You can travel from KL to Penang by train and ferry for a rail journey into George Town, or by plane for a short flight. Choose based on where you need to arrive and how you want to make the final connection.
In short
- A non-stop flight from Kuala Lumpur to Penang takes 55 minutes.
- The adult fare on the Penang ferry is RM2.
- From Butterworth to George Town, plan for the first ferry departure at 06:30.
At a glance
6 places · swipe
01Choose your routeIt serves the KL Sentral to Butterworth route.
02Choose an ETS serviceETS Platinum services stop at only the main stations, making them the quickest ETS option.- 03Book an ETS ticketKTMB’s online ticketing service covers ETS, KTM Intercity and Shuttle trains.
- 04Connect by Penang ferryOn the mainland, Penang Ferry Services depart from Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth.
05Plan ferry fares and paymentThe fare table separates passenger fares by age and includes concessions, alongside fares for bicycles and…- 06Ferry timing and terminalsThe Penang Port ferry service links Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth with Raja Tun Uda Terminal…
Choose your route
Rail to Butterworth
It serves the KL Sentral to Butterworth route. From Butterworth, travel via bridge or ferry to reach Penang.
Fly to Penang
A non-stop flight from Kuala Lumpur to Penang takes around 55 minutes.
ETS class names
ETS options include ETS Platinum, ETS Business Class, ETS Express, ETS Gold and ETS Silver.
Choose an ETS service
Platinum stops
ETS Platinum services stop at only the main stations, making them the quickest ETS option. Their train numbers start with EP.
Gold stops
ETS Gold services stop at more stations along the route, so they are slightly slower than Platinum services. Their train numbers start with EG.
Silver stops
ETS Silver stops at every station along the way.
Book an ETS ticket
Online services
KTMB’s online ticketing service covers ETS, KTM Intercity and Shuttle trains. The service is called KITS Ticketing.
Mobile booking
KTMB offers the KITS & KTM Mobile service for booking.
Connect by Penang ferry
Terminals
On the mainland, Penang Ferry Services depart from Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth. In George Town, board at Raja Tun Uda Terminal.
Butterworth departures
From Butterworth to George Town, the first departure is at 06:30 and the last is at 23:00. Peak-hour departures are spaced 20 minutes apart, with non-peak departures spaced 30 minutes apart.
George Town departures
From George Town to Butterworth, the first departure is at 07:00 and the last is at 23:30. In peak periods, ferries run at intervals of 20 minutes; outside them, intervals are 30 minutes.
Service hours
Penang Ferry Services operates daily.
Plan ferry fares and payment
Passenger fares
| Passenger or vehicle | Fare |
|---|---|
| Adult | RM2 |
| Child (5 to 11 years) | RM1 (5 to 11) |
| Child (4 years and below) | free (4 and below) |
| OKU / PWD | free |
| Bicycle | RM2 |
| Motorcycle | RM2.50 |
The fare table separates passenger fares by age and includes concessions, alongside fares for bicycles and motorcycles.
Ways to pay
Payment options for the Penang Port ferry include credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets. Penang Ferry Services also accepts Touch 'n Go Card, a counter ticket or an online ticket.
Payment locations
The payment system is available at Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Butterworth) and Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (Georgetown), serving pedestrian and motorcycle lanes. Before paying by card, look for a card with the PayWave (contactless) feature activated.
Ferry timing and terminals
Know the ferry terminals
The Penang Port ferry service links Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth with Raja Tun Uda Terminal in George Town.
Fares and times checked November 2026.