What to expect when visiting 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.
2 ways to get from Singapore to Penang
There are 2 ways to travel the distance of 710 kilometers (441 miles) from Singapore to Penang by bus (10 hours) and flight (2 hours 20 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 2 hours 20 minutes to 10 hours and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 40 SGD ($31) for the bus.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 9 hours 50 minutes.
A bus ticket from Singapore to Penang Sentral costs 155 MYR ($37).
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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 ($0.70). 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) or a 20-minute bus (Line 101) for 5 MYR ($1.20).
Singapore to Penang by Flight
The flight from Singapore to Penang takes only a little over an hour, but note that both airports are not located in the city centre. Transfers between the airports and city centres take 30 minutes for each city.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
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 ($6.90), a taxi for 25 SGD ($19.10), the train for 2.70 SGD ($2.10), or the public bus for 2 SGD ($1.50).
For a combination of speed, comfort and budget, we highly recommend the city shuttle that costs 28 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 ($53) 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) or a 1-hour bus that costs only 3 MYR ($0.70). There are several bus lines operating on this route, so take one that makes a stop near your hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore to Penang
What is the distance from Singapore to Penang?
The distance from Singapore to Penang is 710 kilometers (441 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Singapore to Penang?
The fastest way to get from Singapore to Penang is by flight and takes 2 hours 20 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Singapore to Penang?
The cheapest way to get from Singapore to Penang is by bus with ticket costs starting from 40 SGD ($31).
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!
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.
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
