The Ultimate Penang & George Town Guide: What to Do, Eat & See

Located on the northwest coast of the Malaysian Peninsular, Penang is a must-see destination. George Town itself was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 and it's easy to see why. I can best describe it as an Asian cultural highlight reel with it's mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay culture, food and architecture.

We spent 3 weeks in this captivating melting pot and I thought I'd share my experiences and tips on the best things to do, the food scene, where to stay and some budget advice.

Things to do (and not to do)

The Old Town - Situated in the heart of George Town, the Old Town is truly the place to be. Historically, George Town was an important port city and trading hub. This led people from all walks of life to migrate here, bringing their different cultures and traditions along with them.

Walking through the Old Town, you'll find Hindu Temples, Buddhist Temples and Mosques all coexisting harmoniously. Walking in one direction will make you feel like you're in China, with authentic local food, markets and stunning architecture. If you walk in the other direction you'll arrive in Little India, where you'll be met by the incredible smells of Indian street food and the bright colours of the temples, shops and banners hanging from the lampposts.

Street Art - Throughout the Old Town, you can find unique street art around any corner. These are a mix of murals and incredibly skillful metalwork which add a quirky element to the already fascinating town. There are 52 of these steel rod artworks dotted around the Old Town, and if you make it your mission to see them all, then you'll get to take in all of this UNESCO site in the process. The Old Town is mostly laid out in blocks making it very easy to navigate and explore - just be careful with the traffic as it can be a bit hectic!

Kek Lok Si Temple - This is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia which makes it an important destination for Buddhists of all nationalities. When you arrive at the foot of the hill on which it is situated, you're met by a tortoise pond with literally hundreds of tortoise. From there you can opt to take the stairs or the cable car up to the main pagoda. Up here you'll find beautiful temples, gardens, and lots of statues and Buddhist symbolism.

As if this wasn't enough, another short cable car ride brings you to the most impressive part of the complex - The Statue of Kuan Yin. This breathtaking statue stands at a whopping 32 metres (100ft), and is sheltered by a 60m (196ft) pavilion. Each pillar of the pavilion is covered in 3D relief stone carvings of mythical creatures and Buddhist symbols, which are a testament to the level of hard work and attention to detail utilised

in the construction.

Surprisingly, there is no entrance fee for this temple. The first cable car to the pagoda is optional, but only costs around 6RM (€1.20) return and you can also buy tickets at the bottom for both sets of cable cars for around 10-12RM. So, not only is this a must-see sight, it's also a very affordable day out.

Penang National Park - Located on the northwest tip of Penang island, and a 45 minute drive from the Old Town, this national park offers a very nice retreat from the urban hustle and bustle. There are several hiking trails here, with varying lengths and difficulties. My advice would be to plan your route in advance. We ended up doing a 14km hike with an 880m elevation through thick jungle (4.9/5 difficulty on AllTrails) - which was almost the death of me in the heat and humidity of Penang!

Aside from the forest itself, there are a couple of sights to see within the park. Namely, Monkey Beach, the lighthouse at Cape Rachado and the turtle conservation centre. The trail to Monkey Beach, the hotspot of the local macaques, is only around 1.5km so this is a great idea if you just want a quick walk. Boat tours are also available which can bring you to all of the best spots in the park.

The entrance fee to the park was surprisingly expensive at 50RM (€10), but it is a great day out with some great nature and different options for everyone.

Pro tip: If you're planning to do a long hike here, start early in the morning to avoid the mid afternoon heat and humidity.

The Floating Mosque - Located on the northern coast of the island, this stunning mosque is another great sight to see in Penang. The building sits on stilts in the water and the high tide brings the water right up to the bottom, giving the illusion that it floats on the water (hence the name). Unfortunately, we weren't there at high tide but it was definitely still worth seeing. As the mosque is located on the sea, the views were fantastic and the whole place was quiet and calm which was a nice break from the Old Town.

There is no entrance fee here and the staff were very welcoming and friendly to us. There's also no need to worry about what to wear as they provide robes (for men and women) free of charge.

Pro tip: The Floating Mosque is actually on the way to the National Park so if you're short on time, you can easily combine the two on the same day. If you're heading to the National Park early, you could stop at the mosque for the morning high tide before continuing on your way.

Chew Jetty - Part of the Clan Jetties which cover the seafront at the end of the Old Town, this is a really unique glimpse into the traditional lives of the 19th Century Chinese immigrants. Built entirely from wood, and propped up on wooden stilts, this waterfront settlement is a must-see in George Town. Along the walkways you'll find shops, shrines and traditional homes with a small temple at the end.

Modern development is strictly forbidden here as they want to leave the authenticity of these jetties intact.

Pro tip: Visit Chew Jetty in the evening so you can catch the sunset!

What Not To Do - There is one sight I have left off my list of recommendations, and ironically, it's probably the most popular tourist activity in George Town. This is Penang Hill. When we arrived in our hostel, everyone was talking about it so it was one of the first things we did. The entrance fee is 30RM (€6) and thankfully, we didn't have to queue for long but it's common to queue for 2 hours for this. A cable car then brings you up the 800m mountain and drops you off at the viewpoint. I was hoping that the view would be focused on the incredible mountainous surroundings but instead it's mostly just the high-rise apartment blocks of the modern part of George Town, and the mainland city of Butterworth.

Having felt a little underwhelmed by this, we continued in the hopes that there might be a nice trail or some other cool things to see on the mountain but unfortunately it was mostly gift shops, cafes and tourist traps where you pay to take a photo.

You can also pay to visit The Habitat where you may see some monkeys, but considering you can see monkeys in their natural environment in the National Park, this felt a bit pointless.

Of course this is just my opinion, and lots of people did like it, but if you're seeking an authentic and unique experience, you probably won't find it here.

The Food Scene - Due to Penang's rich mix of cultures, the food scene can aptly be described as epic. In fact, it is widely regarded as the food capital of Malaysia. From street food to fine dining, what really staggered me was the variety of food on offer. You can have Chinese for breakfast, Malay for lunch and Indian for dinner and the dishes are cooked by people from that country so it's authentic as can be. You also don't need to break the bank to get a great meal, which is always a plus.

The Michelin Guide have been busy in Penang, with dozens of places making the list. This list is not limited to the fancy, expensive restaurants as many Hawker stands and food stalls are included too which I love - it's just about the food.

In the evenings, Hawker stands and outdoor seating line many of the streets of the Old Town and on any night of the week, you can find a food market bustling with life. I've listed some of my favourite spots to eat, including the ones I was most surprised by, but this is by no means an exhaustive list so I recommend exploring and seeing what you can find.

Some Of My Favourites (and where to find them)

• Penang Famous Somosa: On the Michelin Guide, this small stand is indeed famous among travellers in Penang. The options include mutton, chicken, egg, potato and sardine and at just 1RM (€0.20) each, they make for an incredible snack.

  
  

• Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice: Also on the Michelin Guide, this local Chinese place became my go-to spot for a tasty and cheap meal. It serves one dish - you guessed it, chicken and rice - but the chicken is cooked beautifully and the sauce is delicious. A serving here will cost you just 8RM (€1.60)

  
  

• D'Sakra: If you're looking for some fantastic Indian food, and somewhere a little more upmarket, this is the place to go. The nicer dining experience is reflected in the prices, but it's definitely worth it as a treat.

• Chulia Street Hawker Stalls: Located in the heart of the Old Town, this was where I found myself for dinner most nights. Both sides of the street are lined with stalls and there is lots of options available. As this is street food, the prices are very reasonable here and you're sure to find something you like.

• Luca's Panzerotti: The last thing you may be expecting to find in Malaysia is delicious and authentic Italian food, but this is one of the many surprises that the George Town has to offer. The owner is Italian and he imports all of his ingredients from Italy to make a mouthwatering Panzerotti - which is essentially a fried pizza pocket. The menu ranges in prices with the cheapest option starting at 10RM (€2) and I cannot recommend this enough.

• Ciao Gelato: Sticking with the Italian theme, you may also be surprised to hear that you can find an exceptional gelato in George Town. Gelato and ice cream isn't really my thing but I have it on good authority (from everyone who went there) that this could be the best gelato in the world. It's 10RM (€2) for a serving and the pistachio flavour as well as the chocolate hazelnut flavour, seem to be the crowd favourites.

There are countless more great places to eat in George Town, but these made my list due to their price, their quality, how much they surprised me or a combination of the three.

Where To Stay - Like the food, Penang offers a wide range of accommodations, from basic hostels to fancy hotels. In our 3 weeks here, we stayed in a couple of different places. As we had to work for parts of our trip, we couldn't always stay in the fun hostels but this means I got to see a range of the accommodation options on offer.

Whatever your taste, my general advice would be to make sure you book somewhere in the Old Town. Outside of the Old Town, George Town is much like any other city with apartment blocks, shopping malls and not much else.

Here's a couple of recommendations to suit different needs and styles:

A Place for The Social Traveller

• House of Journey: We stayed here for our first week when we didn't have to work and it was probably my favourite hostel yet. The facilities are quite basic but it's absolutely nailed the social aspect and it's located in the heart of the Old Town.

  The common area is equipped with a pool table and foosball table, and the outdoor area comes alive in the evenings. Every wall in the hostel is covered in comments from travellers and it's just a great place to talk to people from all over the world.

  Price: Around 55RM (€11) per night.

A Quiet Place for Couples, Digital Nomads or a Good Night's Sleep

• The Terraces by Aayu: Located only around 100m from House of Journey, this accommodation offers private rooms with shared bathrooms. The staff were extremely helpful, even changing our rooms so we could be closer to the WI-FI and giving us a table to work on for our stay. This place is ideal for working but has little-to-no social scene.

  Price: Around 80RM (€15)

• Aayu Chulia: This is a sister location of The Terraces located right around the corner. The rooms and prices are similar so if one is fully booked, try the other.

Daily Budgets for Penang - Due to the range of options in food, accommodation and activities, your daily spend can vary quite a lot. The good news is, you can definitely have a great time in Penang on a small budget. Here's a quick breakdown of the average costs:

• Accommodation: Dorms from around 50RM (€10), Privates from around 80RM (€15)

• Meals: Street food from around 8-20RM (€1.60 - €4), Mid range meals from around 20-45+RM (€4 - €9+)

• Transport: Grabs around George Town usually range from 5-15RM (€1 - €3). Going outside of George Town will cost more.

• Activities/Attractions: Most attractions in the area are free!

The RM to Euro conversion used here is based on the current exchange rate at the time of writing this and rounded to nearest whole number (€1 = 5RM)

Summary - Penang was my first destination in Malaysia and it made me fall in love with this country. Whether you're there for a weekend or a few weeks like me, there's always something to see and do.

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