Getting around · Penang · Malaysia
Getting around Penang
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
George Town's heritage core is best explored on foot or by trishaw, and ride-hailing with Grab is the easiest way to reach the hill, the beaches and the airport. Rapid Penang buses cover the island cheaply but slowly, and traffic is heavy at peak hours. Not necessary.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- PEN
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
Most heritage sights, street art and food streets lie within about 1.5 km of each other in George Town, though heat and narrow five-foot-ways make early mornings and evenings the best time to walk.
Ride-hailing
Grab is widely used and inexpensive; George Town to Batu Ferringhi takes about 30–45 minutes and to the airport about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Allow extra time at weekday rush hours and on holiday weekends, when the coast road and bridges jam.
Bus
Rapid Penang buses run from the Weld Quay and Komtar terminals to Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang, Air Itam, the airport and the mainland, and free CAT shuttle buses have looped the heritage zone.
Carry small notes or a payment card; buses take exact fares or contactless payment on many routes.
Ferry
Passenger ferries cross the channel between George Town and Butterworth, where trains leave for Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, in about 10–20 minutes.
Cycling
Bike-share and rental bicycles are available in George Town, and a seafront cycle path runs along parts of the coast.
Tuk-tuk
Decorated trishaws, pedalled rickshaws, offer slow heritage tours of George Town; agree the price and route before setting off.
From the airport
Penang International Airport is at Bayan Lepas, about 16 km south of George Town; Grab or a taxi takes about 30–45 minutes and Rapid Penang buses about an hour. The KTM station at Butterworth on the mainland has ETS trains to Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.
Do you need a car?
Not necessary. Grab and buses reach most places, and parking in George Town is tight. A car or scooter helps for exploring Balik Pulau and the rural west coast.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Balik Pulau | About 40–50 minutes by car | Car or Grab over the hill road; Rapid Penang bus |
| Ipoh | About 1.5 hours by ETS train from Butterworth | Ferry or car to Butterworth, then KTM ETS train |
| Taiping and Kuala Sepetang | About 1 hour by ETS train or 1.5 hours by car | KTM ETS from Butterworth, or car |
| Bujang Valley | About 1 hour by car | Car across the Penang Bridge |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Penang?
Not necessary. Grab and buses reach most places, and parking in George Town is tight. A car or scooter helps for exploring Balik Pulau and the rural west coast.
+How do you get from the airport to Penang?
Penang International Airport is at Bayan Lepas, about 16 km south of George Town; Grab or a taxi takes about 30–45 minutes and Rapid Penang buses about an hour. The KTM station at Butterworth on the mainland has ETS trains to Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.
+What is the best way to get around Penang?
Walking: Most heritage sights, street art and food streets lie within about 1.5 km of each other in George Town, though heat and narrow five-foot-ways make early mornings and evenings the best time to walk.