Penang Free CAT Bus
Free loop around George Town: Weld Quay, Komtar and the Esplanade
How does the Penang free CAT bus work?
Free, every 10–15 minutes, 6:00 am to 11:45 pm: one loop from Weld Quay through Penang Road, Komtar, the Esplanade and Swettenham Pier. No payment needed — just board. 18 stops on the loop.
The CAT (Central Area Transit) is Rapid Penang's free bus around George Town, and it is running. It is a single loop of 19 stops from Weld Quay, past the Penang Museum, along Penang Road to Komtar and Chowrasta Market, back past St George's Church, the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) and Swettenham Pier to Weld Quay. Buses come every 10–15 minutes from 6:00 AM, with the last loop leaving at 11:45 PM.
Route Details
Route
Weld Quay (Terminal A) — loop → Weld Quay (Terminal A)
Via
Lebuh Pantai, Penang Museum, Penang Road, Komtar, Chowrasta Market, St George's Church, Esplanade, Swettenham Pier
Journey Time
About 20–40 minutes for the full loop (scheduled range)
Fare
FREE
Frequency
every 10–15 minutes
Hours
6:00 AM – 11:45 PM (last departure)
Free: no ticket, card or payment. Board at any CAT stop.
Checked 2026-10-06. Checked against Rapid Penang's route table and its GTFS timetable feed. Times are scheduled; traffic changes them.
Tourist Highlights — Where to Get Off
These are the stops most useful for tourists. Click any stop in the full list below for more details.
Terminal A Weld Quay
Start and end of the loop, beside the ferry terminal; the Clan Jetties are a short walk south.
Muzium Pulau Pinang
Penang State Museum.
Komtar II
Komtar: change here for island buses (101, 102, 204, 401E).
Padang Kota Lama
The Esplanade, beside Fort Cornwallis and City Hall.
All 19 Stops — Bus CAT
Search by stop name or nearby attraction. Tap any stop for details. Gold stars mark tourist highlight stops.
Showing all 19 stops
Terminal A Weld Quay
Start and end of the loop, beside the ferry terminal and the Clan Jetties
Balai Polis Lebuh Pantai
Bank Negara Malaysia
Muzium Pulau Pinang
Penang State Museum
SMK St. Xavier
Hotel Cititel
Penang Road
Penang Road shopping and hawker street
Komtar II
Komtar — change here for island buses
Wisma MCA
Pasar Chowrasta
Chowrasta Market
Komtar Timur
Hotel Armenian
Kampung Kolam
Gereja St. George
St George's Church
Dewan Sri Pinang
Padang Kota Lama
The Esplanade, beside Fort Cornwallis and City Hall
Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal
Cruise terminal
Church Street Pier
Terminal A Weld Quay
Bus CAT · 19 stops total · Tap a stop for details
Insider Tips for Bus CAT
- It is free: just board, no card needed
- The full loop takes about 20–40 minutes, so you can ride it as a quick orientation
- Buses come every 10–15 minutes, from 6:00 AM to the last departure at 11:45 PM
- Change to paid routes at Komtar or Weld Quay for the beaches, Penang Hill or the airport
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to pay: the CAT is free
- Expecting it to reach Gurney Drive, Batu Ferringhi, Penang Hill or the airport: it only loops central George Town
- Looking for colour-coded CAT loops: there is one CAT loop
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Penang CAT bus still free and running?
Yes. Rapid Penang lists the CAT as a Weld Quay – Komtar – Weld Quay loop, first trip 6:00 AM, last trip 11:45 PM, every 10–15 minutes, and its timetable feed names it "Penang Free CAT Bus". No payment is needed.
Where does the CAT bus stop?
Its 19 stops run: Weld Quay, Lebuh Pantai police station, Bank Negara, Penang Museum, SMK St. Xavier, Hotel Cititel, Penang Road, Komtar II, Wisma MCA, Chowrasta Market, Komtar Timur, Hotel Armenian, Kampung Kolam, St George's Church, Dewan Sri Pinang, the Esplanade, Swettenham Pier, Church Street Pier and back to Weld Quay.
How long does the full CAT loop take?
Rapid Penang schedules the loop at about 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Can I take the CAT bus to Penang Hill or Batu Ferringhi?
No. For Penang Hill take Bus 204 from Weld Quay or Komtar; for Batu Ferringhi take Bus 101 (or 102 from the airport).
Other Bus Routes
Bus 101
Weld Quay and Komtar to Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang and the National Park
Bus 102
Penang Airport to Teluk Bahang via Komtar and the north coast
Bus 204
Weld Quay and Komtar to Kek Lok Si and the Penang Hill funicular
Bus 401 / 401E
The airport buses: George Town to Penang Airport, SPICE and Balik Pulau