Ao Nang to Penang

By bus the journey from Ao Nang to Penang is scheduled to take from 10 hours 30 minutes to 12 hours 30 minutes depending upon which service you take.

Bus Times from Ao Nang to Penang

There are currently 4 bus services a day from Ao Nang to Penang available to book online.

• Departure times are in Thailand time, and arrival times are in Malaysian time, which is 1 hour ahead of Thailand.

Buy Tickets from Ao Nang to Penang

Use the Search Box below to buy your tickets from Ao Nang to Penang.

Ao Nang Bus Stop

All services from Ao Nang to Penang listed above commence with a pick up from any hotel in Ao Nang Hotel.

Penang Bus Stop

All services from Ao Nang to Penang listed above terminate at the bus terminal under the Komtar Tower in George Town, Penang Island.

About Travel to Penang

One of the advantages of travelling by bus or minivan to Penang is that you arrive in the centre of George Town, in Penang Island, within easy walking distance of the main tourist areas. If you travel by train, via Surat Thani, the arrival point is Butterworth Train Station which is located on the mainland.

Accommodation in George Town

There are around 300 hotels and guesthouses to choose from in George Town. A night at the city’s top hotel, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, costs from around RM 1,700 a night (roughly equivalent to 13,000 THB). At the other end of the scale, a night in a shared dormitory room in a hostel costs from RM 50 a night (around 400 THB).

For a room in a 3 star standard hotel in the main tourist area, such as the Chulia Mansion, expect to pay around RM 150 a night (1,200 THB).

Where to Stay

Most visitors to George Town stay in the city’s Old Quarter, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are lots of heritage buildings in this area, many of which have been converted into hotels.

George Town’s Old Quarter covers an approximately 2.6 square kilometre section of the north east of the city. The main streets in the Old Quarter are Chulia Street, Armenian Street, Lebuh Carnarvon, Montri Street, and Beach Street. The west and south of the city are more modern and feature fewer historic buildings.

Visitors can also choose to stay by the beach to the north of George Town. Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah are the island’s main beach resort areas, both of which are connected to George Town by an inexpensive and efficient local bus network. It’s easy to visit George Town on day trips from both Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah.

History of George Town

Penang Island was purchased by the British government in 1786. At the time of the purchase the island was heavily forested and relatively few people lived there. George Town was quickly established as a trading port after the British took control of the island. The town’s population grew rapidly as immigrants came, initially from India, and later from China, to take advantage of the employment and business opportunities George Town offered. This mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay cultures remains a central feature of the island’s character.

The reason why the British were so keen on developing George Town as a trading centre was because of its location. At the time most of the ships travelling between China and Europe passed through the narrow channel of water between Penang Island and the Malay Peninsula. Pirates operated in the sea to the west of Penang Island and cargo shipping tended to avoid that area.

Places to Visit

There’s enough to see in the Old Quarter of George Town to occupy most visitors for 1 to 2 days. One of the strong points of George Town as a tourist destination is that the pavements are kept fairly clear and it’s possible to walk around the city, although hiring a cycle rickshaw to tour the city is also very popular.

The main things to see in the Old Quarter relate to the period of British colonial rule, and 19th Century immigrants from China and India. There is a real mix of cultures, architectural styles, and cuisines in George Town that is unique to the city.

Among the top places to visit in the city centre are:

• Cheah Kongsi clan house
• Penang City Hall
• The 6 Ernest Zacharevic wall murals
• Thean Hou Kong Temple
• St. George’s Church
• Chulia Street Night Market
• Little India
• Chew Jetty
• Sri Mahamariamman Temple
• Fort Cornwallis

George Town also has two major tourist attractions which are located 7 km to the west of the Old Quarter, but easily accessible from the city by local bus services 201, 203, and 204.

The first of these two out-of-town attractions is Kek Lok Si Temple. Kek Lok Si Temple is a late 19th Century Chinese style Buddhist temple located on a hill. The temple is fairly large and features some interesting buildings and statues, as well as good views of the city.

The second major out-of-town attraction is Penang Hill. Penang Hill is the collective name given to a cluster of hills, the tallest of which rises to 833 metres above sea level, which were used by the British as somewhere to escape from the heat of the city. The most developed of these hills, Bukit Bendera, is accessible via a funicular railway which starts from near Kek Lok Si Temple. As well as historic buildings, Penang Hill also has an excellent nature reserve called The Habitat Penang Hill which is well worth visiting.