Langkawi To Penang

Travel from Langkawi to Penang takes less time than you would expect! You can easily visit both places in the same trip!

Penang’s Georgetown and Penang Hill are enough to keep you busy for a few days! But if you think you will miss the sea, don’t worry! Penang has beaches too!

Take some time to review all the transport options to Penang before you book anything!

Table Of Contents:

Langkawi To Penang Distance

There is a point-to-point distance of 116km between Langkawi and Penang.

Far enough for there to be flights between them!

1. Langkawi To Penang By Flight

With a total duration of roughly 40 minutes, flights offer the fastest way to travel from Langkawi to Penang. An obvious choice if speed is your priority!

Departure: Langkawi International Airport

Arrival: Penang International Airport

1.1. Langkawi To Penang Flight Operators

5-6 flight services run this route every day! From morning to evening.

Airasia Flight

It’s possible to get a one-way flight ticket for less than RM100! Helps if you book your flight in advance!

Operators:

  • AirAsia
  • Firefly
  • Malaysia Airlines

1.2. How To Get From Penang Airport To Georgetown

When you reach Penang International Airport, you can choose to take any of the following options to explore Penang island!

  • Public bus system – Take bus numbers AT, 102, 306, 401 or 401E
  • Grab/Taxi – Use the Grab app to find a driver or just find a metered taxi outside the airport entrance!
  • Car rental – Rent a car at the airport and drive into town!
  • Private tour service (RayTheTour) – Day-time transport with a local guide and flexible itinerary!
Rapid Penang Airport Transit (AT)
Rapid Penang Airport Transit (AT) – Penang Airport To Georgetown – photo credit to nighteye @ flickr

Pros:

  • Short travel time

Cons:

  • Need to allocate at least 45 minutes to check in before boarding the flight.
  • Must arrange different transport to get to the airport and the final destination after reaching Penang International Airport!
  • Most expensive option

2. Direct Ferry From Langkawi To Penang

But what if you can’t find a cheap flight for your dates?

Taking The Ferry From Langkawi To George Town, Malaysia
Taking The Ferry From Langkawi To George Town, Malaysia – photo credits to vilaggamentunk (Instagram)

This next option is only for those who like traveling by sea and have some time on their hands!

Langkawi Ferry Services run a direct service twice a day that departs from Kuah Jetty straight to the Marina Cruise Terminal in Penang.

It does take 3 hours to make this crossing so bear that in mind!

Operator: Langkawi Ferry Services

Departure: Kuah Jetty, Langkawi

Arrival: Marina-Cruise Terminal (Swettenham Ferry Terminal), Penang

Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Swettenham Pier Of Penang
Swettenham Pier Of Penang – photo credits to madianajs (Instagram)

2.1. Ferry From Langkawi To Penang Ticket Price

Purchase tickets for this ferry online or the ferry ticket office and travel agencies!

Or check with your accommodation on Langkawi. There’s a good chance that they sell the tickets too!

Price:

  • RM73.60 (Adult)
  • RM54.90 (Child between 3-11 years old)
  • RM34.90 (Child below 2 years old)

Note:

  • Best to get your ticket at least a day before your intended departure!
  • The earliest you can buy a ticket online is 6 months in advance! The latest is 2 hours before the departure time.
  • Double-check the latest fares and schedules before you book!
  • When taking the ferry, bring a jacket! The air-conditioning is up really high!

2.2. Langkawi To Penang Ferry Time

Departures are only at 10:30am and 3pm every day.

In general, it usually rains in the afternoon or evening in Malaysia. So it’s advisable to take the morning slot!

Pros:

  • Tickets are fairly easy to acquire
  • Convenient departure times

Cons:

  • Long travel time
  • Kuah Jetty is ~20km from the main touristy area in Langkawi (Pantai Cenang). There are no buses. A one-way taxi trip can cost between RM10 – 60.

3. Langkawi To Penang By Ferry & Bus Combination

As you can see, taking the direct ferry isn’t a very favorable way of getting from Langkawi to Penang! Unless you personally like being on a ferry for that long!

However, there are 2 more ways we need to talk about before we end this post!

Langkawi Ferry Services
Langkawi Ferry Services – photo credits to hamza_parlayan61 (Instagram)

The Cheapest Way to Travel from Langkawi to Penang?

You’re clearly trading time for money if you go with any of these routes!

While cheap, both of these methods require an approximate duration of 4 hours. And will rely on transport by ferry and bus!

3.1. Langkawi To Penang By Ferry & Bus Via Kuala Perlis

Instead of getting the ferry to Penang, you can take one to the state across from Langkawi, Kuala Perlis.

Through this method, the ferry journey is significantly shorter using high speed boats!

Note: Prices listed are subject to changes by the respective ferry or bus operator!

Where Is Kuala Perlis?

Kuala Perlis is a port town with mangroves in the north-west corner of Peninsula Malaysia. It shares a border with Thailand.

Step 1: Take The Ferry From Langkawi To Kuala Perlis

The boat schedule has regular departures. With boats leaving every hour!

Note: There are fewer trips during the month of Ramadan

Duration: About 1 hour, 15 minutes

Price: RM18 (Adult), RM13 (Child)

Operating Hours: 7:30am to 7pm

Buy tickets online at the official website. Alternately, you can get tickets from the physical counter at Kuah.

Kuah Ferry Jetty, Langkawi
Kuah Ferry Jetty, Langkawi – photo credits to bakshidivya (Instagram)

Step 2: Take The Bus From Kuala Perlis To Butterworth

Once at the Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal, walk to the bus station (Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal).

It should just take you about 7 minutes to do so as the station is about 500 metres away!

Prepare yourself for a bus trip of around 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Operators:

OperatorsFirst BusLast BusPrice
Plusliner9:30AM7:30PMRM 14.90
Cepat Express6:30PM6:30PMRM 21.90
Kesatuan Express6:45PM6:45PMRM 20.00
Sri Maju Express6:45PM7:30PMRM 22.00
Maraliner8:45PM8:45PMRM 17.40

Drop-off Point: Penang Sentral Bus Terminal in Butterworth

Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal (Butterworth)
Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal (Butterworth) – photo credits to arifuddinrahmad (Instagram)

Step 3: Take A Ferry From Butterworth To Georgetown

If Butterworth is your destination, you can skip this step!

Else, take another ferry by Rapid Penang to George Town! The fare is surprisingly cheap!

Penang Ferry Between George Town And The Mainland
Penang Ferry Between George Town And The Mainland – photo credits to rlanh (Instagram)

And the ferry terminal is next to the bus station in Butterworth.

Departure: Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal

Arrival: Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal (10-20 minute walk to George Town)

First Ferry Leaves At: 5.20am

Last Ferry Leaves At: 12.10am

Frequency: Twice per hour

Fare: RM 1.20

Duration: About 20 minutes

Latest ferry schedule.

Pros:

  • Total price is ~RM40; Cheaper than a flight (on a weekend or public holiday)
  • Regular departure times
  • Short ferry trip between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis
  • Close to Hat Yai – a shopping town in Thailand

Cons:

  • Requires multiple transits including 2 ferry trips
  • Bus journey is quite long
  • Total journey time is around 4 hours

3.2. Langkawi To Penang By Ferry & Bus Via Kuala Kedah

The last method we need to talk about will have you transiting in Kuala Kedah. Which somewhere between Kuala Perlis and Penang!

Similarly, you’ll need to split the journey into 2 – 3 parts accordingly.

Where Is Kuala Kedah?

Kuala Kedah is a fishing port at the mouth of Kedah River. There is a historic fort (Kota Kuala Kedah) here.

Step 1: Take A Ferry From Langkawi To Kuala Kedah

Langkawi Ferry Service
Langkawi Ferry Service – photo credits to sophiepini (Instagram)

High speed boats take little under 2 hours to reach Kuala Kedah from Langkawi. The frequency of these trips is between 1-2 hours.

Duration: About 1 hour, 45 minutes

Price: RM23 (Adult), RM17 (Child)

Operating Hours: 7:30am to 7pm

Get tickets online.

Note: Tickets for the ferry sell out fast during school holidays!

Step 2: Take The Bus From Kuala Kedah To Alor Setar

After docking at Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal, you can either take a bus or taxi to Alor Setar Terminal Bas Shahab Perdana.

A journey of ~13km and 25 minutes’ drive away.

You can also opt to get a taxi (~RM15) straight to Alor Setar. With a comparable duration of 20 minutes.

Step 3: Take The Bus From Alor Setar To Sungai Nibong

Next, from Shahab Perdana Bus Terminal, you will need to take the bus for another 2 hours on to Sungai Nibong!

Operators: Plusliner

Bus Timing: 10:30am, 4pm & 8:30pm

First Bus: 10:30am

Last Bus: 8:30pm

Price: RM 12.90

Drop-off Point: Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal (Penang Island)

Step 4: Take The Bus From Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal To Georgetown

Many local and interstate buses pass through Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal (Terminal Bas Ekspres Sungai Nibong).

The bus ride by Rapid Penang from Sungai Nibong to George Town should take about an hour.

Rapid Penang Bus Making A Turn At Chulia Street, George Town, Penang
Rapid Penang Bus Making A Turn At Chulia Street, George Town, Penang – photo credits to len_j_p (Instagram)
Tip: Time your trip to avoid rush hour (7am to 8am or 5pm to 7pm)

To find the bus stop, just exit the bus terminal and locate it on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

Look out for these bus numbers to take you into George Town:

Bus Service To George Town: AT, 102 & 401

First Bus: 6am

Last Bus: 11pm

Bus Interval: 60-80 minutes for Bus 102, 30-45 minutes for Bus 401

Price: ~RM2

Note:

  • Buses 102 and 401 stop close to or at KOMTAR too
  • Bus 101 goes all the way to Batu Ferringhi passing through Gurney Drive
  • Bus 401 goes into Little India from the jetty
Trishaws Going Down Little India Penang
Trishaws Going Down Little India Penang – photo credits to cyclopseven (Instagram)

Pros:

  • Total price is under RM40 – Cheapest option
  • Reasonable departure times
  • Can visit the historical fort at Kuala Kedah

Cons:

  • Ferry trip from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah is around 2 hours
  • Total journey time is more than 4 hours
  • Buses to Alor Setar are very old
  • Journey of 4 parts

Read more: 15 Best Hotels In Penang For An Unforgettable Stay (From Budget To Luxury)


Getting Around Penang

Your trip to Penang can be a whole lot smoother with a private tour service like RayTheTour!

Penang Tour - RayTheTour & Travelswithsun

Why You Should Book A Tour With Us:

  • We’ll follow your Penang itinerary or keep it flexible with no fixed stops and we’ll drop you off at your Penang hotel after the tour too!
  • English-speaking and Chinese-speaking guides
  • No hidden charges!
  • Comfy and safe transport (MPV or van)
  • And we do trips to Ipoh, Taiping and Cameron Highlands too!

Easy booking awaits at our WhatsApp or Facebook!


Further reading:


Conclusion

Considering all the options, taking a flight from Langkawi to Penang will save you a lot of hassle!

Nonetheless, you may want to save that money by taking the ferry to Penang, Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis rather than flying!

Just note that travel from Langkawi to Penang by land or sea will take around 3-4 hours!

Share this post with your friends and family!

Similar Posts