I was a little skeptical about traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang by bus, I was told that flying or taking the train are better options. However, I decided that taking the bus was a happy choice for our budget, and I was wiling to take a risk. I’m here to tell you that everything went a lot better than the horrid reviews I read online. In fact, it was quite smooth! Let’s break it down on why traveling by bus to Penang might be a great option for you.
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission each time you purchase something through them. (at NO EXTRA COST for you) I only recommend products and services that I trust. Thank you for supporting Here With Dia by using these links for your online purchases.
Related article: Awesome Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia | Where to eat, What to see + Where to sleep
Table of Contents
Bus vs. Train vs. Plane
Travel by Bus
(7-12 USD per ticket | Travel time: 5-6hrs)
Pros:
- It’s the cheapest option.
- There are many buses that run daily from KL to Penang.
- There are buses that take you straight to George Town, so no need to book ferry transfer from Butterworth.
- There’s not really a lot of restriction on luggage.
- There are bus trips running 24/7. So you can leave literally any time you want.
- Great scenic views.
Cons:
- Traffic could effect travel time.
- Scary internet reviews about buses not being on time. (Continue reading for my recommended companies)
- Generally no toilets on the bus, or if there is one you might not want to use it anyway.
Travel by Plane
(20-50 USD per ticket | Travel time: 1hr)
Pros:
- It’s the fastest option.
- The Penang International Airport is located on Penang island.
Cons:
- Check in + security hassle that are unavoidable at airports.
- Possible flight delays due to whatever reason.
- Extra fees for luggage.
- The most “expensive” option. (It’s still relatively cheap to flying domestic)
Travel by Train
(16-21 USD per ticket | Travel time: 4 hrs)
Pros:
- The trains that run and operate are fairly new, so everything should be up to standard and comfortable.
- It’s a bit faster than taking the bus. (1-2 hours faster)
- There are toilets and other facilities on board. (food, drinks, etc)
- Train rides do feel a little extra romantic and cinematic, am I right?
Cons:
- The train only runs to the main land portion of Penang in Butterworth.
- That means you’ll have to take a ferry across to Penang island and George Town.
- Less frequent schedules, less time options.
Check your travel dates + prices:
Here’s a map so you have an idea about arriving in Butterworth vs. George Town:
Most visitors tend to stay in Penang island, which is the part you see on the left side of the map and it is where George Town is located.
How to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang by bus
Which bus company?
I read some pretty bad reviews online and took my sweet time to research some of the more reliable bus companies and here are some that came up often:
- Nice
- Plusliner (the one we used)
- Alya Xpress
- Etika Delta
As I only have personally experience using Plusliner, I can only vouch for my experience with that particular company and bus. There are tons of other bus companies that may be up to standard, however these are just the ones I came upon during my own research.
How to book?
EasyBook – This is where we found out bus tickets. Easybook is one of the largest booking sites for traveling in Asia and they have a VERY long list of options for bus schedules and companies. As I mentioned earlier, buses from and to KL-Penang pretty much runs 24/7, so it’s quite flexible for traveling.
Check Ticket Prices On Easybook
12goAsia – I used this site a number of times when traveling in Southeast Asia. They offer transportation both domestic and international. They also have great customer services – when I made a mistake on a booking, they were easy to reach and fixed my issue without much hassle.
Booking Tip: Make sure to double check which bus terminal you will depart and arrive in.
Where are the departure and arrival stations?
Departure from Kuala Lumpur:
- TBS (Bersepadu Selatan)
- Terminal KTM (across from old KTM station)
- KL Sentral
- Hentian Duta (North of KL city center)
Arrival in Penang:
- Penang Sentral (Butterworth)
- Sungai Nibong (Near George Town)
Bus travel tips
- Bring some snacks and beverages.
- Use the toilet before getting on the bus. (The driver make stops for toilet and snacks, but better be safe)
- Charge all your devices in case your bus doesn’t have a charging port.
- Wear long layers to prepare for strong AC on the buses.
- Arrive to your bus terminal on time, our bus left pretty much right on time.
Related article: Awesome Things to Do in Penang, Malaysia | Where to eat, What to see + Where to sleep
If you have any other additional questions in regards to traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang by bus, please leave a comment below!
📌Pin it for later:
Share your thoughts with us!