How to Get From Penang to Singapore
Bus · Flight · Train
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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 Penang to Singapore. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Singapore 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 3 ways to travel from Penang to Singapore?
There are three ways to travel the 710 km distance from Penang to Singapore. You can choose between the bus, flight, and train.
The journey takes between 2h 25m–10h 24m and the quickest way is by flight (2h 25m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 30 SGD ($24).
10h 30m
30 SGD ($24)
2h 25m
48 SGD ($38)
9h 50m - 10h
87 SGD ($68)
Already in Singapore?
Onward from Singapore
Once you're in Singapore, here's where to next — 5 researched onward routes to pick from.
Penang to Singapore by Bus
The bus is a direct way to travel from Penang to Singapore. Travel time is about 10h 30m — quite long, but buses depart at night and you can sleep for the most part of the journey. That means you can also save a night on accommodation.
Note, though, that although direct, buses make two stops along the way for immigration checkpoints.
Bus ticket prices from Penang to Singapore start from 30 SGD ($24).
Departure and arrival stations
Buses depart from Komtar Terminal, which is within walking distance of many hotels in Penang.
The bus arrives at Golden Mile Complex in downtown Singapore. From here, you can take the train, a bus, or a taxi to your hotel.
Bus schedule from Penang to Singapore
Customs & Immigration
Your bus will make two stops for customs and immigration — once in Johor Bahru for the Malaysian side and then another time at Woodlands Checkpoint for the Singapore side. Your first stop happens around 9 hours into your journey. For both checkpoints, you’ll have to get off your bus with all your belongings, present your passport to the immigration officers, and have your luggage checked for customs. Depending on the number of people at that time, the entire process takes 20 to 30 minutes on each side of the border. Remember which bus you’re with and come back as soon as you’re cleared! There have been reports of buses leaving the checkpoint even though not all passengers are back on board.Penang to Singapore by Flight
Taking a flight is the quickest way to get from Penang to Singapore. Travel time, including airport transfers, takes about 2h 25m.
Combined fares start from 48 SGD ($38).
Step 1: How to get to Penang Airport
From George Town, you’ll first have to take a taxi or a bus to Penang International Airport, about 18 km south.
The taxi is more expensive with fares from 30 MYR ($7.60), but you can expect to reach the airport in around 30 minutes.
The bus, on the other hand, only costs 3 MYR ($0.80). However, it makes multiple stops, and travel time can take an hour or more. Traffic delays are common, which can be risky when you’re heading to the airport.
Step 2: Flight from Penang to Singapore
Air Asia, Batik Air, Scoot and Singapore Airlines offer several flights daily from Penang to Singapore. If you’re after the cheapest fares, Scoot is usually your best bet. Book early and you could snag a ticket for just 90 MYR ($23).
Flights depart from Penang Airport and arrive at Singapore Changi Airport. Travel time is about 1h 25m.
Step 3: Singapore Airport to Downtown Singapore
From Singapore Changi Airport, you’ll have to travel 20 km west to reach downtown Singapore, where most of the tourist hotels are located. You have 4 options: a city shuttle for 9 SGD ($7.00); a taxi from 25 SGD ($20); the train for 2.7 SGD ($2.10); or a public bus for 2.5 SGD ($2.00).
Travelling solo? The city shuttle is a good mix of comfort and affordability. Although a shared ride, they offer free drop-off to most hotels in the city centre. You can book them at the airport upon arrival or online beforehand via Klook.
If you're travelling in a group, it will be more cost-efficient to take a taxi. There's plenty available at the airport. But if you want your private ride waiting for you as soon as you arrive, you can also pre-book one through Klook or BookAway
The train and the public bus are way cheaper, but often require at least one transfer. If you're carrying bulky luggage, they're not exactly a convenient way to get from the airport to Singapore city centre. For more details, check out our page on Singapore 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 Singapore by Train
Want to see more of Malaysia’s rural scenery? Taking the train to Singapore from Penang is an interesting option.
Travel time is around 9h 50m - 10h, which is almost as long as the bus. Trains on this route also run only during the day, so you won’t save on daytime travel or a night’s accommodation.
And with combined prices from 87 SGD ($68), the train is the most expensive option for this route.
What the train does offer is a more adventurous journey and a glimpse of how locals travel from Penang to Singapore. It requires several transfers, but the process is fairly straightforward. Read on to see if this is a journey you’d want to experience.
Step 1: Ferry from George Town to Butterworth
If you’re staying in George Town, you’ll first need to get to Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal. You can take a taxi or Grab from around 15 MYR ($3.80), or Bus 101 for about 5 MYR ($1.30).
The bus makes many stops, so the journey takes longer. It may also not stop near your hotel. If you’re travelling with luggage or short on time, a Grab is more convenient.
Ferries depart from Weld Quay from 07:00 to 23:30, with a 20 to 30-minute interval. A ticket to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim in Butterworth costs 2 MYR ($0.50).
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. Bear this in mind if you’re carrying bulky luggage.
Step 2: Train from Butterworth to Johor Bahru
One direct train operates from Butterworth to Johor Bahru. You can get a train ticket for 225 MYR ($57). Travel time is 8h 20m.
You can also break up your train journey with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, but we only recommend this if you plan to explore Malaysia’s capital for at least one night.
If you're hoping to arrive in Singapore on the same day you depart from Penang, take the direct train from Butterworth to Johor Bahru.
Ready to book your train?
Direct operator sites
Step 3: Train from Johor Bahru to Singapore (Woodlands Checkpoint)
From Johor Bahru, the train that crosses the border to Singapore only takes 5 minutes. Buy your ticket at the train station for 16 MYR ($4.00) before heading to the customs and immigration office.
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
The good thing about the Woodlands Train Checkpoint is that it already has both Malaysian and Singaporean immigration offices in one location. You won’t have to make 2 stops as you would with the bus.
Prepare for long queues if you are travelling during peak times. Note that there are a good number of Malaysians who cross this border every day for work in Singapore.
Step 4: How to get from Woodlands Checkpoint to Downtown Singapore
From Woodlands Checkpoint, you have 3 choices to reach downtown Singapore: a 40-minute taxi, a 1-hour bus, or a 1-hour bus + MRT. Rates range from 2.5 SGD ($2.00) to 30 SGD ($24).
Bus from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
The Woodlands Checkpoint is conveniently connected to downtown Singapore by the Causeway Link, which are direct cross-border buses.
You have 2 options: CW2 from Woodlands Checkpoint to Queen Street Bus Terminal and CW5 from Woodlands Checkpoint to Newton Circus. CW2 departs every 15-20 minutes, 24 hours a day. CW5 is available every 45 minutes from 05:00 to 22:30.
Travel time with the Causeway Link from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre is 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic. During peak hours, it could take up to 2 hours.
A bus ticket costs 3 SGD ($2.30) to 5 SGD ($3.90).
Bus + MRT from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
If you're not keen on experiencing Singapore's heavy traffic as soon as you enter the country, you can take a combination of bus and MRT.
There are 2 train stations near Woodlands Checkpoint:
- Marsiling MRT Station (4 km away): From here, you can take the red line to key stations like City Hall, Raffles Place and Marina Bay.
- Woodlands MRT Station (6 km away): From here, you can take either the red line or the brown line to Orchard Station and Outram Park, which is connected to Chinatown and Clarke Quay.
You can get to these MRT stations by bus from Woodlands Checkpoint.
The journey by combined bus and MRT from Woodlands Checkpoint to downtown Singapore takes about 1 hour. Ticket prices range from [price 2.50 SGD to 4.5 SGD ($3.50).
Taxi from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
You shouldn't have a hard time getting a taxi from Woodlands Checkpoint. You can hail one from the street or order one through Grab.
Travel time by taxi is around 40 minutes, but it can take longer during peak hours. Rates are from 30 SGD ($24) to 40 SGD ($32).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Penang to Singapore. 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 Singapore is 710 km.
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To revisit your childhood, there's Universal Studios and the resort island of Sentosa. For shopping, head to Orchard Road. For art, visit the Kampong Glam area. For an amazing night and light show, you have to visit Marina Bay Sands.
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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.
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