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What is the best way to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur in 2026? In this article we will compare different methods of transport to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur.
We will also give you some top tips to get the best deal, how to book and how to make sure you get the best option for you.
The journey from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is 350 km and normally takes 4 or 5 hours by road. There are several ways to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur and the best way depends on your budget, desired level of comfort and need for speed. BUT if you get it wrong the journey can take 12 hours or more. WE will show you how to avoid a BIG mistake.
If you are travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang this article will also be useful to you because the options, prices and details are very similar.
Before you read on, it is very important to be aware that many of the roads in Malaysia can’t get extremely busy during school holidays and public holidays. Therefore if possible we recommend that you found the time of your travel especially if you are using the road.
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Summary of the best ways to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur
| Transport | Advantages | Time from Penang to Kuala Lumpur | Cost |
| Bus | Cheap and lots of services. Various drop off and pick up locations. | 5 hours | RM40 (around £8 or $10) |
| Train (ETS Butterworth – Kuala Lumpur) | Cheap, fast, comfortable and reliable. | 4 hours | RM70 |
| Driving | Convenient and flexible. Door to door. | 5 hours | RM150 (rental) shared between up to 5 people |
| Flying | Fast | 45 minutes + airport and transfer times | RM50 – 200 |
1 Travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur by bus
The cheapest way to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is to take a long distance bus. Many buses run each day from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. You can also pick a range of different starting points for your convenience.
For a 350 km journey the buses are surprisingly cheap. Buses from Penang to Kuala Lumpur range in price from RM30 – RM50 for most services with ticket prices averaging at RM40.
AVOID TRAVELING ON A MALAYSIAN PUBLIC HOLIDAY. The traffic can be VERY bad – especially big holidays like Hari Raya.
Some of the cheaper and lower quality bus services have less space with seats that do not recline as much. The quickest way to work out whether the bus is more comfortable Easter is to look at the seating arrangement. More comfortable bus services tend to be three seats wide. Two seats on one side of the bus and one seat on the other side. Less comfortable buses have 2 seats on each side of the bus.
Top tip: most long distance bus services in Malaysia do not have toilets on the bus. If you are travelling with young kids this can be quite challenging. Buses tend to stop every couple of hours for toilet breaks. Alternatively, check out Aeroline buses. These buses have a large, comfortable and spacious seats. They also serve snacks and refreshments and have a toilet on board the bus.
Another thing to be aware of if you are planning to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur by bus is the bus services tend to do stops to pick people up along the way. There maybe up to 3 or 4 stops depending on the bus service and this can be very frustrating if there is also heavy traffic on the roads.
If your journey starts at Komtar, additional stops normally include Sungai Nibong bus station, Penang Sentral Station (Butterworth)and Ipoh.
Top tip: most buses in Malaysia have very strong air conditioning. It can actually be quite cold sitting on the bus. Consider bringing an extra layer to stay warm.
It is not necessary to pre book bus ticket to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur unless you are planning to travel during a Malaysian holiday. It is possible to book a ticket from offices at Komtar or at the Sungai Nibong bus station on the day that you plan to travel. However, it is a very similar price to book online in advance and this also gives you security.
Consider your pickup and drop-off location
If you are trying to work out of the best way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur consider your pickup and drop-off location. If you are staying in Batu Ferringhi or Georgetown the best pick-up location in Penang is probably at komtar. If you are staying in Air Itam or Bayan Lepas the best starting location is probably the sungai nibong bus station. This is the main bus station in Penang. Bus services also pick passengers up in Butterworth. The most central location to get dropped off in Kuala Lumpur is at KL Sentral. KL sentral is a bus station and transport hub from here you can take connections to many other destinations around Kuala Lumpur and beyond. Many of the buses from Penang to Kuala Lumpur drop off at KL Sentral.
How do you book buses from Penang to Kuala Lumpur online?
A massive advantage of booking online in advance is that you can select your seat when you book. Book early to increase your chance of getting your preferred seat. You can book buses in advance online from Red Bus Malaysia
2 Take a train from Penang to Kuala Lumpur
Another way to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is to take the train. This is slightly less convenient than the bus but will be more comfortable than a bus. On a train it is possible to get up and walk around and stretch your legs. Trains also have the advantage of having a toilet on board.
One of the biggest advantages of taking a train compared to taking a bus is the reliability. Roads in Malaysia can get very busy, especially during public holidays and school holidays.
Trains from Penang to Kuala Lumpur are reasonably cheap. The train service is called the ETS intercity service. Tickets range between 50 and 80 ringgits. The journey typically takes just over 4 hours. Trains depart from Butterworth station to Kuala Lumpur throughout.the.day. The earliest train is around 5 a.m. and the last train is around 6:45 p.m.
There are however a couple of disadvantages of travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur by train. Firstly, during busy periods tickets for the train services can sell out a long time in advance. Secondly, the train station is not actually located on Penang Island, rather it is located in Butterworth on the mainland. It is very easy to travel from Penang Island to Butterworth, there is a FREE ferry service from the Penang jetty to the Butterworth ferry terminal (next to the train station).
The ferry from Butterworth to Penang costs a few ringgits. Most trains go to Kuala Lumpur train station. The main train station and Kuala Lumpur is a very central and is only around 1 km from KL Sentral transport hub. When you book your ticket always make sure that it is going to the correct train station.
How do you book trains in Malaysia online?
You can book Malaysian train tickets from the KMT website
3 Drive from Penang to Kuala Lumpur
If you have access to a car, driving from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is flexible and convenient. There are two Long Road Bridges that connect Penang to the mainland. The South bridge is much longer than the North bridge.
An advantage of driving from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is that you can go at your own pace and stop to see things along the way. We highly recommend a stop in Ipoh if you have time.
The car journey from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is likely to take around 4 or 5 hours depending on traffic, stopping times and your driving speed. Be aware that Kuala Lumpur is quite challenging to drive in and navigate around. There are a lot of large highways with complicated junctions and intense toll gates. To add to the challenge of driving Kuala Lumpur the rush hour times can be very stressful and busy.
If you are planning to drive around in Malaysia be aware that there are many toll roads which are almost impossible to avoid. The easiest way to get to pay for toll roads is to use a Touch n Go card. You can purchase Touch n Go cards from petrol station and convenience stores for 10 ringgits. You can add balance to your card again best can be done at petrol stations and convenience stores. If you’re planning to drive from Penang to Kuala Lumpur we recommend adding around 30 – 50 ringgits balance to your card. As you approach the toll Gates watch out for the Touch n Go lane. Just tap your card and the appropriate balance will be deducted from your card automatically.
Although the toll fees do add up, you will find the petrol in Malaysia remarkably cheap. Typically petrol costs around 40 ringgits per litre. This means it only costs around 60 ringgits to fill up a large family car (£12 or $16).
Car rental in Malaysia can be quite expensive relative to other countries in the region. Expect to pay between 100 and 150 ringgit per day for a reasonable car. Always try bartering.
In Malaysia they drive on the left-hand side of the road. Although there are lots of formal road rules these are applied quite loosely at times. Traffic tends to weave and flow between lanes. Be prepared to be undertaken, cars may cut into your lane and cars can pull out unexpectedly. Also be aware of bikes on the roads. They have even less regard for the rules and their own safety.
4 Fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur
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Flights in Malaysia are generally very cheap
The fastest way to get from Penang to Kuala Lumpur is to take a cheap internal flight. There are several budget domestic airlines that operate in Malaysia. For example, Air Asia operates the Penang to Kuala Lumpur route.
Although Kuala Lumpur has one main international airport called KLIA, this airport has two separate terminals which are actually a long distance apart. There is KLIA1 and KLIA2. It is very important to check which terminal your flight is going to and consider your onward transport options from there.
Although flying is technically the fastest way to travel, be aware that you also need to consider the journey time to the airport and waiting time in the airport when you consider your total journey time from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. If you have to travel from the north of Penang to the airport it may take around an hour. You are likely to arrive around 2 hours before your flight. The flight itself takes around 45 minutes. And then you also need to consider journey time at the other end.
Another thing to consider if you’re planning to travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur by domestic flights is the baggage allowance. If you book the cheapest ticket it is not likely to include much check in baggage. Some Airlines do not include any check-in baggage at all. If you need to pay extra for check-in baggage remember to factor this into your budget.
AND finally, don’t miss these AMAZING things to do in Kuala Lumpur with kids.
