By plane

Recently refurbished Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport (IATA: PEN) is one of Malaysia's larger and better-equipped airports, operated by Malaysia Airports, [3] with regular connections to Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Medan and Johor Bahru. The airport is located on the southeastern coast of the island, some 20 minutes from Georgetown. Contact number:+60 4 643-4411 Fax:+60 4 643-5339 Cities that connect to Penang with direct flights:

Domestic

* Johor Bahru (JH with AirAsia [4] and Malaysia Airlines [5]
* Kota Bharu (KBR) with FireFly [6]
* Kota Kinabalu T2 (BKI) with AirAsia [7]
* Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia [8], Malaysia Airlines [9], FireFly [10]
* Kuala Terengganu (TGG) with FireFly [11]
* Kuantan (KUA) with FireFly [12]
* Kuching (KCH) with AirAsia [13]
* Langkawi (LGK) with FireFly [14]

International

* Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) with AirAsia [15]and Thai Airways International
* Medan, Indonesia (MES) with Malaysia Airlines [16] , Kartika Airlines [17], Lion Air, AirAsia and Jatayu Airlines
* Ko Samui, Thailand (USM) with FireFly [18]
* Phuket, Thailand (HKT) with FireFly [19]
* Singapore (SIN) with Malaysia Airlines [20] and Singapore Airline [21]
* Incheon, South Korea (ICN) with Korean Air [22]- Suspended
* Hong Kong (HKG) with Cathay Pacific [23].
* Taipei with China Airlines
* Xiamen with China Southern Airlines
* Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines
* Jakarta with Air Asia

By train

There are no trains on Penang Island, but many people take the train to Butterworth from elsewhere on the peninsula and then use the ferry (within walking distance from the train terminal) to cross over to the island. You can book the KTMB train tickets at the Penang ferry terminal or the railway station in Butterworth. Contact numbers:

* Penang jetty +60 4 261-0290
* Butterworth +60 4 323-7962 / 331-2796
* Bukit Mertajam +60 4 539-2660

From Thailand:

An overnight train departs Bangkok daily at 14:45 (Thai time). It is scheduled to arrive at Butterworth at 12:55 (Malaysian time) but normally gets there late, usually around 14:00-14:30. There is only one fare for an air-con berth that costs 1,210 baht (as of July 2008). The surcharge for a bicycle is 104 baht to the border; a further small freight charge may be made by KTMB for the border-Butterworth leg.

By car

Penang is connected to the mainland and the North-South Expressway [24] by the Penang Bridge [25], one of the longest bridges in Asia.

Toll rate: For vehicles heading to the island from the mainland:

* Motorcycles - RM1.40
* Motorcycles with sidecars; commercial vehicles on three wheels; car including station wagon - RM7.00 (RM5.60 for those who hold the Touch 'n Go card that can be purchased from the Penang Bridge toll plaza)
* Lorries; vans and buses with two axles and four wheels - RM12.00
* Lorries, vans and buses with two axles and five or six wheels - RM25.00
* Vehicles with three axles - RM45.00
* Vehicles with four axles - RM60.00
* Vehicle with five or more axles - RM75.00

No toll for vehicles heading to the mainland.

By bus

Long-distance buses connect Georgetown to a variety of Malaysian towns. The trip from Pudu Raya, Kuala Lumpur costs around RM 27 (standard 26-seat coach; prices vary by operator) and takes around 5-6 hours. Buses to/from Kota Bharu and Perhentian Islands (Jerteh/Kuala Besut) cost about 26 RM for a 5-6 hours journey. From Johor Bahru in 10h for RM 50. The buses arrive/depart at the new bus terminal Sungai Nibong, half an hour ride from the center of Georgetown, not far from the airport. To get to the KOMTAR building, a taxi costs around RM15-20.

Major coach operators:

* Konsortium [26]
* Plusliner / Nice [27]
* Transnasional [28]
* Mutiara

By minivan

Minivans service is available between Georgetown and some towns in Thailand such as Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Trang, Surat Thani, Krabi, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Bangkok and Hat Yai on daily basis. Georgetown office is located at KOMTAR bus terminal. Tourist operators usually propose minivan services to the perhentian islands for about 160 RM (boat included). Express buses fares are much better.
[edit] By boat
Ferry service in Penang
Ferry service in Penang

From the mainland The classic way to arrive in Penang, especially if traveling by train, is to take the ferry from Butterworth. The ferry service operator is Penang Port [29] and its operation hour is 5:30AM till 1:00AM (Last departure) daily.

Ferry rates applicable (from Butterworth to Penang Island) are listed below:

* Pedestrian: Adult - RM1.20 & Children (between 5 to 12 years old) - RM0.60

* Vehicles: Bicycle - RM1.40, Motorcycle (inclusive of pillion rider) - RM2.00, Trishaw/tricycle - RM3.00, Motorcar (including station wagon, four-wheel drive, three-wheel commercial vehicle, motorcycle with side car) - RM7.70, Lorry (2 axles with 4 wheels) - RM13.20, Lorry (2 axles with 6 wheels) - RM27.50.

From Langkawi

* Ferry service available from Langkawi to Penang at 2.30PM and 5.15PM on daily basis. Operated by Langkawi Ferry Services [30], Tel: +60 4 264-2088 in Penang; +60 4 966-3779 in Langkawi. Oneway trip costs RM50 for adult, RM35 for child (3-11 years old) and RM20 for infant (below 2 years old). Return trip costs RM95, RM65 and RM40 respectively. Single trip takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Penang Port also operates Swenttenham Pier on Penang island to handle some of the largest cruise vessels in the world. The following are fleets that routinely stopover at Swenttenham Pier:

* SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini operated by Star Cruises [31]

* Pacific Sky operated by P&O Cruises [32]

From Medan, Indonesia

* Ferries depart from Medan's port of Belawan to Swenttenham Port or vice versa at 9am daily. Operated by Langkawi Ferry Services [33], Tel: +60 4 264-2088 in Penang; +62 61 ... / 4527555 in Medan. Oneway trip costs RM110 for adult, RM60 for child (3-12 years old) and RM40 for infant (below 3-year old); return trip costs RM180, RM100 and RM50 respectively. Travel duration is about 5 hours 30 minutes.