George Town (Malaysia)

It was planted by the British as the main cricket ground for the Penang Cricket Club, which moved to new premises in 1939 and was re-named the Penang Sports Club in 1947. The clubhouse, cricket pitch and cricket pavilion were destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt.

It was founded as the Penang Cricket Club in 1900. It moved to its current location in 1939, and assumed its current name in 1947. Its membership was restricted to white people only during colonial times, and even though that restriction was lifted following Malayan independence in 1957, it remains one of Penang's most exclusive private clubs to this day. The club's field today serves as Penang's main cricket ground, and regularly hosts tournaments with both Malaysian and foreign clubs.

The burial site of early European administrators and merchants, including Captain Francis Light, Thomas Leonowens and Michael Arratoon Anthony. Filled with crumbling, vegetation-covered tombs, it bears witness to a century of colonisation. There are around 500 burial sites here, a quarter of which no longer bear readable inscriptions. Accessible through a gate in the rear wall is the Roman Catholic Cemetery, most of whose graves are so old the inscriptions are no longer readable.

The cemetery that once served Penang's Jewish community, and one of the few reminders of a once-thriving community during the colonial period. The Jewish community no longer exists, the last member having died in 2011.

One of the oldest markets in George Town, dates back to 1900.

The fort, named for Charles Cornwallis, is built on the site where Francis Light, founder of Penang, landed on 11 August 1786. It was first built in 1793. But this site was an unlikely spot to defend the city from invasion. In 1810 it was rebuilt in an attempt to make up for initial strategic planning errors. In the shape of a star, the only actual buildings still standing are the outer walls, a gunpowder magazine, and a small Christian chapel. Several old cannons (including one that is believed by some locals to have magical 'fertility' powers) can still be found at the fort. There are also small displays of artefacts recovered from archaeological digs inside the fort. The magazine houses an exhibit of old photos and historical accounts of the old fort.

The headquarters of the Penang Island City Council, the local government of George Town. A well-preserved colonial building constructed in 1903 when Penang was a British crown colony. External viewing.

Built in the mid-19th century as part of the Central Police Station, this Anglo-Indian Classical building became the State Assembly building in 1963. The building is closed to the public; tourists can only view it from the outside.

Inaugurated in 1903, this Palladian-style building now houses the High Court of Penang, which had been established in 1809 as the first judiciary in modern Malaysia. The building is closed to the public; tourists can only view it from the outside.

This colonial building houses the Penang branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs. It was completed in 1907 as a Malayan Railway station. As it is not beside a rail track, it was known as the only rail station in the world without a railway.

The 60 ft high clock tower was presented by local millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

As the main Central Business District (CBD) of George Town, Beach Street is lined with mercantile buildings constructed between the 1880s and the 1950s. Among the landmarks along the street are the Standard Chartered Building, HSBC Building, the Penang Islamic Council Building, OCBC Building, Bank of China Building, Whiteways Arcade, India House and the Logan Heritage Building.

An elegant colonial building built in the 1920s, it once belonged to Yeap Chor Ee, a China-born tycoon. The building now houses @CAT, a coworking space popular amongst startups and freelancers.

Formerly the Penang Free School which was built in two separate stages in 1896 and 1906. The museum is an interesting starting point to discover the multi-ethnic background of George Town. Two floors display the history of the immigrant community that participated in the creation of the present city. The museum also exhibits the paintings of Captain Robert Smith and the lovely engravings of William Daniell. Other exhibits include a former Penang Hill railway carriage, a handwritten Qur`an and old Malay weapons donated by the family of the late Dato' Haji Fathil Basheer. The museum has moved from its original site in Farquhar Street, to 57 Jalan Macalister; only parts of the exhibition are on display.

The Sun Yat Sen Museum is a beautifully preserved house museum and one of the smallest museums in Asia. It houses a permanent exhibition on Sun Yat Sen’s early revolutionary period in Penang when he planned the uprising now known as the Chinese Revolution of 1911. If you are not into Chinese history, it is still worth dropping by just to see a modest, scaled down version of the traditional Chinese courtyards seen in historic mansions in town. The house was built in 1880 and is full of period furniture and details.

Housed within the Behn-Meyer Building which was built in the late 19th century, this interactive museum features various three-dimensional interactive art pieces that depict Penang's culture, history and lifestyle.

An interactive museum that features three-dimensional artwork about Penang's history.

The ground floor presents the origin of Catholicism in the Far East in general and in Penang in particular. It also informs about the activities of the diocese of Penang and the ethnic makeup of its members. The first floor exhibits artefacts and memorabilia of the Diocese. The Fr. Joseph Reuten's gallery, housed in the same building shows paintings of biblical and Catholic themes in an Asian manner.

A lot of antique cameras and photographic accessories.

Built in the 1890s, and restored in the 1990s (earning it a UNESCO award in 2000), this indigo-blue Chinese mansion was the main residence of Cheong Fatt Tze (called Zhang Bishi in China), known as the Rockefeller of the East and J.P. Morgan of China. The mansion was built according to feng shui principles by master craftsmen from China, who used their skills to fashion a sprawling mansion of 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows. The mansion features in various films, including the 1993 Oscar-winning Indochine and the 2018 movie Crazy Rich Asians. Lodging is also available; see the sleep section.

Built as the home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, a prominent Chinese tycoon, this green-coloured Straits Eclectic house is now home to thousands of Peranakan antiques once used by the Peranakans. It was also featured in several movies and television series, such as Singapore's The Little Nyonya and The Amazing Race (Season 16). Free guided tours in English and Mandarin.

There are six clan jetties along the eastern coastline of George Town. They are worth walking to and looking at, as they provide an insight to the way local Chinese live in traditional huts built on the sea on stilts. Chew Jetty is the most well known and leads to a small temple at the end. Lee Jetty is brightly lit at night by beautiful lanterns. Be cautious while walking in this area.

Built in 1850 by the forefathers of Khoo family who emigrated from China as a clan-house for members of the Khoo family. In 1836, construction of a new temple began and was completed eight years later. Fire razed the wooden structure to the ground in 1894, it was allegedly struck by lightning. Chinese believed that it was due to its resemblance to the Emperor's palace, which provoked the gods. A scaled-down version was later built in 1902 and completed in 1906. The richly ornamented carvings of the roofs, walls and pillars reflect the art and architecture of ancient China and made of the finest wood. Expect to finish a visit to Khoo Kongsi with a sore neck.

The oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia was completed in 1818. The church was designed by Robert Smith, a military engineer who is known for his oil paintings of early Penang, which are now housed within the Penang State Museum. A memorial dedicated to Captain Francis Light, in the form of a Greek temple with a marble slab, stands within the church's compound. Services are still held at the church on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Built in 1801, the Goddess of Mercy Temple is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. This Taoist temple is flocked to by pilgrims year round, particularly on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month. The building is decorated with intricately crafted dragons and a pair of stone sculptured lions which guard the temple. Puppet shows and Chinese operas are staged in the temple's square on the Goddess of Mercy's feast days and there is an octagonal well in one corner, which was once a public well for the Chinese community.

Built in 1833 and expanded in 1933, the Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang. It is dedicated to the deity Sri Muthu Mariamman and features a gopuram (sculptured tower) of 38 Hindu deities. Enter the temple during prayer hours in the mornings and evenings; remove your shoes prior to stepping into the temple.

Built in 1803 and named after Caudeer Mohudeen, an Indian Muslim merchant who was also the Kapitan Keling, or leader of the Indian Muslim community. This historic mosque features a dome-shaped minaret that reflects Moorish Islamic influence and has been a prominent place of worship for local Indian Muslims for over 200 years. Free tours operate during non-prayer times. Shoes must be removed prior to entering the mosque and women are provided with heavy robes to wear. Men who are not appropriately dressed will also be supplied robes.

The first permanent Catholic church to be built in George Town, the Church of the Assumption was established by a group of Eurasian immigrants who accompanied Captain Francis Light to Penang. It is also one of the few churches in Malaysia with church bells that were cast during British rule. It also houses one of the last remaining and oldest European-made air organs in Malaysia. Masses are on Saturday at 6:30PM and on Sunday at 10AM.

Founded in 1845, this Thai-style Buddhist temple is famous for its 33 m reclining Buddha, one of the world's longest. The temple was built on a piece of land given by Queen Victoria to Siamese trustees as a gesture of goodwill to boost trading relations with Thailand. The guardian dragon and statue at the entrance are both ostentatious and spectacular. A small Siamese community still resides within the vicinity of the temple, which is the focal point of the annual Songkran festivities.

A Burmese Buddhist temple founded in 1803. At the entrance a pair of white elephants, which are sacred in Buddhism, guard the temple while within, a bodhi tree and wishing pond greets the visitor.

Located at a hilltop next to the Penang Botanic Gardens, the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple was built in the mid-19th century, making it one of the oldest Hindu temples in George Town. It was last renovated in the 2000s, with visitors now having to climb over 500 steps to reach the temple. It also serves as a focal point of the annual Thaipusam celebrations.

A temple built in 1864 by the Teochew community.

Built in 1895.

It was built in 1803, and rebuilt in 1958 on the same address. It serves Indian-Muslims from Bengal.

This glass walkway 250 m above sea level is not for the acrophobic. Opened in 2016, the Rainbow Skywalk, at the top of the KOMTAR Tower, is the highest glass skywalk in Malaysia. Standing on transparent glass just a few inches thick, one could not only see the busy streets directly below, but also have a bird's eye view of much of the city.

Launched in 2018, The Gravityz is a series of rope courses along the outside of KOMTAR Tower. Again not for the acrophobic, it includes a flying fox zipline and a narrow mesh-wire pathway designed to challenge your balancing skills. Only six persons are allowed at the rope courses at any given time and personal protective equipment (PPE) are provided.

Every Sunday morning, Beach Street, Bishop Street, Church Street and Church Street Ghaut are turned into car-free zones. Family-friendly recreational activities and roadside stalls will be set up along these roads.

Art aficionadi can head to this art gallery, which periodically curates art exhibitions. It also contains open spaces for events, a garden and cafes. A pop-up market featuring local artists and other retailers is held every Sunday.

A 16-lane bowling venue for bowlers within the city centre.

The Habitat offers well-constructed jungle trails. The Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk is an elevated semi-circular platform, the highest of its kind in Penang - providing an all-round bird's eye view of Penang Hill out to the vast expanse of the Malacca Straits. The 230 m Langur Way Canopy Walk gives tourists a panoramic view of the greenery below whilst being right inside the forest canopy.

The ESCAPE Theme Park consists of two parts - one for jungle-themed activities and another for aquatic games. The former includes zip-lines, bungee jumping and rock climbing, whilst the latter contains water tunnels, slides and pools - all within a refreshing jungle setting.

It was founded as the Penang Cricket Club in 1900 at what is today the Padang Kota Lama, which was its original cricket ground. It moved to its current premises in 1939, and assumed its current name in 1947. The original clubhouse and cricket pitch were destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt.

The sandy beaches of Batu Ferringhi also offer various activities, ranging from parasailing to riding a beach buggy.

What better way to enjoy a paintball match than a historical setting at a former British fortress? Packages are available for groups of 10 to 20.