Penang Ferry Guide: Schedule, Fares and Tips

Featured image: LEE 003, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Penang ferry at a glance

The route links Penang Sentral's ferry terminal in Butterworth with the Raja Tun Uda Terminal at Pengkalan Weld, George Town. Prices and hours below were checked in November 2026 against the Penang Port Commission ferry page. Fares are charged in both directions, so there is no free direction.

• Route: Butterworth (mainland) to Pengkalan Weld, George Town (island), about 3 km
• Crossing time: about 20 minutes
• Adult fare: RM 2.00 each way
• Operating hours: daily 06:30 to 23:30
• Frequency: every 20 minutes at peak, every 30 minutes off-peak
• Carried: foot passengers, bicycles and motorcycles
• Payment: Touch 'n Go card, counter ticket or online ticket

Ferry schedule and frequency

Boats from Butterworth run from 06:30 to 23:00. Departures from George Town start at 07:00, and the last boat leaves at 23:30. Ferries leave every 20 minutes at peak hours and every 30 minutes off-peak. Miss the 23:30 sailing from Pengkalan Weld and your only way across is the bridge, by taxi or Grab. On 1 September 2026 the ferry Teluk Bahang collided with a tanker, and 21 of the 140 passengers aboard were injured. An investigation is ongoing, and the Penang Port Commission page shows current service notices.

Penang ferry fares and how to pay

An adult ticket costs RM 2.00 each way. Children aged 5 to 11 pay RM 1.00, children aged 4 and under travel free, and OKU/PWD passengers travel free. Official payment options are a Touch 'n Go card, a counter ticket and an online ticket. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase, so buy a fresh one for any return trip on another day. Counters have been reported as card-only, so carry a Touch 'n Go card or an e-wallet rather than relying on cash.

Butterworth terminal: how to find it

Butterworth's ferry terminal is part of Penang Sentral, at Jalan Bagan Dalam, 12100 Butterworth. The nine-level building combines the railway station, the bus terminal and the ferry. Level 1 is the bus terminal, and Level 2 has the connecting links to the ferry and the KTM station. Taxis drop off at the main entrance on Level 3, while e-hailing pick-up and drop-off, including Grab, is at the entrance on Level 2A. Rapid Penang buses also stop here, and Rapid Penang publishes the routes. Drivers can use the terminal's parking. Information Counters on Level 2 or Level 3 lend wheelchairs and baby strollers, and a baby room is on Level 2.

George Town terminal: what is nearby and how to continue

Boats from Butterworth dock at Pengkalan Weld, the island-side Raja Tun Uda Terminal. It sits near the UNESCO-listed heritage area and has taxi and Grab facilities. Heritage streets are within walking distance, so many visitors simply walk out. For longer hops, read our Penang bus guide for Rapid Penang routes. Short heritage-area hops are covered by the free shuttle bus. Heading to the airport instead? The ferry is rarely the natural route, and our airport transfer guide compares better options.

Ferry vs bridge vs bus vs Grab: which to choose

Pick the ferry when you are on foot or on a bike and want a short, low-cost crossing with a view of George Town's waterfront. Skip it when you carry heavy bags, drive a car or have a tight flight. Cars must use Penang Bridge, a 13.5 km toll bridge that opened in 1985. Buses and Grab also cross by road. The table compares the options qualitatively.

Luggage, bikes, motorcycles and cars

The four catamarans in service since August 2023 carry foot passengers, motorcycles and bicycles. Cars are not carried. A motorcycle pays RM 2.50 and a bicycle RM 2.00 per crossing. Cabins have luggage racks, and you can sit in the air-conditioned cabin or outside at the bow or stern. Wheeling a large suitcase through Penang Sentral involves a change of level, so lifts matter. Look for them rather than counting on stairs.

Mistakes to avoid

A few planning slips cause most ferry problems.

• Arriving at Pengkalan Weld near 23:30 with no backup plan
• Expecting to put a car on board
• Leaving a ticket for another day, since tickets are valid only on the purchase date
• Relying on cash at the counter
• Confusing the Penang Ferry Museum with the working ferry

Penang Ferry Museum and ferry history

The Penang Ferry Museum is a floating museum at Tanjung City Marina, open 9 AM to 6 PM daily. It is a separate attraction, not the commuter service, so you cannot board a museum ship at the terminal. Ferries have run across the strait since 1894. Penang Bridge took over vehicle traffic after 1985, and today's catamarans carry people, bikes and motorcycles.

Plan the crossing for your direction of travel

Use the ferry differently depending on where your journey begins. If you arrive on the mainland by KTM train or long-distance bus, follow the links inside Penang Sentral to the Butterworth terminal. The first Butterworth sailing is at 06:30, so it can suit an early arrival before heading into George Town.

If you are leaving the island, start at Raja Tun Uda Terminal on Pengkalan Weld. The first George Town departure is at 07:00 and the last is at 23:30. Build in time for the terminal rather than aiming for the final boat.

• For a scenic return trip, ride as a foot passenger and allow about 20 minutes for the crossing.
• For a day trip, remember an adult fare is RM 2.00 in each direction and tickets are valid only on their purchase date.
• For a train connection, choose an earlier ferry: off-peak departures can be 30 minutes apart.

Travelers with a car should use the bridge instead. The ferry carries motorcycles and bicycles, but not cars.