George Town

George Town needs 3 days: the colonial historic center, with street art murals and Chinese temples, Indian temples and mosques coexisting on the same blocks, on one, the Penang Hill cable car for views over the city on another, and a street food route through its hawker stalls, considered among Asia's best, on the third. December-February brings the driest weather. It's inexpensive, among Malaysia's cheapest destinations. Its historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 together with Malacca, is a rare example of architectural and religious coexistence among Malay, Chinese and Indian communities dating back over 200 years of British port trade.