There’s a particular satisfaction in arriving somewhere well. If you’re looking for the best way to travel from KL to Penang by train, the ETS Business Class is it. Not rushed, not crumpled, not carrying the residual stress of an airport security queue — just settled, comfortable, and ready for the next thing. Taking the train from KL to Penang in Business Class delivered exactly that, and it set the tone for four days on the Strait of Malacca that we didn’t want to leave.<!–more–> This post contains affiliate links. See our [Affiliate Disclosure] for details.
KL Sentral: The Ruby Lounge
The journey starts at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur’s main transport hub — a large, busy place that moves at the pace you’d expect from a major city interchange. We asked for directions to the Business Class departure area and were pointed toward the Ruby Lounge, the dedicated waiting space for ETS Business Class passengers.
It isn’t a particularly grand room, and we won’t oversell it. But stepping out of the noise and heat of KL Sentral into a quiet, air-conditioned space with comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and light refreshments is exactly what it needs to be — a genuine pause before the journey begins. We settled in, had a drink, and watched the main concourse through the window without being part of it.
When boarding time came, lounge staff escorted us to a private elevator that descended directly to the train platform. No crowds, no queuing through the main station. It was a small thing that felt like a significant one.
On Board: The KL to Penang Train Experience
The Business Class carriage is a proper step up from the standard fare — wide, plush seats that recline fully, generous legroom, fold-out tables, USB ports, power outlets, footrests, and a personal entertainment screen. A welcome pack with a blanket and headset was waiting when we sat down.
But honestly, we spent most of the journey looking out the window.
The route from KL to Butterworth takes around three and a half hours, cutting north through Peninsular Malaysia — past small towns, open countryside, stretches of palm plantation giving way to patches of dense green, and the occasional glimpse of distant hills. It isn’t dramatic scenery in the way that some rail journeys are. It’s quieter than that — the kind of landscape that rewards attention precisely because it isn’t trying to impress you. Malaysia between the cities, going about its business.
About 45 minutes in, the crew served a hot meal — chicken with rice and vegetables, a bottle of water, and a snack box with nuts, a boxed juice, and a pair of earphones for the entertainment system. The food was simple and generic, which we’re happy to say plainly. It wasn’t the point. What it did was give the journey a rhythm — a meal, a view, a coffee and a warm chocolate muffin later in the ride — that made the three and a half hours feel like time well spent rather than time to be endured. That’s worth something on a long journey.
Total cost for two Business Class tickets: RM 690 (~$163 USD). More than the standard fare, and worth it for the comfort and the ease.
Arriving at Butterworth — and Crossing to Penang
The train terminates at Butterworth, on the mainland side of the Strait of Malacca. Penang Island sits just across the water, and the crossing is made by public ferry — a short ride that quickly became one of our favourite parts of the daily routine. We took it every single day, and it was reliably punctual, calm, and unhurried.
Standing on the open deck as George Town’s waterfront came into view across the strait — the old colonial buildings, the distant hills behind them, the light changing on the water each morning — was the kind of simple, repeatable pleasure that slow travel is built around. After the air-conditioned comfort of the train, that first crossing with the warm, salt-tinged air on the open deck felt like Penang introducing itself properly. It never got old.
Practical note: The ferry terminal sits directly adjacent to the Butterworth train station — the connection is straightforward and well-signposted. Punctual, calm, and cheap — we took it every day without a single issue. The crossing takes around 15–20 minutes and runs frequently throughout the day. Factor it into your morning routine rather than treating it as an inconvenience — it’s one of the small joys of staying in Butterworth.
The Crowne Plaza Penang — Butterworth
We’d booked four nights at the Crowne Plaza Penang using IHG One Rewards points, and our status with IHG delivered an upgrade that changed the stay considerably. It’s the same IHG points strategy we leaned on throughout our three months in Malaysia.
Our room looked out across the Strait of Malacca toward Penang Island. At night, the lights of George Town reflected on the water. In the morning, the view came with breakfast — and that breakfast deserves a mention of its own.
The Crowne Plaza’s breakfast spread is genuinely impressive: a wide selection covering Malay, Indian, and international options, all of it well-executed and replenished consistently. It became a proper morning ritual — not a quick refuelling stop but an unhurried start to each day, with enough variety that we were still discovering new things on day four. The staff throughout the hotel were warm, professional, and genuinely attentive — particularly at breakfast, where the service matched the spread.
A note on location: The Crowne Plaza sits in Butterworth on the mainland, not on Penang Island itself. That means a short ferry crossing each day to reach George Town and the island’s main attractions — a detail worth factoring into your planning. For a multi-night stay, some travellers would prefer to be based on the island for the convenience. We didn’t mind the crossing at all — it became part of the daily rhythm — but if proximity to George Town is a priority, there are good hotel options on the island side.
Four Days on the Island
The ferry crossing from Butterworth to Penang Island is cheap, frequent, and — we’d argue — the right way to arrive in George Town each morning. There’s something about approaching the old city from the water that puts you in the right frame of mind for it.
Penang’s food reputation is fully deserved, and we ate accordingly. The hawker stalls — some of them run by the same families for decades — deliver laksa, char kway teow, and cendol at a standard that justifies every superlative written about them. The rule we’d suggest: find the stalls with the longest queues and join them. The locals don’t wait for average food.
George Town’s heritage streets are UNESCO-listed for good reason — colonial shophouses in states of careful restoration and artful decay, street art integrated into the architecture and the iron railings and the stories of the neighbourhood, a mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian culture sharing the same few square kilometres in a way that feels organic rather than curated. It’s a genuinely beautiful city to wander without a plan.
Touristy in places, yes. Still absolutely worth every day of it.
Practical Tips
- Book ETS Business Class in advance — tickets sell out, particularly on weekends and public holidays. Book through the KTM website or a reputable agent.
- The Ruby Lounge is accessible from the main KL Sentral concourse — if you can’t find it, ask at the information desk. Staff are helpful.
- Ferry to Penang Island runs from the terminal directly adjacent to Butterworth station. Punctual, calm, and cheap — we took it every day without a single issue. The crossing takes around 15–20 minutes and runs frequently throughout the day. Factor it into your morning routine rather than treating it as an inconvenience — it’s one of the small joys of staying in Butterworth.
- Crowne Plaza location: Great hotel, mainland location. Factor in the daily ferry if you’re staying here — it’s easy, but it adds time to each day’s start.
- George Town on foot: Much of the heritage district is best explored walking. Wear comfortable shoes and start early before the heat builds.
- Connectivity: Malaysia has excellent mobile coverage throughout. Sort data before you travel with an Airalo eSIM — grab one here and save 15% on your first eSIM
Final Thought
The ETS Business Class journey from KL to Penang won’t be the most dramatic thing you do in Malaysia. It isn’t trying to be. What it offers is something quieter and more useful — a comfortable, unhurried crossing of the peninsula that lets you arrive in Penang feeling like the trip has already been good before you’ve even stepped off the ferry.
The Crowne Plaza room with its view across the strait, the breakfast that became a morning anchor, the daily ferry crossing to George Town and back — Penang has a way of filling days without effort. We left wishing we’d booked longer.
🎬 Watch the Full Video
We documented the whole journey — the Ruby Lounge, the train, the Crowne Plaza, and four days exploring Penang — on our YouTube channel.
▶️ KL to Penang in Style: Business Class Train + Crowne Plaza Stay | Penang Travel Vlog
If you’ve made this journey, or you’re planning it, drop us a comment below — we’d love to hear how it went for you.
— Mike & Marge | The Passport Pillow Slow travel for curious souls.
