Place to Visit in Penang

Rich is history and sights, Penang offers a large variety of places to visit, from cultural temples to historic buildings.

Georgetown

The city of Georgetown is Penang's capital city and the place to go to in search of historical sights and shopping adventures. Many cultural temples line the streets while certain areas are famous for their sale of antiques, artefacts, electronic goods, souvenirs and other commodities.

The city area is well-connected through a link of roads, though some are one-way and narrow. Busy and fast-paced, Georgetown is a city that never sleeps, just like Kuala Lumpur. (Read More ...)

Upper Road Penang

This northern portion of this historical road is now a brand new entertainment circle, akin to Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. Upmarket restaurants, karaoke joints, bars, discotheques, pubs, and vogue boutique shops have sprouted over the precinct, offering visitors a wild night out in Penang.

Most are housed in heritage buildings restored to provide a funky edge to Penang's entertainment scene. (Read more...)

Gurney Drive

The Gurney Drive is a fantastic place to catch a view of the sunset - and eat at hawkers stalls. Most of Penang's glorious food can be ordered from the hawker stalls in the area, from Assam Laksa to Popiah and Char Kuay Teow to Hokkien Mee.

Many families also come here to picnic on weekends and during the night, a bazaar selling all types of goods comes alive in Gurney Drive. (Read More ...)

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

The house was built and named after a Hakka migrant in 1890. He was born a penniless person but eventually became the most powerful overseas Chinese merchant of his time in Nanyang. Moving to Penang, he continued to build his empire of shipping, opium and mining in Southeast Asia.

The house is a magnificent architectural marvel with distinct European styling and stained-glass windows. Today, the house is open for visitors to learn more about Cheong's history through antiques and paraphernalia displayed in the building. Stay in Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. (Read More ...)

City Hall

The City Hall located along the Esplanade is a fine building of Victorian architecture built in 1903; a reminder of the colonial era in Penang.

The City Hall faces a historic field - Padang Kota which is a venue for festivals and other large-scale events.

Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is a colonial reminder from the era of the British Empire in Penang.

Built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, the Clock Tower was a gift to the British authorities from a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok. Moorish stylings dominate the structure and from afar, it resembles the minaret of a mosque.

Penang State Musuem

The Penang Museum was built in 1965 and houses a collection of priceless artefacts and state treasures. Eight of the ten original oil paintings by the famous artist Captain Robert Smith are found here.

Fort Cornwallis

Cornwallis was an ancient fort built by Francis Light, the founder of Penang, on the spot where he landed in 1786.

It was originally built as a wooden stockade by convicts, receiving concrete upgrades through time. Today, the fort has been converted into an open-air park complete with amphitheatre, a history gallery, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Penang War Musuem

The War Museum situated on Batu Maung Hill traces the history of World War II in Malaysia. Located on a sprawling 20-acre piece of land, visitors will be taken on a journey through a soldier's perspective as he narrates the dangers and challenges of war.

There are canons, armaments, survival kits used by soldiers on display as well as underground installations such as pillboxes, tunnels and ventilations shafts.

Hainanese Mariners' Lodge/ Penang Heritage Trust

The building was formerly used by itinerant Hainanese mariners for accommodation but was converted in 1998 to set up the Penang Heritage Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving Penang's unique Chinese culture.

The centre offers visitors information on Penang's heritage sites, organises projects, tours and provides accommodation.

Kapitan Keling Mosque

The largest and oldest mosque in Penang was built in 1801 and further redesigned in 1910 by a German architect - Henry Alfred Neubronner, who gave the mosque its British Raj Moghul revival appearance and an elegant minaret.

Penang Toy Museum

The Toy Museum is Penang's latest attraction with over 100,000 toys, dolls, models and other collectibles.

Dr Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base

A simple shop lot became the base from 1909 - 1911 for the revolutionary Chinese leader Dr Sun Yat's efforts to modernise China and turn it into a republic.

Penang supported Dr Sun's efforts and raised funds for the uprising in China during that historical period.

Mahamariamman Temple

This is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang dating all the way back to 1833 and is adorned with many sculptures.

Kek Lok Si Temple

The Kek Lok Si is a finely-crafted Buddhist temple, located on a hill in Ayer Hitam.

Inside, visitors can stroll in the gardens, visit a turtle pond and admire shrines and other sculptures of Buddhist origin.

Visitors should also try the delicious Asam Laksa dishes which are sold in stalls near the temple.

Wat Chayamangkalaram

Yet another Buddhist temple, the Wat houses a reclining Buddha statue that is the third largest of its kind in the world - 33 meters in length.

St George's Church

Saint George Church is the oldest Anglican Church in Malaysia which still holds regular services every Sunday.

Millionaires' Row

There is a popular saying among the Straits Chinese - immigrant Chinese families cannot keep their wealth any longer than three generations; the first will earn it, the second will prosper it, and the third will waste it away. That was the subject of a recent local movie in Malaysia entitled 'Third Generation'.

P.Ramlee's House

The Malay actor P. Ramlee was the most famous actor of his time in Malaysia. This was his residence during his career in the 1930-40s.