People arriving in Penang by car have two options, to use the Penang Bridge or to use the ferry services. The toll rate for using the Penang Bridge is RM7.00 for cars and RM1.50 for motorcycles. If you purchase a Touch-n-Go card or SmartTAG from the Penang Bridge office, you enjoy a 20% discount when you use the bridge. The journey across the bridge is 13.5 km (8.4 miles). If there is no traffic jam, you should be able to cross the bridge within 10-15 minutes. However, the traffic is usually very heavy at most time of the day, and is prone with massive jams, usually due to accidents but some times due to traffic overload.
The alternative to the Penang Bridge is the ferry between Butterworth and George Town. It is actually more expensive, slower, and some times, just as congested, to use the ferry. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the channel, excluding waiting time, and costs RM7.70 for cars and RM2.00 for motorcycles. As the Touch-n-Go Card is not usable, ferry users do not enjoy discounts. On the other hand, you save on petrol.
Penang Ferry
Help Me Help You
If you discover that an information provided is outdated, and you have the latest tip, please write to me with the update. You are doing a favor to everybody, and I am sure everybody will appreciate it. Just send your updates to:
 |
You board the ferry at the Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth and disembark at the Raja Tun Uda Terminal in George Town. The benefit of using the ferry is that it takes you right into the heart of the city whereas with the Penang Bridge, you are several miles away. That said, unless you are going into George Town, you might prefer to use the Penang Bridge.
This might sound like a small thrill, but another benefit of taking the ferry is that you can leave your car to enjoy the breeze, perhaps take a photo or two of the approaching island. The view of George Town is quite nice, especially during sunset.
Finding Petrol Stations on Penang Island
To help you find petrol stations in George Town and around the island, I have prepared this page on petrol stations on Penang Island, complete with maps. Please take a look.
If you are arriving by other means, please select arrival by plane, by bus, or by train. Otherwise, return to the Table of Contents to select another topic.
