Butterworth
city · Malaysia
Overview
Set in Malaysia, Butterworth is a mid-size town.
It is home to around 108,000 people.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Asia.
The nearest airport is Penang International Airport (PEN), about 15 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Population | 107,591 |
| Timezone | Asia/Kuala_Lumpur |
| Nearest airport | Penang International Airport (PEN), 15 km |
| Currency | MYR |
Where Butterworth is
Butterworth sits in Malaysia, in the northern part of Asia.
George Town lies about 3 km to the north-west, Kota Kuala Muda lies about 21 km to the north and Paya Terubong lies about 10 km to the west.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Penang International Airport (PEN) is the closest airport, about 15 km from Butterworth.
Alternative gateways include Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (AOR, 88 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Butterworth →arrives PEN (15 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 Butterworth 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
Butterworth works well as a base. Within about 21 km you can reach George Town (3 km to the north-west); Kota Kuala Muda (21 km to the north); Paya Terubong (10 km to the west); Bukit Mertajam (12 km to the east); Kampung Sungai Ara (13 km to the south-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 Butterworth
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Butterworth
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Butterworth?
- Penang International Airport (PEN) is the closest airport, about 15 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Butterworth?
- There is no single best season; pick the drier months for easier sightseeing.
- What is near Butterworth?
- George Town is one of the closest places, about 3 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Butterworth in?
- Butterworth 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.