Comparison · Langkawi vs Penang · Malaysia
Langkawi vs Penang
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ttt.Osakanman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours; choose Penang for Hawker food and George Town heritage. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 119 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 119 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Langkawi
- December–March
- Best time for Penang
- December–March
Side by side
| Langkawi | Penang | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Known for | SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours and Pantai Cenang beach | Hawker food, George Town heritage and Street art |
| Best time to visit | December–March | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$160 | $80–$160 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | March, 34°C (93°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | June, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 2 | 4 |
| Beaches | Pantai Cenang | Batu Ferringhi |
| Airports | LGK | PEN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Langkawi for…
SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours. Langkawi is an archipelago of about 99 islands in the Andaman Sea off the Kedah coast, and most visitors stay on the main island. The west coast holds the beaches — Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and the resort coves of Datai Bay — while the north and east are…
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Choose Penang for…
Hawker food and George Town heritage. Penang is a Malaysian state made up of Penang Island and a strip of mainland, joined by two road bridges. Most visitors stay on the island in George Town, a former British trading port founded in 1786 whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site of…
Top sights compared
| # | Langkawi | Penang |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SkyCab cable car | Khoo Kongsi |
| 2 | Langkawi Sky Bridge | Kek Lok Si Temple |
| 3 | Kilim Karst Geoforest Park mangrove tour | Penang Hill |
| 4 | Pantai Cenang beach | Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (Blue Mansion) |
| 5 | Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) | Pinang Peranakan Mansion |
Food compared
| Langkawi | Penang |
|---|---|
| Nasi lemak | Char kway teow |
| Laksa Kedah | Penang asam laksa |
| Ikan bakar | Hokkien mee |
| Roti canai | Nasi kandar |
Which is cheaper?
Langkawi and Penang cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $80–$160 in Langkawi and $80–$160 in Penang (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Langkawi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Langkawi and Penang are about 119 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Langkawi and 4 in Penang.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Langkawi or Penang cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $80–$160 in Langkawi and $80–$160 in Penang (estimates).
+Is Langkawi or Penang better for a first trip?
Pick Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge and Mangrove tours, or Penang for Hawker food and George Town heritage.
+How far is Langkawi from Penang?
About 119 km in a straight line.