Penang and Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: 7-Day Combined Plan With Transport Guide

Last updated: October 2026

Train travel between Penang and KL

This Penang and Kuala Lumpur itinerary combines both cities into a single 7-day trip. The plan starts in Kuala Lumpur (Days 1-3), takes the ETS train or a flight to Penang on Day 4, then covers George Town, Penang Hill and the island's north or west coast through Day 7. If you are flying into Penang first, reverse the order: start with Penang (Days 1-4) and end in KL (Days 5-7).

The KL days draw from our KL 3D2N itinerary and the Penang days from our Penang 4D3N itinerary. All prices and hours were verified in October 2026.

Before You Go

Flights: Fly into KLIA (Kuala Lumpur) and out of PEN (Penang), or the reverse. Multi-city bookings on AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines often cost the same as return flights to one city. Budget one-way flights between KL and Penang cost RM50-130.

Inter-city transport: The ETS train from KL Sentral to Butterworth takes about 4 hours. Gold class: RM60-82. Platinum: RM103-108. Express: RM112. Prices vary under the KTM flexi-fare system -- book at least 7 days ahead for the lowest rate. From Butterworth station, take the ferry to George Town (RM1.20, 15 minutes). Alternatively, fly from KUL or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang) to Penang International Airport in 50 minutes. AirAsia, Batik Air and Firefly operate this route. Budget fares booked a few weeks ahead run RM50-130 one way.

Stay (KL): Book 3 nights in Bukit Bintang or KLCC. Budget hostels: RM40-80 per night. Mid-range hotels: RM150-400.

Stay (Penang): Book 4 nights in the George Town UNESCO zone (Lebuh Chulia, Armenian Street or Jalan Muntri). Budget hostels: RM40-80 per night. Heritage hotels: RM150-350.

SIM card: Grab one tourist SIM at your first airport. Celcom and Hotlink prepaid plans (RM15-30 for 7 days with data) work across both cities.

Weather: Both cities are hot and humid year-round (31-34 degrees Celsius). Afternoon showers are common. Pack an umbrella and stay hydrated.

Day 1 (KL): KLCC, Petronas Towers and Jalan Alor

Morning (9 Am - 12 Pm)

9:00 am -- Walk through KLCC Park (free, open 7 am to 10 pm). Lake, fountains, wading pool and jogging paths at the base of the twin towers.

9:30 am -- Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge and Observation Deck. Book online in advance (1,000 tickets per day). Adult: RM80 (non-Malaysian), RM63 (Malaysian). Level 41 skybridge and Level 86 deck. Allow 45 minutes.

10:30 am -- Browse Suria KLCC. Ground-floor food court has nasi lemak (RM8-12), roti canai (RM3-5). Optional: Petrosains Discovery Centre (RM30, Level 4).

Afternoon (12 Pm - 5 Pm)

12:30 pm -- Lunch at Madam Kwan's in Suria KLCC (nasi lemak RM22) or the food court (RM10-15).

2:00 pm -- Covered walkway to Bukit Bintang (20 minutes on foot). Browse Pavilion KL.

3:30 pm -- Rest at hotel.

Evening (6 Pm - 11 Pm)

6:30 pm -- Jalan Alor street food. Over 50 stalls nightly from 5 pm. Satay (RM16 for 10), BBQ wings (RM3-4 each), char kway teow (RM10). Budget RM20-40 per person. See our KL hawker food guide.

8:30 pm -- Changkat Bukit Bintang for drinks. Beer from RM15-20.

10:00 pm -- Heli Lounge Bar on Menara KH rooftop (5-minute Grab). RM100 entry with two drinks. Open 5 pm to midnight. 360-degree helipad views. Smart casual required.

Day 2 (KL): Batu Caves, Brickfields and Chinatown

Morning (7 Am - 12 Pm)

7:30 am -- KTM Komuter to Batu Caves (RM2.60, 30 minutes). Arrive early to beat tour-bus crowds.

8:15 am -- Climb the 272 rainbow steps to Temple Cave. Free entry. Open 6 am to 8:30 pm. Keep food sealed against macaques.

9:00 am -- Ramayana Cave (RM15) or Cave Villa (RM10). Allow 30-45 minutes.

10:00 am -- Train back to KL Sentral.

Afternoon (12 Pm - 5 Pm)

10:45 am -- Walk to Brickfields. Banana leaf rice at Vishal Food and Catering (RM7-8 base set, curry extras RM5-8).

12:30 pm -- LRT to Masjid Jamek. Walk to Merdeka Square (free, open 24 hours). Sultan Abdul Samad Building, 95-metre flagpole.

1:15 pm -- KL City Gallery (RM10, RM5 redeemable).

2:00 pm -- Central Market (10 am to 10 pm daily). Batik, songket, handicrafts.

3:00 pm -- Petaling Street (Chinatown). Street snacks, Sri Mahamariamman Temple (free). Apam balik (RM3), roasted chestnuts (RM8).

Evening (6 Pm - 11 Pm)

5:30 pm -- Kwai Chai Hong murals (free).

6:30 pm -- Dinner: Merchant's Lane (RM20-35) or Kim Lian Kee Hokkien mee (RM12-15).

8:00 pm -- PS150 speakeasy (cocktails from RM38) or The Deceased (RM35-50). See our KL bars guide.

Day 3 (KL): Kampung Baru, Thean Hou and Bangsar

Morning (8 Am - 12 Pm)

8:00 am -- LRT to Kampung Baru. Nasi Lemak Wanjo on Jalan Raja Muda Musa (7 am-noon). Nasi lemak with rendang: RM8-12. Cash only.

9:00 am -- Walk through Kampung Baru village. Wooden houses, food stalls and the morning market. 30 minutes.

10:00 am -- Grab to Thean Hou Temple (RM12-18, 15 minutes). Free entry, open 8 am to 8 pm. Six-tiered temple with city-skyline views. 45-60 minutes.

Afternoon (12 Pm - 5 Pm)

11:30 am -- Grab to Bangsar (RM8-12). Brunch at Antipodean Cafe (RM25-35) or Breakfast Thieves (RM28-42, closed Mondays). Coffee at PULP (Nitro cold brew RM14-18).

1:00 pm -- Souvenirs at Bangsar Village. Kaya jam, white coffee, Malaysian chocolate.

2:00 pm -- Return to hotel. Relax before the evening. If you are taking the ETS train tomorrow morning, pack tonight and confirm your booking.

Evening (6 Pm - 10 Pm)

6:30 pm -- Final KL dinner at Jalan Alor for any dishes you missed, or try Hutong food court at Lot 10 Bukit Bintang (RM8-15 per dish, air-conditioned).

8:30 pm -- Last drink at a Changkat bar, or a quiet night before the early train.

Day 4: Transfer Day -- KL to Penang

This is your travel day. Pick one of the two transfer options below.

Option A: ETS Train (Scenic Route)

7:30 am -- Check out of your KL hotel. Grab or LRT to KL Sentral.

8:00 am -- Board the ETS Gold or Platinum train to Butterworth. Departure times vary; the 8 am and 9 am services are popular. Journey time is about 4 hours. Gold class costs RM60-82, Platinum RM103-108. Book online at the KTM website at least 7 days ahead for the lowest flexi-fare price. The train has air-conditioning, reclining seats, a food trolley and power outlets.

12:00 pm -- Arrive at Butterworth station. Walk 5 minutes to the Penang ferry terminal. Take the ferry to George Town (RM1.20, 15 minutes, runs every 20-30 minutes). The ferry ride offers a postcard view of the George Town waterfront and Komtar tower.

12:30 pm -- Arrive at Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in George Town. Grab or walk to your hotel (most UNESCO-zone hotels are within 10-15 minutes on foot).

Option B: Flight (Fast Route)

8:00 am -- Check out. KLIA Ekspres from KL Sentral to KLIA/KLIA2 (28-33 minutes, RM55). Book a late-morning flight to Penang (PEN). AirAsia, Batik Air and Firefly operate the route. Flight time: 50 minutes. Budget fares: RM50-130 one way booked 2-3 weeks ahead.

11:30 am -- Arrive at Penang International Airport. Grab to George Town (RM25-35, 30 minutes) or Rapid Penang bus 401 (RM2.70, 45 minutes).

Afternoon and Evening in Penang

1:00 pm -- Check into your George Town hotel. Lunch at Lebuh Kimberley hawker stalls: char koay teow (RM8), duck rice (RM8) or curry mee (RM7).

3:00 pm -- Walk the Armenian Street area for a first look at George Town's street art. Find the "Children on a Bicycle" mural and surrounding wire sculptures. Free and walkable.

5:00 pm -- Coffee and cake at ChinaHouse on Beach Street (cake RM12-18).

7:00 pm -- Dinner at New Lane Hawker Stalls (Lorong Baru). Hokkien mee, char koay teow and satay. RM20-30 per person.

9:00 pm -- A quiet drink on Love Lane to recover from the travel day.

Day 5 (Penang): George Town Heritage Walk

Morning (9 Am - 12 Pm)

9:00 am -- Breakfast at a George Town cafe. Urban Daybreak on Lebuh Bishop (brunch RM18-35) or Macallum Connoisseurs in the Gat Lebuh Macallum warehouse district.

10:00 am -- Khoo Kongsi clan temple at Cannon Square (RM10 entry). 30 minutes.

11:00 am -- Walk south to the Clan Jetties (15 minutes). Chew Jetty boardwalk over the water. Free entry, 20 minutes.

Afternoon (12 Pm - 5 Pm)

12:00 pm -- Lunch at Chulia Street hawker stalls. Lor bak (RM5), popiah (RM3), wantan mee (RM6). See our Penang hawker food guide.

1:30 pm -- Fort Cornwallis (RM20 entry) and the Esplanade (free). Harbour views from Padang Kota.

2:30 pm -- Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul (RM3.50).

3:00 pm -- Walk to the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion on Lebuh Leith. Guided tour at 3:30 pm (RM25, 45 minutes, book online).

4:30 pm -- Rest at hotel or browse the Hin Bus Depot art centre (free entry, closes 6 pm).

Evening (6 Pm - 10 Pm)

6:30 pm -- Grab to Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (RM8-12, 10 minutes). Char koay teow, oh chien (RM8), assam laksa (RM7). Budget RM20-30.

8:30 pm -- Back to George Town. Drink at Three Sixty Revolving Rooftop Bar at Bayview Hotel (drinks from RM25). See our Penang bars guide.

Day 6 (Penang): Kek Lok Si and Penang Hill

Morning (8 Am - 12 Pm)

8:00 am -- Grab to Air Itam (RM10-15, 20 minutes). Breakfast: Air Itam laksa (RM6) at Pasar Air Itam.

9:00 am -- Walk uphill to Kek Lok Si Temple (10 minutes). Main grounds free. Pagoda (RM2). Inclined lift to Kuan Yin statue (RM3). Allow 1.5 hours.

10:30 am -- Grab or bus to Penang Hill Lower Station (10 minutes).

Afternoon (12 Pm - 5 Pm)

11:00 am -- Penang Hill funicular to the summit. Foreigners: RM80 return. Fast lane: RM80 one way. Ride takes 5 minutes. Walk the summit loop (30 minutes), visit The Habitat canopy walk (RM50). Allow 2-3 hours on the hill.

2:00 pm -- Funicular down. Grab to George Town (RM15, 25 minutes).

3:00 pm -- Late lunch at Lebuh Presgrave or rest at hotel.

Evening (5 Pm - 10 Pm)

5:30 pm -- Pinang Peranakan Mansion (RM25 entry, closes 6 pm). 45 minutes of Peranakan antiques.

7:00 pm -- Dinner at Tek Sen Restaurant on Lebuh Carnarvon. Arrive by 6:30 pm. Double-roasted pork (RM16), claypot tofu (RM14). Cash only.

8:30 pm -- Drinks on Upper Penang Road or Love Lane.

Day 7 (Penang): Batu Ferringhi or Balik Pulau and Departure

Your final day. Choose between a beach morning at Batu Ferringhi or a countryside morning at Balik Pulau. Departure is in the late afternoon.

Morning Option A: Batu Ferringhi

8:30 am -- Rapid Penang bus 101 from Komtar (RM2.70, 45 minutes) or Grab (RM25-30, 25 minutes) to Batu Ferringhi beach.

9:30 am -- Beach time. Parasailing RM80-100, jet ski RM100-150 for 30 minutes, banana boat RM30-50 per person, or simply swim and sunbathe.

11:30 am -- Lunch at Long Beach Cafe (seafood RM30-60, nasi goreng RM8-12).

12:30 pm -- Grab back to George Town (RM25-30, 25 minutes).

Morning Option B: Balik Pulau

8:30 am -- Grab to Balik Pulau (RM30-40, 35 minutes).

9:15 am -- Breakfast: Nan Guang laksa in Balik Pulau town (RM5-7). If visiting June to August, stop at a durian farm (RM30-60 per tasting).

11:00 am -- Browse the fishing village jetty and countryside roads.

12:00 pm -- Grab back to George Town (RM30-40, 35 minutes).

Afternoon (1 Pm - 5 Pm)

1:00 pm -- Final George Town meal. Walk to Siam Road Char Koay Teow (open noon to 6:30 pm, closed Sunday and Monday, RM8-12) or grab a bowl of curry mee at Lebuh Kimberley.

2:00 pm -- Last souvenirs at Him Heang (tau sar piah, RM16 per box) and Chowrasta Market (pickled nutmeg, dried goods).

3:00 pm -- Collect luggage. Grab to Penang International Airport (RM25-35, 30 minutes). Arrive 2 hours before your flight.

Swap-ins If It Rains

KL Days 1-3: Aquaria KLCC (RM69), Petrosains (RM30), Islamic Arts Museum (RM20) and Central Market are all indoor-friendly. The Chinatown walking route is mostly covered.

Penang Day 5 (George Town): Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Penang State Museum (free) and ChinaHouse provide covered shelter. Swap the street-art walk for a Batik Painting Museum visit (RM20).

Penang Day 6 (Penang Hill): Light rain is fine for the funicular, but heavy downpour kills summit views. Swap for Entopia butterfly farm (RM65) or a cafe crawl on Beach Street.

Penang Day 7 (Batu Ferringhi/Balik Pulau): If rain cancels beach plans, visit the Penang War Museum at Batu Maung (RM30, covered tunnels) or spend the morning revisiting favourite George Town food stalls under covered hawker centres.

If You Have an Extra Day

An eighth day can go either way. In KL, add Perdana Botanical Gardens (free) and ICC Pudu hawker breakfast (see our KL 4D3N itinerary). In Penang, add a full day at Penang National Park (hike to Monkey Beach, free entry) or a Tropical Spice Garden visit in Batu Ferringhi (RM35). If your schedule allows, a day trip to Ipoh (1.5 hours by ETS from Butterworth, RM20-30) covers white coffee, bean sprout chicken and the spectacular Sam Poh Tong cave temple.

Penang and KL 7-Day Itinerary: Frequently Asked Questions

Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Penang first?

Start with Kuala Lumpur if you are flying into KLIA, as it avoids a connecting flight on arrival day. This itinerary recommends 3 nights in KL followed by 4 nights in Penang, ending with a flight out of Penang International Airport. However, the reverse works equally well. If you fly into Penang first, do 4 nights there then take the ETS train or a flight south to KL for 3 nights before departing from KLIA.

How do I get from KL to Penang?

Two main options. The ETS train from KL Sentral to Butterworth takes about 4 hours. Gold class costs RM60-82, Platinum RM103-108, and Express RM112. Book at least 7 days ahead for the lowest price under the flexi-fare system. From Butterworth, take the ferry to George Town (RM1.20, 15 minutes). Alternatively, fly from KUL or Subang to Penang Airport (PEN) in 50 minutes. Budget airlines like AirAsia charge RM50-130 one way when booked in advance.

How much does a 7-day KL and Penang trip cost?

Budget: RM150-250 per day (RM1,050-1,750 for 7 days) covering hostels, hawker food and public transport. Mid-range: RM300-500 per day (RM2,100-3,500 for 7 days) with heritage hotels, cafe meals and Grab rides. Add RM60-130 for inter-city transport (ETS or flight). Key fixed costs include Petronas Towers (RM80), Penang Hill funicular (RM80 return), Heli Lounge Bar (RM100) and Batu Caves side caves (RM10-15).

Is 7 days enough for both Kuala Lumpur and Penang?

Seven days is comfortable for both cities. Three nights in KL covers Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, Chinatown, Jalan Alor and a rooftop bar. Four nights in Penang covers George Town heritage, Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si, Batu Ferringhi or Balik Pulau, and several hawker meals. You will not feel rushed in either city, and the transfer day between them doubles as a travel experience on the scenic ETS train.