George Town travel guide

George Town Tourism | George Town Guide

You're Going to Love George Town

With a population of 300.000, George Town is the largest city in Penang, Malaysia by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything George Town has to offer.

Where to Eat in George Town

If you’re looking for affordable options, Penang Kitchen, All day dining (218D Jalan Macalister) and Restaurant Blanc Penang (228 Macalister Road) are great picks.

When to visit George Town

George Town in July
Estimated hotel price
£35
1 night at 3-star hotel
George Town in July
Estimated hotel price
£35
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to George Town in January, when the average temperature is 28 °C, and the highest can go up to 32 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is August, when it can get as cold as 24 °C, with an average temperature of 27 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 375 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in George Town, with an average rainfall of 61 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to George Town

Plane

When flying to George Town, you’ll arrive at Penang Intl (PEN), which is located 15 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to George Town from the United Kingdom departs from Manchester and takes around 18h 40m.

Car

Another option to get to George Town is to pick up a car hire from Kuala Lumpur, which is about 294 km from George Town. You’ll find branches of Paradise and Galaxy Asia Car Rental, among others, in Kuala Lumpur.

Bus

The most popular bus station is George Town Bukit Dumbar Permai, located 5 km from the city centre of George Town. George Town Cititel Hotel is also a commonly used station, and is 0.6 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to George Town, you’ll arrive at Penang Intl (PEN), which is located 15 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to George Town from the United Kingdom departs from Manchester and takes around 18h 40m.

Car

Another option to get to George Town is to pick up a car hire from Kuala Lumpur, which is about 294 km from George Town. You’ll find branches of Paradise and Galaxy Asia Car Rental, among others, in Kuala Lumpur.

Bus

The most popular bus station is George Town Bukit Dumbar Permai, located 5 km from the city centre of George Town. George Town Cititel Hotel is also a commonly used station, and is 0.6 km from the city centre.

Airports near George Town

IPHIpoh

Airlines serving George Town

Lufthansa
Good (4,690 reviews)
KLM
Good (848 reviews)
SWISS
Good (945 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,557 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,612 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,295 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,596 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,951 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,122 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,454 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,894 reviews)
Finnair
Good (868 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (924 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,687 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (510 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,603 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (184 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (970 reviews)
China Southern
Excellent (32 reviews)
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Where to stay in George Town

From 5-star hotels such as the The Prestige Hotel Penang to great affordable options like the East Indies Mansion, George Town offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £26 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £58 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Old Penang Hotel - Penang Times Square and Noordin Mews.

Where to stay in popular areas of George Town

Most booked hotels in George Town

PARKROYAL Penang Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£84+
Hard Rock Hotel Penang
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£75+
Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£40+
Sunway Hotel Georgetown Penang
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£49+
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£49+
Royale Chulan Penang
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£41+

Hiring a car in George Town

Expect to pay £0.34 per litre in George Town (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £4.06 and £5.42. The most frequently booked car type in George Town is Economy (Proton Saga or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Perodua Bezza or similar) is, on average, 52% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay £0.34 per litre in George Town (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £4.06 and £5.42. The most frequently booked car type in George Town is Economy (Proton Saga or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Perodua Bezza or similar) is, on average, 52% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.