Penang to Kuala Lumpur

How to Get From Penang to Kuala Lumpur

4Options
1hFastest
$8.80From
ElaKateWritten by Ela · Reviewed by Kate ·

Bus · Train · Flight · Taxi

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's capital, a sprawl of towers, markets and food courts. The Petronas Twin Towers get the photos, but the street food is the real draw. Flying is the quickest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, taking 1h. On the ground, the bus is the cheapest at $8.80 - $11 (36 - 46 MYR), if you don't mind a long ride. The train does the run in 3h 50m - 4h 35m for a bit more money.

DISTANCE

Distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

Penang and Kuala Lumpur are about 291 km (181 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 344 km by road. The quickest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is by taking the flight, which takes around 1h.

~291 km
Straight-line distance
~344 km
Route distance
1h
Fastest
Map of Penang – Kuala Lumpur
Travelling the other way?Kuala Lumpur to Penang→

4 ways to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

There are four ways to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. You can choose between the bus, train, flight, and taxi. The journey takes 1h – 9h 15m and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $8.80 (36 MYR).

Busfrom$8.805h – 9h 15m·Via Butterworth24 options to bookBusVia Butterworth5h–9h 15m$8.80Cheapest

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Bus

There are direct buses that depart from Penang city centre and arrive at Kuala Lumpur city centre. But if you prefer a little more adventure, you can also take the indirect bus route via Butterworth.

Option 1: Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Direct Bus

4h 40m – 8h 55m · $11 (42.5 MYR)

We recommend taking a KKKL Express Bus that will take you directly from to . They have two departure points in Penang: Komtar Bus Terminal in George Town city centre and Sungai Nibong located 10 km south of the city centre. In KL, you can choose to arrive at either Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS) or Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

A ticket for the whole journey (that is 4h 40m - 8h 55m long) costs $11 (42.5 MYR) when you book online. There are departures almost every hour from 07:00 to 23:30.

KKKL Express · Express$11
8h 42m
Sungai Nibong → KL Sentral
00:1507:3009:30
Tickets
KKKL Express · Express$11
8h 54m
Sungai Nibong → TBS Kuala Lumpur
00:1507:3009:30
Tickets
Billion Stars Express · VIP$11
4h 40m
Sungai Nibong → Hentian Duta
00:1501:0007:00
Tickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore
From
To

Tickets sold on Bookaway

Option 2: Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Indirect Bus

5h 30m – 6h · $16 (63 MYR)
If you want to add some more sightseeing to your journey to the capital, you can also take a combined ferry and bus ride via Butterworth.

Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry

10m – 20m · $0.70 (3 MYR) + $3.20 (13 MYR)

Same as with the train option, you’ll first have to take a taxi or bus from Penang city centre to Weld Quay. Taxi rates start from $3.20 (13 MYR) and a bus ride (Line 101) costs $1.20 (5 MYR).

From Weld Quay, you’ll take a 10 to 20-minute ferry ride to reach Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. A ferry ticket costs $0.70 (3 MYR). Penang Sentral is connected to the port by a walkway.

Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur by Bus

4h 40m – 8h 55m · $8.10 (33 MYR)

Buses bound for Kuala Lumpur are parked at Penang Sentral. You can choose from two trusted operators: KPB Ekspres and Transnational. Both offer VIP buses for $8.10 (33 MYR) so you’ll have a comfortable journey that lasts for 4h 40m - 8h 55m.

The buses stop at Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS).

You can book a ticket online through BookAway. Below are their schedules:

Mara Liner · Express$8.10
8h 36m
Butterworth → Hentian Duta
11:1512:1513:15
Tickets
Mara Liner · Express$8.10
8h 56m
Butterworth → TBS Kuala Lumpur
12:1513:1513:30
Tickets
Jasmine Express · Express$8.80
8h 36m
Butterworth → Hentian Duta
00:1512:3023:30
Tickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore

Tickets sold on Bookaway

Trainfrom$2081 MYR3h 50m – 4h 35m·Via Butterworth6 options to bookTrainVia Butterworth3h 50m–4h 35m$20

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Train

Although not a direct option, the train and ferry combination will give you a scenic journey.

Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry

10m – 20m · $0.70 (3 MYR) + $3.20 (13 MYR)

If you’re staying in George Town, you’ll first have to take a taxi or Grab or a bus (Line 101) to Weld Quay. Fares start from $3.20 (13 MYR) and $1.20 (5 MYR), respectively. Keep in mind that the bus takes longer as it makes a lot of stops and it may not stop near your hotel.

Ferries depart from Weld Quay from 05:20 to 22:00, with a 20 to 30-minute interval. Beyond 22:00, the ferry runs every 40 minutes until its last trip at 00:40. A ticket to Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth costs $0.70 (3 MYR).

Butterworth Train Station is conveniently connected to the port by a walkway. It’s just a 10-minute walk but there are some stairs involved, so bear this in mind if you’re carrying large luggage.

Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur by Train

3h 30m – 4h 15m · $19 (78 MYR)

From Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur, several trains operate daily. A standard train ticket costs $19 (78 MYR) and travel time is 3h 30m - 4h 15m.

9343 (Gold)$19
4h 14m
07:50
Tickets
9121 (Platinum)$24
3h 59m
05:15
Tickets
9133 (Platinum)$24
4h 30m
Tickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore

Tickets sold on Eticket and Online

Booking tip

The trains depart from Butterworth Station and arrive at KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Flightfrom$26103 MYR1h·With transfersTimes and ticketsFlightWith transfers1hFastest$26

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Flight

All flights depart from Penang Airport, 18 km south of George Town. You can reach it by a 30-minute taxi with fares from $7.40 (30 MYR) or by a 1-hour bus, which costs $0.70 (3 MYR).

You can choose to arrive at two different airports: Subang Airport or Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Subang Airport is nearer KL city centre, but flights to KL Airport are normally cheaper.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Option 1: Flight via Subang Airport (SBZ)

1h · $35 (141 MYR)

Malindo Air often offers the cheapest airfares from Penang to Subang Airport (SBZ), with tickets starting from $35 (141 MYR). Other options include Thai Lion Air, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines. The flight takes about 1 hour.

Kuala Lumpur city centre is located some 20 km east of Subang Airport. You can reach it in three ways: by train going to KL Sentral, by bus #U81, or by taxi. Travel time is about 30 minutes and fares cost from $0.50 (2 MYR).

Check Flights from Subang Airport with Skyscanner

Option 2: Flight via Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL)

1h · $26 (103 MYR)

Airfares from Penang to Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport (KUL) start from $26 (103 MYR). You can usually get the lowest price with Air Asia, but Thai Lion Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Malindo Air also offer flights for this route.

From KL Airport, you can reach the city centre in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on which mode of transport you take. For more info, visit our page on Kuala Lumpur Int’l Airport.

Check Flights from KL Airport with Skyscanner
Taxifrom$230per car4h 15m – 4h 30m2 options to bookTaxi4h 15m–4h 30m$230per car

Penang to Kuala Lumpur by Taxi

Taxi rental rates from Penang to Kuala Lumpur start from $230 (940 MYR). It’s quite expensive and we don’t really think it’s worth spending that much when the other options are already convenient. But if you prefer a private transfer, you can book a taxi online through BookAway. Travel time is 4h 15m - 4h 30m.
Sin-Pen Travel · Standard Minivan 8 PAX$230
4h 15mper car
Penang - Any hotel in the city center → Kuala Lumpur - Any hotel in the city center
Any time you choose
Tickets
Sin-Pen Travel · Standard Minivan 8 PAX$255
4h 30mper car
Penang - Any hotel in the city center → Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL)
Any time you choose
Tickets

Reach out to our Community

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ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION

Why Visit Kuala Lumpur?

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is Malaysia’s capital, a vibrant mix of skyscrapers, Asian-European architecture, large shopping districts, and flavourful cuisine. The busy city can be quite overwhelming, but it’s all about finding your rhythm in Kuala Lumpur's beautiful chaos.

The Petronas Towers — the tallest twin towers in the world — are the city's most iconic attraction. But there's so much more to see in Kuala Lumpur. The old KL Railway Station, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang, and Jalan Alor are all must-visits. And if you have more time, the colourful Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away from the city.

Rounding it up

That's the full picture for getting from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, roughly 291 kilometres (181 miles) apart. In all, there are 4 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $8.80 - $11 (36 - 46 MYR). The quickest trip takes 1h.

Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur?

The distance from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is 291 kilometres (181 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur?

The fastest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is by flight and takes 1h.

What is the cheapest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur?

The cheapest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is by bus with ticket costs starting from 36 MYR.

CHANGELOG

Route Update History

  • New train operators: 9121 (Platinum), 9123 (Platinum), 9323 (Platinum), 9343 (Gold), 9133 (Platinum), 9109 (Express).
  • Train operators no longer listed: EG9321 (ETS Gold), EG9123 (ETS Gold), EP9107 (ETS Platinum), EP9173 (ETS Platinum).
  • Updated train prices.
  • Updated train departure times.

About the Authors

Ela
Ela

Senior Travel Writer

Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.

Kate
KateReviewer

Travel Writer & Digital Nomad

Kate is a travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.

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