Little India Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Little India. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Penang George Town All-In-One Heritage Tour By Bicycle & Trishaw (Metro Bike)

• 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Dinner Hop in George Town Penang

• Eat Like a Local: Penang Street Food Tour

• Penang Food Tour: A Feast That Tastes Like History: 17+ Tastings

• 3-Hour Heritage on a Plate Lunch Hop in George Town Penang

It costs nothing to visit Little India in George Town, but guided tours can be an affordable way to make the most of your time there, while you learn about the area’s food and culture. Walking tours start at roughly US$45, while food tours that sample the neighborhood’s cuisine go from US$55.

Yes, it's well worth visiting Penang's Little India while sightseeing in George Town. This neighborhood is very central, so it's easy to reach, and is full of places serving tasty Indian cuisine. But it's also home to major local attractions, particularly the Sri Mahamariamman Temple and some of the city's famous street art.

Per one customer who booked the Penang Food Tour: A Feast That Tastes Like History: 17+ Tastings, "This was an awesome experience! JS Lim was our guide, and he was outstanding! He gave us a great tour of both the local food, as well as some local history.  We had an opportunity to try Nyonya, Indian, Chinese, and local foods. We tried all the different drinks and fruits. I would definitely request him personally if we ever wanted to go on a tour again."

You’ll find foods like tandoori chicken, naan bread, nasi dalca (a special lentil dish), masala dosas (semolina pancakes) served with spicy coconut chutney, and much more in Little India. Take a foodie tour to get to know some of the secret street vendors and long-established eateries.

It’s fun to walk through Little India. You can pause when you like, take photos, ask vendors questions, feel sari fabrics, and smell spices in the market. If you’re in a hurry, hire a trishaw, which is inexpensive and can help you cover more ground.

Little India Penang is known for its temples, mosques, and multiple religious sites. It also has some excellent spots for foodies. Visit the Hindu Sri Mahamariamman Temple, and then try some samosas, masala dosas (pancake with curry), and nasi dalca (lentils and potatoes with chicken).

There’s no shortage of things to purchase in Little India's markets. Test your olfactory sense at the spice market, browse jewelry—including gold—at the shops, try on colorful saris for special occasions, and search for religious items, too. Prices are low, so you can buy everyone a souvenir.

Indians were first brought to Penang by British colonizers as laborers. They worked on plantations and built up the town. As more and more Indian workers arrived, they formed groups to hold onto their culture, retaining their language, religious practices, and traditions. They also held onto their spicy food culture.

Visit Little India Penang in December or January when the temperature is cooler than at other times, and there’s less rain. However, rainy times of the year are less crowded, which is a draw for many visitors. The weather is warm, no matter when you visit.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Little India. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Penang:

• Khoo Kongsi

• Kek Lok Si Temple

• Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple

• Penang Hill Funicular Railway

• Pinang Peranakan Mansion

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Penang.