Penang Street Art - Map, Itinerary and Guide

Penang is a wonderful place to visit, and those that come to historical George Town fall in love with it for different reason. The rich history, incredible architecture, and cultural diversity that seems to change street after street is captivating. In recent years though, it is the amazing and colorful Penang Street Art that has been catching the attention of not only visitors, but locals as well.

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Wandering around the streets of George Town recently, I was amazed at just how many people are out and about, armed with maps or smart phones, hunting down the Penang Street Art. Some of it is hard to find, and no matter how many times you walk the streets, it seems like you will always find more. I personally spent several days hunting around myself, and am convinced that I still didn’t see it all!

Get in early to beat the crowds to popular spots — The Penang Street Art is popular, and you will find many people hunting it!

Never the less, whilst watching so many people wandering in confusion, I decided to create this Itinerary of the best way, in my opinion, of seeing all of the main Penang street art in George Town. It will not cover everything, but it will take you to the best places, and some really interesting sights along the way. Then, I have listed a couple of popular places to stop off for lunch or a snack, depending upon what time of day you are out.

First, let’s take a look at how the Penang Street Art came about.

About Penang Street Art

Did you know that the city of George Town in Penang is actually UNESCO World Heritage Listed?

It is, and there is a good reason for it, which becomes apparent to anyone that takes the time to wander it’s streets and discover the absolutely amazing culture, history and architecture that exists there.

Penang street art umbrella street — There is plenty of street art in Umbrella Street

In 2012, the Municipal Corporation commissioned talented artists, both local and international, to create street art around the city in the form of murals, paintings and steel wire sculptures. These were made to depict the history and culture of the city, as well as simple everyday life. The result has been amazing, and the Penang Street Art has added an extra element to George Town that is incredible.

The Wire Sculptures can be found all over town

Such was the popularity of the Penang Street Art both locally and on social media, that more artists were drawn to the area from around the world. They added their own flavor and personal touches to the swiftly growing collection, and popularity soared even more!

Some of the art is now falling apart, and some has faded in the 10 years since it was first commissioned. In my onion though, I think it only adds to the beauty of it. The buildings are old, heritage buildings, and the murals and art have now aged too, and now look as though they belong there.

Why I love it

Beyond the beauty of the artwork itself, I love the concept of the Penang Street Art for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the artists have used the buildings and backgrounds perfectly. The faded yellow, orange and pink colored walls of the George Town Buildings are the perfect backdrop, and the way they have utilized the natural staining’s, blotches and water marks on the walls is incredible. It’s almost as if they created the backdrop themselves to suit the paintings, not the other way around.

Secondly, the concept and strategic locations of the artwork is admirable. Whilst wandering the streets, I found myself in parts of George Town that I would never have otherwise visited. I didn’t even realize Armenian Street existed until I walked down it searching for a mural, and now I love it!

Penang Street Art Map

There are a couple of ways to find yourself a Penang Street Art Map. While you are in George Town though, the easiest and most convenient is with Google Maps. Click on THIS LINK and it will give you a handy shortcut to Google’s Penang Street Art locations. It should look a little like the image below.

With this Penang Street Art Itinerary though, I have my own walking tour that I created on Google Maps. It was the easiest way that I found to get to all of the best Penang Street Art, and works well with my Itinerary. I will put the link and image in the next section!

Where to Start

This is an interesting question, and really depends upon where you are staying, or coming from. My Penang Street Art Itinerary starts in Chulia Street, not far from the Chew Jetty and the Weld Jetty Bus Terminal. The reason that I start it there, is simply because I was staying nearby!

Another reason that it is a good place to start, is because of its proximity to the Bus Terminal, and Chulia Street itself. These are both easy places to get to by bus, and therefore just as easy and handy for you to start your walking tour of the Penang Street Art.

The other way to do this tour is to follow my Itinerary backward. I finish my Itinerary at the Westernmost point, which is not far from Hotels like Cititel Penang, Muntri Grove, and the popular Love Lane. If you are staying around this area, then you can just as easily follow the Itinerary in reverse.

This Penang Street Art Itinerary will only take you a couple of hours. It all depends on what day you do it, and how long you linger at each location. The actual walking time, without stops, is 41 minutes.

click here for link to my google maps street art itinerary

Penang Street Art Itinerary

Ok, so as I have already established, we will start my Penang Street Art Itinerary down near the Clan Jetties, on Chulia Street. If you catch the bus to Weld Jetty Bus Terminal, then walk out to the street, turn left and immediately right, then head to THIS location.

Brother and Sister on a Swing

This adorable painting is tucked away down a side alley, and is one of the most popular and photographed of the Penang Street Art. This is mostly because it is one of the “interactive” paintings, of which this is a perfect example.

Luis Gan, a self taught painter who is also deaf and mute, created this fun painting depicting a brother and sister standing on a swing. It is painted in the clever fashion of utilizing a real swing set as a prop, and allows you to sit on the second swing to pose for photos.

There are several of these Interactive paintings around this section of town, so the Brother and Sister on a Swing is a good Introduction.

Aunty Selling Soya & Children Playing Basketball.

Right next to the Brother and Sister on a Swing, is the beautiful Aunty Selling Soya Painting. If you came to the first painting from Chulia Street, then you probably already passed by it.

penang street art aunty selling susu — Aunty Selling Soya

Aunty Selling Soya depicts the Aunty in her stall, handing a cup of Soya to a little boy. Off to one side is a little girl, sitting and enjoying her own cup. At first, she seems to be hovering in the air, until you realize that the artist has very cleverly used another prop, this time a small bench seat, for her to “sit” on. The way her eyes are looking makes it fun to pose sitting on the seat as if talking to her.

Back out on Chulia Street, directly across the road is the very smallest of alleys next to a bus stop. Just inside that alley is a painting that you will probably recognize, but many people pass by without realizing it’s there.

It is one of Penang Street Art’s most famous paintings, known as “Children Playing Basketball”. Two children, a boy and a girl are shooting hoops with a real basketball hoop as the prop. Take no notice of the seemingly out of proportion boys leg! This painting is all about the fun.

I Want Bao

Next up, we are walking around the corner and down the street to find the clever “I Want Bao” painting at THIS LOCATION.

Some of the Penang Street Art was created in a clever way to advertise something. This one is no exception, and is a not so subtle ad for the Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop which is right next door. The painting depicts two childing inside a barred window, reaching for Bao buns in a basket on the back of a delivery bicycle parked nearby. And guess what – the Bicycle is an actual real prop.

Kids on a Bicycle

Next up on my Penang Street Art Itinerary, is with no doubt the most famous piece of Street Art in Penang. It is the incredible Kids on a Bicycle, at THIS LOCATION.

Kids on a Bicycle depicts two kids riding together on a bicycle which is, once again, a real prop. It was brought to life by the incredibly talented artist Ernest Zacharevic in 2012, and has been nominated as one of the top 15 wall paintings in the world.

Penang Street Art Kids on Bicycle — Kids on Bicycle is probably the most famous Street Art

If you recognize this piece of art, then there is a simple explanation. It has become a symbol of the city, and can be seen depicted on Penang T-shirts, Tote Bags, and nearly everything else you would find at your local souvenir stand!

TIP – Get to this location early. There is a reason that I have it near the beginning of my Penang Street Art Itinerary, and that is because it is very popular and can get crowded! I came back past a couple of times later in the day, and it was like the bus had just turned up, with a line of tourists waiting for photos that stretched around the corner! See the photo at the beginning of this article.

Street Memories and Girl on Numbers

Just down the road at THIS LOCATION you will find a depiction called Girl on Numbers. This little girl is jumping across kid’s number blocks. Don’t forget to look up though, as it is not at eye level, instead painted on the wall of a the first story of the building in a small alcove.

Turn around, and directly opposite is a very clever painting of an ice cream cone, except instead of ice-cream, the cone is overflowing with a bunch of roses.

The Girl on Numbers is a fun painting, but the main reason that my Penang Street Art Itinerary brings you in this direction is to see the incredible “Street Memories”. You can find it at THIS LOCATION.

A very talented local artist by the name of Chan Kai Lun painted this piece of art in 2019. It takes up the entire side of a building and took him 3 weeks to complete. Being a local, he wanted to depict what life on his beloved street once looked like, and hopes that the painting will one day help to revive it.

Boy on a Chair and Armenian Street

Next, we are backtracking a bit to Armenian Street. This is where the Kids on a Bicycle was earlier, but this time we are at the other end of the street. Along the way, you can stop by to check out a very talented painting of a boy standing on a chair. And yes, the chair IS a real prop. It can be found at THIS LOCATION.

penang street art boy on a chair — © ckstockphoto via Canva.com

From the Boy on a Chair, continue down the street toward THIS LOCATION.

Along the way, stop and take in the surrounds. This is Armenian Street, and it is a very colorful and vibrant area. I loved the green parks and tree lined streets, which really add a different vibe to most of the rest of George Town.

Around the surrounding few streets you will find several depictions of art. The “wire sculptures” that are very popular are in a few places, and just down the road a few meters and around the corner can be found some other talented paintings. One of my favorites are Cultural Girls, Teach you Hokien, and the Rickshaw Sculpture nearby.

Cultural Girls and Teach You Hokien are next to each other

The main star of this area though is Umbrella Street. Like many of these types of streets you will see around the world, this one has multicolored umbrellas suspended above your head. This is fun for photos, but don’t forget to look around you as you pass underneath! The walls on either side are adorned with MORE example of Penang Street art that you don’t want to miss.

When I was there, I was taking photos of a painting on a wall, and a young couple almost ran into me as they were walking with their eyes above them fixed on the umbrellas. They had no idea of the artworks that they were just passing by!

Boy on a Motorbike, Bruce Lee, and a Dinosaur!

After walking under the umbrellas, follow the lane way and head out to THIS LOCATION.

Once again, there are a few paintings to see at this spot, but a couple can be tough to find. Thankfully, I am here to help you!

The most popular and easy to spot is the famous Boy on a Motorbike. This clever painting was once again done by the very talented Ernest Zacharevic, who also painted the Kids on a Bicycle. As with his first painting, in this one he has also used a real life prop in the form of an actual motorbike!

This is a really great spot to once again pose and interact with the Street Art. It is also one of the very famous Penang Street Art’s, and like the Kids on a Bicycle painting, can be seen pictured on many Penang souvenirs around town.

Some art is close together — Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur is right next to Boy on Motorcycle

Right next to the Boy on a Motorbike, you will see the remains of another piece of street art called, Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur. Some of the plaster has fallen away over time, but the mural is still there, so don’t miss it.

Another one just like this is back up the street a few meters and around the corner, hidden in a back alley. It is called “The Real Bruce Lee Would Never do This”. It has been damaged and discolored so that even when you are looking at it, it can actually be hard to see. You can find it at THIS LOCATION.

Fisherman Mural, Dancing Girl and Little Girl in Blue

That’s it for the street art in this part of town. We are now heading a little across town to get to the next pieces of art. Don’t worry though, because it’s not that long a walk. You will be cutting through Little India though, so if it’s around lunchtime, you will be passing by a great place to eat called Kapitan. Check out the Where to Eat section below for more details!

Tip – If you are tired of walking, then why not grab a lift on a Rickshaw? Head back around the corner to Armenian Street and your should find plenty.

The first piece of Penang Street Art we are going to find is nearby to the famous Love Lane, and is called “Fisherman Mural”. This piece of art really took me by surprise. I was standing on the corner trying to locate it, then turned around and he was standing on his boat staring at me! It really has a “wow” factor, due to its size and how amazing the artwork is. It’s definitely a “not to be missed” spot. You can find it HERE.

Continue down the street to the Intersection of Love Lane, and you will find above you the painting entitled, “Dancing Girl”. This was not really one of my favorites, but worth seeing anyway.

From there, head across Love Lane and down the street. You are looking for a very large painting on the side of a building called “Little Girl in Blue”, although there is NOTHING little about the painting!

The girl in the painting is actually a Kung Fu Girl, and she is painted in a way that she is using the window awnings as props to ready herself for a powerful kick move. Very clever artwork!

You can find her at THIS LOCATION.

Man Selling Pau and Trishaw Man

Ok, we are getting to the end of this tour. But we still have two more to go.

Penang Street Art man selling Pau — Man Selling Pau

First up head to THIS LOCATION, and find the painting of the Man Selling Pau. This is a bit simpler painting at first glance, but is actually a very detailed image of a local man running his Pau stall. It is on the side wall of a Dry Cleaning Shop, just a couple meters down a side alley by the Oriental Hotel.

From there, head out to the main road, and around to the right. Follow the road to a large carpark HERE. On one wall of the carpark, above eye level, you will find the Trishaw Man painting. It is huge, and you will have to back up a bit toward the car park ticket booth to get a photo!

More Penang Street Art

I hope this itinerary has really helped you to find and get around to the best of the Penang Street Art. Guess what though? There is a lot more street art to be found!

Most of the art featured here was commissioned art. But if there is one thing I found about Penang, it’s that BECAUSE there is so much street art, you sort of just overlook the normal graffiti. DON’T do this!

When you are wandering around, check out other walls. Look around corners. You will find it everywhere, and some of the art that I have just stumbled across has been amazing.

One of my favorites is out near the end of Chew Jetty, down at the Clan Jetties. Walk almost to the end, and where it opens up on your left hand side, turn around. There is a great painting depicting local life on the jetties on the wall of the building there.

Another place to stumble across some impromptu street art is around the Hin Bus Depot. I was there for the local markets one Sunday, and came across some artwork that was amazing. Then, on the walk back to my Homestay I cut down some side streets and found more!

Penang Street Art Food – Where to Eat

There are so many places to eat in George Town, that I will not try to list them here. Instead, these are a few recommendations of places that you can get food that are along the way. The point is that you don’t have to leave this itinerary to grab a great bite to eat.

One note about Penang though, is that finding great food is like finding the Street Art. Just keep your eyes open! That’s how I found these places.

Kapitan Restaurant has great Indian Food

The Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop can be found right next to the “I want Bao” painting at the beginning of this itinerary. They sell Chinese pastries, and are one of the very best on the island!
Edelweiss Café – Located just down the street from “Kids on a Bicycle” this restaurant sells Western food, in particular Swiss meals, and German Beer. You can’t get better on a hot day!
Kapitan is a local favorite Indian Restaurant. It is cheap, and is a counter service restaurant. Get there early as it gets very busy. You will find it on Chulia Street not far from the “Bruce Lee” painting.
The Daily Dose Café – Almost across the road from the “Fisherman Mural” this little café is extremely popular. Coffee, Smoothies, Breakfast and Lunch are favorites here, along with the setting and ambience. People just keep coming back, and with good reason!

Cocoa Mews is about as budget as you can get in George Town. It gets very noisy in the evenings as it is right in Little India. But if you stay out till late, this could be the place for you. With wonderful Indian food all around, great hospitality, cleanliness and even complimentary breakfast snacks and coffee, how could you go wrong?

check price on booking.com

check price on agoda

Summary

The Penang Street Art around George Town is incredible. Make sure that when you are visiting the island, you take a couple of hours to get around and check out as much as possible. It is a great way to spend a day, and you discover more about the city than just the Street Art!

INTERESTED in Penang? Then check out some of my other articles below.

Penang National Park Complete Guide

Penang Hill Guide – Everything you need to know

Penang Street Art – Map, Itinerary and Guide

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