How to Get From Singapore to Penang
Bus · Flight
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 710 kilometre (441 miles) distance from Singapore to Penang. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Penang 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 2 ways to travel from Singapore to Penang?
There are two ways to travel the 710 km distance from Singapore to Penang. You can choose between the bus and flight.
The journey takes between 2h 20m–18h 30m and the quickest way is by flight (2h 20m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 155 MYR ($39).
18h 30m
155 MYR ($39)
2h 20m
265 MYR ($67)
Already in Penang?
Onward from Penang
Once you're in Penang, here's where to next — 7 researched onward routes to pick from.
Singapore to Penang by Bus
When taking the bus from Singapore to Penang, you can only go as far as Butterworth, a mainland town just 3 km across from Penang Island.
From Butterworth, you’ll need to continue with the ferry to Penang. See here the steps explained in more detail.
Step 1: Singapore to Butterworth by Bus
There are a few bus lines that operate the route from Singapore to Penang via Butterworth. Sri Maju Group is one of the companies on this route.
It has one trip that departs from Golden Mile Complex (5 km from downtown Singapore) at 21:00 daily. It arrives at Penang Sentral in Butterworth around 07:00 the next day, after a long journey of 18h.
A bus ticket from Singapore to Penang Sentral costs 155 MYR ($39).
Ready to book your bus?
Step 2: Butterworth to Penang by Ferry
Upon arrival at Penang Sentral, find the walkway that connects to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. There are some stairs here so take note if you’re carrying a lot of luggage.
At the port, ferries bound for Weld Quay on Penang Island depart twice an hour from 05:20 to 00:10. This will also easily match the arrival time of 07:00 of the bus.
You can buy a ferry ticket for 3 MYR ($0.80). Travel time is only 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the water condition.
Weld Quay is 2 km away from Penang city centre. If you’re staying in George Town, you can take a 5-minute taxi from 13 MYR ($3.30) or a 20-minute bus (Line 101) for 5 MYR ($1.30).
Other departure stations
Ready to book your bus?
Singapore to Penang by Flight
Step 1: Downtown Singapore to Changi Airport by City Shuttle
First, you’ll need to get to Singapore Changi Airport, located 20 km east of downtown Singapore.
You can take a city shuttle for 9 SGD ($7.00), a taxi for 25 SGD ($20), the train for 2.7 SGD ($2.10), or the public bus for 2 SGD ($1.60).
For a combination of speed, comfort and budget, we highly recommend the city shuttle that costs 26 MYR ($6.50). This is a shared minivan that offers free pick-up from a long list of hotels in the city centre. You can book your ride via Klook, a popular booking platform in Southeast Asia.
Note that although the train and the public bus are cheap, they might not be the best option if you’re short on time. For more details on the train and bus schedules, visit our page on Singapore Airport.
Step 2: Singapore to Penang by Flight
Air Asia often offers the cheapest flights from Singapore to Penang. Airfares start from 70 SGD ($55) when you book early and travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.
Other carriers operating on this route are Jetstar, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, and Silk Air. You can easily check fares and flight schedules through the link below.
The flights depart from Singapore Changi Airport and arrive at Penang International Airport.
Step 3: Penang Airport to George Town by Taxi or Bus
Penang Airport is located some 18 km south of George Town.
You have 2 choices to reach your hotel in the city centre: a 30-minute taxi starting from 30 MYR ($7.60) or a 1-hour bus that costs only 3 MYR ($0.80). There are several bus lines operating on this route, so take one that makes a stop near your hotel.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Singapore to Penang. 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 Singapore to Penang is 710 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit Penang?
Penang is a cultural melting pot on the northwest coast of Malaysia. For such a small island, it has so much to offer — vibrant culture, colourful heritage, amazing food, urban wonders, and untouched rainforest.
At its heart is George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a city rich in history. Famous for its street art, you can easily spend hours exploring its alleys. Sure, the island can be touristy. Yet somehow, it is able to maintain a laidback vibe and a charm that you can only find in Penang.
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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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