Getting Around Penang

Local Transportation

Downtown Penang is small enough in size for walking around, especially George Town and its surroundings. One can take in the sights in a trishaw or on a Link Bike. Alternatively, a free shuttle bus service, the Central Area Transit (CAT) bus, provides a convenient way of moving around town.

To get to attractions outside George Town – such as Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang Hill, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang – standard city buses and taxis are available, including e-hailing services. Always check schedules and fares before deciding on your preferred mode of transportation. Alternatively, you can also rent a car so you can get around at your own convenience.

Trishaw

A great and breezy way of getting around George Town is by trishaw. Be sure to agree on a price before starting your journey – the average rate is RM50 per hour for two persons, depending on the distance between the start and end points.

Public Bus

The state’s public bus service is provided by Rapid Penang and covers an extensive area, both on the island and the mainland. It also offers a free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus service within George Town. The terminals at KOMTAR and Penang Sentral are the central transfer terminals for buses that ply the whole of Penang Island and Seberang Perai. Simply ask around or look out for signboards to find out which bus route serves you best. Upon boarding the Rapid Penang bus, inform the driver of your destination, pay the amount required and receive a ticket for your trip. Remember to prepare the exact change as all buses do not carry change for safety reasons.

* Fares are based on distance travelled.

Transportation Card (1-month use)

Fare:

Adult RM110 (Foreigners) RM75 (Malaysians),
Student RM55 (Foreigners) RM35 (Malaysians)

Application Preparation
• 1 ID photo
• 1 copy of applicant’s passport
• 1 copy of student ID
• fee of RM5
Website: www.rapidpg.com.my

Free CAT Bus

Free CAT Bus (Central Area Transit) is a free shuttle bus service that operates within George Town. It is the most common means of transportation for travellers to get to popular local attractions for free. Trips are at intervals of 15 minutes. Look out for Rapid Penang buses that bear a “Free CAT Bus” sign.

Operating Hours:

6:00am to 11:45pm

Fare:

Free

Bus Stops from Ferry Terminal to KOMTAR

2 Ferry Terminal → 3 Little India → 4 Immigration → 5 Bank Negara → 6 Museum → 7 Muntri Street → 8 Campbell Street → 9 KOMTAR

Bus Stops from KOMTAR to Ferry Terminal

9 KOMTAR → 11 Kedah Road → 12 Chowrasta Market → 13 KOMTAR East → 14 Carnarvon Street → 15 Kampung Kolam → 16 Penang Supreme Court → 17 Dewan Sri Pinang → 18 Fort Cornwallis → 19 Downing Street → 1 Weld Quay → 2 Ferry Terminal

Taxi

Taxis are commonly available around the island. It is an easy means of getting around by visitors. Be sure to agree on a price before boarding the taxi. Start by asking how much it is to get to your destination; you can negotiate on the pricing if you feel that it is too high.

Average Fare
From George Town to Penang International Airport: RM45
From George Town to Penang Hill or Kek Lok Si: RM30

E-Hailing Services

Ridesharing apps such as Grab and AirAsia Ride are available in Penang. Simply download the apps to start booking your trips. Payment is either by cash or credit card.

Car Rental Services

Most large car rental companies have offices in Penang, and a number of them have counters located at the airport. You can rent a car as soon as you arrive or book online and pick up the keys upon arrival. You can also rent a car with travel agencies, where you can book licensed tour guides and drivers to facilitate your visit.

Europcar Rental

Tel: +6012 329 3010

Hawk Penang Rent-A-Car

Tel: +6016 207 6536

Hertz Car Rental

Tel: +604 226 8602

Kasina Rent-A-Car

Tel: +604 228 8602

La Belle Rent-A-Car

Tel: +604 264 2717

Mayflower Car Rental

Tel: +604 641 1191

New Bob Rent-A-Car

Tel: +604 226 6111

Orix Penang Rent-A-Car

Tel: +604 644 4772

Link Bike

Link Bike is a bike-sharing system that allows users to pick up a bicycle at any of the 25 self-serve bike stations strategically located on the island and return it to any bike station at their convenience. Download the app and scan the QR code to release the bicycle. Users also can use the Link Bike Card instead of downloading the mobile app to use the service.

Ferry

There are two types of ferry services: fast ferries (for pedestrians only) and vehicle ferries (for motorcycles and bicycles). The air-conditioned fast ferries serve the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Butterworth) to Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (George Town) route while the vehicle ferries serve the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Butterworth) to Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (George Town) route. If you are taking a train to Penang from Kuala Lumpur or other cities, you may board the ferry to the island from Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim at Butterworth, located just next to the train station.

Operating hours: 6.30am-10.30pm
Operating intervals: 30 minutes