Getting around · Langkawi · Malaysia
Getting around Langkawi
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RoB, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Langkawi has almost no public buses, so visitors use taxis, the Grab ride-hailing app or a hire car or scooter. The island is about 25 km across, and most drives between beaches and sights take 15–45 minutes on quiet roads. A hire car is the most flexible way to see the island, since sights are spread out and buses are almost non-existent.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Ride-hailing
- Airports
- LGK
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Ride-hailing
Grab operates across the island and is the easiest way to move between Pantai Cenang, Kuah, the cable car and Kilim without negotiating fares.
Book return trips from remote sights such as Tanjung Rhu or Datai in advance, as cars can be scarce there.
Taxi
Taxis wait at the airport, Kuah jetty and major resorts and charge fixed fares by destination from posted tables.
Car
Hire cars are widely available and inexpensive, and roads are quiet by Malaysian standards. Driving is on the left.
Watch for monkeys, cattle and motorbikes on rural roads, and avoid driving the steep Gunung Raya road in heavy rain.
Scooter
Scooters can be rented along Pantai Cenang, but you need a valid licence and helmet, and heavy showers and traffic make them risky for inexperienced riders.
Ferry
Ferries link Kuah jetty with Kuala Perlis (about 1 hour 15 minutes) and Kuala Kedah (about 1 hour 45 minutes) on the mainland, and with Penang (about 3 hours).
Penang ferries run fewer times a day and can be cancelled in rough seas, so book ahead and keep plans flexible.
From the airport
Langkawi International Airport at Padang Matsirat is about 10 minutes by car from Pantai Cenang and about 25–30 minutes from Kuah. Taxis are sold at a coupon counter in arrivals, and Grab pick-ups are available.
Do you need a car?
A hire car is the most flexible way to see the island, since sights are spread out and buses are almost non-existent. If you prefer not to drive, Grab and taxis cover everything at modest prices.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Pulau Payar Marine Park | About 45–60 minutes by boat | Organised boat trip from Kuah |
| Penang | About 3 hours each way by ferry | Ferry from Kuah jetty to Swettenham Pier, George Town |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Langkawi?
A hire car is the most flexible way to see the island, since sights are spread out and buses are almost non-existent. If you prefer not to drive, Grab and taxis cover everything at modest prices.
+How do you get from the airport to Langkawi?
Langkawi International Airport at Padang Matsirat is about 10 minutes by car from Pantai Cenang and about 25–30 minutes from Kuah. Taxis are sold at a coupon counter in arrivals, and Grab pick-ups are available.
+What is the best way to get around Langkawi?
Ride-hailing: Grab operates across the island and is the easiest way to move between Pantai Cenang, Kuah, the cable car and Kilim without negotiating fares.