Sightseeing with Bus 101: George Town - Northern Beaches

Rapid Penang Bus 101 is ideal for Sightseeing the Northern Coast of Penang Island. The route starts in the Inner City and ends in Teluk Bahang, on the north-western tip of the island. Along the way, Route 101 passes through the famous beaches of Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah.

Rapid Penang Route 101 Map

View Rapid Penang Route 101 in a larger map

Rapid Penang Route 101 Sightseeing Itinerary

Your sightseeing tour with the Rapid Penang 101 starts at the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal.

As the bus starts to move, look to your left. You will see the clan jetties.

The first junction is at Chulia Street Ghaut (Gat Lebuh Chulia). The bus turns right and go up Chulia Street Ghaut. Along the way, look out for Yeoh Kongsi, a small clan temple, on your right.

The next junction is the intersection with Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai). On your left is the Beach Street Fire Station, a heritage building. The bus goes straight down Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia).

Between the intersection of Chulia Street with Beach Street and the intersection with Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), look out for the Nagore Durgha Sheriff on the right, and the Teochew Ancestral Temple on the left. There are other historical buildings along the way, so you may want to consider getting off the bus to explore.

Beyond the intersection of Pitt Street, look out for the Noordin Family Tomb and Kapitan Keling Mosque on the right side of Chulia Street. Further down the road look out for Masjid Alimsah Waley, Ng Fook Thong and Nam Hooi Wooi Koon Cantonese district associations.

At the end of Chulia Street, the bus turns left to Penang Road (Jalan Penang). This is the main shopping street in the 1970's. See the Sri Kunj Bihari Temple on the right. Look out for Central Police Headquarters complex to your right. If you want to taste the best cendol in Penang, get off the bus here, and walk up to Keng Kwee Street.

The bus turns left and go down Prangin Road (Jalan Prangin). Look to your right to see Komtar. The bus now turns right and go along Jalan Ria which passes right through Komtar. Here the bus makes a stop at the Komtar Bus Terminal. It then emerges on the other side of the mammoth complex at Magazine Road (Jalan Magazine).

The bus turns right at Magazine Circus (which is not a roundabout anymore) and enters Penang Road again. Look to your left for Ong Kongsi, another clan temple.

The bus next turns left to Burmah Road. Now it goes along Burmah Road. Watch out of Kuan Yin See, the temple busiest during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, on your right.

At the intersection with Anson Road, you can see Wesley Methodist Church on your right, followed by the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Burmah Road Gospel Hall, all major churches in Penang.

At the Pangkor Road intersection, the bus turns left. As it does so, look to your left to see the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the field of the Chinese Recreation Club.

The bus turns right to enter Perak Road. Look to your left to see Wat Buppharam, one of the big Thai Buddhist temples in Penang. It then turns left and re-enters Burmah Road, continuing westward. Now the bus is approaching Pulau Tikus district, home to the famous Wat Chaiyamangkalaram, Temple of the Reclining Buddha. You will have to get down from the bus to visit this temple. It is a short distance from the Pulau Tikus bus stop.

The bus pass through the Cantonment Road intersection and continues up Burmah Road. On your right is the Church of Immaculate Conception. This is followed by Midlands One Stop shoppping mall on your left, and the Penang Adventist Hospital on your right.

At the end of Burmah Road, the bus turns right and enters Jalan Bagan Jermal. On your right is the St Nicholas Home for the Blind. Jalan Bagan Jermal ends at the junction with Jalan Kelawei and Jalan Tanjong Tokong. There are high rise condominiums on both sides of the junction.

The bus turns left and enters Jalan Tanjong Tokong. The road is lined with upmarket condominiums. At the Fettes Park junction you can see Island Plaza shopping mall on your right.

The bus now continues its journey along the northern coast. It passes through the Tanjong Tokong village, which has the oldest Tua Pek Kong temple in Penang. Now it enters Tanjung Bungah.

High rise luxury condominiums line Jalan Tanjung Bungah, some as tall as forty storeys. The bus passes the Penang Swimming Club on your right. As it nears Batu Ferringhi, look for the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque (it's not really floating) and the Penang Water Sports Centre on your right.

The sea, which comes and goes, is now in full view on your right. This is the famous Batu Ferringhi coastline. The road winds its way as it skirts the hilly northern coast.

Upon arrival at Batu Ferringhi village, you are greeted with the sight of the mammoth Rasa Sayang Resort, on your right. Hotels and restaurants line both sides of the road. The sea is momentarily out of view, but once we leave the village, it is visible once more.

Now the bus continues westward from Batu Ferringhi to Teluk Bahang. There is fewer coastal development here, and the sea is also quieter. Catch a glimpse of Lovers' Isle. You may wish to get down from the bus to visit the Tropical Spice Garden, located on the left side of the road.

The bus circles the roundabout at Teluk Bahang village, and stops at the makeshift terminus beside the road just outside the village. This is the end of the journey. You can now ride the bus back to town. It follows more or less the same route, with only minor variations.

Rapid Penang Fare

First 7 km: RM1.40
Next 7 km (up to 14 km): RM2.00
Next 7 km (up to 21 km): RM2.70
Next 7 km (up to 28 km): RM3.40
Over 28 km: RM4.00

Disclaimer

The information provided here is accurate at time of writing, and may have been updated by the bus service provider without the author's knowledge. Please use the information as guidance and check with Rapid Penang at their information kiosks for the latest route details. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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