Georgetown Shopping and Districts

(Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia)

Georgetown is something of a shopper's paradise, from the mainstream malls and independent stores and boutiques, to the ethnic quarters and the street markets. Most malls are based in the centre, with bargain shopping in focus all over town. Jalan Penang, close to Komtar, is a great shopping street, being home to an array of bazaars and speciality shops.

Shopaholics may be surprised to find so many value-for-money shopportunities on a small island like Penang. From Georgetown's first mall in the Komtar Tower and its next-door neighbour - the huge Prangin Mall, to the New World Plaza and its quieter Penang Bazaar, shopping until you drop is mandatory here. Another good choice is the One Stop Midlands Park Centre, with its bargains galore across everything from Malaysian crafts to IT

When to Shop and Where

When you've recovered from mall-hopping, the next treats are Georgetown's ethnic districts and markets. Little Penang Street Market kicks off on the last Sunday of the month, and is a unique and amazing local crafts bazaar offering the best of the island's cultural products. Each vendor is carefully screened for quality goods such as jewellery, wood carvings, spices and curios.

The Little India district of Georgetown is crammed with shops selling spices, saris, textiles and Hindu religious artefacts, while Chinatown's unique shopping offers antiques, jades, costume, traditional Chinese medicine, crystals and herbs.

The Chowrasta market is the best-known in Penang and offers yet more spices and dry goods on its ground floor, as well as dried fruits, fresh seafood and other local delicacies. On its upper floor is a much-loved secondhand bookstore with used copies of all varieties of favourite reads.

Most stores, shopping malls and markets in Penang open quite late, around 10:00 or so, with markets in Georgetown closing at 17:00 or thereabouts. Komtar, Prangin and the rest of the malls stay open until 22:00, and the combined entertainment centre cum shopping mall and restaurant hub at New World Park stays open until 23:00.

More information about Penang shopping.