This is a great small museum to spend 30-60 minutes. They have a wonderful collection of artifacts from recovered ancient shipwrecks and various Chinese dynasties. The upstairs has a special collection of Cantonese Opera costumes and stage artifacts, and a brief history of Zheng He’s expeditions. One of the guides has a personal connection to the Cantonese Opera and the effort by her and the museum owner to preserve the history of this fading art is very touching. This is an absolutely beautiful place and worth a visit.
Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket





At a glance
- Duration
- 1 min–6h
- Price from
- $8 / person
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 135 reviews
- Group
- 1–15 pax
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in George Town
Description
The Straits & Oriental Museum showcase various priceless ancient oriental ceramics from shipwrecks around Malaysian seas and also those from the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasty folk and official kilns. The exhibits have unique styles according to their periods and geography with vibrant colors reflecting perfectionism in craftsmanship's. The shipwreck ceramics hold plenty of historical values and provide clues to how people lived, migratory patterns and trade relationships between several countries.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Premises No: 7 & 9 King Street, Penang
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Last admission is 6:00 PM
Frequently asked questions
How long does Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket take?
Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket lasts about 1 min–6h. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket cost?
Prices start at $8 per person for this George Town experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Straits and Oriental Museum Ticket worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 135 verified reviews; it is run by Straits and Oriental Museum. Most-mentioned highlights: RM 3 Drink Voucher for Straits Cafe (same day purchase).
Reviews(135)
A real surprise. We stumbled across the museum and expected just to learn a little more about the history of Penang. While the ground floor info on Penang is well laid out and useful, the first and send floor have many cabinets full of beautiful artifacts ... and I am ashamed to say that it took me a minute to realise that they were genuine. While only small, this is museum will keep your attention.
An utter gem of a museum with knowledgeable, passionate and approachable staff that brings the history of Penang to life, through beautiful artefacts. What I love about Straits & Oriental is how accessible it is, you don't have to be well versed in history nor a porcelain connoisseur to enjoy your visit, but if you are, you will certainly not be bored either. The storytelling on the panels are good at contextualising the significance of the exhibits, and the staff are enthusiastic to share their own insights should you wish to enrich your experience. Oh, the café next door is a great space too.
This museum offers a refined and immersive experience. The thoughtfully designed space and clear flow invite visitors to slow down and engage deeply with each artwork. The diverse selection of styles and media reflects strong artistic intention and depth. A calm, elegant space well worth revisiting. Their Staff very friendly. They even can reserve a tour guide for details explaining the art
Amazing little museum. Kelvin is the curator and gave me one of the most interesting tours I think I’ve ever had. He is so knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!
Hi Jessica - Thank you so much for your kind review! We appreciate your positive feedback and are glad that you enjoyed your visit. We look forward to welcoming you again — and hope you’ll bring your friends along to explore the museum together when you visit Penang next time. Wishing you all the best until then!
This museum of the history of Penang and the history of Chinese pottery was a random impulse decision that turned out to be a highlight of our whole Penang trip. Kelvin, the guide, is tremendously knowledgeable and clearly very passionate about his subject, and gave us a great tour that was hugely informative and entertaining about a topic i didn't even think i was interested in before I walked in. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.
Found it by accident when searching for a place to spend an hour +. We had a lovely time there. The ticket comes with a free guided tour of the level 1 porcelein exhibit and a cold drink. Our guide was really entertaining! The upstairs has some baba and nyonya non ceramic exhibits.
We spent a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and fascinating hour at this compact private museum. The collection of Chinese and Peranakan porcelain is impressive. We were given a tour by Gerald, who is very knowledgeable on the history of the porcelain and the region. He even treated us to a delightful tea ceremony. This is not a large museum with thousands of exhibits. It is a private collection of items from a collector with passion.
Penang we found as a place to totally chill out by the pool. There are Jellyfish in the waters around the beaches. Georgetown is the go to place, day or night. We didn’t get to Straits and Oriental Museum as ran out of time, sounded good if had longer. The Upside down Museum was fun though. It is mainly just pictures taken of you throughout, on your camera. A little Dachshund cafe was a nice break from the heat too. Found the Clans jetty more expensive than in town. If you want a major shopping centre Gurney is the place to go. Escape Waterpark is worth doing too, wet & dry activities.
The guided tour is very informative and our guides Gerald and Fazeela are patient and knowledgeable, making the tour interesting.
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