It is a one-way road, with traffic directed southwards towards Komtar.

As a major artery within the city centre, Penang Road frequently experiences heavy traffic, as it is home to a number of attractions such as the bars at Upper Penang Road and Chowrasta Market, one of the few wet markets still in operation within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In particular, Chowrasta Market offers a variety of local produce and pastries unique to Penang, such as nutmeg and tau sar pneah biscuits.

For centuries, it has served as a retail street, especially along the stretch running in front of Chowrasta Market.

[3] The Penang police headquarters at Penang Road was the scene of a number of executions by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Japanese Occupation period in World War II.