Where to Live in Penang: Gurney Drive, George Town or Tanjung Bungah
Penang Island is about 293 square kilometres, yet its districts feel very different from one another. The seafront towers of Gurney Drive, the heritage streets of George Town and the hillside and beach neighbourhoods of Tanjung Bungah each attract their own residents. Choosing where to live in Penang shapes your commute, your weekends and, for buyers, the kind of tenant demand you can expect.
This guide compares the three districts and the developments in each, from branded seafront residences to low density family homes, with dated figures throughout.
Gurney Drive: the seafront address
Gurney Drive runs along the northeast coast between George Town and Tanjung Tokong. It is one of Penang’s most established residential addresses, with Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon, two world class shopping centres, the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and Gurney Bay, a new seafront park and promenade on reclaimed land along the shore.
Marriott Residences Penang, completed in 2023, is a 55 storey freehold tower with 302 residences on levels 30 to 55, above a Marriott hotel. It was the first Marriott Residences in Southeast Asia. A short walk along the seafront, The Westin Residences is a 69 storey freehold tower with 498 residences, launched in September 2025 and due for completion in mid 2028. It is set to become the tallest residential building in northern Malaysia.
Pykett Avenue and Pulau Tikus: quiet streets near the centre
Just inland from Gurney Drive, the streets around Pykett Avenue, Jalan Kelawai and Pulau Tikus are calmer and leafier. Pulau Tikus Market, one of the island’s favourite wet markets, Penang Plaza and a cluster of private hospitals are all close by.
Lumina Residence, by Unicorn Solute Sdn Bhd of the VST Group, is a freehold development of two 44 storey towers with 596 homes on a 3.38 acre site. Three bedroom layouts run from 1,206 to 1,518 sq ft, with Gurney Drive sea views on one side and George Town city views on the other. Facilities on levels 9 and 10 include an Olympic sized pool, a sky garden, a gym and a reading corner. Gleneagles Hospital Penang is about 1km away and Penang Plaza about 500 metres.
George Town and Macalister Road: city living with heritage on the doorstep
George Town’s centre suits residents who want to walk to cafés, galleries and the UNESCO listed old town. Macalister Road is one of the city’s main roads, linking the heritage core with Pulau Tikus and the hospitals.
Green City Residence, at 137 Jalan Macalister, combines a 13 storey, 100 room four star hotel with 16 storeys of freehold condominiums, just 52 homes at four per floor. Layouts run from 809 to 1,439 sq ft and come fully renovated and furnished, with marble floors, solid timber flooring in the bedrooms and double glazed windows. The hotel operator maintains the shared facilities, including an infinity pool, gym and rooftop barbecue garden, and residents receive hotel privileges such as discounted room stays for visiting family.
Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong: the family coast
North of Gurney Drive, Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah run along the coast towards Batu Ferringhi. This is where many international families live, close to Prince of Wales Island International School, Tenby Schools Penang and Dalat International School.
Waterstone, by BSG Property, is a freehold development of two towers with six homes per floor, on residential title, in a low density part of Tanjung Bungah. Homes run from 1,334 to 2,195 sq ft with three or four bedrooms, and Prince of Wales Island International School is about 300 metres away. Closer to town, City of Dreams in Seri Tanjung Pinang is a completed freehold development of 572 homes by Ewein Berhad, finished in 2019, with sea views and facilities that include an infinity sky pool, a private cinema and a bowling alley.
The developments at a glance
| Development | District | Tenure | Homes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Residences Penang | Gurney Drive | Freehold | 302 | Completed 2023 |
| The Westin Residences | Gurney Bay | Freehold | 498 | Due mid 2028 |
| Lumina Residence | Pykett Avenue | Freehold | 596 | Under development |
| Green City Residence | Macalister Road | Freehold | 52 | Hotel and residences |
| Waterstone | Tanjung Bungah | Freehold | 2 towers, 6 per floor | Under development |
| City of Dreams | Tanjung Tokong | Freehold | 572 | Completed 2019 |
Rental demand
Rental demand in Penang follows three groups: professionals working in George Town and the Bayan Lepas industrial zone, international families tied to the schools of Tanjung Bungah, and medical and long stay visitors drawn to the hospitals around Pulau Tikus. Gurney Drive draws all three, which is why its towers remain the island’s most familiar addresses for tenants.
Choosing your district
Where to live in Penang comes down to your daily routine. Gurney Drive suits seafront living with malls and food within walking distance, Pykett Avenue and Pulau Tikus suit a quieter base near the hospitals, George Town suits city and heritage life, and Tanjung Bungah suits families built around school.
Browse Malaysia homes on the ALM property portal, and read our guide to moving to Penang for visas, hospitals and getting around.
Details stated as at October 2026. Renderings and specifications are subject to each developer’s final design.
