We spent two days exploring the vibrant street art of Ipoh, which is located 200km north of Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysian state of Perak. Ipoh is popular with domestic and international tourists and is known for its cuisine, heritage, and creative street art.
I fell in love with street art on our first visit to Penang in 2015, and since then, I have sought it out whenever we visit a new town or city. Very few places remain untouched by the street art phenomenon. Moreover, many cities and towns are embracing it as urban beautification schemes or to promote tourism.
Why Ipoh?
We recently were at a loose end and only a short 90-minute ferry ride, 20-minute taxi ride, and 4-hour bus ride from Ipoh. We initially decided to go to Ipoh to visit the Cameron Highlands. However, when we arrived and I researched things to do in Ipoh, we decided that the two days we had in Ipoh should be spent exploring Ipoh. The Cameron Highlands could wait until another time… I discovered that Ipoh had lots of street art and that some were produced by one of my favourite artists, Ernest Zacharevic, who had created much of the Penang street art I loved.
Who is Ernest Zacharevic?
Ernest Zacharevic (Zack) is a Lithuania-born artist currently residing in Penang, Malaysia. In 2012, Zack shot to fame when he created his unique street art in Georgetown, Penang. His art depicts this eclectic town’s culture with colour and even 3D props.
Ipoh’s Urban Canvas
Like Penang’s street art, Ipoh’s street art is a collaborative canvas. While Zack’s work is a significant part of it, many other local artists have also left their mark. Their diverse perspectives and styles have added layers to Ipoh’s cultural narrative, making it a colourful reflection of its history and heritage.
Now, let’s embark on a visual journey through Ipoh’s street art. I’ll give you a glimpse of the artistic treasures that await you when you visit this vibrant city. Get ready to be inspired and amazed by the creativity that adorns Ipoh’s streets.
Old Town Street Art
Old Town, located west of the Kinta River, is where you’ll find Zack’s murals and a range of other art portraying this heterogeneous city’s heritage, history and cultural traditions. Ipoh’s colourful history encompasses a booming tin mining industry, colonial-era architecture, and a range of ethnicities.
Check out the following roads – Jalan Sheikh Adam, Jalan Tun Sambathan, Jalan Bijeh Timah, Jalan Panglima, Jalan Bandar Timah, and Jalan Shala. (Jalan means street or road)
Tip – Hunt for street art in Old Town in the morning while it is cooler and less busy.
New Town – Mural Art Lane
New Town, located east of the Kinta River, was developed in the early 1930s by a local Hakka miner. As a result, it is considered “newer” than Ipoh Old Town. In reality, both Old Town and New Town are the older parts of Ipoh and feature a distinctive range of architectural styles, including colonial-era buildings, Art Deco and Chinese-style shophouses.
A high density of street art in New Town is located in and around Mural Arts Lane, which runs between Jalan Masjid and Jalan Sultan Iskandar. Talented art teacher Eric Lai has produced many murals displaying Ipoh’s multifaceted way of life.
More Information
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit – MYR – written here as RM
Getting to Ipoh
We took a ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah and a bus to Ipoh.
Tickets for the ferry to Kedah were RM26.50 each (AUD9.00) Langkawi ferries and ticketing.
Tickets for the bus were RM30.00 each (AUD10.00) Malaysia bus schedule and ticketing.
Transportation options include train & plane. Ipoh has an airport, Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, that provides domestic and international flights.
Getting Around Ipoh
Once in Ipoh, we were going to rent a car, but as we decided to explore only Ipoh and not the Cameron Highlands, we opted to use Grab, which is super cheap in Malaysia. For example, the distance from our hotel to Kek Look Tong Cave Temple is 10km—a 20-minute trip that costs RM11.00 (AUD3.60).
Accommodation
We typically book our accommodation through booking.com. We like the convenience of booking online, and we can usually pay for our accommodation on arrival at the hotel/resort or room. Also, booking.com advertises many different accommodation styles in Ipoh, so you are sure to find the perfect place.
We stayed at IPOH CITY CENTRE Horizon17 Homestay
Cost – 3 nights RM574.60 (AUD186.00)
Pros – It is very easy to communicate with the host and very simple to collect keys. Great location within an easy walk to shops and restaurants. A short Grab ride to Old Town, etc. This is very comfortable accommodation for two to four people. The two bedroom apartment has comfortable sofa seating and a dining table for four. There is a good selection of cookware, crockery, and utensils. A good-sized fridge is also available. There is a microwave, hot water dispenser, washing machine, TV, and good wifi.
Cons – The only negative was that the pool was closed from the day we arrived for two weeks of maintenance. The pool was one of the main reasons we booked this room.
Our verdict – I would stay there again. It is better than being in a small hotel room, as it has the comforts of home.
Do you need a visa?
Click here for an Online Travel Visa Check. Simply enter what country you are from and where you are going!
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
Prepaid SIM card / Wifi
We use a prepaid Hotlink SIM card when we travel within Malaysia. It is inexpensive, and prepaid plans start as little as RM10.00
Most hotels provide free wifi.
Like this post? Please share or pin using the image below… thank you!
See more of Malaysia
Penang’s Must-See Street Art! / 11 Free Things to do In Penang! / 17 Free Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur
27 Comments
Leave your reply.