Penang’s colorful amalgamate of cultures is the result of multi-religions and inter-marriages that shine through its food, art and languages.

Penang is known as a foodie’s paradise, but its punch of flavors and wide variety stem from a blend of distinct cultures. On the island, it is the city of George Town where things are happening, where travelers indulge in all aspects of wandering.

Rarely in the world, can one witness four religions peacefully exist on one single road: Muslim, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. In addition, the Peranakan culture was birthed in Penang, as a fusion of Chinese immigrants who married into local Malay families. The result is a mix of the best in all worlds that we, as travelers, can enjoy through powerful kicks in tastes, intricacies in designs that still boast respectable traditions.

Penang became my favorite city in Malaysia, here are some of the places that made me fall in love.

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Pinang Peranakan Mansion, also referred to as “the Green Mansion,” once belonged to Chinese tycoon Chung Keng Quee from the 19th century. The building is renowned as a classic example of Peranakan architecture and design. Inside the mansion, there are numerous collections of furniture, antiques, artifacts, interior décor from Peranakan culture.

The Peranakans are also known as Babas or Nyonyas. The culture resulted from the marriage between Chinese immigrants and Malay families which created a rich and unique blend shown in cuisine, languages and design.

The Clan Jetties make up the floating village on the pier of Penang. In the 19th century, many Chinese immigrants arrived to Penang by boats, the jetties allowed them to find their neighbors, families and friends from the same village back in China. It’s often differentiated by surnames which make up various Jetties today: Chew, Lee, Yeoh…etc.

Today, there are still families that live in these jetties, hence it’s important to remain respectful during your visit. There are characterized by traditional shrines inside their homes, screen doors, and burning incense. 

Not too far from the Clan of the Jetties, there’s also Hean Boo Thean Temple floating above water. It is especially beautiful at night when the colorful lights are lit. The temple was originally built in 1972, but often flooded during high tides. In 2011, it went through a renovation which also expanded the temple to 12,000 square feet. Today, this temple that honors the Goddess of Mercy is a grandiose sight particularly from the view of the jetties.

Little India is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant parts of George Town with bustling shops that sells anything from textiles, spices, candles, flowers, to music. Indians were brought to Malaysia by the British Empire for to work on rubber plantations, today many local businesses owned by Indian entrepreneurs reside in this quarter, from restaurants to boutiques. The oldest Hindu temple in Penang, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, can also be discovered in Little India.

Don’t be surprised that after a day of admiring street art in George Town, and you realize that it might very well be one of the best in the world. Often; murals, paintings, sculptures are integrated into one single piece of art. Some of the most iconic pieces you’ll see are by Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic, including: The Boy and his Motorbike and Little Boy with a Pet Dinosaur; both examples were created to illustrate daily life in George Town.

Today, international artists are invited to George Town to leave their artistic mark on its chromatic walls.

While admiring vivid street art from Beach to Armenian Street, there are lines of vintage boutiques and souvenir shops. Most of them showcase façades that represent a certain throw back to an old-school Asia with lanterns, rusted bicycles, scrolls bordering doors. Shopping on Armenian Street extends beyond souvenirs, there are also charming ateliers and art galleries.

The street was named after early Armenian merchants who lived in this area. Nowadays, the neighborhood is more known for the Chinese communities who have built temples and clans here.

Penang, known for its street food scene, encompasses tasty night markets. An easy one to go for, if you’re near Love Lane anyway, is the Kimberly Street Night Market which opens around 5 p.m. every evening. Hawkers, street vendors line up both sides of the street, busily cooking local delights. Here, there’s the famous “Four Heavenly Kings” 四大天王 which refers to: Kway Chap 粿汁 (rice noodles in broth served with braised sides,) Kuey Teow Soup 魚圓粿條湯 (fishball soup,) Char Kway Teow 炒粿條 (stir-fried rice noodles,) and Si Koh Soup 四果湯 (sweet soup with gingko, lotus seed, longan, and white fungus.)

Right by Kimberly Street Food Night Market is Love Lane, where bars and nightlife are happening. Back in the day, the tycoons had multiple wives. Love Lane was where they kept their second or third wives. Later, the street became known for Chinese-style brothels. Today, hipster cafés and mainstream bars are located on this street full of history.

Cheong Fatt Tze was known as the Richest Man in China and the “Rockefeller of the East” throughout the 19^th Century. As a rich, successful industrialist Cheong Fatt Tze constructed his residence in Penang, Malaysia: a stunning structure which elegantly blended traditional Chinese architecture and Western influences. The distinct Indigo-dyed exterior, excellent artisan craftsmanship and expert Feng Shui made Cheong Fatt Tze’s mansion one of the most celebrated buildings in all of Penang, which it continues to be today. READ: Relive Chinese Opulence At Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion by Nadia Cho

If you want to see four religions existing on one street, then head on over to Pitt Street where Islam, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity are situated merely meters from one another on one single road. Often called, the Street of Harmony, Pitt Street is emblematic of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society for centuries. Pitt Street itself is one of the oldest in the city, and appeared in the earliest maps of the British settlement here in George Town.

In 1816, the British built St. George’s Church on northern part of Pitt Street. While, Indian Muslims constructed the Kapitan Keling Mosque a bit earlier in 1801. Meanwhile, the Chinese also established Goddess of the Mercy Temple on the same street. In 1833, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple opened its doors in Little India.

Penang State Art Gallery was the city’s first multipurpose space dedicated to local contemporary artists. For art fans, this is a modern space to discover the style and common themes across artists from this part of Malaysia. The gallery is also used to host temporary exhibitions hosted by the artists themselves.

Every Saturday and Sunday, expect to see at least 50 stalls outside of Hin Bus Depot. The inventive art space takes place in a former abandoned bus depot transformed into a ecclectic art-deco edifice that displays art in all forms. There seems to be an exhibition on a constant basis, including pop-ups. The first exhibition ever held was a solo show of the aforementioned Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic.