Angie sitting on a swing at the 3D the wall mural of two children standing on another swing next to each in Penang.

Ultimate Penang Street Art Guide: Is It Still Worth Seeing In 2026?

The street art in Penang has turned a once-sleepy Malaysian town into a creative haven for tourists.

I have been to Penang twice, and during both visits, I took numerous photographs of the street art. This gives an interesting comparison of the street art murals in George Town through the years.

But has time taken its toll on Penang's famous murals, or are they still worth seeing in 2026?

In this blog post, you will find the answer. I have plotted a map to help you find the street art in George Town. There is information about the street artists responsible for each mural. You will also learn about the history of street art in Penang and how it transformed George Town from obscurity into one of the world's most renowned street art cities.

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Table of Contents

What is the condition of the Penang Street Art Murals?

When I first visited in 2018, the murals showed signs of deterioration. The paint was fading; plaster was coming away from the walls, and bricks were starting to be exposed. At this point, the street art in Penang had already been gracing George Town's walls for six years, so weathering had begun to affect the once-pristine murals. This natural occurrence added an aged look to the murals, which worked well, and visitors continued to add Penang to their Malaysia travel itineraries.

During my recent visit, I found that the deterioration had continued, as one would expect, resulting in one or two murals being almost entirely eradicated. Apart from them, the old favourites like Boy on a Motorbike and Brother and Sister on a Swing still look okay and continue to draw tourists to George Town like magnets.

We chatted with some locals and asked why several murals had missing bricks. The answer was that tourists pull loose ones from the walls and take them home as souvenirs! Fact or fiction - who knows, but I believe it could be true.

Will the murals in Penang be restored?

The street art in this Unesco-listed heritage town puts Penang firmly on travellers' radars. In November 2024, Ernest Zacharevic restored four iconic Penang murals 12 years after first painting them. These are the boy on the motorbike, the boy on a chair, the brother and sister on a bike, and the child with a pet dinosaur. The props with them have also been renewed.

The street art's original intent was to highlight Penang to international tourists, but it was always intended to have a finite presence. However, these four murals are the most popular street art in Penang, so leaving them to fade away would have a detrimental effect on tourism in George Town.

So, is it still worth visiting Penang to see the street art? My answer is yes! Many cities worldwide feature a diverse range of murals and street art, and I have visited several of them. However, the Penang wall art remains as inspiring today as it was when it was first created.

large wall area with crumbling plaster and exposed bricks with a mural of a boy sitting on an old American motorbike in Penang.
This photograph of a Boy on a Motorcycle and the Boy with a Dinosaur Balloon was taken in 2023. Ernest Zacharevic repainted these murals in November 2024, returning them to their previous glory.

Where To Find Street Art in George Town, Penang

The answer is just about everywhere. On the sides of buildings, inside shops, on pavements, down alleyways, and even in the bus depot! Penang is the street art hub of Malaysia, so you won't have to look far to find urban art in Georgetown.

The most famous pieces of Penang street art can be found around Chulia Street, Armenian Street, Cannon Street, and Ah Quee Street. Use the map below to help you quickly locate George Town's street art.

Penang Street Art Google Map

Half the fun of seeing the Penang street art in George Town is stumbling upon it as you turn a corner, cross a road, or enter a building. For this reason, I have included the murals and street art I discuss in this post on my Penang street art map, but I've left everything else for you to discover on your own.

Believe me, loads are scattered all over George Town, so lose yourself, explore the town and see which other pieces of street art in Penang you can find. Please leave me a comment if you discover anything new during your visit.

Please download this Penang art street map to your phone to easily find the Georgetown street art locations as you stroll around town.

Penang Street Art History

The George Town Festival in Penang is an annual event that is celebrating its 16th year in 2026. But how did it all start?

In 2009, after George Town was given Unesco World Heritage status, the Malaysian government decided to put Penang on the international map. How would they transform a relatively unknown part of Malaysia into a destination that attracts tourism to the state? The answer was to launch an art competition called 'Marking George Town' to give the town a unique identity.

Marking George Town Iron Rod Street Art in Penang

The competition's winner was a Kuala Lumpur art studio called 'Sculpture at Work'. They created 52 large metal rod art pieces, which can be found throughout town. Each one tells the story of everyday life in George Town through whimsical, cartoon-like scenes. They are often overlooked in favour of the street art murals in Penang, but I think they deserve equal attention as they are fun to see and very informative.

The four artists who created the George Town art project were Tang Mun Kian (31 pieces), Reggie Lee (11 pieces), Baba Chuah (5 pieces), and Julian “Lefty” Kam (5 pieces). You can see some of their creations below. Each one clearly indicates its location, making it relatively easy to find. A QR code is located on the wall beside each sculpture, providing additional information about the piece.

Street Artist Baba Chuah Steel Wire Art Pieces

Lifesize wire sculptures can be seen everywhere in George Town.

'Jimmy Choo'

Who would have known that Jimmy Choo started his apprenticeship in George Town?

Wire art showing boy and parents beside a giant shoe in Penang.

'Yeoh Only'

Yeoh Kongsi was established in 1836 to support the welfare of newly arrived Yeoh clan members from China.

Angie standing in front of a red door with wire art on the wall around it.

Street Artist Reggie Lee Steel Wire Art Pieces

'Budget Hotels'

At the turn of the last century, many shophouses were converted into budget hotels, making this internationally known tourist spot very popular among backpackers.

Wire art mural showing a hotelkeeper talking to a backpacker in Penang.

'Ah Quee'

Ah Quee Street was named after Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, who donated his house to the town for vehicular access.

wire art showing a man in a top hat and tails shakes hands with a chinese man in a traditional conical hat.

'Quiet Please'

To the dismay of the parishioners of the Portuguese church there, Church Street also housed the headquarters of the notorious Cree Hin secret society.

wire art in Penang showing a clergyman looking out of a window asking the gang members to be quiet.

'Bullock Cart Wheel'

I love finding out information like this from the wire art sculptures in Penang. It seems that in the days when your money could be as big as a bullock cart wheel, this place was a place for rest stops for the limousines (posh rickshaws) of that time.

wire art showing man in a rickshaw looking fed up.

Street Artist Tang Mun Kian Steel Wire Art Pieces

'Procession'

The Grand Float Procession was held in the Year of the Tiger to wash away bad luck and bring great wealth and health.

'Cannon Hole'

A cannon shot fired during the 1867 Penang Riots made a large hole in this area, hence the name Cannon Street.

wire art showing a man sitting on a carriage in Penang.

'Then and Now'

The Hokkiens called this street Pak Thang Ah Kay or 'coppersmiths street', a reference to the early Malay braziery that made brass and copperware.

wire art showing two men at work making brass and tin products.

'Where's My Husband?'

Love Lane got its name from the local Chinese, as the rich men who lived on Muntri Street kept their mistresses there! This is one of the tongue-in-cheek pieces of steel rod sculpture around George Town that makes you smile.

wire art showing semi clothed man with his arms in the air.

'Ting Ting Thong'

This is the last of the wire art sculptures I'll include in this post, as I don't want to spoil the fun of finding all the others. It is called Ting Ting Thong and shows the 'Rock Candy' man selling his sweets made of sugar, seeds and nuts. The sweets were rock solid, and the noise made by his hammer breaking them into manageable chunks made the sound of Ting Ting Thong!

I liked how the sun cast a shadow on the wall behind the wire art, giving it a three-dimensional look. I think it looks cool, don't you?

wire art sculpture showing a man holding nuts and sweets.
Street Artist Baba Chuah

Mirrors, George Town Art Project 2012

Street Artist Ernest Zacharevic

If you're interested in street art, you're probably familiar with Ernest Zacharevic's name, as his work can be found worldwide. But did you know the Lithuanian artist first made a name for himself in Penang?

In 2012, after the success of the 'Marking George Town Project', Zacharevic, a relatively unknown street artist at the time, was commissioned by the town to create several murals as part of the George Town Festival 2012. It was called 'Mirrors George Town'.

The goal of the art project was to highlight the local characters of Penang through a series of murals. Little did anyone know then that these Penang murals would cause such a stir and attract tourists to see these urban works of art for years afterwards.

What made Zacharevic's street art stand out was the use of objects, including a motorbike, a chair, a footstool, and a pushbike, that allowed the public to interact with it. This type of 3d street art in Penang became so popular that long queues to be photographed next to it became the norm (and still were when I visited).

Angie sitting on the back of a bike next to a mural of two young children riding the bike.
photographed in 2023

Street Artist Louis Gan

Two popular murals in Penang are often mistaken for Zacharevic's works due to their similar use of pastel colours and props. They were painted in 2012 by Louis Gan, a self-taught street muralist who is deaf and mute. As far as is known, Gan didn't paint any others, even though he had been commissioned to do so. Brother and Sister on a Swing is one of the most famous pieces of street art in George Town, but sadly, it is also one of the most decayed.

Wall mural of two children sitting on a swing in Penang.
Brother and Sister on a Swing were photographed in 2023.

Cat Street Art in George Town 'Lost Kittens' 2013

The following year, 2013, Zacharevic returned to Penang to participate in the '101 Lost Kittens' art project. This time, the subject matter was cats. He was to produce a dozen or more cat-focused pieces of street art, both large and small, to highlight the plight of abandoned and homeless cats in George Town. It didn't have quite the same impact as the murals he produced in 2012; however, the pieces are cute to see and remain an important part of Penang's rise to fame in street art culture.

If you are a fan of Zacharevic's work, a few more pieces can be seen painted on the crumbling walls at the Hin Bus Depot. Address: 31 Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town

Street art of a kitten with butterfly wings and a pilots leather hat and googles in Penang.
The 101 Lost Kittens Project piece is still going strong in 2023.

George Town Festival 2014

Street Artist Julia Volchkova

Following on from the intense focus that George Town was receiving from international tourists, other street artists arrived in Penang. One of them was the Russian artist Julia Volchkova.

Below are two of Volchkova's most recognisable pieces of street art in Penang, painted in 2014.

The first is a painting of a man with one leg that Julia met in Georgetown. Rumour has it that he was playing a beautiful melody, and she was enchanted by it, so she decided to paint a portrait of him. Since then, other urban artists have put their stamp on the same wall, which is a shame. However, street art is constantly evolving, and like other fading George Town murals in Penang, this one will be gone one day.

Location: Love Lane

mural of a man sitting on the ground playing a guitar in Penang.
For Walking Further was photographed in 2023.

The second piece is the acclaimed Indian Boatman. It is on the corner of Lorong Stewart and Lebuh Klang.

Penang street art of an Indian Boatman with oar standing in a boat.
The Boatman was photographed in 2018.

You will see more of Volchkova's street art in Malaysia. In Balik Pulau, she painted a Hakka dancing girl on the side of a building. Don't miss the one in Kuala Lumpur of an elderly Goldsmith at work in Chinatown, painted on the side of a building close to Kwai Chai Hong, another street art area.

mural on the side of a building of an elderly goldsmith working with a hammer.
The Goldsmith was photographed in 2023.

George Town Festival 2016

Street Artist Cloakwork

The annual George Town Festival for Creative Art 2016 invited global street artists to Penang. One of the artists, Cloakwork, created the mural below, titled "Burning - Only You Can Stop Air Pollution." Rather than focusing on local characters, it concentrated on a worldwide environmental issue. It has faded quite a bit, but you can still make out the figure wearing a gas mask and holding a balloon. Notice the cigarette butts protruding from the wall, adding a secondary dimension.

a blue dog, a man with an air-raid mask on and tubes representing cigarettes show different artists take on Penang street art.

George Town Festival 2018

Street Artist Yip Yew Chong

Another artist who has stamped his style on George Town is the Singaporean muralist Yip Yew Chong.

His talents can be seen at George Town's Chew Jetty. Here, you'll see a man relaxing on a hammock with children playing around him. So far, this mural, painted by Yip Yew Chong in 2018, is the only one I have found in Penang. However, if you ever get to Singapore, many of the Singapore street art pieces in Chinatown were created by him and are incredible to see.

Penang street art on the side of a wooden building showing a man sleeping in a hammock with children playing near to him.
Folklore by the Sea was photographed in 2023.

A mural in Singapore by Yew Yip Chong depicts a shoemaker and his wife.

mural of man and woman selling items from their shop in Singapore.

Most Famous Penang Street Art Murals

'I want Bao' Armenian Street

Street Artist W.K. Setor

Location: On Lebuh Armenian near the corner of Lebuh Pantai. On the wall of the Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop.

One of the fun aspects of Penang's street art is that you can actively participate in it. Props like stools and bikes allow you to interact with many of the murals and take cool 3D-looking photographs.

I first stumbled upon the 'I Want Bao' mural after leaving the pastry shop, where we enjoyed one of their famous egg custard tarts. The bakery commissioned the mural, which is one of the popular street art pieces in George Town.

When I revisited it, it had faded slightly, but apart from that, it looked in good condition. Being shaded from the sun under the canopy has helped a great deal. And did I go in and buy a fabled Ming Xiang Tai egg custard tart? I tried to, but they had sold out. Be sure to get there before noon to get your hands on one!

'Reaching Up Boy On Chair' Cannon Street

Artist: Ernest Zacharevic

Location: On Lebuh Cannon near the corner of Lebuh Acheh

You can see from the contrasting photographs of this mural, featuring a little boy on a chair, that while the paint has remained relatively intact, its surroundings have not.

When I first visited, a tin roof protected it from the elements, and the wooden chair was in good condition. The roof has now gone, the shop next to it has closed, and the chair's seat, although different from the original one (notice the leg spindles), is broken. Nevertheless, I still love it!

Update: This mural was repainted by Zacharevic in 2024.

'Little Children on a Bicycle' Armenian Street

Artist: Ernest Zacharevic

Location: Armenian Street

This is one of two murals in Penang that I absolutely love. Like the 'Boy on a Motorbike' mural, people join long queues to be snapped with this iconic piece of street art.

On my first visit, I captured this image at night, and there was only one other couple around, so we had it to ourselves. It was very different during the day when we revisited in 2023. We turned the corner and saw a lengthy line of tourists waiting for their turn to be photographed in front of the mural.

Don't get me wrong; I'm British, so queuing is my way of life; however, in 35-degree heat, I had no intention of waiting in line. So, while the young and beautiful preened themselves and changed outfits between shots, I nipped in for this one photograph and was on my way. In this instance, queuing while each individual took about 50 images would not happen on my watch!

I'm glad to say that I didn't see much deterioration in the mural. Just a little peeling paint from the boy's back. I still adore it as much as I did when I first saw it, and I think I always will.

Update: This mural was repainted by Zacharevic in 2024.

'Boy on a Motorbike' Ah Quee

Artist: Ernest Zacharevic.

Location: On Lebuh Ah Quee near the corner of Lebuh Pantai.

This is the second of my two favourite pieces of Penang street art. I like it so much that I had the image on the left enlarged and framed in my house. After my first evening of wandering the streets of Penang and stumbling across this iconic mural in George Town, it embodied everything I had fallen in love with on this Malaysian island. It was rough around the edges, but with a strong cultural centre and a colourful history.

On this 2023 visit, the mural looked slightly faded, and the leather motorbike seat had been replaced with a floral cloth. It looked more like an ironing board cover than a motorbike seat, but hey ho, needs must and all that!

The main deterioration had happened to the wall beside the mural. Where there was once a piece of art showing a boy holding a floating dinosaur, there was now just a faint hint of what once had been there. The plaster had crumbled, and the bare red brickwork had taken on a rather dilapidated look. Even so, there's something so raw about George Town's street art that this distressed look almost feels intentional.

Update: This mural was repainted by Zacharevic in 2024.

large wall area with crumbling plaster and exposed bricks with a Penang street art mural of a boy sitting on an old American motorbike.
2023

'Brother and Sister on a Swing' Chulia Street

Artist: Louis Gan (2012)

Location: Chulia Street, near the corner of Lebuh Victoria and close to the Chew Clan jetty.

Often mistaken for Ernest Zacharevic's work, Louis Gan created the popular mural below.

Out of all the street art in Penang, the Brother and Sister on a Swing had deteriorated the most, with both exposed and missing bricks. The whole 3d mural looked very weathered, and I would imagine that if I returned in another five years, it would be gone. I feel lucky to have had the chance to visit Penang twice and see the George Town street art before it's ravaged by the elements and the number of tourists interacting with it (me included).

A Penang street art wall mural of two children standing on the seat of a swing.
Brother and Sister on a Swing - photographed in 2023

'Old Soy Milk Stall' Chulia Street

Artist: Chin Choon Yau and the children of St. Xavier’s Institution

Location: On Lebuh Chulia, between Victoria Street and Pengkalan Weld, next to the 'Brother and Sister on a Swing' mural.

This Penang mural was a collaboration with Vilmedia and Homesoy, the popular milk drink in Malaysia. It shows a grandmother serving Susu Soya, Asli, and Segar (pure and fresh soy milk) to two children. Chin Choon Yau also created another mural featuring Homesoy in Ipoh, Perak.

If you love street art in Penang, it's worth seeing the murals in Ipoh. Although there's nowhere near as much as in George Town, there are still some great pieces to see.

Painted Penang street art of a grandma selling a cup of milk to a little boy while a girl in a green t-shirt sits crossed legged on the floor also drinking a cup of milk.

'Hoola Hoop Basketball' Chulia Street

Artist: Louis Gan (2012)

Location: Lebuh Chulia, opposite the ‘Brother and Sister on a Swing’ Penang street art.

The only changes to the image of children playing basketball are a bit of fading and the addition of another artist's tag at the bottom of this Penang wall painting. There is no longer a basketball to use for your photographs, as there once was, so you'll have to use an imaginary one, as I did!

'Burning - Only You Can Stop Air Pollution' Ah Quee Street

Artist: Cloakwork

Location: Next to 'Boy on Motorbike' on Ah Quee Street.

This is one of the older pieces of street art in Penang. The mural shows a person wearing a gas mask and holding a balloon with cigarettes protruding from the wall. It was created during the 2016 George Town Mural Festival. The balloon had a red 'no smoking' logo, but it had almost faded away.

a blue dog, a man with an air-raid mask on and tubes representing cigarettes show different artists take on Penang street art.
2023

Other Famous Wall Murals in Penang

Besides the well-known murals in Penang, many lesser-visited murals deserve mention.

'Big Mouth' Muntri Street

Artist: Gabriel Pitcher

Location: Muntri Street.

This piece of Penang street art is just around the corner from where I stayed at The Blue Mansion. At first glance, the painting appears to depict a wise old man with an open mouth, forming the entrance to the covered walkway. At a second glance, you notice, to the left, tucked into the corner, the inside of his mouth showing teeth and tongue. It's very well thought out, and apart from fading to his beard and a tree beginning to make the brickwork its home, this mural remains pretty much intact.

'Kung Fu Little Girl in Blue' Muntri Street

Artist: Ernest Zacharevic, one of the original six murals he painted in 2012.

Location: On Jalan Muntri.

'The Awaiting Trishaw Pedaler' Jalan Penang

Artist: Ernest Zacharevic, one of the original six murals he painted in 2012.

Location: On Jalan Penang.

Faded wall mural of a trishaw peddlar in Penang.

'The Window Cat' Cannon Street

Artist: unknown

Location: On the corner of Cannon and Acheh Street (close to the boy on the chair)

Mural of a ginger cat looking out of a window with blue shutters on the side of a house in Penang.
2023

'Tiger Mural' Chulia Street

mural of a life-size tiger on a wall in Penang.
photographed in 2018.

'Confucius Monkey'

Location: China House, 153 Beach St.

China Town should be on every visitor's itinerary just for its selection of cakes! It's a firm favourite for locals and tourists looking for a sugar fix after sightseeing. I visited China House twice in 2018 and again in 2023, and yes, the cakes are still as delicious as ever. Out back is a moon gate, pond, and seating area, where these murals can be found on the walls.

'Teach You Hokkien'

Artists: Jim Oo Chun Hee and John Cheng

Location: Soo Hong Lane

On my last visit, this mural had words written inside the bubble, but they have been taken out for some reason. It is still in pretty good condition.

Next to the boy is a piece of Penang's wire art showing a trishaw vendor pulling his passengers along the road. This is just one of many funny and informative wire art pieces in Penang, designed by Tang Mun Kian for the Marking George Town Festival 2009. You will find 52 pieces of wire art in George Town, all with the same cartoon-style imagery.

On the same purple wall is a small piece of street art titled 'Cultural Girls'. It depicts three doll-like characters representing Malaysia's three major ethnic groups. Considering its size, it's holding up quite well.

Wall mural in Penang of a boy with his hands to his mouth as if shouting out something. The art is in purple and white and there is an empty speech bubble above his head.
Teach You Speak Hokkien 2023

These are two more examples of street art styles in George Town. When I last visited, they were both around in 2018 and still looked relatively good in 2023.

'Cheah Kongsi Chingay Procession March'

Street Artist: Tang Yeok Khong

Location: Cheah Kongsi 8, Lebuh Armenian, George Town / Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is a small entrance fee.

If you are in Penang for a few days, you will undoubtedly visit the clan houses. They are both historic and elaborate. They showcase when Chinese immigrants arrived in George Town and set up places to meet with their relatives.

This mural is in the garden of Cheah Kongsi, the oldest clan house in Penang. In 2018, it featured cats wearing blue jackets in a parade and was called 'Cats and Humans Living Happily Together'. Fast-forward to 2022, and it was replaced by a mural depicting Chinese men in blue jackets in a procession, accompanied by decorative lanterns and banners. This is a new and vibrant piece of wall art in Penang, and it's great to see.

wall mural of lots of cats dressed in blue jackets marching along with banners and lanterns in Penang.
Photographed in 2018.
Vibrant art mural in Penang of Chinese men in traditional blue outfits walking along carrying large lanterns.
Photographed in 2023.

Penang Street Art Photos of Umbrella Alley

Umbrella Alley gets its name from, you've guessed it, the umbrellas overhead. You will also find several pieces of Penang street art here. I don't remember this alley being here on my first visit, so seeing some new street art in George Town was great, even though it's already starting to fade.

'Golden Cat'

Street Artist: iwayandonal

Location: Umbrella Alley between Pitt Street and Soo Hong Lane

The Golden Cat mural, painted in 2019, is just one of many cat paintings around Georgetown. They love cats in Penang - there's even a cat cafe called Catonomy where you can sip coffee while playing with the felines!

You'll see cats painted on the walls of Penang no matter where you wander. In 2013, Malaysian and Thai artists collaborated under the banner of Artists for Stray Animals to create a compelling portrayal of unwanted and stray animals called 101 Lost Kittens. Their artwork aimed to raise awareness about the plight of stray animals, urging people to consider adopting.

'Indigenous People'

This next colourful mural along Umbrella Alley depicts the indigenous people of Malaysia. I visited the Mari Mari Cultural Village in Borneo during my month in Malaysia and met the indigenous Malay people. A tour of the Mari Mari village highlights how the indigenous folk of Malaysia would have lived. If you get the chance to visit Borneo, I recommend the Mari Mari Cultural Village.

wall mural in Penang of an indigenous Malaysian man and woman.

'Angel Wings'

It seems that wherever you go in the world, you will find angel wings painted on a wall. And, of course, I just had to have a photo taken with them.

Angie standing in front of street art which is angel wings and a multicoloured diamond.

Find this piece inside the entrance of a cat-themed souvenir shop at 60 Lebuh Acheh. If you love cats, you won't want to miss this place!

Mural of a ginger cat on a moped inside the entrance of a shop in Penang.

Art Lane on Beach Street

Beach Street has been brightened up since my first visit in 2018. It runs alongside the Penang Fire Station and now has a mural dedicated to the Penang firefighters along its length. You can't miss the red-and-white building with the larger-than-life sign proclaiming that George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In my opinion, it is an entirely well-deserved award.

George Town World Heritage Site sign outside the Penang Fire Station.

The dates on the murals show just how new they all are.

This 3d dragon and mystical bird mural in George Town caught my eye. The second dragon mural was randomly painted on a wall at the entrance to a shop.

orange painted wall in Penang with an image of a dragon weaving in and out of the building.
pink dragon painted on a shop entrance in Penang.

Penang Street Art At Night

When I visited George Town in 2018, I viewed the murals during the day and then made a point of returning at night to see the Penang street art after the crowds had dispersed. Seeing them at night is a very different experience from seeing them during the day.

Firstly, it's nowhere near as hot, and secondly, the light gives the paint a different hue, almost like a golden glow. If you're spending a few days in George Town, I'd say it's worth seeing the pieces both during the day and at night.

These three photographs were all taken around 11.00 p.m., and as you can see, the nearby streetlamps illuminated them beautifully. When taking pictures late at night, be aware of your surroundings. I was with someone and have always felt safe in George Town, but it's good to be vigilant, just in case!

Places to visit in George Town, Penang

Are you wondering what to do after seeing all the street art? Well, there are plenty of tourist attractions in Penang to keep you occupied.

Discover the history of George Town at the clan houses or join a heritage mansion tour. Or, why not simply wander around George Town's narrow alleyways to find great places to eat and drink? Stroll by the water along the Chew Jetty or head to the Penang Botanic Garden? It's a pretty special place to see. Don't miss a visit to Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.

Where to stay in George Town

You'll find plenty of places to stay in George Town. They suit all budgets, from backpacking hostels to luxury heritage hotels. On both my visits, I stayed in the heritage Blue Mansion (Cheong Fatt Tze) and would recommend it. You may like to read my Blue Mansion Review.

If you want to stay in another heritage hotel, consider the Seven Terraces.

You can check pricing and availability here on Booking.com for more places to stay in George Town.

Final Thoughts - What Did I Think Of Penang Street Art?

I may be biased, but I'd say that Penang is one of Southeast Asia's most fascinating and vibrant places to visit, particularly for its street art. It has a melting pot of nationalities packed into a small island, giving it a subtle diversity that I find enchanting. Even though it is a bustling town, you don't feel overwhelmed, and if you do, then it's in a good way, like - wow, I can't believe I'm here!

While some of the Penang street art is deteriorating and will eventually be gone, street art in Georgetown is still worth seeing if you love art, creativity, and the vibe they bring. So please don't leave it too long; book that flight today and see the fantastic street art in Penang for yourself!

Need help planning your next holiday?
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Please PIN for Future Travel to Malaysia

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8 Comments

  1. Oh, wow, I would love to see the murals and street art in Penang. I love exploring a city or town and then stumbling upon some street art. Bummer that some a re fading away.

    1. they really are quite incredible and it is sad they are gradually fading but Im happy I got to visit Penang twice and see them.

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