessert made from fresh fruit, cuttlefish slices, and fritters stirred in prawn paste and sprinkled with ground peanuts.
- Hokkien Mee: The Penang Hokkien Mee consists of prawn soup and noodles garnished with fish cake, vegetables and shallots.
Unique Nyonya – Peranakan food of Penang
While staying in this interesting location, be sure to try out popular Nonya Food and some of the traditional, family-run businesses. An interesting Nonya Food restaurant is Little Kitchen, 179 Lebu Noordin, 10300 Penang, ( 04-2616731).
The food is served in small portions in a very traditional manner. The ambience is cosy, the service is very personal, and owner Jay Loh takes pride in giving a brief overview of Nonya Culture and Food. You can also take a peek into the guest room located behind the main restaurant.
Little Nyonya Restaurant is a 3rd-generation Nyonya Restaurant
Visiting Nasi Kandar Restaurant in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain
Georgetown is also famous for traditional Indian food like Nasi Kandar. Try out the Line-Clear restaurant near Upper Penang Street. It is within walking distance from the Upper tip of Penang Road near the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.
The food is quite nice, and you can try rice accompanied by a variety of meat dishes made with gravy. The spot is also featured in Anthony Bourdain’s travel adventures to Penang.
A Buffet Dinner at Sarkies @ Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang
I enjoyed the buffet dinner at Sarkies at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. The ambience and decor of this restaurant are quite modern. The buffet is priced at approximately RM100 and features a diverse selection of Malaysian and Continental dishes. The dessert menu is also very impressive.
Batu Ferringhi Magic: Sand, Sea & Sunset Vibes
Batu Feringghi is the coastal part of Penang, popular for high-end resorts with private beaches. Head over to Batu Feringghi for a day excursion- a 3 km long sandy beach strip teeming with Luxury Beach Resorts and dining options.
Kayak, jet ski, windsurf and parasail, and have water fun at Moonlight Bay’s Wet World Wild featuring inflatable rafts for jumping, running, propelling and climbing (RM 40 for adults, RM 30 for children).
The coastal area of Batu Feringghi is located at a half-hour driving distance from the downtown area of Georgetown. The waterfront area is popular for luxury resorts, including Bayview Resort, Hard Rock Hotel and Doubletree Resort by Hilton Hotel Penang amongst others.
Budget accommodation, however, is also available along the main drag where the night market is held on the weekends. Batu Feringghi is also popular for some nice seafood restaurants, including Golden Thai Seafood Restaurant, which I visited for lunch. This restaurant boasts a large variety of seafood from across the world.
The beach area of Batu Feringghi may not be the cleanest. Most people prefer to stay at the resorts and enjoy the pools and splash areas in the resorts. There are occasional incidents of bluebottle jellyfish in the waters of Batu Feringgi. Most people prefer to enjoy the watersports and pool area at the lavish resorts located along the coast.
Other amazing Places of Interest in Penang
Here are some other amazing places that must be on your list for this year’s visit to Penang.
Kek LoK Si – Ayer Itam
Located in Ayer Itam Town, this amazing temple is magnificent and stands out in its design and structure. It is hailed as the largest Buddhist Temple in Southeast Asia. The multiple-level pagoda borrows design patterns from Burmese, Thai and Chinese temple designs. Must-do activities at Kek Lok Si temple include:
- Climbing to the top of the Pagoda
- Browse the souvenir Stalls along the stairway
- Visit the worship Halls
Penang National Park
Penang National Park offers outdoor activities for nature lovers and adventurers. The park is home to several unique plant and wildlife species, with over 1000 plants available for display in the lighthouse built in 1883. The park is ideal for trekking and has several well-marked jungle trails. Here are some interesting things to enjoy at the National Park:
- Trekking, hiking, bird watching and fishing
- Explore Turtle Conservation Centre
- Teluk Kampi is ideal for camping
Other amazing places of interest to explore include:
- Acheen Street Malay Mosque
- Chinatown
- City Hall
- Goddess of Mercy Temple
- Kapitan Keling Mosque
- Little India
- P. Ramlee’s House
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- St. Georges Church
- State Mosque
- Queen Victoria Clock Tower
- Wat Chayamangkalaram
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