How to Get From Penang to Hat Yai
Bus · Train · Minivan · Private Transport
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 215 kilometre (134 miles) distance from Penang to Hat Yai. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai?
There are four ways to travel the 215 km distance from Penang to Hat Yai. You can choose between the bus, train, minivan, and private.
The journey takes between 1h 30m–4h and the quickest way is by train (1h 30m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 465 THB ($14).
4h - 4h 20m
465 THB ($14)
1h 30m
631 THB ($19)
3h 10m - 4h 30m
667 THB ($21)
4h
3,613 THB ($110)
Already in Hat Yai?
Onward from Hat Yai
Once you're in Hat Yai, here's where to next — 1 researched onward route to pick from.
Penang to Hat Yai by Bus
The journey from Penang to Hat Yai by bus takes 4h - 4h 20m and costs start from 465 THB ($14).
Penang to Hat Yai by Train
Travelling by train from Penang to Hat Yai is a nice way to cross the Malaysia-Thailand border like a local. It includes several transfers, but they’re all pretty much interconnected so you wouldn’t have a hard time finding your way.
For this option, you’ll have to take a ferry and 2 trains from Penang to Hat Yai.
Step 1: Penang Island to Butterworth by Ferry
To take the train, you will first have to get to Butterworth, a mainland town just across Penang Island. If you’re staying at George Town, you can take a 5-minute taxi or 20-minute bus (Line 101) to Weld Quay, where ferries bound for Butterworth depart from. Taxi and bus rates start from 15 MYR ($3.80) and 5 MYR ($1.30), respectively.
From Weld Quay, you can expect a ferry departure every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 20:30. Travel time to Butterworth is only 20m and a ticket costs .
Your ferry will dock at Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal, which is conveniently connected to Butterworth Train Station by a walkway.
Step 2: Butterworth to Padang Besar by Train
Trains from Butterworth to Padang Besar depart almost every hour from 05:20 to 21:35. Travel time is about 2h and you can buy your ticket at Butterworth Station for .
Customs & Immigration at Padang Besar Train Station
Before you can transfer to your connecting train to Hat Yai, you will first have to be cleared at customs & immigration at Padang Besar Station. This is quite easy as there is only one office for both Malaysia and Thailand, and you can find this between Platforms 1 & 2 of the train station.
Show your passport so you can be stamped out of Malaysia and stamped into Thailand. Be prepared to have your luggage checked as well. If you’re travelling on a weekend, try to be quick when getting off the train to skip the long queues.
Once you’re cleared to enter Thailand, you can head upstairs to buy your train ticket to Hat Yai.
Step 3: Padang Besar to Hat Yai by Train*
*
There are only 2 trains operating from Padang Besar to Hat Yai daily. These depart at 09:55 and 16:40 daily. Note that Malaysia is 1 hour ahead of Thailand.
Also here, you can only buy your ticket at the train station. Fares start from for a 3rd class seat. Travel time is only 55m.
We highly recommend that you time your departure from Penang to be able to make it for either of these 2 trains.If you miss both of them, there is a “special” train bound for Bangkok that departs at 17:00. This also makes a stop in Hat Yai, but a ticket costs 270 THB ($8.30), more than 5x more than the regular train.
Alternative Option: Padang Besar to Hat Yai by Minivan
Just in case there are no more trains available when you arrive in Padang Besar, you can also take a minivan to Hat Yai. However, this is in no way as simple as taking the train.
First, if you are taking the minivan, you have to skip the immigration process at the train station altogether. Head to Level 1 (where the food court is located), and then find Gate D. Take the roofed pedestrian walkway, which will lead you to Malaysian immigration. That’s only around 200 metres, so you can disregard anyone offering a ride.
After being cleared at the Malaysian border, you’ll have to walk another 600 metres to the Thai border. Here, you’ll have to fill out an entry card. Chances are they will not give you the card for free. Expect to pay around 2 MYR ($0.50) for the card.
After you are cleared to enter Thailand, you’ll need to take a motorbike taxi to the market. Fares for this ride start from 60 THB ($1.80).
At the market, minivans bound for Hat Yai are available from 07:00 to 19:00. A ticket costs 60 THB ($1.80) for the journey that takes around 1h 30m.
Ready to book your minivan?
Penang to Hat Yai by Minivan
There are three companies offering direct minivan ride from Penang to Hat Yai. The ticket cost starts at 667 THB ($21), which you can book through BookAway.
Departure and arrival station
Nominatee Tour departs from Komtar Bus Terminal. It is 5-10 minutes away from George Town city centre.
Nominatee Tour parks at its office at 171 Thammanoonvithi Road, Hat Yai city centre.
Minivan schedules from Penang to Hat Yai*
Customs & Immigration at Danok Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam Border
Around 2.5 hours into your journey from Penang to Hat Yai, your minivan will make a short stop at the Malaysian border in Bukit Kayu Hitam for customs & immigration procedures. After that, you will cross the border to Danok Sadao in Thailand for another check. The Danok Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border is the busiest between Malaysia and Thailand. For easier passport processing, drive-through immigration booths are available on both sides of the border. However, you will still be asked to get off your minivan with your luggage for a customs check.Penang to Hat Yai by Private Transport
A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Penang to Hat Yai.
Rates start from 3,613 THB ($110) for a 4-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 903 THB ($28) per person. Travel time is around 4h.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Penang to Hat Yai. 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 Hat Yai is 215 km.
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