If you are like many travellers and trying to work out whether to visit Penang or Langkawi, deciding to go to both is a great idea! Especially because it’s quite straightforward to work out how to get from Penang to Langkawi.
There are a range of options for transport from Penang to Langkawi including super quick flights Penang to Langkawi Malaysia and overland taxi and bus options. There was also a direct boat from Penang to Langkawi before the pandemic which hopefully will come back at some point.
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 a Penang ferry to Langkawi, a cheap flight from Penang to Langkawi, wondering whether to take a Penang to Langkawi bus or want to drive from Penang to Langkawi.
In this guide, I’ll also answer common questions such as “can I drive to Langkawi”, “is there a Penang to Langkawi car ferry” and is there also a ferry Langkawi Penang in the opposite direction”?
I also describe the reverse journey from Langkawi to Penang.
Keep reading for all the options for how to go Langkawi from Penang. This will help you plan your holiday to Penang and Langkawi. Whichever route option you pick, getting between the two is surprisingly easy.
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Contents
Map: Penang Island To Langkawi
How far from Penang to Langkawi? The Penang to Langkawi distance is only about 116 kilometres as the crow flies. These islands are quite close together. 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 Langkawi is a popular option. If going by road, it’s about 180 kilometres to Kuala Perlis plus the ferry trip.
Penang to Langkawi, how long does it take? This really depends on what method of transport you choose for travel to Langkawi – with flights only taking 35 minutes. If you are driving from Georgetown to Kuala Perlis and then taking the ferry across, it takes about two and a half hours of driving plus an hour and a half on a ferry with some waiting time in between.
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See the Penang to Langkawi map below for the best car route. The Langkawi car ferry leaves from the port of Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah (which is the closest point to Penang).
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 here.
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 | Check here |
OPTION 1: Penang To Langkawi Flight
The quickest of all the Penang – Langkawi route options, a direct flight from Penang to Langkawi is your best bet for getting between the two locations quickly.
A flight ticket from Penang to Langkawi is relatively affordable. You can choose an AirAsia flight from Penang to Langkawi or Firefly also make it easy to fly Penang to Langkawi. 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 Penang to Langkawi flight price starts around RM50 if you get a great deal. I have managed to pay only RM30 before! The Penang to Langkawi flight time is around 35 minutes, so this option will get you there faster than the overland options and is cheaper with a good deal.
You travel Penang to Langkawi by air departing from the Penang International Airport (PEN). The Penang to Langkawi 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 RM20. The Grab app is the best way to go.
OPTION 2: Penang To Langkawi Bus (+Ferry)
The Penang to Langkawi 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. A bus ride to the ferry in Kuala Perlis will cost you around RM18.
Buses run three times daily. The first is around 9am, and the second is at 1:30pm. If you miss these buses, you can catch another at 7pm but you will need to overnight in Kuala Perlis then.
Buses depart from the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal on Penang island and arrive in Kuala Perlis around three hours later. The Penang to Pulau Langkawi bus line is called Plusliner.
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.
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 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.
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
If you want to know how to go Langkawi by car, this 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 from Penang to Langkawi by car 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 get there, you can either take the car ferry or leave your car in the parking lot. It will cost RM10 for each day you leave your car in the lot, so take that into consideration when planning your stay on Langkawi.
If you want to take the car ferry to Langkawi, there are now car ferries from both Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah.
This route is perfect if you just want to drive to Langkawi and want to take the car ferry from Penang to Langkawi. Luckily, it’s super easy to do, and how to get to Langkawi by car is as simple as driving to Kuala Perlis and then on and off of a roll-on-roll-off ferry.
OPTION 5: Penang To Langkawi Ferry – NO LONGER RUNNING
** The ferry is currently not running between Penang and Langkawi. I have kept this information here for when it re-starts although it seems less and less likely that it will now it’s been nearly 4 years since they stopped. **
Getting from Penang to Langkawi was easy thanks to the affordable ferries that used to run daily directly between the two islands. Ferries also ran in the opposite direction with the same ferry from Langkawi to Penang.
Taking the Penang to Langkawi ferry was a great option if you’re looking for a fast way to reach Langkawi without flying. There was only one provider for the Penang to Langkawi boat trip which was a company called Super Fast Ferry.
The Penang to Langkawi fast ferry used to leave twice a day, once at 8:30am and again at 2pm. A Penang to Langkawi ferry ticket used to cost between RM 72 and RM 80. The ferry took about 2.5-3 hours.
The ferries left from Penang Jetty Terminal in Weld Quay, Georgetown and arrived at the Kuah Jetty Terminal.
You used to be able to buy an online ferry ticket from Penang to Langkawi, or you could buy your ticket at the terminal.
Note that there was never a Penang to Langkawi ferry car option.
Click here to see if the ferry has returned.
Langkawi To Penang
If you’re wondering how to travel from Langkawi to Penang, you’ll be glad to learn that going back is as easy as getting there.
You basically reverse the directions above, and you’ll find yourself back in Penang.
The easiest option is booking a Langkawi to Penang flight. Unless you drove from Penang to Langkawi, this is the best option. Take a taxi from your hotel to the Langkawi International Airport (LGK). It takes about 35 minutes to fly Langkawi to Penang.
The quick travel time makes a Langkawi to Penang day trip possible. Although I recommend you stay for longer than a day.
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.
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.
Getting to Langkawi from Penang via plane 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. Your only real task will be finding a taxi between the airport and your accommodation at each location which you can use the Grab app for. Often, this can be the cheapest way to go as well.
If you can access a car, driving is another great option. Taking a taxi from Penang to Kuala Kedah for the ferry is even easier. You can book a taxi here.
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. The Penang Langkawi ferry is always popular and a scenic way to travel.
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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!
