Museums to see, places to stay
Long considered the gateway to Malaysia’s rich history and culture, George Town is hosting a street festival and heritage trails from today to Sunday to mark the day when it was listed as Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008.
Once the capital of the Straits Settlements home to Chinese, Indian, and European merchants, George Town reflects vibrant multiculturalism and defines Penang and its unique hospitality.
Ideal for travellers joining this celebration, Airbnb is offering a shortlist of comfortable accommodation with easy access to modern art museums and the artsy Armenian street. The list includes the Heritage Zone Shophouse, which dates back to 1840. This lovingly restored double-storey shop house is a cultural kaleidoscope of Old World and New Age and blends vintage and contemporary Southeast Asian influences.
Situated in a charming alley peppered with famous street-food eateries, the House off Hutton Lane has been praised as a trip back in time by previous guests. You’ll live like a local when you check into this rustic abode, which is a stone’s throw from historic centres and modern malls, while offering a quiet sanctuary within the heart of this lively city.
The beautifully renovated Straits Chinese shop house, called Heritage Home has been tastefully furnished with antiques and period furniture – a seamless blend of Imperial Chinese and Balinese inspiration. This atmospheric residence is close to the city centre.
The Shophouse Studio is a ground-floor suite of a century-old shop house. This apartment-style accommodation comes with a private air well through which sunlight streams in. Guests can wake up to the aroma of freshly baked Hainanese bread from the bakery next door, as well as the sound of the bells tolling from the famous Krishna temple down the lane.
The Gorgeous Sea View Duplex offers an astonishing view of the Penang Strait. A five-kilometre drive from George Town, this house is a family-friendly choice that can house up to eight guests and children will adore waking up from the living room’s bunk beds to watch the ships at sunrise.
The Scandinavian Coast View is a luxury duplex decorated in white and grey and offers a meditative escape for couples to spend some quality time together, from cooking a meal or reading cultural magazines, which the hosts provid.
Online bookings can be made at www.Airbnb.com.sg
