Looking for the best things to do in Georgetown, Malaysia? You’ve come to the right place!
Georgetown (often written also George Town) is the capital city on Penang Island. It’s a charming city, where tradition meets modern, where old meets new.
The city centre is characterised by British colonial architecture, as well as Chinese architecture and the clan jetties of Penang.
Georgetown is also famous for its delicious street food, which you can taste at the many food stalls, courts and markets. Add to it unique temples, beautiful views and a fun vibe, and you’ve got one of the most interesting cities in South East Asia.
We visited Georgetown as part of a wider Malaysia itinerary. We travelled here from Cameron Highlands, spent two nights in Georgetown, and then travelled on to Langkawi.
It’s not enough to see all of the top attractions in Georgetown, but it’s a good start. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in, and discover the best things to do in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia!
Table of Contents
Essentials to book before you read on!
Best tours in Georgetown
Georgetown Private Half-Day City Tour
The TOP Penang Entrance Ticket
Best hotels in Georgetown
Budget: Aayu Chulia
Mid-range: Beacon Executive Suite
Luxury: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
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Best things to see in Georgetown, Penang
Visit Kek Lok Si Temple
A visit to the sprawling Kek Lok Si Temple is easily one of the top things to do in Georgetown. Located around 8 kilometres from the centre of Georgetown, it’s a huge complex that was built between 1890 and 1930.
It’s actually one of the largest Chinese Buddhist temples in the country.
Don’t miss getting the funicular railway (costing 2 RM to ride) up to the Ban Po Thar pagoda, where you’ll also find a super cool statue of the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin – it’s 36.5 metres tall!
From here, the views of the city below are amazing. This beautiful temple complex is open daily, 8:30AM to 5:30PM (entry is free, but you can make a donation if you want).
It’s worth noting that while entrance is free, you have to pay for the funicular or bus journeys up to the top. The temple is split over four different levels, and you have to take these funiculars and buses to move between each level.
You can also join a guided tour of Kek Lok Si Temple (and other highlights around the city) if you want to be sure that you don’t miss any important spots. Plus, a local guide will tell you all the history and details of the places you visit.
Personally, I liked Batu Caves and Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur better, but Kek Lok Si Temple was still magical in its own way.
Click here to book your Georgetown city & temple tour!
Explore Chew Jetty
One of the most charming places to visit in Georgetown is Chew Jetty. This coastal warren of boardwalks and wooden houses represents the Chinese immigrant communities who settled here in the 19th century.
There were once (and still are) many jetties in this area, but the Chew Jetty is the largest and most famous of them all.
You’ll find around 75 houses on stilts over the water as you wander around, as well as multiple Chinese temples and various docks complete with bobbing fishing boats.
It’s a nice spot to explore for sunset, when the water is illuminated by the oranges and pinks of the sun disappearing below the horizon.
Discover the street art dotted around Georgetown
Street art has quickly become one of the most famous Georgetown tourist attractions.
A way to revitalise the crumbling shop houses of the old town, murals have been daubed on the walls of heritage buildings, depicting life as it once was and as it is today in Georgetown.
It’s easy to wander around and find the pieces for yourselves, but the best way to get to grips with the street art of Georgetown is to go on a tour.
This heritage tour is a good option, with a guide who will make sure you come away with a good insight into what makes Georgetown tick.
Click here to book your private Georgetown heritage city tour!
Try the street food
Food is a huge part of Malaysian culture, and Georgetown is famous for food (even within Malaysia).
As the British Empire’s first settlement in Southeast Asia, Georgetown naturally attracted settlers from across the world. Pair that with the strong trade connections, and you have the perfect storm for some amazing cuisine.
Mixing Peranakan, Thai, Malay, Indian, British and various regional Chinese cuisines, the city’s gastronomic scene thrives.
A couple of good places to see it all unfold are Red Garden Food Paradise and The Jetty Food Court; both are open-air food courts that feature live music in the evening and a ton of different stalls (and alcohol).
A great activity to do in Georgetown is to join a street food tour. That way you know you’ll be heading to all the best spots and ordering all the right things, as you’ll have a knowledgeable local guide with you.
Click here to book your street food tour in Georgetown!
Explore Chinatown
A visit to Chinatown is definitely what to do in Georgetown, Malaysia for any curious traveller.
With colourful shophouses, streets strung with red lanterns, and retro signs illuminating the night sky, it makes up part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage credentials.
There are various sights to see within Chinatown itself, so the best thing to do here is simply wander. Or for a more focused dive into the history of Chinatown, try a tour.
This heritage tour takes in Chinese temples, historic buildings and venerable old eateries. It’s a private tour, which means you can ask the guide to adapt it to your interests and needs.
Click here to book your private Georgetown historical city tour!
Explore Little India
The Indian community of Georgetown has long called this area home.
It’s a colourful intersection of streets where you’ll find jewellers, textile shops, spice merchants and a whole host of other stores (even a shop dedicated to Bollywood movies).
One of the best parts about this must-visit place in Penang is the food. There are numerous eateries where you can sample some of the best daals and tandoori chicken around.
But when you’re not eating, make sure to check out Sri Mahamariamman Temple – dating back to 1833, it’s the oldest Hindu temple in Penang.
Head to The TOP Penang
If you’re looking for family-friendly things to do in Georgetown, Penang, look no further than The TOP.
This theme park is a rejuvenation of the city’s KOMTAR Tower, and features a range of attractions aside from just amazing views of the city below.
The main draw is the Rainbow Skywalk (adults RM 68), set on level 68 of the tower. You can walk out over the rooftops of the city on a glass bridge that extends out from the top of the tower.
There’s also an Observation Deck if you’re not a fan of glass floors. Elsewhere there’s a “Jurassic Research Centre” (complete with dinosaur models), a play area, aquarium and eateries too.
It’s open 10AM to 10PM every day. If you want to skip the queues, make sure to purchase your tickets online beforehand, so that you don’t have to wait on the day!
Click here to purchase your entrance tickets to The TOP Penang in Georgetown!
Visit Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
This incredible piece of architecture is one of the grander tourist attractions in Georgetown, Penang.
Malaysia’s best example of a Hokkien clanhouse, this ornate building is testament to the Chinese presence in Georgetown, and Penang as a whole.
Dating to 1906, the elaborate decorations of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi are cool to see – plus you can actually wander around inside the building too. It’s open 9AM to 5PM and costs 15 RM to enter.
Take the Penang Hill Railway
One of the classic Georgetown things to do is take in amazing views of the city from up high. While there’s the view from Kek Lok Si Temple, the Penang Hill Railway is a more historic way to do it.
Built in 1923, the funicular (which was originally just a steam engine) was a way for British colonists to enjoy cooler temperatures at the top of Penang Hill in the Air Itam suburb of Georgetown.
The tunnel the funicular goes through on one section is, allegedly, the steepest in the world. Once you’re at the top, enjoy views of the hills and the communities down below.
There’s also hiking trails, heritage buildings, a gallery and places to get a bite to eat. The railway operates from 6:30AM to 11PM ; a standard return ticket costs RM 30.
Want to discover more about Georgetown? Check out my YouTube video below!
Where to stay in Georgetown, Malaysia
Here are some great places to stay in Georgetown in Penang.
Budget: Aayu Chulia – This property has very affordable rooms with shared bathrooms, is centrally located and has excellent reviews.
Click here to book your stay at Aayu Chulia in Georgetown!
Mid-range: Beacon Executive Suite – Georgetown is no Kuala Lumpur, with its epic city views, but the infinity rooftop pool at this hotel is pretty great. We stayed here and loved it. It’s a bit outside the city centre, but the apartments are modern, clean, spacious, and the pool is great.
Click here to book your stay at Beacon Executive Suite in Georgetown!
Luxury: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion – Located close to the city centre, this Chinese courtyard-style mansion is the best place to treat yourself. The unique architecture and decor is an experience in and of itself.
Check out prices & availability at Cheong Fatt Tze, The Blue Mansion, in Georgetown here!
How many days do you need in Georgetown?
It ultimately depends on your wider Malaysia itinerary, how much time you have, and where your interests lie. Personally, we spent two nights in Georgetown, but arrived late the first day so only had one full day in the city.
While it was obviously nowhere near enough to see everything Georgetown and Penang have to offer, it was enough to see all of the main highlights and get a feel for the Georgetown vibe.
We didn’t spend long in Georgetown as we travelled here from Cameron Highlands. To break up the 4-hour drive we stopped in Ipoh, which ate into our Georgetown time.
We then wanted to continue on to Langkawi so it didn’t leave us long. We like islands more than cities, so we wanted to explore the waterfalls of Langkawi more than the temples of Georgetown.
However, the areas beyond Georgetown in Penang are meant to be beautiful, so if you have more time, you could definitely spend longer in Georgetown, and venture also outside the city.
Do you need travel insurance to visit Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia?
After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.
You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your travel insurance with Heymondo.
Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).
Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.
Plus, as a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance!
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How to get around Georgetown
While Georgetown is a fairly big city, all of the main attractions are located close to each other in the city centre. You can easily walk from Chew Jetty to Little India and Chinatown, going via all the most famous street art pieces.
For attractions that are further out, like Kek Lok Si Temple, I suggest getting a Grab. They are very affordable, especially if you’re travelling with friends and splitting the cost.
There’s also public transport, but honestly given how cheap Grabs are, I would opt for comfort over having to figure out public transport.
Final thoughts on the top things to do in Georgetown Penang
There you have it, the ultimate guide on the best things to do in Georgetown, Malaysia! Have you been to Georgetown before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
Located in the island of Penang, Georgetown is one of the best places to visit in Malaysia. Its city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a great place to see the mixture of cultures, ethnicities and religions that distinguish Malaysia.
As you wander around the streets of Georgetown, admiring its colonial buildings of a bygone era, the relaxing botanical gardens, the hawker markets and the best street art in town, you can’t help but be charmed by its beauty.
We only spent two nights in Georgetown, and while I feel like it was enough for a first time visit to see the main tourist attraction of the city, I definitely feel like I could have spent longer there.
I hope you found my overview of the best things to do in Georgetown useful! If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!
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