How to go from Langkawi to Penang

The route from Langkawi to Penang is a popular one.  There are several ways to go from Langkawi to Penang in Malaysia.  Flying is an option and it can be cheaper than taking the bus+ ferry combincation, depending on the time of year. The fast direct ferry from Langkawi to Penang is NOT running. – it hasn’t run since the pandemic and now, as of December 2023 is is still not running There are another couple of ferry options available and I’ll cover those. There are several options for transport between Langkawi and Penang, from the straightforward to the most comfortable.  But what’s the best way to get from Langkawi to Penang?  And what are the options for traveling to Penang from Langkawi?  Here’s our guide on how to get to Penang from Langkawi.

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How to Go from Langkawi to Penang – Transport Options

There is an airport in Penang, and flying from Langkawi to Penang is the fastest way to get there, you can even get a flight for as little as US$20, as there are deals sometimes.  For ground transport options between Penang and Langkawi, there are several options, including buses and various ferries, but NOT a fast direct ferry.  In this guide on how to go from Langkawi to Penang, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel from Langkawi to Penang, the easiest way to go to Penang from Langkawi, and the cheapest way to get to Penang from Langkawi.  If you’re looking for what you can do in Penang, then our guide is here.

How to get to Penang from Langkawi

For transport to Penang from Langkawi, then you have several options.  Flying to Penang from Langkawi is the fastest way to get here, but you’ll need to spend time getting to the airport at Langkawi and also waiting around after you’ve checked in.  This is a domestic flight, so the check-in times are shorter than on international flights. 

Note that there is currently NO FAST FERRY RUNNING from Langkawi to Penang (there hasn’t been since before the pandemic). However, there are several options and you’ll need to take a bus or a transfer as well as a ferry.

Our guide on what to do in Langkawi is here.

Langkawi to Penang Distance

The distance between Penang and Langkawi is 110 kilometers.  This distance is as the crow flies.  You will also need to take into account travel to and from your accommodation on each island, and, if you take the slower (than flying) bus and ferry option travel to the alternative ferry ports.

Time to go from Langkawi to Penang

How long it takes to go from Langkawi to Penang depends on several factors.  First, the method of transport that you take.  A flight between Langkawi to Penang Island will take 40 minutes.  However, you will have to check in at least 45 minutes before departure and arrange your transport to and from the airports. Book a flight from Langkawi to Penang here.

If you take the slower bus and ferry combination, then this route will take you a minimum of 5 hours (but more likely 7 hours) to go from Langkawi to Penang as the fast direct ferry is currently NOT running.

How to go from Langkawi to Penang – Travel options

The modes of transport between Langkawi and Penang include flights, fast ferries, and slower bus and ferry combination options.  We recommend you look at your schedule, budget, and your start and end points before deciding which transport option between Penang and Langkawi is right for you

Flights to Penang from Langkawi

The direct flight from Langkawi to Penang takes about 40 minutes and this is the most popular way to travel from Langkawi to Penang.  Several airlines fly to Penang from Langkawi the one with the best schedule is Air Asia

• Air Asia – check Air Asia flights to Penang from Langkawi here
• Firefly – check Firefly flights from Langkawi to Penang here

Flights from Langkawi to Penang leave from Langkawi Airport (LGK) and land at Penang Airport (PEN).  Flying to Penang from Langkawi is the fastest way to go from Langkawi to Penang.  Flying to Penang from Langkawi tends to be cheap and is the fastest way to get to Penang.

The first flight each day from Langkawi to Penang is at about 1:40 pm and the last flight to Penang from Langkawi is at around 435pm.   There are (depending on the season) about 4 flights a day from Langkawi to Penang.  Flying to Penang tends to be cheap and is the quickest way to get to Penang.

• Check fares for morning flights from LGK to PEN
• Check fares for afternoon flights from Langkawi to Penang
• Check fares for evening flights to Penang from Langkawi

The airport in Langkawi, LGK, is about 4 miles (7 kilometers) from the main tourist area of Pantai Cenang, it will cost about 11 RM to get to the airport from there, although you’ll need to consider surge pricing and availability if you’re using Grab. Langkawi also gets cruise ships stopping in for 3+ days a week, and if you’re arriving when there’s a cruise ship in, there’s also a lot of demand for taxis. Consider booking a private transfer to the airport in Langkawi – check prices here

When you arrive in Penang, it is about 17 kilometers from Penang’s airport to Georgetown.  You can take a bus, which costs between 1 RM and 4 RM, and which takes about an hour. You’ll want bus 102, and these will go to the Komtar Bus Terminal on the edge of George Town. A Grab from the airport in Penang to George Town costs from 20 RM.

Direct Ferries from Langkawi to Penang – not running

FEBRUARY 2025: STILL NOT RUNNING. And honestly at this stage, unlikely to again. However, I’ll update this post if it runs again. Meanwhile, here’s how to take a ferry from Langkawi to Penang. It’s a little convoluted, and there are several options.

The Cheapest Way to Travel from Langkawi to Penang

Here are the options for taking a ferry and a bus from Langkawi to Penang, with step-by-step instructions while the direct fast ferry is NOT running. There are two different options of ferry ports on the Malaysian mainland, so pick which one you want. Personally, I think the Kuala Perlis option is better, as there are fewer legs to it (i.e. one bus from the ferry port to Penang, rather than two.

Book the Ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis

Book the bus from Kuala Perlis to Penang (either Sentral or Sungai Nibong, read on for more details on both stops)

How to get to the ferry port on Langkawi

The ferry port on Langkawi that goes to Penang is at Kuah Jetty.

There are no public buses in Langkawi, so you will have to either rent a car, rent a motorbike, take a Grab, or take a taxi.  Taxis on Langkawi work at a fixed rate.  Check for the posted rates by the taxi stands.

Ferries from Langkawi to mainland Malaysia go to either Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah.

While the fast ferry is NOT running there are many more ferries that run between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah.  If you want to take a car from Langkawi to Penang you will need to take this route.

Our guide to the best things to do in George Town, Penang is here.

This route is the longest route between Langkawi and Penang.  This is also the cheapest way to travel and is a combination bus and ferry journey.  For this route, you must follow one of these two routes – the first route (Langkawi to Penang via Kuala Perlis) is the more optimal as there are more transport options and fewer connections to make

Langkawi to Penang Bus and Ferry via Kuala Perlis

1. Take a ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal .There are two different ferries that do this route – a passenger only ferry that takes an hour and 5 minutes (ish) and also a car and passenger ferry that takes a little longer. This is the shortest ferry trip and also the cheapest.  Ferries operate from 0930 until 1900. BusOnlineTicket has the BIGGEST selection of ferries available to prebook.
2. Walk from Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal to the Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal (about 200 meters, it takes 6 minutes, and there is a signpost every 20 meters or so, you CANNOT get lost.
3. Take a bus from Kuala Perlis to either Butterworth (aka Penang Sentral) or to the Sungai Nibong bus terminal on Penang Island. This bus takes around 3 hours. (and you can book it here) The PLusliner bus is comfortable, has decent A/C and stops first at Alor Setar, then Penang Sentral and the final stop is at Sungai Nibong Bus Station.
4. If you get off the bus in Penang Sentral, then walk through Penang Sentral to the Butterworth ferry terminal and take the Straits ferry. (2 RM, payment is by card only). You CANNOT prebook this ferry, but it runs every 30 minutes or so.
5. If you go all the way to the final stop (Sungai Nibong Terminal) on Penang Island, then you’ll need to either take a Taxi, or a Grab to George Town or the local bus.
6. You can take a bus, which costs between 1 RM and 4 RM, and which takes about 50 minutes. You’ll want bus 102 or 401, and these will go to the Komtar Bus Terminal on the edge of George Town. A Grab from the Sungai Nibgon Bus Terminal in Penang to George Town costs from 20 RM.

Langkawi to Penang Ferry and Taxi and Bus via Kuala Kedah

1. Take a ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal Prebook your tickets here. There are two different types of ferries that go to Kaual Kedah, the passenger ferry and the car ferry. You can take either. The passenger ferry is faster.
2. Take a bus (or a Grab or a taxi) from the Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal to Alor Setar ( the distance is about 15 kilometers). A Grab should cost from 12 RM.
3. From Alor Setar take the bus to Penang Sentral (aka Butterworth) or Sungai Nibong on Penang Island. (book the bus from Alor Setar to Butterworth here). Prebook your seats here. The Plusliner bus that I wrote about above, actually stops here and continues to Penang. So it’s the same bus.
4. If you get off the bus at Penang Sentral, then walk through the bus terminal and follow signs to the ferry terminal and take the ferry across the Strait. the ferry costs 2 RM and is CARD only, no cash payments.
5. If you take the bus all the way to the final stop at Sungai Nibong, then you can take a bus, which costs between 1 RM and 4 RM, and which takes about 50 minutes. You’ll want bus 102 or 401, and these will go to the Komtar Bus Terminal on the edge of George Town. A Grab from the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal in Penang to George Town costs from 20 RM.

Want to go in the opposite direction? Penang to Langkawi

We’ve done this route in the opposite direction, and I’ve written about the specifics of going from Penang to Langkawi here.

Where to Stay in Langkawi

If you’ve come from Penang to Langkawi, we recommend you book accommodation ahead of time, to ensure you get your pick of the best. Here are the best places to stay in Langkawi.

The Four Season Resort in Langkawi is a perfect choice for people looking for comfort, luxury, and privacy. It is located in a secluded area in Jalan Tanjung Rhu surrounded by tall trees and highlighted by mangroves. The Four Seasons Resort has an outdoor pool, BBQ facilities, and a sun terrace.  You can check room and suite availability here.

Stay at Bayview Hotel Langkawi if you want quality accommodation at a good price. This hotel is in a great location for everything that Kuah has to offer such as the night market. The rooms have private bathrooms and AC with many offering great sea views. Also, for great days relaxing you can chill around the pool.  There’s more on Langkawi’s Bayview Hotel Langkawi here.

One of the most affordable places to stay in Langkawi is the Tokman Inn which has an impeccable location. It’s right in the middle of Pantai Cenang. Just outside its doors are an incredible amount of places to eat plus it’s only an 8-minute walk to the beach.  We stayed at the Tokman Inn, on our first visit to Langkawi and it’s still receiving excellent reviews, you can see some of them here.

Langkawi to Penang Ferry Review –  the Historic (but not running) Fast Ferry

We left on the Langkawi to Penang at 10:30 on the morning ferry.    This ferry route is nicknamed the “vomit comet” as it is renowned for rough seas in the offseason.  That’s why we’ve opted for the earliest departure, as the weather seems to come in later in the day.

We bought our tickets at the ticket office at the Kuah ferry station behind the KFC, as online ticketing wasn’t available when we traveled. 

The schedule said it would take 3 hours and it did.  The ferry is enclosed, the air conditioning is fierce and the seats were comfortable.

From our room at the Tokman Inn (recommended and still getting good reviews – check availability here), we walked to the taxi stand.  Taxis on Langkawi are fixed rates, so it cost us the standard 30 RM to go from the corner of Jalan Pantai Chenang to Kuah Port.    Your hotel can also call a taxi and they will be the same rate posted on taxi ranks.

Weather on the Langkawi to Penang Ferry Route

The weather was fine, sunny, with little wind and the sea state was calm, with a slight chop as we moved out of the harbor.  Still, the ferry did pitch and roll a lot considering the conditions were so calm.

It wasn’t hard to imagine why it got its name.  I’m glad we weren’t traveling in bad weather for the 2-hour 45-minute trip in the freezer with the chilly air conditioning on board.

Our destination on Penang Island was George Town and we arrive at the Cruise Ship terminal.  It’s at the edge of this gorgeous little town on Penang Island that attained UNESCO World Heritage Status jointly with Melaka in July 2007.

We arrived on a Sunday, and there wasn’t so much open, including the tourist information office and museums.  We walked from the Cruise Ship terminal to our hotel, the Malabar Inn (now closed) perched midway between Little India and the Chinese area.

• Read about what to eat on Penang Island
• Our guide on what to see in Georgetown is here
• Tour the street art of Georgetown in Penang here.

Popular Routes in Malaysia

Traveling around Malaysia? Here’s some of the most popular routes and the best ways to go between these places.

• How to go from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
• How to go from Penang to Cameron Highlands
• How to go from Krabi to Langkawi
• How to go from Langkawi to Penang
• How to go from Cameron Highlands to Melaka
• How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
• How to go from Labuan to Brunei
• How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan Island
• How to go from Brunei to Miri
• How to go from Ipoh to Penang
• KLIA2 to Ipoh – buses, transfers and trains
• How to go to George Town from Ipoh
• How to go from Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolok
• How to go from Singapore to the Perhentian Islands
• Penang to Langkawi
• How to go from Melaka to Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Travel Tips

• Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
• Get online immediately with an eSIM for Malaysia.
• Complete your Malaysia Digital Arrivals Card – this replaces the paper based card as of November 2023.
• Arriving by air? Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.
• Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Malaysia > discount coupon here
• Book the best Malaysia tours and guides on Klook
• Save money in Malaysia with a Wise debit card
• Book Buses in Malaysia with BusonlineTicket
• Book accommodation in Malaysia with Booking

Final Words on Traveling from Langkawi to Penang

We opted to take the fast ferry from Langkawi to Penang, to save on travel time and get us into George Town earlier in the day.  Unfortunately, it’s not currently running and there’s no timeframe for it to start again. So if you want to take the ferry from Langkawi to Penang, you’ll need to follow one of the options that we’ve outlined above. Or fly. the easiest overland/sea option is to take the ferry to Kuala Perlis and then the ferry to Langkawi, there are fewer connections and its an easier journey, but there are limited buses and ferries to make this connection in one day, so make sure you prebook your tickets.

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