Street Art in George Town ~ Penang

by Tsvete Popp
Woman on swing next to mural of children on a brick wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Welcome to George Town, Malaysia

Explore the captivating street art of George Town, Malaysia. Marvel at the vibrant murals that adorn the city's walls, depicting local culture, history, and stories. Immerse yourself in the artistic atmosphere as you wander through the charming alleys, discovering hidden gems at every turn. Discover the fusion of traditional and contemporary art styles that have transformed George Town into a renowned street art destination. Experience the unique blend of colors, creativity, and cultural narratives that make the street art of George Town a must-see attraction for art enthusiasts and travelers alike.

Street art of a boy on a bike against a vintage red door in Penang, Malaysia.

Where to Stay in George Town, Malaysia

As you would expect from a major travel destination in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. As always, I’d suggest you stay somewhere central, to make accessing all the attractions as easy as possible.

Best Luxury Hotels in George Town Malaysia

Eastern & Oriental Hotel: Located along the historic Farquhar Street, Eastern & Oriental Hotel offers luxurious accommodations with a colonial charm. The hotel features elegant rooms and suites, a spa, multiple dining options, and a seafront infinity pool. Guests can enjoy exquisite hospitality, stunning views of the sea, and easy access to George Town's attractions.

Seven Terraces: Situated in the heart of George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, Seven Terraces provides boutique luxury accommodations in a restored Chinese mansion. The hotel offers spacious suites with antique furnishings, a courtyard pool, a library, and a restaurant serving Peranakan cuisine. Guests can experience a blend of heritage and modern comfort.

Macalister Mansion: A unique boutique hotel, Macalister Mansion offers contemporary luxury in a restored colonial building. The hotel features stylish rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a bar, and multiple dining options. Guests can indulge in modern design, artistic touches, and culinary delights within the mansion's vibrant atmosphere.

 

Best Mid-Range Hotels in George Town Malaysia

Muntri Grove: Situated in the historic Muntri Street, Muntri Grove offers boutique accommodations with a blend of heritage and modern design. The hotel features comfortable rooms, a courtyard garden, a restaurant, and a bar. Guests can enjoy a tranquil retreat while being close to the cultural attractions and street art of George Town.

Campbell House: Located in the heart of George Town, Campbell House is a heritage boutique hotel with contemporary touches. The hotel offers well-appointed rooms, a courtyard garden, a restaurant, and a spa. Guests can experience personalized service, artistic ambiance, and explore the vibrant neighborhood.

Armenian Street Heritage Hotel: Situated on the famous Armenian Street, this boutique hotel preserves the heritage of George Town. The hotel features comfortable rooms with traditional motifs, a courtyard, and a rooftop terrace with city views. Guests can immerse themselves in the historic atmosphere and easily explore the surrounding attractions.

 

Best Hostels in George Town Malaysia

The Frame Guesthouse: Situated in the bustling area of Chulia Street, The Frame Guesthouse provides comfortable and affordable accommodations in a renovated heritage building. The hostel offers dormitory and private rooms, a communal kitchen, and a cozy lounge area. Guests can experience a blend of modern comfort and traditional architecture, explore the lively neighborhood, and discover George Town's cultural sites.

Red Inn Court: Situated in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Red Inn Court offers budget-friendly accommodations with a traditional ambiance. The hostel features dormitory and private rooms, a communal kitchen, and a common area. Guests can experience a friendly atmosphere, cultural immersion, and explore the nearby attractions.

Kim Haus Loft: Located in the bustling Campbell Street, Kim Haus Loft offers a unique blend of hostel and cafe. The hostel features stylish dormitory and private rooms, a communal kitchen, and a vibrant cafe serving delicious food and drinks. Guests can enjoy the artistic decor, relax in the cozy lounge area, and explore the nearby street markets and local attractions.

Aerial view of a scenic sunset over a tropical island in Malaysia with overwater villas.Begin your search for the perfect accommodation now while the excitement is still fresh in your mind. Discover stylish and affordable options, and find the best accommodations at the lowest prices:

Explore a wide range of hotels in Malaysia here (Booking.com)

Explore a wide range of hotels in Malaysia here (Tripadvisor)

Explore a wide range of hotels in Malaysia here (Agoda)

Discover affordable hostels in Malaysia here (Hostelworld)

Easily compare prices and book hotels in Malaysia here (Hotellook)

It is early afternoon. The sun is burning mercilessly down and hitting hard the streets of Penang. Humans manage to maintain a purposeful walk while holding a smartphone in one hand and a map in the other. The temperatures of 35° remain the question: “Why are all these people creeping through the ardent streets of George Town”?

Colorful fence with 'All We Need is Love' painted in Penang, Malaysia garden setting.

All you need is Love! Penang

Mural of peace symbols and Bob Marley in Penang, Malaysia promoting love and harmony.Bob Marley, Penang, George Town

George Town Street Art was definitely one of the most culturally rewarding experiences during all my travels! Especially for someone like me – “A Street Art Lover” – Penang is the outstanding capital of all capitals when it comes to street art and cultural creativity! In addition to the stunning architectural heritage in the UNESCO historic city, the streets of Penang became the “living museum” of Southeast Asia and its diversity during the last couple of years. And not to forget – street art has become one of the most prominent reasons for visiting Penang while in Malaysia.

Street art of kids playing basketball on a wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Children Playing Basketball, Penang

Boy on a Bike, Street Art in Penang

Street art of a boy reaching for a window in Penang, Malaysia, with a wooden chair nearby.

‘Boy on a Chair' by Ernest Zacharevic. Located at Lebuh Cannon, George Town

Since the year 2008, the streets of Penang have evolved into a world-class open-air art gallery which attracts travellers and art lovers from all over the World! The old architecture of George Town still remains the colonial history of the city… but many existing old buildings have been renovated and converted into a lovely “trap” for visitors (e.g. “23 Love Lane”), which on the other hand made Penang the most visited city in Malaysia!

Woman on swing next to mural of children on a brick wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Brother and Sister on a Swing by Louis Gan in George Town, Penang


Decorative wire art on a Penang street wall depicting two cartoon figures and sacks of goods.

Hello Orang Kaya, Penang


Street art in George Town, Penang, Malaysia depicting shoe designer's birthplace.

Jimmy Choo Sculpture, George Town, Penang: Jimmy Choo is one of the most famous shoe designers in the World! And guess what?! Jimmy Choo was born in Penang!


Street art of a man on a wall in Penang, Malaysia, showcasing detailed brushwork.

Johnny Depp Penang, Street Art

One year later, the so-called project “Marking of George Town” put another landmark on the streets of Penang – the 52 steel rod caricatures called “Voices from the People”. The iron structures are located all around the historic centre of Old Town. They provide a good opportunity for visitors to learn a little bit more about Penang’s history and heritage.

Street art depicting a comedic figure and text on Muntri Street in Penang, Malaysia.

Love Lane, Penang


Street art and woman on motorcycle, Penang, Malaysia.

Penang Street Art, Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur Mural, Ah Quee Street “


Street art of children on a bicycle mural in Penang, Malaysia, with a real bike in front.

Penang Street Art, Little Children on a Bicycle Mural, Armenian Street


Cat mural with Maneki-neko patterns in Penang, Malaysia, near a small storefront.

Penang Street Art, The Fortune Cat

In the year 2012, the city of Penang decided to add some illustrations to the very well-visited street museum. The main idea was to recreate the multiculturalism and diversity of George Town through numerous wall paintings spread around the city. The most prominent artwork in George Town is made by the Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic who was commissioned for the “Mirrors George Town” project. Zacharevic is most of all famous for his paintings the “Boy on the Chair” and the “Kungfu Girl”.

Street art of a martial artist on a weathered wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Penang Street Art, The Real Bruce Lee Would Never Do This

 

Street art of a figure in a gas mask holding a balloon, Penang, Malaysia.

Quit Smoking, Street Art, Penang

Colorful street art of a car, soda bottle, and headphones in Penang, Malaysia.

Another Art-Challenge was the project 101 Lost Kittens by the Thai artist Natthapon Muangkliang and Malaysian artists Louise Low and Tang Yeok Khang. The main idea of the project was to create greater awareness among locals and tourists toward stray animals. As a result, they created 12 cat and dogs related paintings spread among some random walls in Penang.

Wall art of a woman in traditional attire, Penang, Malaysia, near a red shrine box.

A large mural of a yellow cat on a wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Skippy Comes to Penang, Penang, Street Art

The most popular of all Wall-Masterpieces are still Little Children on a Bicycle”, “Boy on a Bike” and “Bruce Lee and the Kittens” – unfortunately, as it often happens with open-air art exhibitions, the paintings are starting to fade due to the harsh weather conditions in Malaysia, during the monsoon season. The good news is that Zacharevic came back in 2016 in order to refresh the paintings which gave a new life to the street art in Penang.

Woman interacts with susu soya street art in Penang, Malaysia, sharing a cup with the mural.

Susu Soya, Penang


Street art of a soya milk stall in Penang, Malaysia, with a man posing near the mural.

Susu Soya, Penang, Street Art


Wall mural of a boat rower in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, with a weathered window above.

The Boat Man, Street Art Penang


Woman posing under vibrant street art in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

The Bug That Bit Me, Penang


Colorful cat mural framed by blue shutters in Penang, Malaysia.

The Cat from The Window, Penang, Street Art: One of 12 murals depicting cats and dogs in Penang, serves as a memory of the Street Festival from 2013. The project was called “101 Lost Kittens” and the aim of it was to create a better awareness in protecting and respecting animals.

 

Intricate mural of a woman's face on a building in Penang, Malaysia.

The Girl, Street Art, Penang

Colorful street mural of musicians on a building wall in Penang, Malaysia.

Street art of man wearing Malaysian flag shirt on a wall in Penang, Malaysia, with a '27' sign.

Colorful rooster painting on ancestral hall wall in Penang, Malaysia, with intricate pillar carvings.

Tiger mural on a wall beside parked cars in Penang, Malaysia.

The Tiger Mural, Street Art, Penang


Woman posing beside vibrant street art of a hawker cart in Penang, Malaysia.

The two Gentelmen and I, Penang, Street Art

In fact, there are so many different street artworks in George Town, that you probably will need a month in order to discover all of them! There are many ways how to discover the large and diverse area of Penang’s Street Art. For example, there are a lot of walking guides for the streets of Penang, but also some mobile apps and GPS maps. Because of the constant destruction, reconstruction and upcoming new paintings no guide or map can list them all. So the best way to explore the street art of Penang is still the old-school “walking and stalking” method. Take your time! No matter where you go, you’ll discover something new even on the tiniest dead-end street of George Town!

Colorful street art with children's mural in Penang, Malaysia, featuring traditional attire.

Three Girls, Street Art, George Town

 

Planning a trip to Malaysia?

Malaysia Accommodation

Begin your search for the perfect accommodation now while the excitement is still fresh in your mind. Discover stylish and affordable options, and find the best accommodations at the lowest prices:

Explore Asia

As a trusted platform, 12Go Asia offers convenient booking services for trains, buses, ferries, and flights across multiple Asian countries. 12Go Asia has a user-friendly interface and reliable connections, you can easily plan and book your transportation, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey throughout your Asian adventure.

Malaysia Flights

Make the most of your trip by finding the most affordable flights. We highly recommend using Kiwi.com, a reliable flight comparison site. Click here to compare and book cheap flights to Malaysia.

Private Airport Transfers

Kiwitaxi is a popular online platform that specializes in providing private airport transfers and transportation services worldwide. It offers convenient and reliable door-to-door transfers between airports, hotels, and other destinations. With Kiwitaxi, you can pre-book private taxis or minivans with professional drivers, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free journey.

Rental Car in Malaysia

Looking to rent a car in Malaysia? Rentalcars.com has you covered! We search through all the major car rental companies in Malaysia to find you the best price possible.

Malaysia Tours

If you enjoy guided tours, here you can find a wide variety of options to suit every preference. Discover and join fascinating guided tours across Malaysia.

Travel Insurance

When it comes to travel insurance, we understand the importance of finding reliable coverage that suits your needs. That's why we highly recommend Safety Wing – a trusted provider offering comprehensive travel insurance plans even for digital nomads. Safeguard your travels and gain peace of mind by exploring the excellent coverage options provided by Safety Wing.

Enjoy the day!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Rest assured, we only recommend products and services that meet our high standards and that we genuinely believe in. The opinions expressed are solely our own and are based on our personal experience.

Find Cheap Flights