10 Cultural Tours in George Town That You Shouldn't Miss

September 12, 2021 Kaleigh Reichenbach

The beauty and rich history of George Town keeps tourists flocking all year round. George Town offers views of the famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Kapitan Keling Mosque and many of the capital's golden crowned Buddhist temples.  With museums showcasing the country's rich-historical treasures, restaurants that offer classic Malaysian cuisine and dozens of shopping malls, there's guaranteed to be something for everyone to see.
Restaurants in George Town

1. Street of Harmony Walking Tour from Penang

Tour & Incentive Travel
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Where else in the world can you find a street lined with so many places of worship of different faith, all within a perimeter of one kilometre. The walking tour begins from St. George’s Church, oldest in Malaysia, to Taoist Goddess of Mercy Temple which survived the last two world wars. Across the street is Little India with its colourful Sri Mahamariamman Temple decorated with 40 statuettes of Hindu Gods. Further down is Khoo Kongsi, a Chinese ancestral clan house cum museum. Then view the nearby Kapitan Keling Mosque, the first Arab-Indian Muslim mosque built in Penang. ​

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop off, English speaking driver cum guide, Entrance fee

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities

Reviewed By NikoCherry

The famous street in Penang and most of the travelers will visit it in George Town. i enjoyed taking pictures there.

2. Private Penang City Tour

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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Visit Chew Jetty – the early Chinese migrant settlement in Penang, admire the intricate stone carvings and woodworks of the Khoo Kongsi (Chinese Clan House), drive through the colourful Little India and the bustling Chinatown. Visit Wat Chaiyamangalaram to see one of Asia’s largest Reclining Buddha. Quick stop at Coffee Tree for sampling of local white coffee and Royal Selangor Pewter to appreciate the Malaysian pewter arts.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop off, English speaking driver cum guide, Entrance fees

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities

Reviewed By NikoCherry

The famous street in Penang and most of the travelers will visit it in George Town. i enjoyed taking pictures there.

3. Penang Half Day City Tour Including The Top Komtar

Penang Tours by Pesona
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Explore George Town’s colonial heritage, colorful neighborhoods and craftsmanship on a half day tour to some famous attractions in Penang. Learn about local traditions and cultural, we make sure you see the best of Penang.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, Hotel pick up and drop off, Entrance Fee

Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, Food and drinks, unless specified

Reviewed By Li S

First, the good side. The tour carefully select the places we are going to visit. There are two more Buddhist temples, besides Kek Lok Si, to visit in the tour. One is a Thai styl tmeple. The other Burma style . But Kek Lok Si is the main one and rightly so.You do need a car to go up to the main temple. This is a plus.Then we visited The Chew pier before we visit the other main site, the Khoo Kongsi.This sis a lavish community hall of the Khoo clan and is very worth visiting. The guide , Ah Shing, explained reasonably well and is also quite attentive to our need, eg he would start the car earlier so that it is cool down a bit in this hot weather.Howeer, there are four things that the tour need to improve. First, it should arrange a brief lunch. It is unreasonable to expect one could last from 10am to 3 pm without eating something. Second, a bottle of water should bee provided . Simple thing, I know. But it is not done.Third. Given the importance of Buddhism in the local history, I feel the guide do not know enough in this area. Fourth,the wall painting sites are all passed by without opportunity to take photos.

4. 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour

St. George's Anglican Church, Penang, Malaysia, 1, Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Simply Enak - Food Experiences
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4.9 based on 113 reviews

Be a part of an exclusive group as you venture through Malaysia's Georgetown Heritage area. Be hungry for food and knowledge as your local Penang-born tourist and food guide walks you through each step of the way on this food trail. Savor delicious local cuisine which the forefathers of Georgetown has kept alive as we unveil the history and heritage of this area. End the food trail with an optional drink at a local bar.

Inclusions: Beverages, Food tasting, Dinner, Professional guide

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Personal expenses, Gratuities

Reviewed By Lovethyextra

We had a fantastic time exploring the streets of Penang. We ate along the way and learned about the history of Penang and It’s food. The culture of the area Is amazing, especially the clan houses. I would definitely book again.

5. Penang: Flexible Half-Day Escapes

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4.8 based on 10 reviews

This is a guided tour and it let you have the flexibility to pick and choose attractions that you like. You will be spoilt for choices. For a 4 hours visit from port or hotel or airport, you may select to go to some 2-4 attractions from the list below. You choose the places and dictate the time to spend at each attraction. Either visit the attraction to your heart fills, or simply take picture from the outside without entering, you call the shot. If mobility is a concern, go for a round island tour and take the comfort of viewing from the car. If you do not have a clue where to go, let our learned tour guide choose it for you. The tour guide cum driver, will accompany you into all attractions and give commentary on the go. You pick some 2-4 attractions/activities from the list in tour details. Penang is a land of charm and you will be surprised what it got to offer and you wish you stop by here longer!

Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes, Professional Guide, Transport by Private Vehicle, Hotel/Port Pickup Dropoff, Parking Fees

Exclusions: Meals, Gratuities, Entrance Fees

Reviewed By 37hughm

Lee was a very informative guide, he has a lot of passion for Penangs history, fantastic day! We were shown around George Town (street art, chew jetty, temples, ...), Penang Hill.

6. Private George Town Heritage Tour from Penang

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4.0 based on 1 reviews

Explore the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in George Town. Photo stop at Fort Cornwallis, Penang’s most prominent historical fortress. Visit the Peranakan Mansion which houses priceless antique collection and artifacts, showcasing an assimilation of cultures between the Malays and the early Chinese settlers. Next stop is the Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion, an award winner of Asia Pacific Heritage building.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop off, English speaking driver cum guide, Entrance fees

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities

Reviewed By NikoCherry

The famous street in Penang and most of the travelers will visit it in George Town. i enjoyed taking pictures there.

7. Penang City Private Half Day Tour With Khoo Kongsi & Kek Lok Si

Penang Tours by Pesona
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4.0 based on 2 reviews

This tour will give you a full tour of Penang main highlights. You will experience and get a chance to witness the different cultures and architecture of Penang. We will also get a chance to visit the Penang Street art, the heritage buildings, local temples as well as Penang history. This is a perfect city tour for couples or families visiting for the first time.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Hotel pick up and drop off

Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities

Reviewed By EricY1292

Perfect and excellent... good. Tourist guide is professional one. He can introduce a lot of information of Penang... Awesome

8. Private Penang Full Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur with Lunch

Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Asni Tours & Travels
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3.7 based on 3 reviews

Experience a taste of all that Penang has to offer on a grand tour of the island from kuala lumpur  with a private guide(guide will be available once arrive in Penang). Travel in comfort by private vehicle to Penang’s top attractions, including Kek Lok Si Temple, the funicular railway on Penang Hill and the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. You'll learn about Malaysian arts including pewter-making and batik, stop at a traditional fishing village and fruit plantation, and see Buddhist temples and other architectural gems, all while enjoying informative commentary from your expert guide.

Inclusions: Professional English-speaking guide (at Penang only), Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Local Set Lunch, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities, Entrance Tickets (Penang Hill & Kek Lok Si)

Reviewed By FionPoh

Very fun ride. We got the 2 rides pass and it was a thrilling experience. We'll love to come back to do more rides.........

9. Penang City Tour with Tropical Fruit Farm Admission Ticket

George Town, Penang, Malaysia Asni Tours & Travels
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2.0 based on 1 reviews

Explore the Penang city which is  rich in history as it is in culture, tradition and diversity. Visit the many historical buildings and temples such as Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. After that, take a scenic drive through the streets of George Town - UNESCO World Heritage Site and witness the remnant left by the British and local dwellers of the past and also make a visit to Tropical Fruit Farm.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off (city center 1km radius only), English speaking driver., Air-conditioned vehicle, Tropical Fruit Farm Admission Ticket

Exclusions: Food and Drinks Unless Specified, Gratuities

Reviewed By FionPoh

Very fun ride. We got the 2 rides pass and it was a thrilling experience. We'll love to come back to do more rides.........

10. An Unmissable Wander Through George Town

Asian Trails Malaysia

A charming gem that bottles an East-meets-West culture as no other destination can. Penang’ strategic location once was the intersection of a thriving trade between continents, from which it developed its diversity of culture, culinary delights and its ever-present trade trail in the form of shophouses. Nowadays, a well-balanced, cosmopolitan vibe is flowing through its alleys and main streets with a local enthusiasm for art and expression. And in the heart of this is George Town; a treasure trove of pedalling rickshaw drivers navigating effortlessly the streets of this UNESCO-inscribed pearl and where former clan houses and temples are engulfed with a continuous stream of joss stick smoke. It is this little gem that is explored from all wind directions as we guide you through a piece of historical heritage.

Inclusions: A half day tour with a professional English-speaking guide cum driver., All applicable taxes and service charges, Entrance tickets to Khoo Kongsi Clan House and Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Exclusions: Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point, Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement., Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program, Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated, Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations, Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description, Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

Reviewed By Steven L

I am a regular Tripadvisor contributor and don't think the review coverage here is really helping people make easy choices. I hope other reviewers can add more details about different providers and tips. I have done this activity a couple of times and my observations of trying to use a smaller operator this time, NBA Sports (in front of Casa Del Mar resort) are: Pros: - this is a must do trip if you can afford it, great fun - the islands are really worth seeing and you cover all a boat trip would - sometimes you are the only jetski with smaller providers and have more flexibility - despite the other bad reviews our jetski did not breakdown at all - 4 hour tour at MYR800 for two on a 1200cc jetski - reasonable photos and video taken by driver sent free within 2 hours of finishing Cons - booking online in advance is not necessary and overpriced. If you have a few days on Cenang Beach just lock in a trip on your first day. Someone correct me if they were there during a busy time and could not get a tour. - there are loads of jetski operators on the beach not many of whom instil any confidence and even when their equipment looks good what you get on the day is a different story. Our jetski was old, broken mirrors, ill fitting torn beach shoes - our tour guide seemed to have been just someone they found on the day. I suspect the beach stalls just secure bookings take a commission then pass the booking on to the jetski owner who finds a driver. You are left waiting around a lot. - driver had poor english but you do not need much guide talk for the sites, it is mostly visual. He also preferred to hangout with other drivers at each stop with no intent to entertain the customer. Unfortunately, the other bad reviews when you are spending a lot of money, do scare people into just using the main couple of higher priced companies. Even one of those, Seeman, demonstrates a terrible customer attitude when you read how they respond to complaints. I avoided them for this reason. Providers do not appear to negotiate much on price but will 'add' islands onto your trip, 'upgrade' you to a bigger machine, have an english speaking guide. I don't believe any of this comes through because they may pass you off to another company to fulfil the trip. When you get your receipt have them write down all of these promises but I guess the trips are all the same despite the extras. Whoever you choose, it is a really good trip but yes the drivers go fast and the sea gets very turbulent at times so it can be a bumpy ride. If you are the only jetski maybe skip the lake stop, it is boring and not the best use of half an hour.

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