If you’re trying to work out whether to visit Penang or Langkawi on your Malaysia adventure, deciding to go to both is a great idea! Especially because it’s quite straightforward to travel from Penang to Langkawi.
There are a range of options for transport from Penang to Langkawi including super quick flights, overland taxi and bus options. There was also a direct boat from Penang to Langkawi before the pandemic. Unfortunately, it has not resumed.
If that all sounds overwhelming, don’t worry – I’ll make it as straightforward as possible so you’ll soon be an expert on how to go to Langkawi from Penang!
Below, I describe exactly how to get to Langkawi from Penang whether you are looking for flights, taxis, buses or considering driving.
I also describe the reverse journey from Langkawi to Penang.
Whichever route you pick, getting between the two is surprisingly easy.
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Contents
Map: Penang Island To Langkawi
How far is it from Penang to Langkawi? Penang and Langkawi are relatively close together, with a direct flight covering approximately 130 kilometres. The quick flying time makes it possible to take a day trip to Langkawi from Penang (although I definitely recommend you stay longer!).
Driving or taking a taxi to the Langkawi ferry from mainland Malaysia is a popular option. If going by road, it’s about 180 kilometres to Kuala Perlis plus the ferry trip.
All up, the average journey time is around 4.5-7 hours unless you decide to fly.
Passenger ferries to Langkawi depart from both Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis. If you want to take your vehicle to Langkawi, you’ll need to use the vehicle ferry from Kuala Perlis.
Note that Langkawi does not have any bridges across to the mainland of Malaysia. You either have to fly or take a ferry as part of your journey.
BEST OPTION: How To Get From Penang To Langkawi
Here is a summary of all your options for travel between Langkawi and Penang.
| Mode of transport | Duration | Best For? | Book |
| Flight | 4 hours | People who want an efficient way to get between Penang and Langkawi | Check here |
| Bus And Ferry | 6.25 hours+ | People who want (possibly) the cheapest option | Check here |
| Taxi And Ferry | 4.25 hours | People who want the fastest and easiest way overland | Check here |
| Car And Ferry | 4.25 hours | People who have easy access to a car or who like to stop along the way or want to take their car to Langkawi | Check here |
| Direct Ferry | 5 hours | NO LONGER RUNNING |
OPTION 1: Penang To Langkawi Flight
The quickest of all the Penang to Langkawi route options, a direct flight is your best bet for getting between these two locations quickly.
A flight ticket is relatively affordable. You can choose an AirAsia or Firefly flight. Other airlines fly to these places as well, but at the time of publishing, these are the only direct options.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
The flight price starts around RM80 if you get a great deal. I have managed to pay only RM30 before! The flight time is around 35-40 minutes, so this option will get you there faster than the overland options and is cheaper with a good deal.
Flights depart from the Penang International Airport (PEN). The flight schedule is available online and flights run multiple times a day.
Once you land at Langkawi International Airport (LGK), you’ll need to cover an additional 7 kilometres to reach the main beach area of Pantai Cenang. You can ride with a taxi, which should cost about RM25. The Grab app is the best way to go.
OPTION 2: Penang To Langkawi Bus (+Ferry)
Taking a bus is another option. You’ll still need to take a ferry, but you can take a bus (or one of the options below) to get to the ferry terminal. Bus fares to Kuala Perlis start at around RM22.
Buses run 8+ times a day. The first is around 9am. An earlier bus is better to ensure you catch a ferry on the same day.
Depending on the service, buses depart from Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal on Penang Island or Penang Sentral in Butterworth on the mainland.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
The ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi takes about an hour and twenty minutes, and it leaves a few times a day.
You can see the latest timetables and prices here. These ferries can sell out so it is best to book in advance. Tickets start at RM45 for foreigners.
Click here to read our full guide to taking the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi.
It’s also possible to get a ferry to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah. However, there are currently no buses from Penang to Kuala Kedah so you need to take a bus to Alor Setar instead.
From Alor Setar, you can take a 20-minute Grab taxi to the jetty at Kuala Kedah. This is quicker than going to Kuala Perlis but you do need to factor in that taxi ride. Ferry tickets from Kuala Kedah start at RM57 and take about 1.75 hours.
Click here to check the times and prices for a ferry from Kuala Kedah.
Click here to read our full guide to taking the ferry from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi.
OPTION 3: Penang To Langkawi By Taxi
Since there are no roads between Penang and Langkawi, obviously you cannot take a taxi all the way to Langkawi.
However, you can take a taxi directly from your hotel (or elsewhere) in Penang directly to the Langkawi ferry in either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.
This is the easiest way to get between these two places if you can’t take a flight. You’ll arrive fresh and ready to go instead of sweaty after dealing with buses and luggage.
The only thing that can be tricky about this is finding a taxi that will take you, but we can help you with this. We can book you a taxi with a safe and reliable local operator starting at RM650 to Kuala Kedah and RM700 to Kuala Perlis (which is further).
Click here for more details and to book your taxi.
Once you are there, you can read our guide to taking the ferry from Kuala Kedah here and from Kuala Perlis here.
OPTION 4: Penang To Langkawi By Car
Driving yourself is likely to be the cheapest way from Penang to Langkawi if you already have access to a car whether it’s your own or a hire car. You can drive from Penang to Langkawi by heading to the port of Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah.
The distance is around 120 kilometres to Kuala Kedah ferry terminal or 180 kilometres to Kuala Perlis. The journey takes about 2.5 hours to Kuala Perlis and 1.75 hours to Kuala Kedah.
The Penang to Langkawi drive is mostly along main roads, so it is easy to do.
Once you reach the ferry terminal, you can park your car on the mainland and travel to Langkawi as a foot passenger. Alternatively, if you’re taking your own vehicle, you can book the vehicle ferry from Kuala Perlis.
If you’re driving a hire car, check your rental agreement first, as you may not be permitted to take it to Langkawi. Vehicle ferry bookings also require advance arrangements and documentation, so don’t leave this until the day you travel.
If you want to take the car ferry to Langkawi, you will need to travel via Kuala Perlis.
OPTION 5: Penang To Langkawi Ferry – NO LONGER RUNNING
Unfortunately, the direct ferry between Penang Island and Langkawi stopped operating during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed as of the publishing date of this article.
If you want to travel by ferry, you’ll first need to make your way to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis on the mainland (as described above). Both have regular passenger ferry services to Langkawi.
Langkawi To Penang
For the return trip, you’ll be glad to learn that it is as easy as getting there.
You basically reverse the directions above, and you’ll find yourself back in Penang.
The easiest option is to book a Langkawi to Penang flight. Take a taxi from your hotel to the Langkawi International Airport (LGK). It takes about 35-40 minutes to fly back to Penang.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
Getting from Langkawi to Penang by taxi is another great choice. You’ll need to get a ferry back to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.
From there, the taxi can take you the 2.5 hours back to Penang from Kuala Perlis or 1.75 hours from Kuala Kedah.
It’s cheaper if you take the taxi from Kuala Kedah.
Click here to book a taxi now.
Going from Langkawi to Penang by car is another good option. Having your own vehicle will make it easy to go anywhere you like in the Penang area.
You can also take a bus back once you take the ferry back to Kuala Perlis.
Click here to see the latest prices and times.
Final Words
How do you get from Penang to Langkawi? The choice is yours and up to your preferences, budget and time constraints.
A flight is the easiest and fastest method, especially for anyone who isn’t fond of boats. You won’t have to deal with the ferry ride. You’ll just need to arrange transport between the airports and your accommodation at either end. Grab makes this easy. Often, this can be the cheapest way to go as well.
If you have access to a car, driving is another great option. Taking a taxi from Penang to Kuala Kedah for the ferry is even easier.
Lastly, you can opt for the bus and ferry route if you enjoy that type of travel. These are affordable options that are best for travellers who are trying to conserve money and who can’t get a good flight deal.
Looking for the ultimate Malaysia Itinerary Planner for your trip? Click here to get it now!
If you need help getting to Langkawi from KL – read our guide here or you can find out how to get there from other places in Malaysia here. Otherwise, click here to read our full guide on the best things to do in Langkawi. You can also find our full Langkawi travel guide here.
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!
