• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Carbon Neutral

Get ready to discover the vibrant districts of China Town & Little India during a private tour with me - your local friend! I can show you the best local spots, hidden gems and lively markets that buzz with locals. Of course, you also have the chance to taste the most delicious local treats!

Destination

Penang, Malaysia

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

4 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English

Included

• Private guide
• Pick-up Included

Excluded

• Children below 6 is free for this tour , above this age must pay .

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Virginia Ann.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Penang. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. China Town

   Discover the local markets, bazaar and a meditation shop!

4. Little India

   Marvel at the sight of a colorful Hindu temple and take in the delicious flavors and smells of Little India

5. Penang Flea Market

   Learn all about bargaining and discover local houses and habits!

6. Local Lunch

   Choose between the Malay, Indian or Chinese cuisine for an unforgettable local lunch!

7. End tour

   Your host will drop you back and share their last local tips!

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Andrew🇺🇸 United States

26 November 2024

Virginia made our stay in Penang into an unforgettable experience. A life long resident made the difference as we saw both all the major sights advertised but also many local areas that only a resident would know about. Virginia showed us some great small little eating areas that she frequents and they were wonderful. We plan to tell our travel agent and all of our friends visiting to be sure to contact Virginia Ann before arriving!Travels with Virginia Ann

Nick🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 October 2024

Spent a very enjoyable morning with Virginia exploring Penang. She picked us up at our hotel was there early, and showed us some of the key sights. She took us to some local markets , places we would never have found. She knew everyone there and it felt very welcoming. We stopped for coffee and cake an opportunity to try food that we would never normally do. She was knowledgeable about local history and customs which really helped our understanding of the city and its customs . All in all a great tour and money well spent. Thank you Virginia!A morning in Penang

Gopi🇦🇺 Australia

13 July 2024

We had a fantastic tour with Virginia Ann. She was very kind, thoughtful and had a great positive energy. Fantastic tour

Joseph🇨🇦 Canada

11 July 2024

I reached out to Virginia Ann a few weeks prior to my trip making some inquiries and requesting some customization. Virginia Ann was very quick to respond. She fully understood what I was looking for and went over and above providing me with everything I was looking for and than some. Virginia Ann's passion and knowledge of Penang and her willing to share is something that should not be missed. Great communicator. Amazing Experience/Highly Recommend

Yassine🇫🇷 France

4 May 2024

Wonderful day with Virginia, very charming, helpful and nice very personAmazing experience

Vincent🇳🇱 Netherlands

24 February 2024

We hebben een geweldige indruk gekregen van George Town dankzij een prachtige tour met Virginia Ann. Ze heeft ons heel veel over de cultuur, geschiedenis, gebruiken, eten en drinken in George Town verteld. Ze kent de mensen persoonlijk en zij kennen haar. Je wandelt en rijdt door de stad alsof je er woont en leeft. Was echt een geweldige ervaring. Virginia Ann, gids met kennis en humor

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13 January 2024

Virginia is a well informed and super host . We had a very good time and saw many new things off the beaten track and had great fun! Great day

Darryl🇸🇬 Singapore

15 December 2023

Virginia is friendly and a library of local knowledge into the history, culture and stories of Penang. Booking her tour will be a great way to kick start your holidays in Penang!A great intro to Penang History & Culture

zg6z8gg9xr🇩🇪 Germany

21 November 2023

Virginia is that lovely local lady that knows everyone and everything! I had a blast strolling around Penang with her. I got to experience some history/heritage while engaging with the locals at various markets. After that we shared some of the most amazing street foods together and I got to try my luck at blessing fountain. All in all a very nice experience. I recommend everyone to hang out with her. All I can say is hang out with her and you will have a very good time in Penang Cheers!A story about a lovely day in Penang

Mark🇳🇱 Netherlands

13 August 2023

Booking this tour was one of the best things we did during our trip through Malaysia. It felt more like taking a trip with a good friend or family member than like a tourist tour. Virginia showed us Georgetown in a way we could not have come up with ourselves. The itinerary of the tour was already good, but we were able to adjust things according to our likes and interests. Virginia is a sweet, warm and funny woman that knows her city and happily takes you around. Because one day was not enough for us, we took out an extra day with her. Honestly, we could have spend numerous days with her! Loved the experience and miss her now we are back home. An absolutely amazing experience

Eduard🇳🇱 Netherlands

24 July 2023

Enjoyed the local market experience. Virginia Ann showed us around with humor and enthousiasm. Go local in George Town

Gregory🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 July 2023

Virginia is a lovely person, a passionate advocate for Penang and a well informed and well travelled tourism professional. We relished the visits to Buddhist Temples and Food Markets, browsing in places where we would otherwise have had little access as visitors to Penang. We also gained a clearer understanding many facets of the fascinating culture of Penang. We highly recommend Virginia as a local guide in Penang.A beautiful experience

Stella and Gary🇬🇧 United Kingdom

26 April 2023

Virginia was great. She picked us up in her little car and took us to the stunning Thai and Burmese Buddhist temples. She pointed out all the little things we would have missed and asked for a monk’s blessing for us which was wonderful. She guided us around the markets and ordered some unique streetfood for us. She was very good company and I’d definitely recommend choosing her tour.Great company and easy going

Benoit🇯🇵 Japan

3 April 2023

I had the pleasure of spending a day exploring Penang with Virginia, and it was an incredible experience Virginia took me on a journey through different neighborhoods, starting with the vibrant China Town markets and ending with the bustling flea market of Penang. Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful Hindu temple in Little India and had an unforgettable lunch featuring local cuisine. One of the highlights of the tour was when Virginia arranged for a monk to give me a good prayer. It was a truly special moment. Virginia's passion and knowledge for Penang were evident throughout the day. She shared interesting stories about the city's history and culture, as well as insider tips on where to find the best street art for photos. Speaking of photos, Virginia also helped me find the perfect spots to capture Penang's vibrant street art scene. She knew key gems and was patient as I snapped away. Overall, Virginia was an exceptional guide, and I would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Penang. Her warm personality and genuine hospitality made me feel like I was exploring the city with an old friend. Thank you, Virginia, for an unforgettable day!Discovering Penang with Virginia

Michelle🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 March 2023

We had such a lovely few hours with Virginia Ann. She really made us feel like she was a friend showing us around her town. We saw places we wouldn’t have seen as normal tourists as well as some must see tourist hotspots. We also tasted some excellent food. I would highly recommend a tour with this delightful lady.A fun morning!

Carmel🇦🇺 Australia

5 January 2023

Virginia is kind, family friendly and knowledgeable - we are so grateful to have met her and learnt about the local area from her. very accommodating to our needs and took some beautiful photos of our family too. thank you Virginia!wonderful host

Unknown

16 December 2022

We had a very interesting morning with Virginia, who started off by taking us to a local wet market, full of fresh fish and meat, just so much! So much more than in uk! We had a sample of snacks at the market, which we enjoyed a lot! After this Virginia took us to a Buddhist temple, very impressive with the second biggest reclining Buddha outside of Thailand. We then saw the chinese jetties, in particular Chew Jetty, which is something we’d never seen before anywhere! Simply amazing. Virginia drove us around a little to see some of the colonial buildings before dropping us off outside a spectacular Chinese house, now a museum. It was an excellent morning and Virginia generously gave us her time over the allotted time. We would recommend her.A really interesting experience

Stefan🇺🇸 United States

5 December 2022

My wife and I had a wonderful time with Virginia through Hindu temples, markets, fruit stands, a fabulous Indian lunch (on a banana leaf) and through checking out dresses in various Indian and Malay stalls and shops! Apparently, Virginia seems to know like half of the people in the city, so with her as an ‘ice-breaker’ you can very easily chat with them - including about things they actually care about like the recent election or the ongoing World Cup. Super cool! Virginia herself is very funny with a subtle sense of irony (probably inherited from her Irish father😉). Time flew by so fast - and Virginia gave us a few pointers for ‘trendy’ dinner locations (try Hameediyah restaurant). Thanks Virginia, StefanLittle India - with an Irish twist

Matt🇺🇸 United States

18 November 2022

Virginia was an awesome guide. She’s fun, positive and knowledgeable about the area. She instantly asked us where we had been before as to not visit the same places so our experience was tailored for us. Overall the experience was fun, informative and authentic. We would recommend Virginia to anyone. Lovely morning with Virginia!

Vineeth🇸🇬 Singapore

18 October 2022

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with Virginia. She is very hospitable, knowledgeable and passionate about penang. I felt like I was brought around Penang by my long lost Aunty. She adjusted our tour due to rainy weather seamlessly and made sure we were well fed throughout our trip. I will definitely engage her again the next time I am in Penang and highly recommend everyone else to do the same.Warm and Hospitable

Michael🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 October 2022

We booked a trip with Virginia Ann we had a wonderful day visiting markets sampling some of the local dishes and Temples culminating in a walk around historic Georgetown and a wonderful Indian meal. A great tour Virginia Ann has excellent English and great communication skills. Lovely Experience

Thomas🇺🇸 United States

25 September 2022

Virginia Ann was our guide for a wonderful day of exploring Penang. We were traveling with an elderly relative with limited mobility and Virginia Ann was able to craft a day that was fun and educational. We started with breakfast at the local market then toured the Blue Mansion which is a wonderfully restored mansion that also serves as a boutique hotel. A visit to the Reclining Buddah Temple was a chance to see some beautiful and historic architecture and the 3rd largest reclining Buddah in the world. The wait at Penang Hill was too long so we drove to the Kek Lok Si Temple which has awesome views of Penang and is quite impressive itself. Then after a driving tour of some local point of interest she got us back to our hotel in fine shape. Virginia Ann is a kind hearted and knowledgeable guide. You will enjoy your time with her. Excellent Guide

Khaliegh🇬🇧 United Kingdom

22 August 2022

My tour with Virginia was fab, she took me to local markets, try out local cuisine, and has lots of knowledge of the area. My partner wasn't feeling well so I had came on my own and by the end I felt like I had a day out with my auntie, Virginia is warm,knowledgable & accomodating. I love these with locals tours, they are very relaxed whilst giving you a real feel for the place Thank you. Highly recomend

Michael

8 March 2020

Es war ein sehr interessanter Tag mit Virginia. Sie hat uns an sehr schöne Plätze in Penang geführt, war dabei sehr kompetent und humorvoll, wir hatten einen unvergesslichen Tag mit ihr. Wir würden sie auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen. Danke für den schönen Tag. Tolle Reiseleiterin

Ben🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 January 2020

Had a fab morning with Virginia exploring Chinatown, Little India and the old town. She was full of life with a great sense of humour and we learnt a great deal. She is happy to adapt the itinerary and explore local food places and some great cake shops! Thank you Virginia.Virginia was brilliant!

Chiara🇺🇸 United States

9 December 2019

I can’t begin to praise how wonderful Virginia has been. She customized a tour for my mother and me. As I had mentioned that my mother had limited mobility and needed the assistance of a walker, Virginia tailored a tour to our needs. She picked us up at our hotel with her car and drove us to a phenomenal market where she introduced us to delights we had never tried before. She seemed to know all the aunties and uncles who were working there, taking us through butchers, vegetable stands and fishmongers. All so very interesting. She was informative and very knowledgeable. Our tour of three hours turned into a 6 hour personal tour of Penang. We are looking forward to returning with other family members. I can’t thank her enough for her genuine hospitality and interest in designing a tour to meet our needs. Delightful thoughtful informative genuine

Anouska🇳🇱 Netherlands

2 September 2019

We had a great tour with Virginia. She is a very social, positive person with a great sense of humor. She knows everything there is to know about the island and has a lot of fun story's to tell. She also loves food just as much as we do, so we got to taste some of the local food which we loved. She was also very interested about our lives and very soon it felt like we were friends talking and laughing. I would definitely recommend going on a tour with Virginia to learn a lot, eat some and overall have a great day! Great experience

Roger🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

21 August 2019

Virginia is positive and full of life and sense of humor was very helpful and showed us around Georgetown penang Would recommend her anytimeGeorgetown tour

Justine 🇦🇺 Australia

18 July 2019

Virginia has a delightful, warm and funny personality. Lovely to have Hag her as our host and recommend her to anyone needing a guide Great sense if humour

JianLiang🇹🇼 Taiwan, Province of China

26 June 2019

You won’t regret to join these trip with Virginia! She knows vendors and locals well that you can talk and even go through what locals actually do in their daily life. She can get into situations and make everyone happy during the trip. 10/10 recommended to other travelers. I appreciated with the arrangements which she had made. You made our day;)Tailored made for customer

Peter🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 June 2019

We had a great guided tour around Georgetown with Virginia. She is an excellent guide with a cool attitude and great sense of humour. We got to see places we had never found ourselves and highly recommend Virginia.Excellent guide

Martin🇩🇪 Germany

23 May 2019

While on a cruise we had a wonderful day with Virginia in Penang. She guided us around the town including markets and temples and was very flexible to our wishes. She led us to try local food which was delicious and even pointed out shops, where we found what we were looking for. She has a great and cheerful nature. Thank you very much Virginia, you made our trip special.Best day of our vacation

Stuart🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 April 2019

Virginia is excellent company, has a fab sense of humour and made me feel comfortable from the start . And she was very flexible with the schedule too, which suited me. We went off piste almost immediately in order to visit a Thai Water Festival at the Buddhist temple.....just because we happened to see it was on. Boy ! What a blast that was literally! We got soaked with people squirting water at us and we were splattered with ( completely washable) gold paint. To say it was lively would be an understatement ! We also visited markets and bought lovely gifts at low prices to take home....she really knows her stuff. She also told me of events going on in Penang during my stay too. I love being shown round by local people and Virginia could not have been better. Getting completely drenched with Virginia

Katrin🇩🇪 Germany

27 January 2019

Dear virginia, thanks for the great day with you in penang. It was very interesting und funny to spend time with you! We whish you all the best.Great day with virginia!

Marja🇳🇱 Netherlands

21 January 2019

Virginia is a great host. Because of the Thaipusam we have seen the hole ceremonial and the surroundings of the tempel. It was so great to see! Also the local market was a pleasure to do. We drunk local coffee with local sweets. She takes time for telling us the interesting thinks. Thanks to Virginia we had a great experience!Impressive

Marco🇬🇧 United Kingdom

31 December 2018

Virginia was very friendly and informative. She customised the tour for me and made it longer than usual (for a higher price). We also moved to different parts of George Town with her car. And she is a manager of a very nice colonial home stay that I hope to book next time :)Custom tour

Jay🇺🇸 United States

11 November 2018

Our time spent with Virginia was a complete delight. She showed us parts of the city that most tourist never get the chance to see. She offered good advice on food and activities and always with great personality and charm. Great Time In Penang with Virginia

Phil🇺🇸 United States

8 November 2018

How do I start other than to say my wife and I booked with Virginia pretty much at the last minute after reading her reviews. Luckily she was able to take us. Right away we all hit it off. In fact Virginia and my wife had some very similar traits. Was I the odd man out? Yes! Was it hilariously fun? Absolutely! The perfect guide, we had the best time. Fantastic person, extraordinary guide. She even is a B&B host (look her up). She has more than 20 some years in the hospitality industry and believe me you can tell. 10 stars. Book her. Hung Out With A New Friend

Sonja🇩🇪 Germany

6 October 2018

Virginia is a darling. She picked me up at the hotel and took me around town. We visited a flea market, a bazaar, she took me to the station to help me buy a train ticket. We tried some typical snacks and made a little walk through China Town. It was less a a seeing tour but more of a friend showing me her way of life. Wonderful morning. Thank you, Virginia. Virginia is a darling

Matthijs🇳🇱 Netherlands

9 August 2018

Penang is a great place to visit if you love food and culture. And our local host Virgina made it a memorable experience. From visiting the local flee market to ancient temples and bustling food courts, Virginia seems to know everybody in town. She has a very engaging personality and our kids loved her. From throwing little coins in the "fountain of luck" to a hidden place for delicious ice-cream, the kids could have easily spent another day with her. Based on the location of your accommodation Virginia will offer a customized tour to make sure you see the most of Georgetown, while being able to explore the area of your accommodation on your own and in more detail. We'd love to come back!Discovering Georgetown with Virginia

Marjolein🇳🇱 Netherlands

2 August 2018

Virginia is a real host. She speaks fluently english and is a pleasure to have around to explain things. If you like shopping at local markets, this tour is made for you. Virginia picked us up at our hotel and brought us to several markets in her car. We really liked that she took us to the temple of the reclining boeddha. The 4 hour tour was over before we knew it. Thank you Virginia, for showing us around!City Escapade Tour

Emma

28 July 2018

We had a great time with Virginia as she is so bubbly and laid back; we didn't feel like we were on a tour but more so with a friend. The flea market was great and we popped into some lovely places that we otherwise might have missed! Highlight of our time in Penang for sure. Thank you Virginia! Highlight of our time in Penang

Madelene🇸🇪 Sweden

6 March 2018

I had an amazing day with Virginia. She picked me up in Batu Ferringhi and we headed to Georgetown. We walked around in Chinatown, little India, Armenian street. She showed me small tiny places that I would never found out on my own. The tour ended up when she transfered me to my new hotel. Virginia is such an open person, relaxed and it felt like she was an “old” friend. I really recommend this tour. City escapade tour

Madelon🇳🇱 Netherlands

16 February 2018

City Escapade Tour

Claudia🇨🇦 Canada

1 February 2018

We enjoyed Virginia’s company. She was lovely to be with. The tour was not exactly what I had asked for. I emailed with what I wanted and the first thing I asked was to not go to a swap meet or market...not interested. But the first place we went was a market even after telling her no thanks. We have been to so many markets, it wasn’t new or interesting for us. Then we spend too long there. We wanted to see the historical sites and learn the history and stories of Georgetown and Penang. The sites we saw were nice just not what we expected. As I said, Virginia was pleasant to travel around with and we did enjoy her company. After two tours with WithLocals, I have figured out that you get a local person who knows some stuff from a local angle, not necessarily a guide who can give you the history and stories behind the sites.City Escapade Tour

Irena🇳🇱 Netherlands

30 December 2017

With Virginia we saw a lot of different spots we never saw when we were on our own. Virginia is very relaxed and you also have never a dull moment with her.Sightseeing @ penang

Lidia🇦🇺 Australia

11 November 2017

We booked this tour to get our bearings on our first day in Georgetown. Plans changed due to extremely bad weather the night before leaving many areas in accessible with flooding and fallen trees. Virginia did a great job of keeping to as much of the itinerary as possible and had suggestions for the experiences we had to change. Viriginia was very gracious in listening to what we liked, particularly what to eat and sought out samples for us to try. We enjoyed our experience and highly recommend booking Viriginia when in Penang. Enjoyable morning with Virginia

Lesley🇳🇱 Netherlands

17 June 2015

Many thanks for the great tour Virginia! It was great to see the not-touristic beautiful parts of Penang. And off course we tried the the puffs and the Penang style noodles, but the ones you had for lunch were the best! For anyone who wants to see the real Penang, just go with Virginia!China Town & Little India Tour

Ieva🇱🇹 Lithuania

3 June 2014

The Tour with Virginia and her husband was one of the most memorizable experiences we brought home from Malaysia! We were absolutely impressed by the veriety of cultures, people, food, shops, colours around us. The company of Virginia and her husband was the most perfect in the world for exporing this incredible town with it's small and windy streets. We adored Indian and Chinese temples, food and sweets which were recommended by our guides. We took the deep insight in the history, religion, culture and todays life as it was extremely interesting to listen to Virginia and our every question was answered with detail. We came back from the tour so much richer in our minds and of course in our bags since Virginia guided us to the best places to buy spices, insence sticks and other adorable things. Next time we are in Penang we would absolutely seek for Virginia's company again as I am sure it would be equally or even more interesting as she is an incredible person who knows a lot. All the best wished from Lithuania to you and your husband, Virginia! Hope to see you again some time :)China Town & Little India Tour

Marco🇺🇸 United States

22 November 2024

My wife and I took a tour with Virgina Ann. She is pleasant and knowledgeable. It was not your typical tour. She showed us many sights that provided a depiction of local life. I would definitely recommend Virginia as your guide. Virginia Ann (GREAT)