Penang to Kuala Lumpur

Want to know how to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur? In this post, we’ll share a summary of the four ways to get there and compare each option on duration, costs and level of comfort. For each option, we go into more detail to help you decide which transport provider to book with and where to buy your tickets.

What to expect when visiting Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is Malaysia’s capital, a vibrant mix of skyscrapers, Asian-European architecture, large shopping districts, and flavourful cuisine. The busy city can be quite overwhelming, but it’s all about finding your rhythm in Kuala Lumpur’s beautiful chaos.

The Petronas Towers — the tallest twin towers in the world — are the city’s most iconic attraction. But there’s so much more to see in Kuala Lumpur. The old KL Railway Station, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang, and Jalan Alor are all must-visits. And if you have more time, the colourful Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away from the city.

4 ways to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

There are four ways to travel the distance of 290 km (180 miles) from Penang to Kuala Lumpur: by bus (5h20m), taxi (4.5 hours), train (4h20m-5h20m) and flight (1 hour). The journey takes between 1h - 5h20m and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 50 MYR ($10.50) for the bus.

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Bus

Duration: 5h20m

Starts from: 50 MYR ($10.50)

Duration: 5h20m

Cost: 50 MYR ($10.50)

There are direct buses that depart from Penang city centre and arrive at Kuala Lumpur city centre. But if you prefer a little more adventure, you can also take the indirect bus route via Butterworth.

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Direct Bus

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: 41 MYR ($8.50)

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: 41 MYR ($8.50)

We recommend taking a KKKL Express Bus that will take you directly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. They have two departure points in Penang: Komtar Bus Terminal in George Town city centre and Sungai Nibong located 10 km south of the city centre. In KL, you can choose to arrive at either Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS) or Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

A ticket for the 5-hour journey costs 42 MYR ($8.50) when you book online at Baolau. There are departures almost every hour from 07:00 to 23:30. For a more detailed schedule, just click the link below.

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Indirect Bus

Duration: 5.5 – 6 hours

Costs: 63 MYR ($13.00)

Duration: 5.5 – 6 hours

Costs: 63 MYR ($13.00)

If you want to add some more sightseeing to your journey to the capital, you can also take a combined ferry and bus ride via Butterworth.

Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry

Duration: 10 – 20 minutes

Costs: 3 MYR ($0.60) + 13 MYR ($2.70)

Duration: 10 – 20 minutes

Costs: 3 MYR ($0.60) + 13 MYR ($2.70)

Same as with the train option, you’ll first have to take a taxi or bus from Penang city centre to Weld Quay. Taxi rates start from 13 MYR ($2.70) and a bus ride (Line 101) costs 5 MYR ($0.90).

From Weld Quay, you’ll take a 10 to 20-minute ferry ride to reach Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. A ferry ticket costs 3 MYR ($0.60). Penang Sentral is connected to the port by a walkway.

Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur by Bus

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: 47 MYR ($10.00)

Duration: 5 hours

Costs: 47 MYR ($10.00)

Buses bound for Kuala Lumpur are parked at Penang Sentral. You can choose from two trusted operators: KPB Ekspres and Transnational. Both offer VIP buses for 47 MYR ($9.50) so you’ll have a comfortable 5-hour journey.

The buses stop at Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS).

You can book a ticket online through BookAway. Below are their schedules:

Bus options from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Train

Duration: 4h20m-5h20m

Starts from: 66 MYR ($14.00)

Duration: 4h20m-5h20m

Cost: 66 MYR ($14.00)

Although not a direct option, the train and ferry combination will give you a scenic journey.

Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry

Duration: 10 – 20 minutes

Costs: 3 MYR ($0.60) + 13 MYR ($2.70)

Duration: 10 – 20 minutes

Costs: 3 MYR ($0.60) + 13 MYR ($2.70)

If you’re staying in George Town, you’ll first have to take a taxi or Grab or a bus (Line 101) to Weld Quay. Fares start from 13 MYR ($2.70) and 5 MYR ($0.90), respectively. Keep in mind that the bus takes longer as it makes a lot of stops and it may not stop near your hotel.

Ferries depart from Weld Quay from 05:20 to 22:00, with a 20 to 30-minute interval. Beyond 22:00, the ferry runs every 40 minutes until its last trip at 00:40. A ticket to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth costs 3 MYR ($0.60).

Butterworth Train Station is conveniently connected to the port by a walkway. It’s just a 10-minute walk but there are some stairs involved, so bear this in mind if you’re carrying large luggage.

Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur by Train

Duration: 4-4.5 hours

Costs: 63 MYR ($13.00)

Duration: 4-4.5 hours

Costs: 63 MYR ($13.00)

From Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur, two trains operate on weekdays and four on weekends (Friday to Sunday). A standard train ticket costs 63 MYR ($13.00) and travel time is 4-4.5 hours.

Train options from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Flight

Duration: 1 hour

Starts from: 103 MYR ($22.00)

Duration: 1 hour

Cost: 103 MYR ($22.00)

All flights depart from Penang Airport, 18 km south of George Town. You can reach it by a 30-minute taxi with fares from 30 MYR ($6.00) or by a 1-hour bus, which costs 3 MYR ($0.60).

You can choose to arrive at two different airports: Subang Airport or Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Subang Airport is nearer KL city centre, but flights to KL Airport are normally cheaper.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Flight via Subang Airport (SBZ)

Duration: 1 hour

Costs: 141 MYR ($30.00)

Duration: 1 hour

Costs: 141 MYR ($30.00)

Malindo Air often offers the cheapest airfares from Penang to Subang Airport (SBZ), with tickets starting from 141 MYR ($29.50). Other options include Thai Lion Air, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines. The flight takes about 1 hr.

Kuala Lumpur city centre is located some 20 km east of Subang Airport. You can reach it in three ways: by train going to KL Sentral, by bus #U81, or by taxi. Travel time is about 30 minutes and fares cost from 2 MYR ($0.40).

Flight via Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL)

Duration: 1 hour

Costs: 103 MYR ($22.00)

Duration: 1 hour

Costs: 103 MYR ($22.00)

Airfares from Penang to Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL) start from 103 MYR ($21.50). You can usually get the lowest price with Air Asia, but Thai Lion Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Malindo Air also offer flights for this route.

From KL Airport, you can reach the city centre in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on which mode of transport you take. For more info, visit our page on Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport.

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Taxi

Duration: 4.5 hours

Starts from: 813 MYR ($170.00)

Duration: 4.5 hours

Cost: 813 MYR ($170.00)

Taxi rental rates from Penang to Kuala Lumpur start from 813 MYR ($170.00). It’s quite expensive and we don’t really think it’s worth spending that much when the other options are already convenient. But if you prefer a private transfer, you can book a taxi online through BookAway. Travel time is 4.5 hours.