Bukit Mertajam
city · Malaysia
Overview
Bukit Mertajam is a mid-size town in Malaysia.
Its population is roughly 212,000.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Asia.
The nearest airport is Penang International Airport (PEN), about 22 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Population | 212,329 |
| Timezone | Asia/Kuala_Lumpur |
| Nearest airport | Penang International Airport (PEN), 22 km |
| Currency | MYR |
Where Bukit Mertajam is
Bukit Mertajam sits in Malaysia, in the northern part of Asia.
George Town lies about 16 km to the west, Kota Kuala Muda lies about 27 km to the north-west and Ipoh lies about 110 km to the south-east.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Penang International Airport (PEN) is the closest airport, about 22 km from Bukit Mertajam.
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Bukit Mertajam →arrives PEN (22.4 km away)
Getting around
The town is easy to cover on foot, with taxis handy for longer hops or reaching nearby spots. If you drive, remember traffic here keeps to the left.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly equatorial (northern hemisphere): warm and humid all year, with wetter and drier spells rather than true seasons; the drier months are easiest for sightseeing.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Bukit Mertajam is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through PEN.
Day trips & nearby
Bukit Mertajam works well as a base. Within about 110 km you can reach George Town (16 km to the west); Kota Kuala Muda (27 km to the north-west); Ipoh (110 km to the south-east); Paya Terubong (21 km to the west); Kampung Sungai Ara (22 km to the west).
Good to know
The currency is the MYR (Ringgit).
The main language spoken is Malay.
Clocks run on Asia/Kuala_Lumpur time.
Traffic drives on the left.
How long to stay
Plan on 3–5 days here; that suits most visitors on a first trip.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Bukit Mertajam
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Getting around Bukit Mertajam
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Bukit Mertajam?
- Penang International Airport (PEN) is the closest airport, about 22 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Bukit Mertajam?
- There is no single best season; pick the drier months for easier sightseeing.
- What is near Bukit Mertajam?
- George Town is one of the closest places, about 16 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Bukit Mertajam in?
- Bukit Mertajam is in Malaysia.
On the map
Keep exploring
Nearby places
More places in Malaysia
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.