George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of Penang. The Old Town, lined with British era colonial buildings, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The east end of the city sits on Malacca Strait, while verdant Penang Hill overlooks George Town to the west. We’ve put together a ‘runseeing’ tour incorporating the waterfront and some of the main streets and sights of Old Town. Note: Jalan=Road

Old Town. Wikimedia Commons: CK Tan

Start at Gurney Plaza in the newer part of the city. A pleasant waterfront promenade runs along Gurney Dr. for ~2 km, with nice water views. Continue east on the busier Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah/Lebuh Farquhar/Lebuh Light/Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah (staying closest to the water) for 3 km toward the Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse, passing Friendship Park, The Blue Mansion, Penang Museum, and Town Hall. There’s a nice 1 km Esplanade section — once a British military parade ground — along the water out to Fort Cornwallis. For the return, we route you through Old Town. There are some options here. From the Fort, take Beach St. away from the water for 1 km. Turn RIGHT on Lebuh Campbell/Jalan Hutton for 2 km through the Campbell Market and Old Town, passing Little India, Chinatown, and the UNESCO Historical Site. The final section is along Jalan Burma, a busier, commercial street, but it is pedestrian-friendly. Turn RIGHT on Jalan Penemang to return to Gurney Dr. to complete the run.

Options: Explore some of the additional streets in Old Town. An alternative east-west route through for the return is Jalan Muntri/Argyll. You can also just to a there and back along the water.