It is best to put on your shoes and gear, and get your passport as soon as your cruise ship arrives at the busy port of George Town. Its port is well-planned, and there is proper indication by signs on where the taxis, tour operators, and the main town area are located. With only six hours at your disposal, you should avoid long tours and concentrate on a leisure tour in which you will have to be your guide. The most suitable way to begin is to have a brief taxi ride to the very center of George Town with its colored streets, historic places, and good food. The town center is approximately 20 minutes on foot; however, with children, it is most sensible to take a short taxi ride so you have the energy to enjoy.
First Stop: Exploring George Town’s Famous Street Art and Murals
The city of George Town is known to have lively street art, and any family visit cannot be complete without a visit to some of the most iconic murals. Begin on the Armenian Street to see the well-known mural of the Children on a Bicycle, and a great place for all families to stop and take a photo. When going down the narrow lanes, do remember to look out for other interactive works of art, which include the statue of a tiny girl in blue or the boy on a motorbike. The roads are also walkable, and the amount of shade is high, making it not tiring when moving around the place. En route there, you would happen to pass by some small souvenir stores that sell handmade products, ice cream shops, and bubble gum cafes where you can obtain a refreshing drink.
A Taste of Penang: Go Where and Eat the Best Local Food with Kids
Once you have built an appetite, go to one of George Town’s well-established Hawker Centers or family restaurants. To have an inexpensive and excellent meal, play Gurmey drive hawker centre, where you will get kid-friendly items such as char Sun (stir fries) or sticky rice, satay(grilled rods), and cendols (a tropical sweet dessert). In case your children like something more common, you can walk to a cafe such as ChinaHouse, where you can find sandwiches, cakes, and a calm environment. Alternatively, there is the Tek Sen Restaurant that features delicious yet not too spicy Chinese cuisine that even the fussy eaters will like. Dining local is an experience as well, which is why you don’t need to be too strict about buying local food. This way, you can make the meals stress-free for the children, since you can also take the option of restaurants in Penang.
Visiting Clan Jetties and Fort Cornwallis
After everyone has been fed and energized, go on a short walk to Clan Jetties, which is a string of waterfront villages made of wood and supported by stilts. Both jetties are unique and have small shops where people sell snacks and souvenirs. Children will enjoy coming on the wooden planks and seeing vessels go by. Then proceed to the oldest British fort in Malaysia: Fort Cornwallis. Although most of it is in ruins, it is an excellent open space to run around, and the cannons and old wall are fun to climb. It is a fee to get in, but it is worth it to get a picture and a feel of what this house was back in 1840.
Cooling Off at a Waterfront Café or Beach
At this stage, you may feel the urge to take some rest, and so you can either pause at a waterfront cafe such as Junk Caf or under a tree at the Esplanade. Your children might be having too much energy, so let them run on the beach by taking a short ride in a taxi to the Gurney Drive seaside promenade as you cool off with the ocean breeze.
Rush-Hour Tokens and candy
Walk down the bustling streets of George Town and shop for some last-minute souvenirs. Colorful stuff can be well found in Little India, and local snacks can be tried in Chowrasta Market, which sells nutmeg candy and dried fruits. Assuming you have time, visit one of the local biscuit shops in town to get a fresh batch of homemade biscuits or hit the local ice cream shop to get a dessert. Taxis are easily accessible around the market zones, thus making it an easy ride back to the port without any rush prior to departure.
Ensuring a Smooth Return to Your Cruise Ship
On your way back to the cruise terminal, be sure to leave yourself 30-45 minutes of time to get there as your 6 hours in George Town draws to a close. Also, traffic around the port becomes busy, in case there are several ships docked. Upon returning, you will breeze into security, and you will have a wonderful recollection of a laid-back yet satisfying day in one of the most beautiful cities in Malaysia.
