Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown, Penang
How to Travel by Bus, Train, Flight
If you want to travel from (KL) Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown, Penang Island, you have a choice of taking a fast train from KL Sentral to Butterworth (located on the mainland and connected by a 15 minute ferry ride), a bus to Butterworth (Penang Sentral) or Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, or you can fly from KL to PEN airport.
KL to Penang by Bus
The cheapest way to travel from KL to Georgetown is to take a bus.
These days, most buses departing from Kuala Lumpur for Penang leave from the large TBS Bus Terminal (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) although you can still find less frequent departures from other places such as Hentian Duta and KL Sentral.
We would recommend you go from TBS as it is very easy to get to from anywhere in the city.
The best way to get to TBS is to take a train as the bus station is connected to the Bandar Tasik Selatan Train Station (BTS) by KTM Komuter, KLIA Transit and LRT trains.
Once you are at TBS, you now have a choose a destination.
You can go to either Butterworth (Penang Sentral) on the mainland (then take the ferry over to Georgetown).
Or, go to Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal (on Penang Island), then take a local bus from there into Georgetown.
We would recommend you take the bus to Penang Sentral in Butterworth, then take the ferry over to Georgetown as it is a much nicer way to arrive in the city rather than being stuck in traffic on a local bus from Sungai Nibong.
Just make sure your bus is due to arrive well before midnight when the ferries stop operating.
For more information, fares and timetables for the ferry to Georgetown click here >
The duration of the bus journey from TBS to Penang is around 5, to 5 and a half hours.
The cheaper, slower buses will often stop off in places like Ipoh along the route so if you want a quicker bus, pay a little more!
To check for timetable, fares and to book bus tickets online from KL click here >
KL to Georgetown by Train
Our recommended way to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown is to take the modern, fast, Electric Train Service (ETS for short) from either KL Sentral Railway Station or the old Moorish Kuala Lumpur Train Station to Butterworth Railway Station.
Taking the train is a safe, relaxing and quick way to travel and costs just a little more than a bus.
Once you arrive at Butterworth Station, it is around five minutes walk to get to the jetty for the ferry over to Georgetown.
Make sure you take a train that is due to arrive well before the last ferry departs for Georgetown.
To see the latest ETS train timetable and fares from KL to Butterworth click here >
A KTM ETS trainFly from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown
Flying from KL to Penang International Airport may be a quick flight (one hour) but by the time you get to/from the airport, check-in, collect your bags etc, it may be just as quick to take a train or bus.
Internal flights within Malaysia are quite cheap with many airlines flying this route.
You can choose to fly from KUL (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) or from SZB (Subang Airport).
To find cheap flights click here >
Once you arrive at Penang Airport, it is around 19 km to Georgetown's Old Town (heritage area).
To get to Georgetown from PEN you can take a cheap bus or a fixed price taxi (you have to buy a taxi coupon).
Kuala Lumpur to Penang main page >