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

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The George Town CAT Bus offers a convenient, frequent and free service that passes by many of the the city’s most popular sights. In this guide we provide all the information you’ll need on the route maps, timetables, and tips for riding the bus.

George Town is one of the most pleasant cities in Southeast Asia to walk around and take in the sights. Our George Town walking tour winds its way through the heritage streets, showcasing the best the city has to offer. However, there will be some occasions (especially during the middle of the day when the temperature climbs), when you need to give your feet a rest and jump onto one of Penang’s buses. It’s here that the George Town Free CAT Bus comes to the rescue.

Departing from the Jetty Bus Station / Penang Ferry terminal, the Free CAT Bus travels through the heart of George Town (CAT stands for Central Area Transit), stopping in nineteen different locations, all well-placed for one of the many exciting things to do in George Town. Whether you stay onboard for the whole 40 minute loop, or just use it for one quick hop, the bus is a fantastic option for locals and tourists alike.

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 Jetty to Komtar (stop 1 to 9) and the light pink route is the return journey from Komtar to Pengkalan Weld (stop 9 through to 19), before the bus returns to the starting point at the Jetty.

We have provided the official bus stop names but in some cases, we’ve added 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.

Also, we have created a handy bus tracker page so you can see where your bus is. This is refreshed every 60 seconds with live data.

Top tips for riding the free bus

• Everyone needs to disembark at Stop 1 (Jetty) and change buses. There’s nearly always another CAT bus ready to depart though, so just jump off and board the bus waiting at the front of the queue.
  
• Buses have onboard information screens that 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.
  
• 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 9-12 where the bus loops around the Komtar building.

2. Little India

Stop 2 temporarily removed from schedule due to roadworks

The first of two stops along Beach Street, 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.

3. 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 19).

4. Bank Negara

The National Bank of Malaysia at Stop 4 is useful for visiting the Padang, Town Hall and Esplanade (although the bus returns here at stop 16). 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.

5. Court House, 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 5 is handy for St. George’s Anglican Church, Church of the Assumption, the grand Court House building and Love Lane (home to some of Penang’s best bars).

7. Lebuh Muntri / Trishaw Man street art

This stop used to be adjacent to one of the largest Penang street art murals, with the Trishaw Man taking up an entire gable-end wall. It has sadly now been painted over; hopefully another one will take its place soon. 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 11. 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 11, 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 changeover stop, 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. Police Station on Jalan Transfer

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 loop, so might be useful if your hotel or next destination is in this part of town.

11. Jalan Chowrasta / Chowrasta Market

One of 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 that are home to family-run shops, restaurants and cafes.

12. Komtar East / Prangin Mall

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 forgot to pack something essential, it’s likely you’ll find it here.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. St George’s Anglican Church

At the top of the same road as stop 14, 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.

16. 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.

17. Fort Cornwallis

Towards the end of the Free CAT Bus loop, 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.

18. Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal

Ideal for those visitors arriving at the Penang cruise port, Swettenham Pier is where all the cruise liners dock in George Town, providing instant access to all the major sights in the city. If you’re heading back to the cruise ship after a day exploring, the free CAT bus is a good option as it’ll drop you right outside the terminal.

19. Pengkalan Weld

The final stop on the loop, Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay) used to be one of the grandest streets in the city but is now in need of some TLC. It’s well located for the heritage buildings along nearby Beach Street and you’re also not far from the Penang Ferry Museum and Church Street Pier. If you board here, do keep in mind you’ll need to change buses almost immediately at the next stop (Jetty, stop 1).

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