George Town's UNESCO World Heritage zone is the heart of Penang and could absorb several days of wandering. The historic core — bounded by the waterfront, Little India, Chinatown, and the Malay kampungs — packs an extraordinary density of temples, mosques, clan houses, and colonial architecture into a small area. Start at Fort Cornwallis on the waterfront and work inward along the old street grid.
Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) is the axis of the religious district: the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Goddess of Mercy Temple, and St George's Anglican Church stand within a few hundred metres of each other, representing every major religious tradition in Penang. Armenian Street is the centre of the street art scene and increasingly lined with boutique cafes and galleries.
Beyond George Town, Penang Hill offers a funicular railway escape to cool air and colonial-era bungalows, and the Kek Lok Si Temple at Air Itam is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia.