Penang Visitor FAQ

Penang Visitor FAQ (1 May 2015)


Penang Visitor FAQ answers the many questions that visitors to this island ask me. It is a big joy for us to have visitors coming to Penang. Of course you may have a thousand questions which I try to answer as well as I can through this website. As many visitor ask the same questions, I have put together a list of the most frequently asked questions. I thought these may be helpful to you.

1. I'll be arriving in Penang by plane. Are there any public transport to go to the city?
Yes please, you can either take the taxi or the bus. Here's the information for taking the bus from Penang Airport.

2. Can you tell me which bus to take to go to X from Y in Penang?
This is what you can do. Go through the alphabetical List of Sights I've described. If you're visiting a popular sight, most likely I may have described it before. Do a search (ctrl+F) for X and Y. Find out where X and Y are located, such as the road or place name. Often I have listed out the buses that pass that way. If I don't, please go to the Rapid Penang Bus Routes page. Search for the location/road where X or Y are located.

3. Can you recommend a hotel within George Town?
I would suggest that you read my page on "Where to Stay in Penang" and "Which Penang Hotel to Choose".

4. Is it safe to explore George Town alone?
It is absolutely safe to do that, even at night. Of course, you should be wary of strangers, as you would in any city.

5. Can you book for me a hotel on ...
Sorry, I am not a travel agent, so please book your accommodation yourself.

6. Can you show me around?
I do not show visitors around, but hand the duties to a bunch of licensed tour guides. Their services are managed by a tour coordinator who will craft a tour based on your requirements. To learn more, read this page, or fill up this form to get in touch with Rose, the Penang Tour Guides coordinator.

7. Is it possible to take a bus around Penang Island?
Yes, but you need to change buses two times. If you're going on an anti-clockwise direction, you start from the Weld Quay Bus Terminal, take Bus 101 to Teluk Bahang, then take Bus 501 to Balik Pulau, and from Balik Pulau take Bus 401 back to Weld Quay.

8. I cannot find "Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal" signaged on the buses.
All buses heading to the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal are signaged "Jetty".

9. I shall be taking an express bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. I am told the bus terminal is in Sungai Nibong. Is that in the city?
The Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal is a distance from George Town. There are however a number of buses heading to town, just look for those signaged Komtar or Jetty. The taxi stand is also right outside the express bus terminal, so you can also hop into a taxi to take you downtown or anywhere else.

10. I am planning to drive. Where can I rent a car?
There are car rental counters at the Penang International Airport arrivals hall. Parking in most places on Penang Island is chargeable using parking coupons, which you can buy at selected newsagents and 7-Eleven outlets. Parking is 40 sen per half hour (as of November 2016). Within George Town, particularly during office hours, parking space is almost next to impossible to find (so you may wind up going round and round looking for a place to park). Within downtown George Town, leaving your car in a no parking area may result in it being clamped or towed away.