Georgetown Penang city tour: Fort Cornwallis and Chew Jetty

See Georgetown's colonial forts, temples and wooden waterfront in one morning

A 5-hour guided tour of Georgetown, Penang's UNESCO World Heritage capital, starting with hotel pickup and covering Fort Cornwallis, the Street of Harmony's four religious buildings, Chinatown, Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple with its reclining Buddha, and Chew Jetty's traditional wooden stilt village. The tour includes private air-conditioned transport, entrance tickets and a stop for White Coffee sampling at a Malaysian handicraft demonstration.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Fort Cornwallis30m · entry included
2. Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple30m
3. Chew Jetty20m

Explore Georgetown's key landmarks

• Meet driver at hotel
• Visit Fort Cornwallis
• Walk along Street of Harmony
• Explore Chinatown streets
• See Reclining Buddha at Chayamangkalaram Temple
• Sample White Coffee and watch pewter demo
• Visit colorful umbrella street
• Walk through Chew Jetty village
• Return to hotel or drop off in Georgetown

The experience

Your driver meets you at your hotel and heads straight to Fort Cornwallis, the largest standing fort still standing in Malaysia. Built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century, it never saw combat but stands as the centerpiece of Georgetown's colonial past. From there the tour moves through the Street of Harmony (Pitt Street, built in the 1700s), where four major religious buildings sit within steps of each other: the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple and St George's Church, a physical record of the communities that made Georgetown a trading hub.

Chinatown's narrow streets lined with old shophouses come next, then the Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple, a Thai-style shrine built around a massive reclining Buddha statue with mosaic dragons and other figures. Along the way you stop for free sampling of Penang's famous White Coffee or tea at a Crown Pewter demonstration, where you watch how Malaysian handicraft is made. The tour ends at Chew Jetty, a traditional Chinese waterfront village built on wooden stilts where you can walk the wooden walkways, see local homes and catch views across the water: a living piece of Penang's heritage and a popular spot for photos. Your driver returns you to your hotel or drops you at any location in Georgetown you request.

Groups larger than six travelers are accompanied by a licensed professional guide speaking English. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. A 50% surcharge applies if your hotel is outside George Town. The air-conditioned vehicle and all entrance tickets are covered.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within George Town.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance tickets to all attractions.
• free White Coffee or tea sampling at a Crown Pewter handicraft demonstration.
• English-speaking licensed guide for groups over six travelers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (2 to 9 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Penang Tours by Pesona

Is this one for you?The 5-hour duration leaves your afternoon free after the tour ends, making it ideal if you arrive in the morning or want to explore Georgetown's hawker stalls and street food scene afterward. The fixed schedule covers all four major religious sites, the fort, temple and waterfront village in a single loop, so you see the city's layered history without planning multiple stops yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 9 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is Fort Cornwallis and why is it the main stop on this tour?

Fort Cornwallis is the largest standing fort in Malaysia, built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century as part of Georgetown's colonial development. It anchors the tour because it represents the city's strategic importance as a trading hub and its architectural heritage.

Can I see the reclining Buddha statue on this tour?

Yes, the Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple is a main stop. The Thai-style shrine is built around a huge reclining Buddha statue, with mosaic dragons and other statues throughout the grounds.

What is the Street of Harmony and what will I see there?

The Street of Harmony, also known as Pitt Street, was constructed in the 18th century and features four major religious buildings standing side by side: the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple and St George's Church. It stands as a physical record of the different communities that lived and worked in Georgetown.

Is Chew Jetty included, and what is it?

Chew Jetty is the final stop on the tour. It's a traditional Chinese waterfront village built on wooden stilts where you can walk along wooden walkways, see local homes, enjoy sea views and experience Penang's living heritage. It's also known as a popular spot for photographs.

What happens during the White Coffee stop?

You stop for free sampling of Penang's famous White Coffee or tea at Crown Pewter, where you can watch a demonstration of how Malaysian handicraft is made. This is a working demonstration, not a shop stop.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and how does drop-off work?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price. Your driver will return you to your hotel at the end, or you can request to be dropped at any location within Georgetown instead.