The city-state of Singapore is an interesting mix of culture and architecture with a major financial center culminating in historic buildings and parks. Founded as a trading hub by the East India Company, Singapore’s links with Britain can still be seen in its colonial core. But not only the British influenced the development of Singapore, because the city also has its own Chinatown and Little India, charming districts full of small shops. If you prefer, you can also visit huge malls to make a good purchase. If you like colonial heritage, you’ll love Penang too. This Malaysian province includes the island of Penang and its capital, George Town. It is the second largest city in Malaysia and its historic center is a World Heritage Site, but like Singapore, Penang also has modern buildings and attractions.
Options to go from Singapore to Penang
The plane travels almost 600 kilometers (375 miles) from Singapore to Penang. However, the road route is slightly longer between these destinations, adding an additional 115 kilometers (72 mi) to the journey. But don’t let that discourage you. The route from Singapore to Penang is quite popular among tourists and can be done in several ways. Flights are a good option because they are fast. However, if you are not in a hurry to get to Penang, you can consider taking the bus. Trains used to be a good alternative when there was a daily service from Singapore to Penang which was very convenient but this route has been discontinued. You can go by train, but you have to make several changes, which makes the journey even longer than by bus, so it’s not worth it.
Singapore to Penang flights
Changi Departure Hall, now rated the best airport in the world by Skytrax © Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
Flying is usually the fastest option for long trips. However, we must remember that this speed comes at a price, and this makes flights the most expensive travel option. If you are looking for flights from Singapore to Penang, you will see that some airline tickets cost hundreds of euros. Fortunately, however, there are other options. There are several airlines that fly from Singapore to Penang at significantly different prices. Therefore, if you decide to travel by plane, you will need to research and learn about the various options before buying.
Check out the page 12Go.asia to see a quick and easy comparison between different airlines. Your search results clearly show what each ticket contains. In addition, purchase confirmation is instant when booking through this website. Singapore Airlines seems to be the most expensive option, but their tickets include 30 kilograms of checked baggage. An early morning flight is usually more expensive than a daytime flight. Therefore, it is advisable to be flexible with the day and time of departure in order to find better deals.
The other airlines flying from Singapore to Penang are not as well known as Singapore Airlines. But the truth is that the flight only takes an hour and twenty minutes, so you don’t need to have too many luxuries. You can save a lot of money by traveling with Jetstar Asia, AirAsia or Scoot. Although the prices quoted do not include checked baggage, it can be added at the time of booking for a reasonable fee.
If you fly from Singapore to Penang, you will be leaving one of the best airports in the world. Singapore Changi Airport is a very nice and busy airport with good connections to Singapore. Therefore, it is very easy to get to the city from the airport by taxi, bus or Mass Rapid Transit.
From Singapore to Penang by bus
If you compare prices on 12Go, you’ll see that flights from Singapore to Penang are more expensive than buses, but there’s not much of a difference. Singapore to Penang buses are usually VIP 24 buses, a rather luxurious coach with only three seats in a row, so you have more space than in an airplane. The buses are equipped with televisions, snacks and stewardess service, as well as air conditioning. However, according to the country’s law, there are no toilets on the buses. Although you shouldn’t worry about that as there are a few rest stops along the way.
The main bus operator from Singapore to Penang is StarMart Express. There are several places to choose from in Singapore, including Golden Mile Tower, City Plaza and Book Lay. There are also several arrival points in Penang, so you’ll need to look closely at the best places to hop on and off the bus.
While buses can save you some money compared to flying, you will have to weigh the pros and cons. On the one hand, the bus from Singapore to Penang is cheaper and allows you to enjoy the scenery outside the window, which cannot be done from the plane. However, the bus journey is quite long. The planned duration is 10 hours, which may discourage many travellers.
Remember that regardless of the mode of transport you choose, you will have to cross an international border. Please check your visa requirements before booking your tickets to avoid potential delays or hassles when entering Malaysia. In addition, we always advise you to buy tickets in advance to find the best deal.