Penang is well connected by air, rail, road and sea. It is worth knowing, however, that the state is divided into two parts: Penang Island, home to George Town and the international airport, and Seberang Perai on the mainland, where Butterworth serves as the main rail and bus hub.
Flights, trains, long-distance buses, ferries and the two Penang bridges each offer a different balance of cost, speed and convenience. Below we compare the principal routes and explain how to complete the final leg into George Town, with current fares and journey times drawn from official and recent sources. Schedules and prices are revised regularly, so please confirm with the operator before booking.
Flying into Penang International Airport
Penang International Airport (code PEN) is in Bayan Lepas, in the south of the island. It is Malaysia’s second busiest airport, and it keeps getting busier. An expansion is due to finish within about two years, which will lift yearly capacity from 6.8 million to 12 million passengers.
International traffic rose about 11% in the first seven months of 2026, and new routes keep appearing, such as Hainan Airlines from Haikou and Batik Air from Batam.
From Singapore, the flight takes roughly 1 hour 8 minutes, with Scoot, AirAsia and Singapore Airlines among the carriers. From KL you can fly too, though we often prefer the train.
Airport to George Town
The airport is about 18 to 20 km from George Town, depending on where you are staying. You have three good choices.
Rapid Penang bus. This is the cheapest way in. Route 401E is the express service. It runs from Balik Pulau through the airport, then along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway into town, ending at the Weld Quay ferry and bus terminal (called “Jetty”). Going into town, it also passes Komtar, the big bus hub in the middle of George Town. Route 401 also links the airport, Komtar and the Jetty, but it takes a slower path.
Fares are set by distance and top out at RM4. Bring exact change, because the farebox does not give change. The ride takes 45 to 60 minutes, sometimes more in traffic. There are no luggage racks, so a big suitcase can be awkward at rush hour.
Route 102 also stops here, but it heads to the northern beaches, not central George Town.
Grab. E-hailing is the easy option. A ride to George Town costs about RM30 to RM50, depending on demand, and takes 25 to 40 minutes. Add a card to the app before you fly (one guide notes a 3% fee on foreign cards).
Airport taxi. Buy a coupon at the taxi counter in the arrivals hall, then hand it to the driver. Expect around RM45 to RM60 to George Town. A 50% surcharge applies from midnight to 6am, which matters if you land on a late flight.
Our tip: buses stop running around 11pm, so for late arrivals, Grab or a taxi is the only practical choice.
Taking the ETS Train from KL to Butterworth
The ETS (Electric Train Service) run by KTMB is the comfortable way to come up from Kuala Lumpur. There is no rail bridge to the island, so the train stops at Butterworth on the mainland. From there you take the ferry across.
Three service types run from KL Sentral to Butterworth:
- Express (EX): about 3 hours 35 minutes
- Platinum (EP): about 4 hours 5 minutes
- Gold (EG): about 4 hours 20 minutes
Under the timetable that started on 4 February 2026, departures from KL Sentral ran from 8:05am to 8:15pm. Adult fares were roughly RM60 (Gold), RM78 (Platinum) and RM86 (Express). KTMB now uses flexi fares, so seats bought early are cheaper and peak times cost more. A newer timetable was due from 1 June 2026, so check the latest times on the KTMB website or app before you travel.
Book early for Fridays, Sundays and festival weekends.
One warning. The last ferry leaves Butterworth at 11pm. If you take an evening train, you may miss it. The 8:15pm departure, for example, arrives after midnight.
Penang Sentral and the ferry to George Town
Butterworth station is part of the Penang Sentral transport hub, which also has the mainland bus terminal. To reach the ferry, follow the signs up to level 2, where a covered linkway takes you to the jetty.
The ferry runs between Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth and Raja Tun Uda Terminal at Pengkalan Weld in George Town. It is run under the Penang Port Commission (SPPP) together with Penang Port Sdn Bhd. Fares are:
| Passenger | Fare |
|---|---|
| Adult | RM2.00 |
| Child (5 to 11) | RM1.00 |
| Child (4 and under) | Free |
| OKU (person with disability) | Free |
| Bicycle | RM2.00 |
| Motorcycle | RM2.50 |
You can pay with a Touch ’n Go card (Malaysia’s stored-value transit card), at the counter, or online. The first ferry leaves Butterworth at 6:30am and the last at 11pm. Boats run every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes otherwise. The crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
The ferry lands by the heritage zone, so many guesthouses in George Town are a 10 to 20 minute walk away.
The fare list only covers people, bicycles and motorcycles, so if you have a car, plan to cross by bridge.
Long-Distance Buses
Express buses are the cheapest way to reach Penang from most Malaysian cities. From KL, buses leave from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), KL Sentral and Hentian Duta. Most arrive at one of two places:
- Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, on the island, south of George Town. Rapid Penang route 401 passes it, so you can get into town by bus or Grab.
- Penang Sentral in Butterworth, on the mainland. From here you walk to the ferry as described above.
Check which terminal your ticket uses. For George Town, Sungai Nibong saves you the ferry.
The TBS to Sungai Nibong route is busy, with around 15 operators listed on one booking site. Fares there ranged from about RM50 to RM65. The trip covers roughly 350 km, but how long it takes depends on traffic, especially on holiday weekends.
Driving to Penang and the Two Bridges
If you drive up the North-South Expressway, you cross to the island on one of two bridges.
Penang Bridge links Perai on the mainland to Gelugor on the island. It is 13.5 km long, with 8.4 km over water. It lands closer to George Town, so most visitors heading to the city use it.
Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (also called the Second Penang Bridge) is much longer, at 24 km in total and 16.9 km over water. It runs from Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung near the airport. It is a smart pick if you are staying in the south, or when the first bridge is jammed.
Bridge tolls
On both bridges you pay only when driving from the mainland to the island. Going back to the mainland is free on the bridge itself. For a private car, the toll is RM5.74. Motorcycles pay nothing.
Toll plazas here do not take cash. You need a Touch ’n Go card or an RFID sticker linked to a Touch ’n Go eWallet, though the first bridge also has lanes for MyDebit, Visa or Mastercard.
Our tip: the first bridge can crawl at weekday rush hours, when commuters pour onto the island. If you are staying near the airport or in the south, the second bridge is often the calmer drive.
From Singapore and Thailand
From Singapore
Flying is the quickest option, at just over an hour in the air. If you prefer the train, cross to Johor Bahru first. KTMB runs ETS trains from JB Sentral that go via KL Sentral and up to Butterworth. Part of this is a limited-stop service in the south. It is a long day, so check the timetable carefully.
From Hat Yai in Thailand
Hat Yai is the usual jumping-off point from southern Thailand. You have two main choices.
Minivan. Several operators run direct minivans to Penang. The trip takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours and costs from around RM61. Departures are often at 9am, 12pm and 3pm. You stop for immigration at Danok (Sadao) and Bukit Kayu Hitam about 1.5 hours in.
Train. Take a Thai train from Hat Yai to Padang Besar on the border, then a Malaysian train from Padang Besar to Butterworth. The Malaysian leg takes about 2 hours and costs around RM21. Buy tickets at the station, so carry some ringgit. Then take the ferry across to George Town.
Quick Comparison Table
| Mode | From | Approx time | Approx cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Singapore | 1 hr 8 min in the air | Varies by season |
| ETS train + ferry | KL Sentral | 3 hr 35 min to 4 hr 20 min, plus about 20 min ferry | RM60 to RM86 train, plus RM2 ferry |
| Express bus | KL (TBS) | Varies with traffic | RM50 to RM65 |
| Car | KL | About 350 km | RM5.74 bridge toll, plus expressway tolls and fuel |
| Minivan | Hat Yai | 3.5 to 4.5 hr | From about RM61 |
| Train via Padang Besar + ferry | Hat Yai | About 4 hr 15 min | Around RM21 Malaysian leg, plus Thai leg and RM2 ferry |
| Bus 401E | Penang airport | 45 to 60 min | Up to RM4 |
| Grab | Penang airport | 25 to 40 min | RM30 to RM50 |
| Taxi coupon | Penang airport | 25 to 40 min | RM45 to RM60 |
Which Way Should You Come?
From KL, we like the ETS train. It is calm, and the short ferry ride at the end lets you see the George Town waterfront from the water before you land. Fly from Singapore or further away. On a tight budget, the express bus to Sungai Nibong is hard to beat.
Once you are here, our guide to getting around Penang covers buses, Grab, bikes and trishaws. If you are still planning, see where to stay and the best time to visit.