George Town FREE CAT Bus: route map, timetable and tips

Map of George Town free CAT bus

The map below shows the individual stops and route of the George Town CAT bus. The dark pink route is Pengkalan Weld to Komtar (stop 1 to 9) and the light pink route is the return journey from Komtar to Pengkalan Weld (stop 9 through to 18 and back to stop 1).

We have provided the official bus stop names and, in some cases, added in alternatives that might make more sense to the English-speaking visitor.

George Town CAT bus timetable

The first CAT bus departs from Weld Quay at 6.00am and the final service departs at 11.45pm. It runs seven days per week to the exact same schedule shown below, including public holidays.

The bus runs every 10 minutes between the hours of 7.00am to 9.00am, and 5.00pm to 7.00pm. At all other times it runs every 15 minutes, so you’ll never need to wait long for the next service to arrive.

Top tips for riding the free bus

• Confusingly, the first stop is actually marked as Stop 2 (at the Jetty bus station and ferry terminal), not Stop 1 (Pengkalan Weld / Weld Quay). If you board at Stop 1, you’ll only be onboard for one minute before arriving at Stop 2 and then having to switch buses.
  
• Buses have onboard information screens which indicate the next stop and points of interest.
  
• Stops are request only so you need to press the Stop button when your stop is approaching.
  
• Seats on all Penang buses are narrow, so prepare for a squeeze if you’re sitting next to someone else.
  
• Stop 10 has been removed from the itinerary.
  
• The traffic can be bad in central George Town so it’s sometimes faster to jump off a few stops early and take a walk rather than stay onboard. This is especially true around stops 8-12 where the bus does a loop around the Komtar building.

The individual stops

1. Pengkalan Weld

Confusingly, this is the last stop, not the first. Don’t make a special effort to board here as you’ll always need to alight and re-board at stop 2. It’s likely to be of most use if you’ve just arrived at the Penang cruise port or have been checking out the heritage buildings along nearby Beach Street.

2. Feri / Jetty Bus Station

Perfectly located directly outside the ferry terminal and Jetty bus station, Stop 2 is where the Free Cat bus actually starts and terminates. If you’ve arrived on the Butterworth to George Town Ferry (perhaps after taking the Kuala Lumpur to Penang train), it’s a breeze to walk from the ferry to the bus in a couple of minutes.

3. Little India

Stop 3 is the first of two along Beach Street and this is the one to alight at for Little India with its restaurants, temples and shops. Wonderfood Museum is also nearby, plus many examples of the white-washed buildings that once made this street the grandest in George Town.

4. Imigresen / Beach Street Police Station

The final stop on Beach Street passes close by the grand Immigration and Police buildings and is also a good jumping off point if you’re heading to the Swettenham Cruise Terminal, Queen Victoria Clock Tower or Fort Cornwallis (and don’t want to stay onboard for the entire loop until stops 18 and 1).

5. Bank Negara

The National Bank of Malaysia at Stop 5 is useful for visiting the Padang, Town Hall and Esplanade (although the bus returns here at stop 17). It’s also the last stop if you want to explore the northern and eastern side of the city before the bus starts heading to the west. If you’re hungry and fancy some Indian food, our favourite restaurant in Penang (Gem) is just a short walk away on Bishop Street.

6. Muzium / Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

The State Museum is undergoing restoration at the moment but will soon reopen, although the Art Gallery has recently reopened its doors. In the meantime, stop 6 is handy for St. George’s Anglican Church, Church of the Assumption and Love Lane (home to some of Penang’s best bars).

7. Lebuh Muntri / Trishaw Man street art

The bus stops directly adjacent to one of the largest Penang street art murals, with the Trishaw Man taking up an entire gable end wall. It’s also close to the Blue Mansion and Red Garden Food Paradise. For visitors lucky enough to be staying at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, this is your closest stop.

8. Lebuh Campbell / Campbell Street

Alight here for Campbell Street Mall, one of the oldest shopping districts in George Town. Also handy for Chowrasta Market, if you don’t want to wait until stop 12. This is the last stop before the bus takes a loop around the often congested area near to the Komtar building on stops 9 to 12, so consider jumping off here if you want to avoid the loop and explore more of the Unesco area.

9. KOMTAR Pusat / KOMTAR Centre

A very popular stop with locals, you may notice nearly all non-tourists alight here but don’t worry, the bus is continuing on its route after picking up more passengers. The Komtar building is the main bus terminal in the centre of George Town, with services heading to destinations near and far. Komtar itself is home to a large number of restaurants, shops and tourist attractions, not least the activities awaiting you at The Top.

10. BUS STOP REMOVED

There used to be a stop here but it has been removed from the timetable.

11. Jalan Kedah / Kedah Street

If we’re honest, this is one of the more uninspiring stops on the route. Although there’s nothing specifically nearby this stop for tourists, it does mark the most westerly point on the entire route, so might be useful if your hotel or next destination is in this part of town.

12. Jalan Chowrasta / Chowrasta Market

One of, if not the, most famous markets in Penang, this place is as popular with local residents as it is with tourists. Browse the stalls for anything and everything you might need, although don’t ignore the side streets which are home to family-run shops, restaurants and cafes.

13. Komtar Timur / Komtar East

The second of the main Komtar stops, this one is ideal for Prangin Mall with a huge array of shops and restaurants under its roof. It’s not as upmarket as the malls on Gurney Drive but, if you’re visiting Penang and have forgotten to pack something, it’s likely you’ll find it here.

14. Lebuh Carnarvon / Carnarvon Street

As the bus starts making its way towards the end of the loop, this is one of the last stops in this part of George Town, well-placed for a wander along Kimberley Street and its beautiful heritage buildings, one of which houses the Upside Down Museum, a good example of the quirky museums that have sprung up around the city.

15. Kampung Kolam

One of the most diverse and memorable stops on the route, Kampung Kolam might only be a short street but it’s close to the Sun Yat Sen Museum and leads onto a road housing many religious buildings including Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Goddess Of Mercy Temple and St. George’s Anglican Church. It also crosses Chulia Street, a vibrant shopping avenue and home to some of our favourite bars in Penang.

16. Mahkamah / St George’s Church

At the top of the same road as stop 15, this is the best stop if you’re just visiting St. George’s Anglican Church. The two stops after this one are slightly away from the heritage city streets, so jump off here if you’re still in the mood for more exploring.

17. Dewan Sri Pinang / Penang Town Hall

One of the most attractive and peaceful areas of George Town, with Penang Town Hall and City Hall dominating the immediate area. You’re also adjacent to the Padang and Esplanade, offering peaceful strolls along the shoreline, with Butterworth, Mount Jerai and the Malacca Straits on the horizon.

18. Fort Cornwallis

The final stop numerically (although do remember that stop 1 is actually the end point) is at Fort Cornwallis, the site of the first landing by Sir Francis Light in the late 18th century. Close by is the Queen Victoria Clock Tower and Beach Street, if you fancy heading back into the heritage streets of George Town.

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