History · Penang · Malaysia
7 historic sites to see in Penang
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) and Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 7–7 hours across 2 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–7 hours
- Areas
- George Town Heritage Zone and Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus
Historic sites in Penang
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Historic site · George Town Heritage Zone
1.Khoo Kongsi
A small museum explains the Hokkien clans that ran much of George Town's trade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Architecture · George Town Heritage Zone
2.Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion)
It is now a boutique hotel and is shown to visitors on guided tours.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Museum · George Town Heritage Zone
3.Pinang Peranakan Mansion
A green mansion built for the Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Quee in the late 19th century, filled with more than 1,000 antiques showing the lavish style of the Straits Chinese (Peranakan): carved gilded screens, beaded slippers, jewellery and porcelain.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Art
Street · George Town Heritage Zone
4.Street of Harmony
Along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) and nearby lanes stand St George's Church (1818), the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Kapitan Keling Mosque, all within a few hundred metres — a short walk through the faiths that built George Town.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Waterfront · George Town Heritage Zone
5.Clan Jetties
Chew Jetty is the largest and busiest, with shops and snack stalls along the boardwalk; quieter jetties nearby give a better sense of village life.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · George Town Heritage Zone
6.Fort Cornwallis
First built of timber and later rebuilt in brick, it never saw battle; its walls, cannons and gunpowder magazine look across the waterfront Esplanade.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
Religious site · Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus
7.Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama
Two Buddhist temples face each other on Lorong Burma: the Thai Wat Chayamangkalaram, with a gilded reclining Buddha about 33 m long, and the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, the oldest Burmese temple in Penang, with white stupas and guardian statues.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| George Town Heritage Zone | Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion), Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Street of Harmony, Clan Jetties and Fort Cornwallis | 1 hour + 1 hour + 1 hour + 1.5 hours + 45 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus | Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion). The longest visit is Street of Harmony; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion): Tours run at set times each day and can fill at weekends; check times on arrival or book ahead.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (George Town Heritage Zone): Khoo Kongsi → Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) → Pinang Peranakan Mansion → Street of Harmony, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 2 (George Town Heritage Zone and Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus): Clan Jetties → Fort Cornwallis → Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 18 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wet with frequent storms, but hotel prices are low and the city is quiet.
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 19 rainy days, quiet crowds. Among the wettest months, with heavy afternoon and evening storms; mornings are often clear.
- October: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 21 rainy days, quiet crowds. Usually the wettest month; plan outdoor sights for the morning and keep museums and mansions for the afternoon.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- George Town Heritage Zone — UNESCO-listed shophouse streets, clan houses, boutique hotels and cafés
- Gurney Drive and Pulau Tikus — Seafront condos, malls and the Gurney Drive hawker centre
More of Penang
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Penang?
Khoo Kongsi. The clan house of the Khoo family, rebuilt in its present form in 1906, is the most elaborate in Malaysia: a temple hall of gilded carvings, painted beams and stone sculpture set in a hidden square of row houses, entered through narrow alleys off Lebuh Cannon.
+Which of these are free in Penang?
Street of Harmony, Clan Jetties and Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama.