How to go from Penang Airport to Georgetown - By taxi, bus or car

With flights from Singapore taking little more than an hour, heading to Penang makes for an excellent quick getaway. And while Penang Island is a shade bigger than Singapore in total landmass, getting around is pretty convenient. Once you’ve touched down you could be over in historic Georgetown pretty quickly and ready to start your break properly.

This guide looks at the options for travel from Penang airport¹ to Georgetown, including hiring a car and taking the bus from Penang airport to Georgetown on different services. We’ll also touch on the Wise card briefly - a great way to save when paying for things in Malaysia.

Can I go to Georgetown directly from Penang Airport?

Yes. You can get from Penang international airport to Georgetown in a few ways.

There’s no train on the island, so that’s not an option - but there are plenty of bus routes available, and you can also go from the airport in Penang to Georgetown by car - either in your own hire car, in a Grab or with a taxi. We’ll take a look at the options including pros, cons and who they may suit, in this guide.

First here’s a summary of the key Penang airport to Georgetown travel options:

Penang Airport to Georgetown distance

Traveling from Penang Airport to Georgetown the distance is only about 17 kilometres by road. If you’re arriving outside of peak hours the trip should be very simple, and might take as little as 20 minutes. However, traffic congestion can get pretty tiresome at peak times, so budget for a longer journey if you’re arriving during a busier time of day.

Your route to Georgetown follows the coast of the island north, and while much of the area is pretty built up, you can still stop at a couple of viewing points to take a look at the sea.

Look out for the viewing point at the Penang bridge for example, which allows you to look at the bridge link back to the mainland. Or, on the way into Georgetown take a moment at the viewing area at Karpal Singh Drive for a quick breather before you arrive. And of course, if you’re hungry from your flight, you’ll be driving past plenty of great eateries too - just take a look at the reviews of places you pass on Google as you go, to make a quick snack stop when you need one.

How to go to Georgetown from Penang Airport?

As there’s no train on Penang Island, all of the routes from the airport to Georgetown go by road. However, there are still several different options which can appeal to different customer needs - from people traveling light with just a few bags, to families with kids and cases, those looking for luxury, and budget conscious travellers looking for the most immersive experience possible.

Rapid Bus

Rapid Penang is the primary local public bus service in Penang - and the airport does remind customers that this is a brand name, rather than a promise of a super speedy transfer. There are 5 different buses plying the route from the airport to Georgetown, which all take about an hour. Services depart from the Rapid Bus Stop which is just outside the airport and tickets cost just 1 to 3 MYR depending on the service you select.

The bus number is displayed prominently on the front of the vehicle, and you can also talk to the driver about your specific destination. People are super friendly in Penang, so you’ll get help if you run into language barriers in most cases.

If you can, make sure you have some small change in ringgit in your pocket before you get on the bus. Drivers may not always have change on them if you try to break a large note.

Airport Shuttle (Rapid Penang Airport Transit)

Aside from the regular bus services, there are also options for a slightly quicker route which cuts out some of the stops to get you to Georgetown faster. Look out for route 401E, which stops at:

• Snake Temple
• Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal
• KOMTAR Terminal
• Love Lane
• Little India
• Jetty (Pengkalan Weld)

If you’ve done your homework on Penang already, you may recognise that this affords a few good jumping off points. You may want to take a look at the Snake Temple as you pass, and once you’re in Georgetown you’re able to hop off at Love Lane to snap some Instagram pics, ride through Little India and visit the historic jetties, right off the bus. A lot of the accommodation options in Georgetown are covered in this vicinity, making this a convenient way to get to your hotel for many people.

Car (Grab, taxi, and self-drive)

Your route from the airport to Georgetown will ultimately be by road - so going by car is also a very common option. Here’s a summary of the basic ways you can travel by car, depending on your preference:

The Penang airport to Georgetown Grab price can vary a lot. As in Singapore it’ll be determined by the type of car you end up with, as well as any surge pricing measures that are in place. You’ll be able to view the available vehicle types and get a quote at the airport - and if you decide against Grab, airport taxis are still a strong option.

You can get metered Penang Taxis just outside the exit of Penang Airport. Ignore touts who may approach you, and look out for official cabs only to ensure you don’t get ripped off.

Finally, you may decide to hire a car if you need one for your trip anyway. Car hire options at the airport include:

• Paradise
• Asia Galaxy Car Rental
• Green Matrix
• Europcar
• Kasina

You can easily search all available providers from the airport website to generate quotes based on your specific needs.

Travel from Georgetown to Penang Airport

Getting back to the airport from Georgetown will work in more or less the same way - but backwards. You can still take the bus or use it as a way to return your hired car. As you’ll have settled into your hotel by this stage you may also decide to talk to the desk staff to understand what car options they can provide you with. Hotel airport transfers may be complimentary as part of your booking, and they’re certainly a convenient option if you’ve been stocking up on souvenirs and want to end your break in the most relaxing way possible.

No matter which way you choose to get back to the airport, be sure to leave enough time. The traffic can be a challenge and you will need to aim to be at the airport a couple of hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Your hotel can advise you of the best time to plan on leaving based on your flight time, to reduce the stress and limit the risk of you being late.

Pay for transport, food, and shopping with the Wise card to maximise your SGD to MYR conversions

While you’re in Malaysia you need easy ways to tap and pay, and to get cash as you go. Check out the Wise card as a smart solution to spending in MYR and 40+ other currencies. You can add money to your Wise digital account in SGD from your bank or with a card, and then either convert to MYR before you travel to see your budget instantly - or leave the funds in dollars and switch when you pay.

You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees whenever you convert currencies, and there’s no additional fee to spend a currency you hold in your account. At times where you find yourself needing cash from an ATM in Malaysia, you can use the physical Wise card to make withdrawals to 350 SGD a month for free before low fees are incurred.

Your Wise account is also a great way to manage your finances across currencies in between trips - send payments to 140+ countries, and get paid from abroad in a selection of currencies.

Get your Wise card for hassle-free payments without any hidden fees in Penang and beyond.

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Sources:

1. Penang Airport
2. Penang Airport car hire