George Town

George Town provides the essential Malaysia experience. It is a melting pot of cultures, styles, and personalities thanks to its history in the 20^th century. It has seen governments from the Japanese and the British, as well as establishing its own independence, all in the same century. You can see these transitions within the architectural styles found throughout the city.

You can also find it in the street food of George Town. The city has gained a reputation for the unique offerings that you’ll find from a host of vendors as you wander about, seeing the sights of the city.

Make your way into the oldest part of the city and you’ll find yourself at a UNESCO world heritage site. Designated in 2008, it offers a cultural and architectural uniqueness to the region as a whole. It’s one of the largest collections of pre-war buildings in all of Southeast Asia. The area itself dates to 1786, when the city was established by Francis Light.

George Town is one of the few cities in Malaysia that has maintained its English street names. The roads may have been renamed in Malay, but the older colonial names are still used – a reflection of the local conservatism who identify with their local history.

This conservatism makes for an interesting and engaging museum tour. History, art, and religion are the primary focal points for the museums, with many of them situated in buildings that are architectural gems. New to the museum tour are a set of specialty three-dimension interactive locations, with one of the best being the Penang Time Tunnel.

George Town freely offers its culture and love of life, allowing visitors to embrace and appreciate the history of the community. That is why it is such an intriguing destination.