Public transport Penang, what to move around the island

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Buses

Penang city buses

Penang Island is enmeshed in the Rapid Penang bus network. This public transport network operates successfully on the island and will allow you to explore almost all corners of the island. Buses run quite often and pick up passengers at well - equipped signposted stops.

The main bus station (terminus) is Komtar Bus Terminal located at the base of the Komtar tower (Komtar station on the map). This is the most convenient place from where you can go almost anywhere. Another important station is Weld Quay (Station on the map). Virtually all buses departing from Weld Quay go through Komtar.

You can travel on buses by buying one - time tickets for the trip, or by purchasing a ticket for all routes valid for one week.

Inside Rapid Penang Bus

A travel ticket for one week will be a good choice for those who want to actively explore the island, move around a lot, and do not be lazy to study the bus route network. The ticket price is 30 ringgit (see currency exchange rate of Malaysia), it will operate absolutely on all routes of Rapid Penang. All you need is to present a pass at the entrance to the bus. Tickets can be purchased at Rapid ticket kiosks, Weld Quay bus terminals, Komtar, Penang Sentral, Bukit Jambul or at the airport.

When buying one-time tickets, the cost is calculated based on the length of the route: 1.4 ringgit for the first seven kilometers of travel and reaches a maximum of 4. one-time tickets are purchased from the driver at the entrance to the bus. At the entrance, you should tell the driver to which point you are following, and the driver will tell you how much the fare costs. Payment is not made in the hands of the driver, and the money is thrown into a special box after you have shown the required amount to the driver. The driver only tears off your ticket. Delivery is not issued, since this is not provided for by the rules of the bus company. If you have 10 ringgit on hand, and you need to pay only 2 ringgit, then you will either have to part with a ten, or get off the bus and change the money. The bus, of course, will not wait for you. So always have some change with you.

Drivers are mostly very friendly and treat tourists well, so at the entrance you can popristavat them with questions and even show on the map the place where you need if you are not sure that you are going correctly. The queue at the entrance to the bus will wait patiently while you sort it out (repeatedly checked by the authors of the site), so do not worry. If necessary, ask the driver to announce to you the stop where you should get off, just do not go far away from him in this case, so that he does not look for you all over the bus.

Bus stops, especially on the streets of Georgetown, are very dense and easy to identify. At most stops there is information about the routes passing there, which is very convenient if you are in an unfamiliar part of the city. At Weld Quay and Komtar stations, there are electronic scoreboards showing the time to the next bus. You can also install the Rapid Penang app on your smartphone, which shows routes and bus arrivals. You can find the application through the search.

You can get a free paper map of bus routes from the Rapid Penang Information Kiosk, which is available at Penang Airport, Weld Quay station and near Komtar station.

Also the scheme of routes and their detailed description can be studied on the official website http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/. Also on the site there is a route planner in which you can set the start and end point of the route, and the system will give all possible routes and their cost.

Here are the maps you can print by opening them in a new window in full size:

Penang bus routes map for print

Penang bus routes map for print

We have also prepared a small memo, which indicates the main attractions and important landmarks with the numbers of buses that go there.

The memo was prepared as of October 2011. If you notice any inaccuracy, please let us know, we will be very grateful to you.

Free shuttle bus (MPPP Rapid Penang, also CAT)

Free tour bus

Free shuttle buses run daily, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 11:40 p.m. at 20-30-minute intervals along the winding circular route in Georgetown, making stops at 19 stops along the route. The route is designed in such a way that it passes near attractions included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This is a great way to move around the city in search of attractions, and just to move around the city. This, by the way, is actively used by local residents, and at rush hour the bus is literally packed with citizens who are going from work or to work.

Buses stop at regular Rapid Penang bus stops (there are no separate stops for MPPP CAT) marked with signs reading "Free shuttle" and stop numbers from 1 to 19. If there are no waiting passengers at the stop and no one inside the bus has pressed the "stop on demand" button, the bus will pass by. So be guided in advance and press the stop button. Catching a bus outside the stops is useless, they are forbidden to stop outside the stops.

The buses themselves are almost indistinguishable from ordinary shuttle buses, but they can be easily distinguished by the inscription "Hop On Free", "City Hop On", as well as by the letters "MPPP CAT SHITTLE" burning on the scoreboard.

On the map below you can see the diagram of the free bus, but keep in mind that the north on the map is not located at the top, as is customary, but on the right.

Free shuttle bus route map for Penang Island

On foot

A great way to explore the sights within Georgetown is on foot. The size of the city, despite the fact that it is the capital of the state, built up with skyscrapers, is not so big. It is especially comfortable to walk around the historical part of the City (Old Town).

Taxi

Penang taxi

Most taxis on the island are equipped with meters, but drivers prefer to carry tourists at fixed rates. In fact, it is almost impossible to drive a taxi with a meter. Usually the taxi driver offers the price of the trip, but you can bargain, but this should be done before the trip. The cost of a short trip within the center of Georgetown starts from 10 ringgit, cheaper to catch a car is almost impossible. At night, prices rise by one and a half times.

Bicycle rickshaw

Penang cycle rickshaw

One of the exotic ways to move around Georgetown are bicycle rickshaws, although this is rather not a way of transportation, but an attraction for tourists. Local residents also do not use this method of movement, since it is very expensive. Usually, bicycle rickshaws do not carry tourists from place to place, but are hired on time for walks around the Old Town of Georgetown. You can find rickshaws on the streets in the Old Town, as well as in the fort area. You need to negotiate the price before the trip, and you should bargain, lowering the price to the real 40-45 ringgit for an hour walk.

Rent a car, motorcycle, bicycle

Penang bike rental

To rent a car or motorcycle in Penang, you must have an international driver's license( IDP), and as a deposit you will have to leave a passport (sometimes you can do with a photocopy) and a credit card. IDLs are such rights, made in the form of a booklet in several languages, which are issued in addition to the usual national rights. They are only valid when presented in conjunction with your National (Home) rights, so do not forget to also take them with you on a trip to Malaysia. To obtain an MBA, you do not need to take any exams, you only need to pay a fee. The easiest way to do this is on the website of the state service.RF. the cost of Idi with a discount through the website of public services will be 1600 rubles.

To rent a low-power motorcycle, you can do without rights, it all depends on the tenant. If you are refused in one place, look for the next distributor. You can rent a motorcycle from 20 ringgit per day.

You can also rent a bike for short trips around Georgetown, but you will not go far on the island, too long distances. Bike rental can be found on the streets of the Old Town, the price starts from 10 ringgit per day.

Remember that traffic in Malaysia is left-handed. Traffic on almost the entire island, except perhaps its far corners, is very tense and dense. In Georgetown, rush hour traffic jams form, and drivers move more out of habit than by the rules. There are many one-way roads on the island, and sometimes it's faster to walk than to drive.

The cost of renting a car in Penang starts from $ 25 per day. It is best to search and book a car for rent over the Internet using the search form and price comparison from different rental companies: