What’s the best way for families with kids to travel from KL to Penang?

If you have young children with you, you will likely want to take the fastest route to Penang. That would be by flight, which will take about an hour. (View options here.)

When browsing flights, note that KUL is the airport code for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, while SZB is the code for the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, which caters for domestic flights. Cost-wise, one-way flights on the national carrier (Malaysian Airlines) will be pricier than a flight on budget airlines like AirAsia. Before booking your flights, you can check on airline safety and service quality through sites like Skytrax and Airline Ratings.

Are your children able to sit through a longer journey? Consider taking the train from KL to Penang, which could be a fun adventure for the whole family! You can take the ETS (Electric Train Service) from KL to Penang, where the ride duration is slightly over four hours. 

Is it feasible for families to rent a car and drive from KL to Penang? It’s about a four-hour drive from KL to Penang via the North-South Expressway (Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan). 

Driving will allow you to have full control over the journey, and along the way, you can stop in cities like Perak and Taiping to check out attractions or have meals. You can search for one-way car rental options in Malaysia here.

For stylish, luxurious accommodation for the family, book a room at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur, with dual key arrangements available for larger groups. You’ll appreciate the attention to detail, down to the luxury bath products from French fashion house Balmain Paris.

Prefer a greener, nature-inspired accommodation? PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur will be a welcome haven for you. Here, we’ve opted for biodegradable packaging, filtered drinking water in every guestroom, and a variety of air-purifying plants and trees to serve as natural humidifiers.

Need a larger space at a budget-friendly rate? Choose PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur, where you can book a family-sized suite ranging from 96sqm to 121sqm, so that everyone can have their own personal space to rest and relax.

For budding animal conservationists, take them to Farm in the City, which is less of a zoo, and more of a community farm with a strong focus on sustainability. 

What will kids like about Farm in the City? Visitors are given ample opportunity to interact with the animals—they can feed birds in the free-flight aviary, walk among porcupines and iguanas in the ‘Jungle Walk,’ and coo over rabbits and guinea pigs at the ‘Pet Village.’

Are your kids theme park addicts? Great news: you can organise your entire KL visit around the city’s best-rated theme parks! 

These are the top outdoor KL theme parks to visit:

• Sunway Lagoon Theme Park (KL’s best-known amusement park)

• Wet World Water Park Shah Alam (Malaysia’s largest water park)

• Discovery Park (hidden-gem park with adventure experiences, such as a high-elements rope course and dirt biking)

• 99 Wonderland Park (opens in the evenings till late)

During rainy days (or to beat the heat), you can check out these indoor theme parks:

• Berjaya Times Square Theme Park (Malaysia’s largest indoor theme park)

• ESCAPE Petaling Jaya (exciting rides and games in a mall environment)

• Jump Street Asia Kuala Lumpur (a large trampoline park with a zipline and climbing activities)

• SuperPark Malaysia (an indoor sports park where kids can try street basketball, skating, and more)

• District 21 (a ‘post-apocalyptic’ sports and recreation park)

• KidZania Kuala Lumpur (a child-sized ‘city’ for kids to learn about various occupations)

Eager to do a family day trip during your time in KL? The most popular day trip from KL is to see the Batu Caves, which is one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside of India. 

Can you visit the Batu Caves with younger kids such as toddlers? Every child is different—we recommend that you read guides by parents who have visited the Batu Caves to know what to expect. Getting an early start, making sure kids eat before the trip, and not carrying snacks (which might make you a magnet for monkeys) are just some steps that you can take to ensure a smooth visit.

Prefer to let a local expert lead the way in KL? Browse family-friendly tours in KL on tour portals like WithLocals, to find a KL tour that suits your kids’ interests. 

PARKROYAL Penang Resort is located at Batu Ferringhi—a beach resort northwest of George Town, Penang’s capital city.

When you book one of our rooms or suites, you can look forward to breathtaking sea views from the comfort of your room, as well as instant access to the Batu Ferringhi beach for water sports.

Do the kids prefer to stay in while you explore Penang’s food and heritage attractions in George Town? Our Amazonia Kids' Club features outdoor and indoor play areas, along with supervised activities and babysitting services. 

If everyone is ready to head out, simply hire a car or taxi and be on your way!

For adventurous, outdoorsy families who welcome the exhilaration of obstacle courses, ziplines, and water slides, ESCAPE Penang is where you can have a full day of “low tech and high fun!” 

If your kids are younger or prefer a more sedate experience, make a trip to THE TOP Penang. This is where you can visit the Penang Boutique Aquarium (which holds feeding sessions for kids), take kiddie rides, get a bird’s eye view of Penang from the observatory deck, and do a whole lot more.

Prefer to spend a day out in nature? Thrill your kids with a ride on Penang’s historic funicular train, to get to the top of Penang Hill. Once there, you can visit The Habitat—it’s a world-class rainforest discovery centre, which sits on the fringes of a forest reserve protected since 1911.

Raising animal lovers? Your family will enjoy a day out at the Saanen Dairy Goat Farm, a family-run farm with feeding and milking activities. (Kids will also get to try ice cream made from goat’s milk!) The farm is located in Balik Pulau, which is known for its paddy fields and lush greenery. Other family-friendly activities here include cycling and ATV rides.

Another popular Penang day trip is exploring the island attraction Pulau Jerejak. Here, you can snap colourful souvenir shots, go cycling or trekking, and catch a stunning sunset view.  

To have a break and leave your Malaysia holiday planning to a local expert, consider the list of kid-friendly Penang tours on tour portals such as Viator.

Do get in touch with our PPHG teams if you need assistance for your KL or Penang getaway, and we look forward to hosting you in Malaysia!