Esplanade

Experiencing the nature and heritage of Penang is an essential part of any Penang visit. A visit to Esplanade must be included in your travel bucket list.

Esplanade is the seaside promenade located in the heart of Georgetown, Penang. It was here - the first area to be cleared by Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang, in the year 1786. It was used as a military parade ground in the earlier days. To this day, it serves as a major venue for celebrations and cultural activities in Penang.

Esplanade was upgraded to reinforce its seawall and reopened to the public in May 2022. It now has a 460-meter walkway from Medan Renong food court to the Royal Malaysian Navy base. You can stroll along and enjoy the scenery there.

The seawall is designed to preserve history, which takes you back to the 1780s. The lower terrace lets you look closer to the sea and enjoy the sea breeze. However, this area is submerged during high tide. Therefore, DO NOT enter the lower terrace during high tide, heavy rain, or strong waves.

A warning sign has been put up near the lower terrace.

Take your time strolling around, and you'll notice that Esplanade is surrounded by historic architecture. Penang City Hall, Town Hall, and Fort Cornwallis can be seen in the background. 

If you have time, you can stroll further down the walkway, and you'll discover Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. It was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Apart from that, Cenotaph (Penang War Memorial) will be another must-see when you're at Esplanade. The Prince of Wales unveiled it in 1922 to commemorate sailors who lost their lives in World War 1. FUN FACT! It was destroyed by Allied bombers during World War 2 and rebuilt after the war in 1948.

In addition, Penang Veteran's Association built another monument to remember those dead in World War 2, Siam-Burma Death Railway, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation and Re-insurgency Period.

Besides all these historical architectures, you'll be surprised to discover some beautiful flora around the Esplanade. They're so lovely, aren't they?

Take out your camera and capture the breathtaking view along the Esplanade. I'm sure you can get many excellent views of a "postcard" photo in this amazing place.

There is no better way to get rid of your tiredness than to rest on its available chair. SMART TIP! Remember, do not sit on the seawall. Safety first!

What a good place! Esplanade allows you to feel the sea breeze and step into the history of Penang at the same time! Let's move your step to this amazing place today!