Getting to Penang's Convention Centres
Setia SPICE in Bayan Lepas and PWCC at The Light City: from the airport, George Town and the mainland
How do I get to SPICE or PWCC in Penang?
By Grab or car. Setia SPICE is about 4.4 km by road from Penang International Airport and 14 km from KOMTAR in George Town. The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) is about 10.9 km from the airport, 10.2 km from KOMTAR and 18.9 km from Penang Sentral on the mainland. Both have on-site parking. Our bus data has no route serving PWCC.
The two venues
They are about 9 km apart, and neither is in George Town. Check which one is on your badge first.
Setia SPICE Convention Centre
Bayan Lepas (Relau), Penang Island
Address: No. 108C, Jalan Tun Dr. Awang, 11900 Penang
Hotel: Amari SPICE Penang is connected to the venue. See where to stay for business events.
Parking: RM 8 flat per 24 hours, Touch 'n Go card accepted. Zones B and D are for tenants on weekdays and open to the public only on Saturday and Sunday.
Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC)
The Light City, Gelugor waterfront, Penang Island
Address: 1B, PWCC, The Light City, Persiaran Chin Fung Kee, 11700 Gelugor
Roads in: a one-way flyover giving George Town-bound drivers direct access to The Light Waterfront opened in November 2025, after an elevated road from Jalan Tunku Kudin (Bayan Lepas-bound) in July 2025.
Parking: PWCC lists up to 2,900 parking bays. It does not publish a rate.
Road distances
Swipe sideways for all columns
| From | To Setia SPICE | To PWCC | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penang International Airport | ~4.4 km | ~10.9 km | Both via Jalan Tun Dr Awang; PWCC continues up the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. |
| George Town (KOMTAR) | ~14.0 km | ~10.2 km | Both along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, the coastal highway south of George Town. |
| Mainland: Penang Sentral, Butterworth | ~22.7 km | ~18.9 km | Over the Penang Bridge, which reaches the island near PWCC. |
Calculated from OpenStreetMap data (OSRM routing). We give distances, not drive times: Penang traffic varies too much by hour for one number to be honest. Check the time in the Grab app before you leave.
How to get there
Grab (the practical option)
Our Grab fare guide has no route that starts or ends at either venue, so we won't invent one. For scale, the nearest routes it covers:
- • Penang Airport → George Town: ~16 km, RM 26–35. SPICE is about 4 km into this trip.
- • George Town → Queensbay Mall: ~9 km, RM 15–20. PWCC is a similar distance from KOMTAR.
At the airport, e-hailing pick-up has its own zone on the ground floor of the car park opposite the main terminal, with live arrival boards and a waiting area. At Penang Sentral, Grab picks up on Level 2A.
From the mainland
Arriving by ETS at Butterworth? See getting to Penang by train. From Penang Sentral, a Grab over the Penang Bridge is the direct route to either venue. The Penang Bridge reaches the island near The Light City, so PWCC is the nearer of the two. Without a car: the ferry from beside Penang Sentral to George Town (RM 2.00, about 10 minutes; last boat from Butterworth 11:00 pm), then bus 401E from Weld Quay, which passes near PWCC and stops at SPICE. It adds a change.
Driving
Both venues have parking (see above). From the mainland you can cross by the Penang Bridge or the Second Penang Bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge). Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd lists the Second Bridge toll at RM 5.74 for a car. For the rules, parking on the island and tolls, see our driving and parking guide.
Bus
SPICE: Setia SPICE has its own stops ("Amari SPICE", "SPICE Canopy") on 401E, 302, 303, 304 and 308. 401E is the most frequent from Komtar (about 15.5 km, RM 2.70).
PWCC: No Rapid Penang stop is named for PWCC or The Light City. The nearest stops are on the 401E along Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu: "Jabatan Laut Wilayah Utara" (southbound, about 400 m from PWCC in a straight line) and "Lotus E-Gate" (northbound, about 500 m). Jalan Gelugor stops ("BSN Gelugor", "Maybank Gelugor"), about 750 m away, are served by 102, 301, 302, 303, 304 and 401. The walking route from these stops has not been checked on the ground.
The 401E runs every 15–20 minutes; last buses 11:30 pm from Weld Quay; 10:35 pm from Balik Pulau. For a late evening programme, Grab is the practical option. Details: bus 401E.
Planning a conference trip?
- • Business events in Penang: venues, capacities and PCEB contacts
- • Business events calendar
- • Where to stay for business events: SPICE vs PWCC
- • Penang for conferences
- • What's changing in Penang transport: the airport expansion and the Mutiara Line LRT
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is SPICE from Penang airport?
About 4.4 km by road, calculated on OpenStreetMap data. S P Setia describes Setia SPICE as 10 minutes from Penang International Airport.
How far is PWCC from George Town?
About 10.2 km by road from KOMTAR, along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. PWCC is in The Light City at Gelugor, near where the Penang Bridge reaches the island.
Is there parking at SPICE and PWCC?
Yes. S P Setia lists a flat RM 8 per 24 hours at Setia SPICE, payable by Touch 'n Go card, with Zones B and D kept for tenants on weekdays. PWCC says it has up to 2,900 parking bays but does not publish a rate.
Can I get to PWCC or SPICE by bus?
By day, yes. SPICE has its own stops on 401E, 302, 303, 304 and 308. No stop is named for PWCC; the nearest are 401E stops on Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, about 400–500 m away in a straight line (walking route not checked). Grab is the practical option from either venue, especially in the evening.
How far apart are SPICE and PWCC?
About 9 km by road. They are different venues in different areas, so check which one your event is at before you book a hotel or a transfer.
Sources
- S P Setia: Setia SPICE car park
- PWCC official site
- Buletin Mutiara: new flyover to The LIGHT Waterfront (4 Nov 2025)
- Buletin Mutiara: airport briefing incl. e-hailing zone (11 Mar 2026)
- Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd: toll rates
- Road distances: OSRM routing over OpenStreetMap data.
Checked 6 October 2026.