Day trips · Penang · Malaysia
4 best day trips from Penang
Where to go when you want a day away from Penang, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Penang is Balik Pulau (About 40–50 minutes by car). The closest option is Balik Pulau, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Balik Pulau (25 km)
- Most popular
- Balik Pulau
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balik Pulau | 25 km | About 40–50 minutes by car | Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus | Food lovers, Quiet stays |
| Ipoh | 160 km | About 1.5 hours by ETS train from Butterworth | Ferry or car to Butterworth, then KTM ETS train | Food lovers, Culture |
| Taiping and Kuala Sepetang | 90 km | About 1 hour by ETS train or 1.5 hours by car | KTM ETS from Butterworth, or car | Quiet stays, Families, Culture |
| Bujang Valley | 60 km | About 1 hour by car | Car across the Penang Bridge | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
25 km · About 40–50 minutes by car
1.Balik Pulau
The island's rural west has fruit orchards, durian farms (in season around June to August), nutmeg plantations, paddy fields and fishing villages, plus its own version of asam laksa at Balik Pulau town.
- Getting there
- Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus
- Best for
- Food lovers, Quiet stays
160 km · About 1.5 hours by ETS train from Butterworth
2.Ipoh
Perak's capital has colonial architecture, cave temples in limestone hills such as Kek Lok Tong and Sam Poh Tong, and food including white coffee, bean sprouts with chicken and silky tau fu fa.
- Getting there
- Ferry or car to Butterworth, then KTM ETS train
- Best for
- Food lovers, Culture
90 km · About 1 hour by ETS train or 1.5 hours by car
3.Taiping and Kuala Sepetang
Taiping's Lake Gardens, laid out in the 1880s on former tin mines, are shaded by huge rain trees; nearby Kuala Sepetang has mangrove forests, charcoal kilns and boat trips to see eagles and fireflies.
- Getting there
- KTM ETS from Butterworth, or car
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Families, Culture
60 km · About 1 hour by car
4.Bujang Valley
An archaeological site in Kedah with the remains of temples (candi) from an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom, a small museum and reconstructed monuments in the forest at the foot of Gunung Jerai.
- Getting there
- Car across the Penang Bridge
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Carry small notes or a payment card; buses take exact fares or contactless payment on many routes.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Penang?
Balik Pulau. The island's rural west has fruit orchards, durian farms (in season around June to August), nutmeg plantations, paddy fields and fishing villages, plus its own version of asam laksa at Balik Pulau town.
+How long does it take to get from Penang to Balik Pulau?
About 40–50 minutes by car — Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus, about 25 km.
+How long does it take to get from Penang to Ipoh?
About 1.5 hours by ETS train from Butterworth — Ferry or car to Butterworth, then KTM ETS train, about 160 km.