Georgetown Malaysia

Georgetown is the capital of the island and state of Penang, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. It was listed by UNESCO in 2008 as a World Heritage Site, together with fellow former Straits Settlement, Melaka.

Founded in 1786 by British trader Francis Light, Georgetown was one of the three Straits Settlements along with Malacca and Singapore. Modern-day Georgetown is one of Malaysia's largest cities with 600,000 inhabitants.

Note that with its combination of Chinese and Muslims, Georgetown takes its religious resting days. Most of the town stops working for the latter half of Saturday, and all of Sunday. Many shops and restaurants are closed during these times and the streets are extremely sleepy and quiet, with little tourist friendly activity going on. Muslim prayer calls can be heard at the required prayer times, and it is not uncommon to see the Chinese locals burning incense for ancestor worship on the sidewalks.

The town seems quite relaxed, as restaurants, small shops, and mall shops don't fully open until around noon. If you're waking up early, be sure to look for Chinese Dim Sum stalls as they are only available in the morning. But don't bother looking for any other activities besides eating.

Today, the town is known for its well-preserved colonial core, with original shophouses dating from the 19th century to the 1930's still surviving, together with their trades of old. Street markets and hawkers continue to be a part of daily life, and the atmosphere is often likened to that of Singapore back in the 1960's and 1970's

The town truly springs to life in the evenings, when most of the locals would head to the nearby street hawkers to have their meals and sometimes, a couple of drinks

Places to See

Preserved by strict zoning laws, the gently crumbling but largely intact shophouses of Georgetown offer a glimpse into the town's colonial times. Restoration works are slowly progressing.

Historical buildings

Queen Victoria Clock TowerCheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Leith Street, . Built in the 1890s, and restored in the 1990's (earning it an UNESCO award in 2000), this indigo-blue Chinese Courtyard House in George Town was the main residence of Cheong Fatt Tze, known as the 'Rockefeller of the East' and 'J.P. Morgan of China'. Cheong was a prominent, successful Hakka Chinese merchant who demonstrated his business ability after marrying into a wealthy family, founding the Chang Yu Winery and ending the segregation of Chinese from Europeans on passenger ships. The mansion was built according to feng shui principles by master craftsmen brought in from southern China, who used their skills to fashion a sprawling mansion with 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases, and 220 windows. The mansion features in various films including the 1993 Oscar-winning Indochine. Tours: 11:00AM and 3:00PM sharp (RM12, 60-90 mins, no indoor photography, consider booking in advance). Lodging also available, see #Sleep.
Municipal Council of Pulau Pinang Hall (formerly City Hall), The Esplanade (Jalan Syed Sheikh Barakbah), is a well-preserved colonial building from the heyday of the British Empire since 1903, at a cost of 100,000 Straits Dollars.
Fort Cornwallis, Light Street. The fort, named for Charles Cornwallis (yes, Americans, that Cornwallis), is built on the site where Captain Francis Light, founder of Penang, first landed on August 11, 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. The magazine houses an exhibit of old photos and historical accounts of the old fort. Entrance RM3 for adults.
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi(龙山堂邱氏宗祠), 18 Cannon Street, . Built in 1850 by the forefathers of Khoo family who emigrated from South China, as a clan-house for members of the Khoo family. In 1836, construction of a new temple began and was completed 8 years later, but fire razed the wooden structure to the ground in 1894, allegedly struck by the 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! Open 9:00AM-5:00PM weekdays, 9:00AM-1:00PM Saturdays; entrance RM5 for adults.
Penang Islamic Museum, 128 Armenian Street. Phone:+60 4 262-0172, Fax:+60 4 264-4692, . Wed-Mon 9:30AM-6:00PM (9:30AM-4:00PM during fasting month). Located in the Syed Al-Attas Mansion, the century-old mansion that was named after its owner, a spice trader from Acheh. Adults RM3 and children below 12 RM1.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Church Street (Lebuh Gereja). Tel +60 4 264-2929, Fax +60 4 264-1929, . rmhbaba@streamyx.com. Originally the home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, leader of Penang and Perak Hai San groups in the Larut Wars from 1860 to 1884. The mansion is a typical representation of the Straits Eclectic style of architecture – highly favoured by rich Peranakan families of old. Affectionally called 'Hai Kee Chan' or Sea Remembrance Store, it served as his residence and office. Mon-Sat 9:00AM-5:00PM. Daily conducted tour 11:30AM-3:30PM. Admission fee is RM10 for adults (ages 12 and above), free for children below 12.
Queen Victoria Clock Tower, intersection of Light Street, Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai) and King Edward Place (Pesara King Edward). This 60-foot-high clock tower was presented to Penang by local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok, in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Religious sites

Georgetown has a profusion of sites of worship of all different faiths.

Dharmmikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple
Kapitan Keling MosqueWat Chaiyamangalaram, Burma Lane (Lorong Burma), was founded in 1845. A Thai-style Buddhist temple that is famous for its reclining Buddha (33 meters), one of the world's longest. The temple was built on a piece of land given by Queen Victoria to four women 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.
Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple located opposite of Wat Chaiyamangalaram, Burma Lane, was founded in 1803. A pair of elephants (sacred beasts in Buddhism) guard the entrance while within a bodhi tree and wishing pond greets the visitor.
Kapitan Keling Mosque, Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) was built in the early 19th century, it was named after the Indian Muslim merchant Caudeer Mohudeen, who was also the Kapitan Keling (headman). It is the most prominent historic mosque in Penang and features a dome-shaped minaret reflecting Moorish Islamic influence. The Kapitan Keling Mosque is the place of worship of the Indian Muslim community who have lived and worked around the mosque for over two hundred years. Unlike modern mosques which are mainly frequented on Fridays, the Kapitan Keling Mosque is used by worshippers five times a day, seven days a week. Extremely well maintained compared to its rundown neighborhood, tourists can get free tours of the mosque during non-prayer times. Be prepared to take your shoes off. Women must wear a heavy robe provided by the staff.
Kuan Yin Teng ( "Goddess of Mercy Temple"), Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) Open daily. This is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. Built in 1801 by early immigrant settlers from China, the building is decorated with intricately crafted dragons and a pair of stone sculptured lions which are said to be its guardians. Undoubtedly the most popular Chinese temple in Penang, the Kuan Yin Teng, is flocked to by pilgrims and followers all year round, particularly on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month. There is a lovely square where puppet shows and Chinese operas are staged on the Goddess of Mercy's feast days. The square is always a centre of bustling activity, and there is an octagonal well in one corner, which was once a public well for the Chinese community. Free admission.
St. George's Church, 1 Farquhar Street (Lebuh Farquhar), is named after the patron saint of England. Built by convict labour in 1818, it is the oldest Anglican Church in South-East Asia. The building was designed by Captain Robert Smith, a military engineer whose oil paintings of early Penang can be seen in the Penang State Museum. A memorial in the form of a Greek temple with a marble slab dedicated to Captain Francis Light, stands in the grounds of the St. George's Church. The church is currently closed for badly needed renovations.
Other
Penang State Museum, Farquhar Street, is located near Fort Cornwallis, was formerly the Penang Free School which was built in two separate stages in 1896 and 1906. The museum exhibits paintings the artistic military man Captain Robert Smith and the lovely engravings of William Daniell. Other collections are former Penang Hill railway carriage, a handwritten Qur`an , old Malay weapons donated by the family of the late Dato' Haji Fathil Basheer and etc.
Komtar Scenic View Level 60, KOMTAR Tower, Phone/Fax:+60 4 262-2222 . Open daily, 9AM-9PM. Komtar Scenic View is situated at level 60 of KOMTAR Tower, the tallest building in Penang, and provided 360 degree views. A classic tourist trap, complete with mediocre halal restaurant and souvenir shop.
Clan Jetties (姓氏桥), Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld), are numerous and located along the shorelines of George Town. They are worth walking to and looking at, as they provide an insight to the way locals live in traditional huts built on the sea on stilts. Be cautious while walking in this area.
Chew Thean Yeang (周天央) aka CTY Aquarium, 82 Burmah Road. Phone:+60 4 226-8797, Fax:+60 4 229-4049 sales@cty-fish.com.my. The largest live fish shop in South East Asia.
Protestant Cemetery, the burial site of Capt. Francis Light, Thomas Leonowens and more. Filled with crumbling, vegetation-covered tombs, it bears witness to a century of colonization. There are around 500 burials 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.

Shopping malls
Bukit Jambul Complex, located at the fast-developing Bukit Jambul area of Malaysia. Features 414 shops, hypermarket Citymart, food court, an amusement centre, six cineplexes and a 40-lane bowling alley.
Gurney Plaza, Gurney Drive (Pesiaran Gurney), , lots of good food, plenty of stuff to shop, Parkson as its anchor tenant, RedBox Karaoke and 12 cineplexes. It is the second largest shopping mall in Penang after Queensbay Mall and by far the most classy, and was completed in 2001.
Island Plaza, Jalan Tanjung Tokong . Anchor tenant: Metrojaya Stores. Restaurants, food court, and more than 150 specialty shops.
KOMTAR (Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak), Penang's first skyscraper and a bit of an eyesore, is a useful navigational landmark but not so good for shopping anymore.
One-Stop Midlands Park, Jalan Burma. A huge mall with lots of small shops inside. One Stop used to be "The Mall" to go to in Penang but has since given up the crown to Queensbay and Gurney. However, shops still abound in this mall and real bargains can still be had here.
Penang Plaza, Jalan Burma. Has the supermarket chain Giant, a bookstore, and an assortment of small shops. Behind it is the famed Nagore place.
Prangin Mall, next to KOMTAR, has stolen much of its neighbor's buzz and offers a convenient yet sanitized shopping experience. It offers a cutting-edge consumer experience and features five-floors of shopping, dining and entertainment. It is often crowded here as people can't get enough of the mall.
Queensbay Mall, Bayan Baru, . Opened in December 2006, it is the island's largest mall. It is located next to the sea opposite Pulau Jerejak and is about 20 minutes drive from the center of Georgetown. Five levels of retail and 8 levels of parking, Jusco as its anchor tenant, 17 junior anchors, a cineplex, many restaurants and more than 500 retail merchants.
[edit][add listing] Eat
Penang is widely considered to be the food capital of Malaysia, and Georgetown is the best place in Penang to eat. (See Penang#Eat for listings of local dishes.)

Gurney Drive may be the main location where tourists go to have their food, but that does not necessarily mean that the best food can be found there. In fact, most locals consider it to be overrated and expensive. It's best to ask the locals to point you toward the best locations for food, though walking into any "coffee shop" or stall would almost certainly guarantee a worthwhile experience for your taste buds. Knowing some Malay or Hokkien will be useful, but most vendors speak enough English to communicate the basics.

[edit] Budget
Indian food

Sri Ananda Bahwan, 53 & 55 Penang Street, in the Indian quarter, offers great Indian food for a very good price. "Best food, Best price, Best place" they say, and they may be right! They also have branches all over Malaysia.
Jaya An Indian restaurant open 24 hours, is a little more tourist friendly than other local restaurants. They offer a wide variety of fresh Indian food, including chicken masala, fresh garlic naan, roti prata, roti cani, tandoori chicken, and curry puffs. The prices are cheap and the food is fast and fresh.
Kapitan's is on Chulia Street in the heart of Georgetown near to all the backpackers hostels. Tandoori chicken and butter chicken.
Krsna Restaurant, in the heart of Little India, used to be known as Krishna Vilas. Cheap banana leaf (they use paper versions now) meals can be had here - loads of rice with dal and condiments.
Dim Sum

Tai Tong, 45 Lebuh Cintra, offers inexpensive dim sum breakfasts from 6am to noon, served in the traditional way on carts wheeled among the tables. Get there earlier for more variety.
[edit] Mid-range
No Eyed Deer Restaurant Great little restaurant which is a favorite haunt among the locals & expatriates living in Penang . This restaurant serves a great variety of Western and Asian cuisine. It is famous for its Laotian Laksa, Chicken Parmigiana and it serves one of the best steaks on the island. Popular dishes among its regular patrons include its Chicken Kapitan Bryani, Chili Lime Sea Bass, Grilled Lamb Chops, Mutton Rogen Josh, and Spaghetti Marinara. They are also reputed to serve one of the best fish & chips in town. It is located above the 7-Eleven store in the Prima Tanjung complex (opposite Island Plaza), Tanjung Tokong . The weekends are normally pretty busy, thus it is advisable to get there early. Tel: +60 4 899-0488 Fax: +60 4 899-3488.
Bukit Genting Thai Food is on a hilltop, along the road to Balik Pulau. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery while tasting the delicious spicy Thai food there. Although it's a long way from Georgetown, the food and the scenery make the trip worthwhile. Call to get directions and try to get there before sunset. Be careful while driving on the narrow road going up. Best to go when it's not yet dark. Phone: +60 4 827-9805.
Cherry Sweet Spicy Thai Food, 8 Clove Hall Road. Phone: +60 4 227-6758, 229-2561. Daily (Closed on Wednesday) 12-3PM, 6-10PM. Pork-free.
eGate, next to Tesco hypermarket along Jelutong Expressway. Restaurants and cafes available are: Starbucks, Old Town Kopitiam, Subway, Oasis, Tao Japanese Restaurant and etc.
Illyana's is located at Teluk Kumbar. A Malay style eatery attracting lots of Chinese and Malays because the chef who is Thai cooks very well. Notable dishes include lala fried with olive oil and the clay pot fish head curry. Seafood is always fresh (you pick what you want from the fresh seafood laid out and the chef cooks it for you, whatever style you fancy) here as it's just off the beach/jetty. Try the satay too when you are at Illyana's.
Salsas, Upper Penang Road (at the junction of Penang Road and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah). Good western food at reasonable prices.
Spice and Rice, 1 Green Hall, 10200 Penang, tel: 04-261 8585, . Fantastic Indian cuisine in a friendly restaurant with live jazz on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The prices are higher than some places but it's worth it for the ambience and the live music. On Sundays you can jam between 6-10PM if you are that way inclined. The food is great, the restaurant has imported Indian chefs to cook authentic Bengali, Goanesse and Chettinad food. Their specialities are from the district of Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, South India. The building itself is quite impressive, a renovated 19th century property which used to house the North Malay Chinese Textile & General Merchants Association.
Yellow Light Thai Food, 1-C Fettes Road. Phone: +60 4 899-1471. Closed on Monday.
[edit] Splurge
Eden Seafood Village - 69A Batu Ferringhi, Phone:+60 4 881-1852. Daily 6PM-11PM.
Ocean Green Seafood, Hotel Paramount, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Penang. Used to be a popular seafood place for Penangites but of late, other seafood places have mushroomed. Commendable dishes include mantis prawns fried with salted egg yolk batter, fried sharksfin with eggs, and prawns.
Oriental Seafood Restaurant - Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 226-0969. A sister outlet of the Oriental Seafood at Gurney Drive. This outlet at Macalister Road is less pricey and it's for the locals who crave crabs and prawns (but no view, unlike the one at Gurney Drive). Service is quick and you can order other side eats such as fried noodles, etc. Crabs go by the kilogramme so prices fluctuate. Ask first before ordering. They accept credit cards and cash.
Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant - Sunrise Tower, 1st Floor, 190-192 Gurney Drive, Phone:+60 4 229-8705. The food here is not bad except that the kimchi can be quite different each time you eat here. Attracts Korean expats during lunch and dinner. So food must be similar to Korean food back home. Nice views though of the area esp during lunch. This place has been here for years!
[edit][add listing] Drink
The Garage located in the upper Penang Road should be the first choice to have fun there.

Cocos, Upper Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-8003. Daily 5PM-3AM,.Local delights available.
Slippery Senoritas Salsa Club & Restaurant. Upper Penang Road, (Located in the garage). +60 4 263-6868. feedback@slipperysenoritas.com. Open 11AM - 3AM.(Lunch Dinner.Music) 1/2 price drinks until 9PM. Live music/D.J's from 9.30PM. "Ladies Nights" Wednesday and Friday. Large club, 2 stories. Has another club called "Fame" connected to it in the courtyard. Get bottle service upstairs for cheap by American standards. Cover is less than $10 but just go into the courtyard, buy a beer, and they will stamp you for free!
GLO Dance Club, A8 The Garage, 2 Penang Road
Shamrock Irish Pub, Ground Floor, MWE Plaza, Faquhar Street
Soho Freehouse, 50 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-3331/262-8331, Fax:+60 4 263-5146. Soho Freehouse offers selection of continental food and beer. Good place for pre-gaming with pool tables and foosball.
Other:

Church Street Cafe, 12 Church Street (Lebuh Gereja), Phone:+60 4 263-9422
20th Leith Street Pub Wine Bar & Bistro, 20 Leith Street
Hong Kong Bar, Chulia Street, famous and historically significant bar, home to many Commonwealth soldiers in Penang, particularly Australian forces based accross the water at Butterworth. Run by the ever friendly Jenny. Fantastic atmosphere.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
75 Travellers Lodge, 75 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2623378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. Dorm beds from RM 8 Single Rooms from RM 15-18, Double/Twin Rooms RM 18-22. Friendly and cheap, right in the middle of chinatown. Free 1 hour internet included in the room rate plus free 24 hour WiFi.
See also Star Lodge and W & O Guest House

Tune Hotel, 100 Burmah Road, 5 mins from Komtar in George Town. Phone: +60 3 7962 5888, single room from Rm70. nice and clean.
Blue Diamond Hotel, 422 Chulia Street, Phone:+60 4 261-1089. Room Rate: RM40. Dorm room, from RM8.80. Not recommended unless you have a penchant for rock-hard shaky bunks and are altruistic with respect to the feeding of fleas. Rooms seem so dusty that they have not be cleaned for the last 20 years. Rock music plays in the courtyard until 12-1AM. RM35 for double with fan and brown bathroom. Dorm available.
Cathay Hotel, 15 Leith Street, Phone:+60 4 262-6271, Fax:+60 4 263-9300. Famous among western backpackers.
Eastern Hotel, 509 Chulia Street, Phone:+60 4 261-4597, Fax:+60 4 261-0008.
Federal Hotel, 39 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-4179.
Friendship Motel , 20 Penang Street, Phone: +60(4)2618909, +60(4)2628909, +60(4)2629909, Email: friendsm@tm.net.my. Prices start at 28 RM for an air-con (small) room with shared bathrooms. Free Internet service.
Gallant Hotel, 6 Jalan Transfer, Phone:+60 4 379-584. Under new management change name to Regal Malaysia Hotel
Georgetown Guesthouse, 7 Love Lane. Singles for 12RM (and negotiable), possibly the cheapest in town. Tiny rooms with fans and ultra-thin walls. Free breakfast (coffee and toast) and 1/2 hr internet.
GoodHope Inn, 22 Jalan Kelawei, Phone:+60 4 229-0111, Fax:+60 4 229-0222, . Room Rate: RM50. New in town.
Hang Chow Hotel, 511 Chulia Street, Phone:+60 604-2610810. Rooms starting from 30 RM. Friendly place, safe, and in the centre.
Hotel 1926, 227 Jalan Burmah, Phone:+60 4 228-1926, Fax:+60 4 227-7926. Heritage Boutique Hotel. Re-opened on 15 August 2007. Room Rate: RM80-100.
Hotel Mingood 164 Argyll Road, Phone:+60 4 229-9922, Fax:+60 4 228-0766, sales@hotelmingood.com, . Room Rate: From RM80. Highly recommended by tourists.GPS Position - Lat : N5.421829, Long : E100.330421
Hotel Oasis, 23 Love Lane, Phone:+60 4 226-2126, Fax:+60 4 261-3884.
Hotel Rio, 64-1 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 262-5010.
International Hotel, 90-92 1st Floor, Transfer Road, Phone:+60 16 434-2775. Room Rate: RM30.
Jim's Place, 431 Chulia Street. Just look out for the Reggae Colors. Rooms about the same price as in the other places. The big perk of this hostel is the owner who is the most knowledgeable and helpful person I've met through my travels in Malaysia. He even recommends food stalls outside of his restaurant, so his own gain is not his main interest. Also a very interesting person to talk to (especially if you're looking for a movie script :) )
Kowloon Hotel, 60 Transfer Road, Phone:+60 4 226-6507. Closed since 2005

Old Penang GuestHouseOld Penang Guesthouse, 53 Love Lane, 10200 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, Phone:+60 4 263-8805, oldpenang@gmail.com, (coming soon)
Oasiss Hotel, Chulia St. This is the old backpacker's standby "Swiss Hotel" under new management. The atmospheric courtyard where backpackers used to hang out is no more. RM35 for a single.
Oriental Guest House (formerly known as W & O Guesthouse), 81 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2613378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. Charming 2-storey shop house building, same owner as 75 Travellers Lodge a few doors away. Large airy rooms with Windows, Fan, Sink. Single Rooms RM 15, Double/Twin Rooms RM 20-30, Triple Rooms RM 30-40. Friendly, clean and efficient, right in the middle of Chinatown. Cafe (known as Western Oriental Cafe) with television serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in front of the reception; Internet 3 RM per hour, 2 RM per half hour; laundry service available; arranges local tours; sells boat, bus and train tickets; helps to apply for Thailand visas.
Oriental Hotel, 105 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-4211, . Location: 5°25'12.47"N ; 100°19'58.51"E. Check your room carefully. Bedbugs have been a problem here.
SD Guesthouse , 15 Love Lane, Phone: +60(4)2643743, and 28 Muntri Street, Phone: +60(4)2616102, Email: sdghpg@streamyx.com. Room fares from 18 to 55 RM with free Internet service, free coffee, and very nice location and service.
Star Lodge, 39 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2626378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. All rooms with Windows, Fan, Sink, Toilet and Hot Shower. Single Rooms RM 28-32, Double/Twin Rooms RM 35-40, Triple Rooms RM 45-60. For AirCon add on RM 10 per day. Free 1 hour internet included in the room rate plus free 24 hour WiFi.
Towne House Hotel, 70 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-8621. Room Rate: RM69-RM90.
Waldorf Hotel, 13 Leboh Leith, Phone:+60 4 262-6141. Room Rate: RM49-RM60.50
White House Hotel, 72 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-2385.
YMCA International Hostel, 211 Macalister Road, . RM66 to RM85 per night.
YWCA Penang, 8A Jalan Mesjid Negeri (Green Lane), 11600 Penang, +6-04-8280876. Only has 5 single rooms, 5 double rooms and a dormitory... so call to book first. Also, it is next to the State Mosque.
[edit] Mid-range
Berjaya Georgetown Penang, 1-Stop Midlands Park, Burmah Road, Phone:+60 4 227-7111, Fax:+60 4 226-7111, . Location: 5 deg 25'58.62"N ; 100 deg 18'25.05"E. Rooms rate from RM 250 per night.
Cititel Penang, 66 Penang Road. Phone:+60 4 370-1188, Fax:+60 4 370-2288, . Rooms rate from RM130-RM350 per night.
City Bayview Penang, 25A Farquhar Street, Phone:+60 4 263-3161, Toll free within Malaysia:1-800-888854, Fax:+60 4 263-4124, . Location: 5 deg 25'18.68"N ; 100 deg 20'9.01"E.
Hotel Continental Penang, 5 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-6388, .
Hotel Grand Continental Penang, 68 Brick Kiln Road (Jalan Gurdwara), Phone:+60 4 263-6688, Fax:+60 4 263-0299, . Location: 5 deg 24'43.90"N ; 100 deg 19'43.19"E. Hotel Grand Continental is centrally located in the city. However, tourist should take due precautions as the location of the city is in the slightly run down area in the city.
Hotel Malaysia, 7 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-3311, (Fax:+60 4 263-1621, hotelmal@tm.net.my), . 3 stars hotel with budget rates. Highly recommended by local tourists.
Midtowne Hotel, 101 Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 226-9999 Fax:+60 4 229-5149,Closed down , change to Grand Paradise Hotel
Naza Hotel Penang, 555 Jalan CM Hashim, Tanjung Tokong, Phone:+60 4 890-9300, Fax:+60 4 890-8600, .
PPisland Hotel, Penang, 33A, Abu Siti Lane, Georgetown, 10400 Penang. Phone:+60 4 2299 071, Fax:+60 4 2299 072, .A new boutique hotel with 3 star qualities and 1 star price. Rooms rate from RM 68 (promotion) per night.
Red Rock Hotel (formerly Agora Hotel), 202A Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 227-2655.
Sunway Georgetown, 33 New Lane (Lorong Baru), Phone:+60 4 229-9988, (Fax:+60 4 228-8899), . Location: 5 deg 24'51.44"N ; 100 deg 19'32.88"E, centre of Georgetown, walking distance to KOMTAR and famous New Lane hawker centre (night time). May ask for room without breakfast since there are many food stalls around the area. RM140-RM460 per night. Highly recommended in this range.
[edit] Splurge
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, 14 Lebuh Leith, Tel:+60-4-2620006, (Fax:+60-4-2625289 cftm@tm.net.my), . Heritage building that's an attraction in itself (see See), now operating as a hotel. No pool or beach though.
Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang, 10 Farquhar Street, Phone:+60 4 222-2000, (Fax:+60 4 262-6333 hotel-info@e-o-hotel.com), . Location: 5 deg 25'23.01"N ; 100 deg 20'8.96"E. Founded in 1884 by legendary hoteliers the Sarkies brothers, the E&O is Penang's grand old colonial hotel. Rooms from RM400++.
Evergreen Laurel Hotel, 53 Gurney Drive (Pesiaran Gurney), Phone:+60 4 226-9988, (Fax:+60 4 226-9989 elhpen@evergreen.com.tw), .
G Hotel, 168A Gurney Drive, Phone:+60 4 238-0000, (Fax:+60 4 238-0088, info@ghotel.com.my), . Brand new post-modern luxury hotel in town with direct sea views. Comfortable, hip and funky.
Gurney Hotel, 18 Gurney Drive (Persiaran Gurney), Phone:+60 4 370-7000, (Fax:+60 4 370-5000 gurneyhotel@myjaring.net), .
Hotel Royal Penang, (formerly Dorsett Penang Hotel), 3 Jalan Larut, 10050 Penang, tel: 04-2267888 Fax: 04-2296601, . This 273-room Singapore-managed Hotel Royal, previously Dorsett, is in Larut Road, a short drive from KOMTAR and the food hub of Macalister Road. The hotel's published rates are from RM480++ for the Deluxe Room.
Northam Hotel All Suite, 55 Northam Road (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), Phone:+60 4 370-1111, (Fax:+60 4 370-2222 northam@po.jaring.my), . 142 air-conditioned suites, cable TV, en-suite bathroom, water-massage Jacuzzi.
Traders Hotel Penang (formerly Shangri-La Hotel Penang), Magazine Road, Toll free (Malaysia):1-300-88-7388 Phone:+60 4 262-2622, (Fax:+60 4 262-6526, slp@shangri-la.com), . Next to KOMTAR and Prangin Mall, in the heart of Georgetown.
[edit] Stay safe
Georgetown in general is a safe city as serious crimes are pretty rare. Be extra careful in crowds and on roadsides, as they are the spots where petty crimes such as snatch thefts and pickpockets occur.

Some local men like to yell things and make suggestive comments to women walking alone, and sometimes they can get "too friendly". If you are a woman, you should travel in a group. Men walking alone may have to deal with a similar amount of harassment too, especially around the Love Lane/Lebuh Chulia areas. There are large numbers of prostitutes and/or ladyboys prowling the streets here and they can be very aggressive. Over the last few years this problem seems to have faded away but it's still a good idea to exercise caution walking around at night.

If you look like a tourist, you will get considerably higher prices from the salesmen in markets, like Batu Ferringhi Night Market, or the market near the Kek Lok Si temple. The real price of the product is always a lot less than you would pay for it in western countries, and at times "the best price" is five times the normal price.

Taxis generally do not use meters due to poor enforcement by local authorities, even though it is "compulsory". The meters are always "broken". You should always ask for the use of the meter, because you might get lucky. The metered price is always less than a price given in advance. Tourists are often cheated, sometimes even left by the roadside in the middle of nowhere, if they refuse to pay a considerable sum of money. You should negotiate the fare before boarding if the taxi driver refuses to use the meter. Taxis taken from Penang Airport are safe, you pay using slips given in a small office in the airport building.

Do not use drugs, and stay away from them! You will get the death sentence if caught pushing certain types of drugs because Malaysia's laws do not provide for alternative punishment for this offence. The amount of the drug you are caught with will determine whether you are charged as a user or a pusher. Pay heed to the warning signs at all entry points to the country.

[edit] Get out
From the ferry terminal, the short ferry ride to Butterworth; departing at regular intervals; is free. (However, note that it costs RM1.20 for foot passengers coming from Butterworth to Penang.) A bus and train station awaits upon arrival in Butterworth - from where you can get transport connections to many of the major destinations in peninsular Malaysia. The ticket counters and waiting area are located under the overpass adjacent to the small market. Train tickets should be purchased in advance.