George Town History Tour

Selamat datang — welcome to George Town!

My name’s Jiar, and I’ll be walking with you today, sharing stories of the people, places, and spirit that make Penang so unique.

This self-guided tour takes you through 8 carefully chosen stops across 1.8 kilometers, with 2 optional foodie stops at the end — because in Penang, no journey is complete without something delicious.

In 2008, George Town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its extraordinary blend of cultures, architecture, and living traditions. This walk is your window into that vibrant legacy.

Most tours follow a historical timeline — but today, we’re doing things a little differently.

Rather than just walking through time, we’ll walk through layers — of culture, faith, trade, migration, and everyday life — to piece together how a small island port became one of Southeast Asia’s most multicultural cities.

We begin at the Clan Jetties, where Chinese migrants built floating villages above the sea. From there, we’ll head inland — through street art alleys, ornate clan houses, mosques, temples, and colonial-era landmarks. Each stop reveals a new piece of the Penang puzzle.

Some places may ask for a small entry fee, but everything can be enjoyed from the outside. Just bring comfortable shoes, a sense of curiosity, and be sure location services are enabled so the app can guide you along the way.

Ready to explore? Let’s begin.