The old Penang Ferries are gone, but we’ll walk you through catching the replacement ferry across to Butterworth. If you’re feeling nostalgic, they have refurbished an old Penang Ferry and opened it as a museum just beside the Terminal Raja Tun Uda. You can also see it if you’re on the outside deck of the ferry when arriving or leaving.
Getting to the Penang Ferry Terminal
Lots of buses will take you to the Terminal Raja Tun Uda Ferry terminal. If the bus terminates here, it will say ‘Feri’ on the front display. Check the RapidPenang website for routes and timetables. There is an information booth at bus Terminal B Weld Quay, which is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and between 9am and 5pm on Sundays. Walk between the open bus parking and Terminal, via the covered walkway to reach the Ferry Terminal.
Whereas the old ferries carried four wheeled vehicles as well as two wheelers and foot passengers, and fares were only paid to travel in one direction with free return, the cost on the faster new catamarans is RM2 each way, using cashless payment via stored value cards (e.g. TnG), credit and debit cards. There is no cash option. Once you’ve paid, you can proceed to the waiting lounge. It’s airconditioned and there are stalls available if you need a snack.
The ferries cross every 20 minutes in peak hours in each direction, otherwise half hourly, between 6.30am and 11pm. You can get more information on timings and other ‘need-to-knows’ on their website.
On the ferry
Foot passengers board before motorcycles and non-folding bicycles, but the bikes leave the ferry before foot passengers, on arrival. Boarding will start around 5-10 minutes before departure. You may choose the inside aircon-seating, or use the seats outside at front and back or you can stand and watch the view. There are no cars carried on this ferry, but you can see on the old ferry moored nearby, the lower level for cars, upper deck for passengers.
If you go outside at the back, you can see an old ferry which is now a museum.
Inside the cabin are seats with lifejackets available. ‘Just in case’. Evacuation instructions and emergency exit routes are clearly printed on the back of the seat in front of you. The windows are large and clean and if it’s a clear day, you’ll have plenty to see.
Arriving at Butterworth
They let the motorcycles out first, then the foot traffic. At the top of the ramp the signs direct you to the left, you walk to the side of the waiting lounge. There is a lift for you to get to the connecting ramp, but if you only have light luggage or nothing to carry, there are steps up. There are no escalators. However, there are ramps as you get to the entrance to Penang Sentral Mall and Bus Station, on Level 2. The ticket counters for long distance buses is on Level 2, to your right, and you need to go down to Level 1 to catch your bus. This is the Ground level and we show you in the video, how to get down there for the buses and also to get to the Railway Station next door.
Penang Sentral is fairly new but new tenants are moving in. There is a small Food Court on Level 3 as well as a local kopitiam, a glasses shop and a chocolate shop. There’s a ‘One Stop Centre’ for Government business on Level 4. Your best bet for food is Level 2. Not an extensive choice, but they have a good mix of types of food.
images©ET
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