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Things to do in George Town
Top 15 attractions in George Town
#1
Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House & Museum)
Hidden in a maze of alleyways in Georgetown sits Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House & Museum), one of Malaysia’s most important clan houses. The legacy of the house dates back more than 650 years to the Khoo Kongsi clan from west China and manifests itself in intricate carvings, murals, and timberwork.More
#2
Penang Hill Funicular Railway
A colonial-era hill station, Penang Hill sits behind George Town, about 2,733 feet (833 meters) above sea level. Visit in style on the Penang Hill Funicular Railway, a cliff-side railway dating back to 1924. The trains and tracks are modern, and the sheer ascents through the jungle and over bridges make for a spectacular journey.More
#3
Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple (Wat Chayamangkalaram)
Characterized by glittering stupas and fearsome green dragons, the Thai Buddhist Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple (Wat Chayamangkalaram) is one of the most ornate in Penang. The temple’s extravagant exterior alludes to the giant reclining Buddha statue inside, whose position signifies peace and freedom from the material world. Opposite the Thai temple sits a Burmese temple of similar grandeur.More
#4
Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera Pulau Pinang)
Reigning supreme from the center of Penang Island, Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera Pulau Pinang) offers travelers much more than panoramic views. Ride up in a century-old funicular, or take a hike, keeping an eye out for grey macaques and elusive dusky leaf monkeys. At the top, you’ll find a Hindu temple, an owl museum, and even an earthquake and typhoon pavilion.More
#5
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
The acid-green Pinang Peranakan Mansion offers insight into the culture of the Peranakans (Babas, a community from the China Straits. Inside, more than 1,000 items showcase the affluence of a typical Baba household, while cosmopolitan decor combines traditional Chinese-carved wood panels with English and Scottish features.More
#6
Penang Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian)
An intoxicating blend of street art, clan houses, temples, and stores makes Penang Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) one of the most popular streets in George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage zone. Love Me Like Your Fortune Cat and Ernest Zacharevic’s Little Children on a Bicycle are two of Penang’s most Instagrammed artworks.More
#7
Fort Cornwallis
An essential stop for history buffs, Fort Cornwallis is an 18th-century fortress that played a significant role in the history of Penang. The structure, one of the largest standing forts in Malaysia, was built to defend Penang against pirate attacks and is still, to this day, guarded by vigilant cannons.More
#8
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)
Known by locals as the Blue Mansion, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors with its architectural fusion of European and Chinese styles. Featured in the Oscar-winning movieIndochine, the mansion, an important part of George Town’s heritage, is now part hotel, part museum. Indigo blue walls and decadent ornamentation make for stunning photographs.More
#9
Penang Botanical Gardens (Taman Botani Penang)
Set in a former quarry below Penang Hill, the 71-acre (29-hectare) Penang Botanic Gardens (Taman Botani Pulau Pinang) blend jungle with formal gardens to magical effect. Founded in 1884, and sometimes known as the Waterfall Gardens for the stream that tumbles through them, they’re crisscrossed with walking trails.More
#10
Komtar
Set atop a hill in George Town, the 68-story Komtar skyscraper towers above Penang and houses a range of dining and entertainment options. From the Rainbow Skywalk, a glass bridge suspended 816 feet (249 meters) above the city, to aquariums, amusement rides, and 200 animatronic dinosaurs, there’s plenty to see and do here.More
#11
Upside Down Museum
One of many popular optical-illusion museums in Southeast Asia, Penang’s Upside Down Museum is set up like an ordinary home but with the furniture and accessories stuck to the ceiling. It’s a favorite among locals and travelers, adults and children alike, who come to take disorienting selfies to post on social media.More
#12
Wonderfood Museum Penang
The Wonderfood Museum in Penang is a fun and informative museum all about food. As Malaysia’s culinary capital, Penang draws travelers for its delicious food. At this quirky museum, visitors can learn about the cuisine of Penang and wider Malaysia through dozens of realistic models of food, in addition to taking some amusing photos.More
#13
Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang
In 1910, the Chinese revolutionary and future president Sun Yat-sen spent six months in Penang. The Sun Yat-Sen Museum Penang occupies the restored historic shophouse where he and his family lived and his political party met. Besides perusing displays about Sun’s activities in George Town, you can learn about historic George Town architecture here.More
#14
Penang House of Music
Part archive and part exhibition space, the Penang House of Music focuses on the diverse musical heritage of this historically and culturally rich city. Visitors to the museum, opened in 2017, can play radio announcer, view vintage films, and learn about puppet theater, Chinese opera, local dances, musical instruments, and Malaysian pop bands.More
#15
Penang Tunnel Museum (Penang Time Tunnel)
Travelers looking for an easily accessible way to explore Penang’s much-storied history will find what they’re seeking at the Penang Tunnel Museum (Penang Time Tunnel). This unique interactive museum features 12 tunnels that cover periods of time between the early 1700s and the contemporary 21st century, which together tell the tale of this incredible place. Illustrated maps, photos, artifacts and indigenous artwork cover the walls of the museum’s galleries, and while adults will find detailed information about each of the exhibits, shorter (both in height and in length) versions of placards are available for the museum’s younger set, too.Visitors say the Penang Tunnel Museum puts the country’s culture, history and architecture into context. Whether it’s learning about the 10-day riots in this now peaceful place or exploring the migration of its every shifting populations, Penang Time Tunnel helps create a fuller picture of local life for visitors who’ve spent time wandering the streets, exploring the shops and sampling local cuisine.More
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