Every street in George Town has a story, and Lebuh Armenian is no different. Once occupied by Armenian merchants, it is now a testament to George Town's startling diversity and enduring beauty. Encompassing landmark temples, artists' galleries and shuttered shophouses in varying states of disrepair, its colors, textures and cultural tapestry are a feast for the eyes.

Starting at a small park where local men sell old electronics, clothes and other wares, walk slowly and absorb Armenian Street's endless details and contrasts, its tin siding and street art. You'll pass restored homes in the Straits Perenakan style now offering boutique accommodation to tourists, the well-maintained Yap Temple and adjacent lime green building, and a café called Amelie covered in vines directly beside the entry to a square housing the grand Khoo Kongsi. For a souvenir, pop upstairs to the studio of a local photographer to pick up postcards or prints of shop windows, cats, bicycles and trishaws in Penang's trademark vibrant hues.

As you near Pengkalan Weld, you'll see the Penang Islamic Museum and the water beyond. Continue on from Lebuh Armenian to the clan jetties—Chinese waterfront settlements dating back to the 19th Century—and greet another chapter of George Town's history worth exploring.