How to Get From Penang to Kuala Lumpur
Bus · Flight · Train · Taxi
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 290 kilometre (180 miles) distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Kuala Lumpur as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur?
There are four ways to travel the 290 km distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. You can choose between the bus, flight, train, and private.
The journey takes between 1h–5h and the quickest way is by flight (1h). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 35 MYR ($8.80).
5h - 9h 15m
35 MYR ($8.80)
1h
105 MYR ($26)
4h 20m - 4h 50m
66 MYR ($17)
4h 15m - 4h 30m
915 MYR ($230)
Already in Kuala Lumpur?
Onward from Kuala Lumpur
Once you're in Kuala Lumpur, here's where to next — 9 researched onward routes to pick from.
Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Bus
Option 1: Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Direct Bus
We recommend taking a KKKL Express Bus that will take you directly from to . 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 whole journey (that is 4h 40m - 8h 55m long) costs 41.5 MYR ($11) when you book online. There are departures almost every hour from 07:00 to 23:30.
Ready to book your bus?
Option 2: Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Indirect Bus
Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry
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 ($3.30) and a bus ride (Line 101) costs 5 MYR ($1.30).
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 ($0.80). Penang Sentral is connected to the port by a walkway.
Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur by Bus
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 32 MYR ($8.10) so you’ll have a comfortable journey that lasts for 4h 40m - 8h 55m.
The buses stop at Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS).
You can book a ticket online through BookAway. Below are their schedules:
Ready to book your bus?
Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Flight
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 ($7.60) or by a 1-hour bus, which costs 3 MYR ($0.80).
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.
Option 1: Flight via Subang Airport (SBZ)
Malindo Air often offers the cheapest airfares from Penang to Subang Airport (SBZ), with tickets starting from 140 MYR ($36). Other options include Thai Lion Air, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines. The flight takes about 1 hour.
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 ($0.50).
Option 2: Flight via Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL)
Airfares from Penang to Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL) start from 105 MYR ($26). 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.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Train
Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry
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 ($3.30) and 5 MYR ($1.30), 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 ($0.80).
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
Ready to book your train?
Direct operator sites
Booking Tip
There are 2 types of trains: ETS Platinum and ETS Gold. Platinum trains are faster as they make fewer stops, but they are also more expensive.
The trains depart from Butterworth Station and arrive at KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur city centre.
Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Taxi
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is 290 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit 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.
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About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Travel Writer & Digital Nomad
Kate is a travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.
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