Armenian Street is a must see attraction in George Town, the UNESCO world heritage site on Penang Island, Malaysia. Although not too long and not too wide, it attracts lots of visitors because of special Kongsi (clan houses) and other temples, museums, creative street arts, shops, cafes and restaurants. From here, the distance to other top sights of the whole town is close (such as Chew Jetty or Kapitan Keling Mosque). In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide all information about famous Armenian Street in Penang.
You may like also: Street of Harmony (Penang), Chulia Street (Penang)
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Know about Armenian Street in George Town Penang
– Location: George Town, Penang, Malaysia
– Opening times: morning
– Closing times: mid-night
– Length: around 200 meters
– Width: 5 meters
– Direction: from northwest to southwest
– North end: Lebuh Acheh Street, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
– South end: Beach Street, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
– Other hours: pedestrian time
– Major crossroads: Cannon Street (near Yap Kongsi), Beach Street (near the street art Kids on bicycle by Ernest Zacharevic)
– Recognition(s):
– Reason(s) to visit: the most beautiful street of George Town Penang
– Best time to visit: early morning, late afternoon, evening
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/armenian-street-george-town-penang
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Other information:
Armenian Street (Penang) on Map
History of Armenian Street in George Town Penang
The Armenian Street in George Town Penang was inaugurated in 1808.
In the 19th century, Armenian Street got its name because many Armenian traders resided along it. The Armenians went to the George Town Penang to establish the St George’s Church in 1822 (today on Kapitan Keling Street). However, their presence was short-lived, and they all left the town by 1937 when this Anglican church was demolished.
Before being called ‘Armenian Street’, this road was named ‘Malay Lane’ due to influences of Malay people in the area.
In the middle of the 19th century, Chinese people almost took over the area. That’s why nowadays visitors see their shopshouses, temples and clan houses lining Armenian Street.
On 13rd November 1910, Sun Yat Sen, a [], chaired the Penang conference. This event focused on planning the Huanghuagang Uprising in China (also known as the Second Guangzhou Uprising or the Yellow Flower Mound Uprising). It has a significant importance in the history of the Qing dynasty.
On 7th July 2008, the George Town Penang (together with Melaka, another historic trading center in the Straits of Malacca) was inscribed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Armenian Street was within its core zone.
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Make sure that you check out hoiandaytrip.com, the biggest travel website about this area. You can see helpful information and tours with guide.
Best Time to Visit Armenian Street in George Town Penang
The best time of the year to visit the Armenian Street in George Town Penang, is from December to March (the dry season). During this period, it’s sunny and the chance of rain is small. By that, visitors have good weather to walk along the road, sightsee attractions, take photos of famous street art murals or go shopping.
On the other hand, the best time of the day to visit Armenian Street in George Town Penang, is late afternoon to evening. If come in this period, it will be cooler. In the early morning, the temperature is not high too, but sightseeing places (like kongsi, museums) and local businesses do not open yet. Contrarily, all of them open in the afternoon and later. If come to the Armenian Street area only for street art murals, the early morning is better than the afternoon and evening due to less crowds. Furthermore, because of a large number of visitors coming, cars are not allowed to move on this road (although no official information mentions that it became a walking street). The stretch from Cannon Street to Beach Street is most pedestrian friendly.
Armenian Street is a popular place to visit in George Town Penang. So, it’s relatively crowded in the afternoon and evening as well as weekends and Malaysian public holidays (see the list below). If want to avoid the crowds, the early morning (before 10 am) is better to go.
In the rest of the year, particularly from April to November, it rains everyday. Attractions and local businesses will open as usual, however, visitors need to bring rain poncho or umbrella if come to Armenian Street during this period of time.
* List of public holidays in Malaysia: the New year on 1st January, first two days of Chinese New year (January-February), the Labour day on 1st May, the Independence day on 31st August, and others
Things to Do in Armenian Street, George Town Penang
Historical Places on Armenian Street
Armenian Street is within the core zone of the George Town Penang, a UNESCO world heritage site. This road alone is a ‘historic site’ which testifies to cultural diversity and unique architecture of the town. Along with it, the dominant culture is from Chinese people who have resided in the area for many generations. You can read more about the history of Armenian Street above.
Along Armenian Street, there are some rickshaw riders to hail. Visitors can pay them for a ride around the area to see/photograph the old quarters of the town as well as every life of local people. The price depends on the duration and time of the day (busy or non-busy hours).
From the Labuh Aceh (the Armenian Park) to the Beach Street, visitors will see these historical sites:
+ Syed Alatas Mansion: This house served as the Penang Islamic Museum.
+ Yap Kongsi: at the crossroad of Cannon Street.
+ Choo Chay Keong Temple: constructed in 1924 to worship the patron saint of the Yap clan (a Chinese clan), Huay Che Chun Wang as well as ancestors of the clan. Its entrance is small, near the crossroad of Cannon Street and Armenian Street, because it’s enclosed by shophouses. After a quite large square, there is the temple building which has elaborate and rich decorations, reflecting the wealth of the community.
+ Cheah Kongsi:
We want to remind you that it’s necessary to wear respectively to visit temples on Armenian Street in George Town Penang. In other words, men and women need to wear long pants which cover the upper knees and a shirt which covers the navel and armpits. Female visitors also need to make sure that their shirt covers the back and the chest. The skirt must be long (to cover the navel). Clothes made of see-through materials are not accepted in Vietnamese traditional culture because it’s not respectful enough. Pants or shirts that fit tightly around the body (such as jegging,…), are thought to be not good for a temple visit. All kinds of footwear will be acceptable (so shoes, flip flops, sandals, high heels,… are okay).
Before going into temples on Armenian Street, make sure that visitors remove the hat, sun glasses and rain poncho (or umbrella) as well as take shoes off.
Street Art Murals on Armenian Street
George Town is one of the most well known places for street art in Penang. Murals here are 100% free of charge and open to all visitors.
+ ‘Kids on Bicycle’ (or ‘Children on Bicycle’), near the crossroad of the Beach Street) that is painted by Ernest Zacharevic, a male Lithuanian public artist who was born in 1986. Based in Penang, in 2012, he received international recognition with a collection of 6 street art murals which depict the everyday life of local people of the town. During the day, there are lots of tourists coming to ‘Children on Bicycle’ to take photos, making this corner of Armenian Street busy.
On nearby Lebuh Ah Quee Street, a short walk from the ‘Children on Bicycle’ on Armenian Street, visitors can find ‘Boy on Motorcycle’, another popular street art spot in the George Town Penang. It’s also made by Ernest Zacharevic.
In addition, nearby Cannon Street is also famous for many street art murals (like ‘Boy on Chair’ or ‘Window Cat’). It crosses Armenian Street at the Yap Kongsi Temple. See more information & details
Along Armenian Street, there are metal sculptures found too, such as ‘Too Narrow’, ‘Procession’, ‘Then & Now’. Each one tells us a different story about local life, culture, special features of the place it stands, history, etc.
Museums on Armenian Street
Besides the Chinese heritage buildings and street art murals, Armenian Street boasts a number of museums. At these attractions, .
From the Labuh Aceh (the Armenian Park) to the Beach Street, visitors will see these museums:
+ Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang:
– Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 am to 7 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and all public holidays in Malaysia
– Closing hours: every Thursday (except public holidays in Malaysia), 12nd November (Mr Sun Yat Sen’s birthday anniversary), 12nd March (anniversary for Mr Sun Yat Sen’s day of death)
– Ticket price: free
– Updates: this museum is temporarily closed from 1st May 2024
– Travel guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/sun-yat-sen-museum-penang
+ Asia Camera Museum:
– Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm daily
– Closing hours:
– Ticket price: 25 MYR per adult
– Travel guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/asia-camera-museum-penang
+ Batik Painting Museum
– Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm daily
– Closing hours:
– Ticket price: 10 MYR per adult
– Travel guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/batik-painting-museum-penang
+ Penang Islamic Museum
– Opening hours: 9:30 am to 6 pm daily
– Closing hours:
– Ticket price: 10 MYR per adult, 5 MYR per child and senior
– Travel guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/penang-islamic-museum
The Umbrella Alley
Near the crossroad of Armenian Street and Cannon Street, visitors can find the entrance of the Umbrella Alley (or Umbrella Lane). It’s only 100 meters long with the south end at Armenian Street and north end at the Labuh Ah Quee (near the ‘Flying Dimond’ mural). It takes its name after local people hung up many colorful umbrellas overhead here.
Besides taking photos at the Umbrella Lane, visitors can buy souvenirs or drink coffee. The busiest time of the day is from 4 pm to night.
The Armenian Street at Night
Shops, restaurants and bars along Armenian Street still open at night.
How to Get to Armenian Street in George Town Penang
Armenian Street is a nearly-200-meters-long road in George Town, the historic center and a world heritage site on Penang Island, Malaysia.
In the afternoon and evening, cars just can drop off visitors near the crossroads of Armenian Street with Beach Street or Cannon Street.
From the George Town Penang, visitors can walk, take a short car ride or ride the motorbike to go to Armenian Street.
Visitors can reach the Chew Jetty or Kapitan Keling Mosque (two other must see places in George Town) first and then walk to Armenian Street.
From the Penang International Airport (PEN), the distance to Armenian Street is around 40 kilometers. Visitors can take a car/bus to get there. The drive is 30-45 minutes, depending on the traffic and weather.
From Butterworth, visitors need to go to the ferry terminal first and then take a ferry ride (10-15 minutes) from there. After landing Penang, follow the Weld Road and at the entrance of Chew Jetty, cross this road and go straight ahead to see Armenian Street. While walking across Weld Road, be careful.
From Batu Ferringhi, the distance to Armenian Street is around 16 kilometers. Visitors can take a car, bus or motorbike to get there.
Places to Visit near Armenian Street in George Town Penang
– Kongsi (clan house): Khoo Kongsi, Cheah Kongsi, Tan Kongsi, Lim Kongsi
– Temples: Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Temple), Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Nagore Dargah Sharif, Tua Pek Kong Temple, Wu Ti Meow (War Emperor’s Temple),
– Mosques: Kapitan Keling Mosque, Lebuh Aceh Mosque (Acheen Street Mosque)
– Churches: St George’s Church, Church of the Assumption
– Heritage mansions: Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion), House of Jeap Chor Ee
– Clan jetties: Chew Jetty, Tan Jetty, Ong Jetty, Lee Jetty
– Museums: Penang State Museum & Art Gallery, Sun Yat Sen Museum, Wonderfood Museum, Straits & Oriental Museum, Asia Camera Museum, Penang 3D Trick Art Museum, Upside Down Museum, Batik Painting Museum, Ghost Museum Penang, Glass Museum Penang, Penang Islamic Museum, Penang Ferry Museum, Penang Diocesan Museum
– Other heritage buildings: Fort Cornwallis, Victoria Clock Tower, Penang City Hall, Penang Town Hall, Esplanade (Padang), Cenotaph War Memorial, Municipal Fountain Park, Logan Memorial,
– Famous streets and walkways: Armenian Street, Chulia Street, Esplanade Walk,
– Areas: China Town, Little India
Itinerary to Visit George Town Penang for First Timer
We suggest this itinerary to explore the George Town Penang by foot for first timers:
Total distance: 2,4 kilometers
– Starting point: Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a must see attraction in the town. You can get here by walking or taking a taxi/car/bus. If want to eat something before the walking tour, can try nasi lemak at nearby Ali at the entrance of Sri Weld Food Court on Beach Street.
– Walking along Church Street (towards Beach Street) and at the crossroad with Beach Street, turn left. Go straight until see the Victoria Clock Tower.
– Walking along Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah Road (the eastern side of the Fort Cornwallis) and then along the Esplande Walk between the fort, the padang and the sea. At the Cenotaph War Memorial, turn into Jalan Padang Kota Lama Road (to the left).
– Walking along Jalan Padang Kota Lama Road, pass by the City Hall, the Town Hall, and the Municipal Fountain Park until the end (the Light Street).
– Walking along the Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling Road (‘Street of Harmony’ or Pitt Street) until the end (the Armenian Street). Pass by St George’s Church with its Francis Light Memorial, Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Temple), Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mahamariamman Temple.
– Walking along the Cannon Street until the end (Lebuh Acheh Mosque). You will find the entrance of Khoo Kongsi, famous ‘Boy on Chair’ mural, ‘Window Cat’ mural
– Going back to the crossroad of Cannon Street and the Armenian Street, turn right and then walk along Armenian Street (one of the prettiest roads in George Town Penang). On this narrow road, can see Chinese temples and clan houses (such as Cheah Kongsi, Choo Chay Keong Temple), famous street art murals (like ‘Kids on Bicycle’), the umbrella alley or shophouses.
– The ending point: Chew Jetty, the longest and the most popular clan jetty in Penang, which has ‘Folklore by the Sea’ mural
For more details and the map, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/penang-self-guided-walking-tour
