Public transport like buses can get you around Penang Island reliably. And there’s even a free shuttle that goes around George Town!
However, both the heritage zone, George Town and the industrial zone, Bayan Lepas are prone to rush hour traffic jams. And the narrow roads don’t help in this regard.
There have always been talks for a monorail system to connect between the north and south of the island. But till that happens, these are the current modes of transportation.
1. Getting Around Penang With Public Transport
The main public bus system in Penang is known as Rapid Penang.
Fares are affordable (Typically RM1 – RM4) and they have routes to cover most parts of the city!
Tip: Exact change is necessary!
1.1. Getting From The Airport To City Centre
Most first-time visitors to Penang will want to head to George Town first! Thankfully, there’s public transport (i.e. bus) available that connects the George Town with Penang International Airport.
And so, if you want to save money, this is the way to do it.
But if you’re in a hurry, a taxi or e-hailing service would be a better option! As it takes almost 1.5 hours by bus to reach George Town from the airport!
1.1.1. Penang Airport To Georgetown
The bus fare should cost RM2.70. And there’s usually a bus leaving every 30 minutes to 1 hour from the airport.
These are the bus routes to look out for. The bus numbers are displayed at screen on the top front of the bus, but you should still double confirm with the driver when you enter the bus.
| Rapid Penang Bus | 401 | 401E | 102 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Hours | 5:55am to 11:30pm | 5:45am to 10:30pm | 6am to 11:15pm |
| Interval | 60 to 105 minutes | 20 to 25 minutes | 90 to 150 minutes |
The final destination of Bus 102 is Teluk Bahang which is perfect if you want to go directly from Penang airport to Gurney Drive, Batu Ferringhi or Penang National Park!
Expect the fare for this route to be around RM4.
For more details, read this guide on how to get from Penang Airport to Georgetown.
1.1.2. Airport To Queensbay Mall
If it’s a weekend, you can take Bus 306 to Queensbay Mall from the airport. This route terminates at Hospital P.Pinang I with 54 stops in between.
The journey should take around 20 minutes and cost RM1-4.
| Rapid Penang Bus | 306 |
|---|---|
| Operating Hours | 5:30am to 10:30pm |
| Interval | 40 to 70 minutes |
Note: Alternatively, you can take Bus 401E too as this bus also stops at Queensbay Mall.
1.2. Getting Around Central George Town
Once in George Town, there are basically 3 methods for getting around.
1.2.1. CAT Shuttle
The Central Area Transit Loop Line is a free shuttle bus system with 22 stops around George Town.
Operation hours are from 6am until 11:45pm for this hop on and hop off bus in Penang. Buses for this circular route come every 10 to 15 minutes which is considerably frequent.
CAT Shuttle Route (Notable stops):
- Weld Quay’s ferry bus terminal (or Pengkalan Weld) – sit on the left for the best views
- Ferry Bus Terminal – British colonial buildings, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee and Wisma Kastam are here
- Little India (Chulia Street)
- OCBC Bank Penang – Pinang Peranakan Mansion and Wonder Food Museum are under 3 minutes’ walk from this stop
- Bank Negara – historic landmarks like the Town Hall and Fort Cornwallis
- Muzium Pulau Pinang – 4 minutes’ walk to Love Lane
- Smk St. Xavier – 4 minutes’ walk from Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion)
- KOMTAR – With another major bus terminal for buses that go on to Balik Pulau or Batu Ferringhi; This stop is also close to Kimberly Street Food Night Market (~9 minutes’ walk. There are 2 shopping malls here (Prangin Mall and 1st Avenue Mall)
- Kampung Kolam – The Sun Yat Sen Musuem and Khoo Kongsi are under 5 minutes’ walk from this stop;
- Gereja St. George (St. George’s Church) – also within walking distance (5 minutes) to the Goddess of Mercy Temple
- Dewan Sri Pinang – Another chance to stop at British colonial landmarks (City Hall, Town Hall, War Memorial, etc)
- Padang Kota Lama – Fort Cornwallis and Queen Victoria’s Memorial Clock Tower
- Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal
- Jetty – Close to the clan jetties of Penang
1.2.2. Bicycle
Cycling allows you to cover more street art at your own pace. Or to see the more remote clan jetties of Penang!
Just watch out for traffic! And check the weather forecast for fierce sunshine or heavy rain before you decide to rent out some bicycles.
Where To Get A Bicycle:
- Some hotels offer bicycles for rent (or free) for their guests.
- You can also find bicycle rental shops along Armenian Street or Chulia Street. A simple single-gear bike costs between RM10 and 20 to rent per day.
Note: Check that the rental shop provides a helmet and bike lock!
- Link Bicycles have convenient docking stations around the city that make the returning process so much easier.
1.2.3. Vespa
Here is the recommended Vespa rental service that you can check out:
- La Belle Vespa Rental
1.2.4. Rickshaw
Although not as common as they used to be, the 3-wheeled trishaw is another advantageous way to get around George Town.
You can find rickshaws at touristy areas like:
- The junction of Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) and Cannon Street (Lebuh Cannon)
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
- Citidel Hotel at Penang Road (Jalan Penang)
- Close to Fort Cornwallis
It’s a competitive business so peddlers will usually be willing to negotiate.
Cost: ~RM40 – 50 for 1.5 hours
Note: Tip them after your ride! It’s not an easy job!
1.2.5. Walking
For photography buffs especially, walking is the slowest but still the way to take stellar shots of architecture, street art and people!
You can stop anywhere you want to (except busy roads of course) as well.
Tips for walking in Penang:
- Watch out for broken pavement and other obstacles like hawker stalls or construction works
- Be extra alert at night
- Malay words to look out for: Jalan (Road), Lorong (Lane) and Lebuh (Street)
1.3. Getting To Central Penang
Somewhere in the middle of the island (Air Itam) are 2 must-see attractions – the majestic Kek Lok Si and Penang Hill!
Here is how you can get to these locations if you don’t have your own ride.
Duration: ~1 hour
1.3.1. Getting To Penang Hill
If your destination is Penang Hill, you need to get yourself over to the Penang Hill Lower Station where you can get tickets for and board the funicular that goes up to Penang Hill.
For those starting their journey from George Town, look for the Rapid Penang Bus 204 from Pengkalan Weld (close the old jetty terminal).
Bus 204 operates daily from as early as 5:30am to 11:30pm with intervals of around 30 minutes.
With this bus, there are about 40 stops between Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) and the jetty. And therefore, the journey can take 40 to 50 minutes.
But bus 204 will take you to the Penang Hill Lower Station where you can buy tickets for the funicular train up to Penang Hill.
Note: This same bus does a detour to Kek Lok Si Temple too!
1.3.2. Getting To Kek Lok Si
Likewise, you can take a bus from George Town to Kek Lok Si Temple. Albeit with more options of bus routes.
Bus numbers include 201, 203, 204 & 502.
The journey will take 30 minutes or more. But none of these buses will take you to directly to the temple. You’ll still have to take other transport from Air Itam (e.g, e-hailing service) to reach the temple.
1.4. Getting To Northwest Penang
The north-west coast of Penang has a lot in store for people who want to spend time outdoors!
And when it comes to public transport, there are currently 2 bus routes from Rapid Penang that you can take to reach Batu Ferringhi (Bus 101 and bus 102).
Note: If you take Bus 102 from the Penang International Airport to Batu Ferringhi, it might take more than an hour.
Cost by bus is around RM4.
1.4.1. Getting To Batu Ferringhi
Highlights Of Batu Ferringhi:
- Batu Ferringhi Night Market (Daily from 7pm)
- Batu Ferringhi beach
From George Town: Bus 101 & 102 from KOMTAR
Duration: 1 hour
1.4.2. Getting To Teluk Bahang
Both bus routes, 101 and 102 will also take you to Teluk Bahang. This area is further west of Batu Ferringhi and here, there are several attractions that you can check out.
Highlights Of Teluk Bahang:
- Penang National Park
- Entopia By Penang Butterfly Farm
- Penang Batik Factory
- Tropical Fruit Farm
- Teluk Bahang Dam (Annual dragon boat festival, jogging venue, great views, etc)
- ESCAPE Penang
- Air Terjun Taman Rimba
From George Town: Bus 101 and 102 from KOMTAR
Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
1.4.3. Getting To Balik Pulau
Balik Pulau is known for durian but there are other rural sights to see in this quieter side of Penang.
Those heading to Balik Pulau have plenty of options for bus routes that go towards the south of the island. Although you might have to transfer between different buses.
Bus Routes You Can Take To Balik Pulau:
- Bus 202 from the jetty to Paya Terubong where you can change to bus T502 to continue your journey to Balik Pulau; This takes close to an hour with a 2-minute walk
- Bus 502 – a direct journey from Jetty A stop to the bus terminal of Balik Pulau (Terminal Bas Balik Pulau); This takes about an hour
- Bus 401E from the east side of Komtar is a direct journey to Balik Pulau (Terminal Bas Balik Pulau) that takes 1.5 hours
Highlights Of Balik Pulau:
- Street art
- Saanen Dairy Goat Farm
- Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
- Pulau Betong fishing village
- Bao Sheng Durian farm
- Countryside Stables Penang
- Cycling tours in the countryside
From George Town: Bus 202/T502, 401 or 502 from Jetty A
Duration: ~1 to 1.5 hours
1.5. Getting To Mainland Penang
Penang island may capture most of the attention from visitors, but the mainland does have its own attractions too:
- Auto city – entertainment and food hub suitable for families
- Design Village Penang (premium outlet) and IKEA at Batu Kawan
- Nine Emperor Gods temple
- Froghill of Tasik Gelugor
- Penang Bird Park
Just to name a few!
1.5.1. Take A Taxi Or Ferry From Penang Island To Butterworth
By taxi, you’d get an immediate transfer from your hotel in George Town to where you want to get to in Butterworth. A drive across to the mainland from Penang Island will take at least 40 minutes.
Or you can take the 20-minute Rapid Ferry from Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth!
It costs RM1 to RM8 and Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal is walking distance (10-20 minutes’) from George Town!
Read this detailed guide on how to get from Penang Georgetown To Butterworth.
2. Getting Around Penang With Grab Or Taxi
Like in most major cities in Malaysia, the e-hailing service, Grab in Penang is not too expensive and very convenient! Especially for one-way journeys from the airport or to and from popular shopping malls and your hotel.
Pros:
- Prices are more or less fixed (unlike taxis – the ones that don’t use a meter!)
- No worry about finding parking
- Widely available in the city
Cons:
- Will be affected by Penang traffic
- Can be hard to find a return Grab from more remote locations (e.g. Penang National Park)
- Prices are higher on public holidays and peak times (e.g., lunch or dinner)
3. Car Rental Service
Numerous car rental companies in Penang will rent out a small car (5 pax) for around RM150/day.
It’s possible to rent them from the airport too!
Pros:
- Flexible travel at your own pace
- Less worry about missing departure as is the case for buses!
Cons:
- Difficult to find parking in George Town
- Have to pay parking fees (except on Sunday)
- Need to avoid rush hour
- Not advisable for those with no prior experience driving in Malaysia
Conclusion
Getting around Penang is straightforward if you know which areas you want to explore! Because besides George Town, there is central Penang and north-west Penang.
If your travel group has less than 3 people and want to travel as quickly and as comfortably as possible, we recommend taking a mix of the CAT shuttle (within George Town) and an e-hailing service for places further out.
Penang Itinerary
Don’t know where to start when it comes to planning an itinerary for your trip to Penang? We’ve got a few ideas for you!
Where To Stay In Penang
Here are our suggestions for comfortable hotels with convenient locations. We’ve also included options with guest parking in case you are driving to Penang!
