Penang

George Town, Penang's capital, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008, together with Melaka. Its streets are rows of historic shophouses, with mosques, temples and Chinese clan houses side by side, among them the Kapitan Keling Mosque built by Indian Muslim traders.

George Town is also known for its murals, the best known painted by Ernest Zacharevic in 2012, and for its food: it is called Malaysia's food capital, for assam laksa, nasi kandar and seafood.

Above the city, Penang Hill rises to 833 metres. A funicular climbs it in about 5 to 10 minutes, with views over the city, the strait and the bridge to the mainland.

Penang is about an hour by air from Kuala Lumpur. We suggest two to three nights.