Penang by Bus & Ferry — Airport, George Town, Penang Hill
Penang is one of the easiest places in Malaysia to see by bus. Rapid Penang runs the island and the mainland side around Butterworth, a free shuttle loops George Town's heritage core, and a cheap ferry crosses the channel. The one thing to know before you start: bring small notes.
Paying: regular Rapid Penang buses take cash, and the driver doesn't give change. Touch 'n Go and bank cards aren't accepted on them yet. Fares are by distance, from about RM1.40 up to a few ringgit for the longest rides; seniors and children 7–12 pay half. Malaysians can get the Pas Mutiara monthly pass (RM10 the first time).
The routes you'll use
| Route | Runs | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | Loop from Terminal A Weld Quay | 19 | Stops & times |
| 401E | Terminal A Weld Quay ↔ Terminal Bas Balik Pulau | 49 | Stops & times |
| 102 | Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang ↔ Hub Teluk Bahang | 116 | Stops & times |
| 204 | Terminal B Weld Quay ↔ Stesen Bukit Bendera | 45 | Stops & times |
From the airport
- 401E — the most frequent: about 50 trips a day on weekdays, from roughly 5.30am to 11.30pm, via Queensbay to Komtar and Weld Quay in George Town. Allow about an hour to Komtar.
- 102 — about every 75 minutes, via Komtar and Gurney to Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang. Handy if you're staying on the beach.
Free: the CAT shuttle in George Town
The CAT (Central Area Transit) is a free loop from Weld Quay through the heritage area — Penang Museum, Penang Road, Komtar, Chowrasta, Armenian Street, St George's Church, Padang Kota Lama and Swettenham Pier. It runs from 6am to about 11.45pm, roughly every 12–13 minutes. Hop on for the old town; walk the lanes from there.
Penang Hill
Bus 204 runs from Weld Quay via Penang Road, Komtar and Air Itam (stop here for Kek Lok Si temple) to the funicular station at the foot of the hill, about every 40 minutes.
| Funicular (return) | Visitors | Malaysians |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | RM40 | RM16 |
| Child | RM20 | RM8 |
| Senior | RM30 | RM8 |
| Express lane (adult) | RM80 | RM40 |
The funicular runs 6.30am to 11pm (last ride up 10pm), every 30 minutes; tickets are also sold online by the Penang Hill Corporation. Disabled visitors ride free.
The ferry: Butterworth ↔ George Town
The passenger ferry links Sultan Abdul Halim terminal, beside Penang Sentral and KTM Butterworth on the mainland, with Raja Tun Uda terminal at Weld Quay. It's the easy way across if you arrive by ETS train.
- Fare: adult RM2, child (5–11) RM1, 4 and under free. Bicycles RM2.
- Paying: cashless — Touch 'n Go card, QR or buy at the counter or online.
- Times: 6.30am to 11.30pm, every 20 minutes at peak and 30 minutes otherwise. Foot passengers, bikes and motorcycles only — no cars.
Arriving by train
ETS trains from KL and Johor Bahru stop at Butterworth. A covered walkway links the station with Penang Sentral (buses) and the ferry terminal. See our ETS guide for times and booking.
