George Town, Penang

George Town, the capital of Penang island, is one of the most characterful cities in Southeast Asia, a UNESCO old town where a rich melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian and colonial British cultures has blended over centuries. Its atmospheric streets are lined with colonial shophouses, ornate Chinese clan houses, temples and mosques, enlivened by a celebrated street-art scene, and it is renowned above all as the street-food capital of Malaysia.

What you actually see

• The street art - the famous murals and wrought-iron artworks.
• The clan houses and temples - the ornate Chinese, Indian and colonial heritage.
• The street food - the hawker stalls, some of the best in Asia.
• The colonial shophouses - the atmospheric old-town streets.

When to go

December to April for the driest weather; the food and heritage are a year-round draw, and the George Town Festival brings art and culture to the city, usually mid-year. Explore the old town on foot or by bicycle in the cooler morning and evening.

Honest expectations

It is hot and humid, so the walkable old town is best explored in the cooler morning and evening. It has become popular and, in the tourist core, a little gentrified, but the food and living heritage remain wonderfully genuine. The famous street food means seeking out the busy hawker centres, where the best stalls have long queues for a reason.

Nearby

Penang Hill, the beaches of Batu Ferringhi and the mainland are on the island.