Discover how to get around Kuala Lumpur in this post. The capital of Malaysia is very organized and the public transportation is clean and easy to use. So don’t miss these tips on how to move inside the city, as well as how to get from the airport to the city center.

Planning a visit to the city? Don’t miss the best attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

Transportation from the airport to the city:

Airport train to the city:

KLIA has a fast train service, the KLIA Ekspres, which connects the airport to KL Sentral (yes, with S). KL Sentral is Kuala Lumpur’s central station, bringing together train, metro, monorail, and bus services in one place. It’s a big hub that connects the entire city. Also, the station has an area with Malaysia Airlines remote check-in counters, for those who want to check in and drop off their bags even before arriving at the airport.

The trip by KLIA Ekspres takes less than 30 minutes. The service is very comfortable and the ticket costs 55 Ringgit, the equivalent of approximately 12 dollars. Children pay a half ticket. For those arriving at the airport, the Ticket Counter works from 6 AM to 11 PM daily. But the transfer and train run from 5 AM to 12:15 AM.

You can buy tickets in advance online or in the App of KLIA Ekspres. The frequency of the trains you can check below in the picture.

Bus from Airport to City:

At KLIA, the airport bus station is underground, just follow the signs to get there. The bus services available provide travelers with transportation to many places such as Kuala Lumpur areas and other cities, such as Ipoh, Malacca, and Johor.

Uber/ Grab Car from Airport to City:

To take an Uber or Grab Car to the city center, you need to be on the third floor, gate 5. It’s right in front of arrivals and the cars will stop in the second line. Grab Car, for those unfamiliar, is a very popular service in Malaysia and other Asian countries. Includes transportation as well as food delivery.

When we arrived at the airport, the Uber application didn’t work. So we quickly registered and used Grab to go to our Airbnb. The journey cost about 80 Ringgit. Which is a reasonable price as the airport is far from the city.

Transportation within the city:

Car rental:

If you are staying outside the city center, or if you have plans to travel to other cities around Kuala Lumpur, renting a car is recommended. This was the option we chose to travel around Malaysia. The traffic is well organized, nothing compared to other countries around like Thailand and Indonesia.

However, you will need to drive on the right side, so be aware and prudent in traffic. We managed to drive to Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands, and Malacca during our stay in Kuala Lumpur. About one to three hours maximum by car. The daily rental was around 190 Ringgit (40 to 45 USD). The company we choose was Goso Rent a Car, which had really good reviews and we also recommend it.

Public transport (train and metro):

Public transport in Kuala Lumpur is clean, easy to use, and serves all tourist areas of the city. That’s why I recommend using it. We ended up staying further away from the center, in an area without much access to public transport. However, our savings in the price of the apartment didn’t compensate.

If we were in the city center, we would have saved on private transport, despite paying a little more for accommodation. Public transport options in KL include the metro, bus, and monorail.

Metro, train, and monorail

Also very easy to use, these options are connected serving all of Kuala Lumpur’s main attractions. All stations have maps with the metro lines (check the picture below). The price will depend on your destination. This means that the ticket is calculated according to the distance you will travel. A ride between KL Sentral and KLCC will cost around 4.30 Ringgit.

Besides the single ride ticket, you can also purchase a 1, 3, or 30 days pass. The Travel Pass coast RM50 for unlimited rides in 30 days. MyCity 1 is a day pass that coast RM 15 (RM 5 is the card price). The modality of 3 days coast RM 25. They are valid for rides on all Rapid KL rail and BRT networks.

Kuala Lumpur Free Transportation: Go KL Bus

Yes, you didn’t read it wrong! This is an amazing option for any tourist looking to save on transportation. This purple bus serves 7 lines and passes through all touristic areas of the city. Just get on the bus without any cost. In addition, the bus has Wi-fi. However, for some distant destinations, such as Batu Caves, you will need to use a train connection.

Uber/Grab Car:

Using transport apps like Grab in the city can be very affordable if you are traveling in a group. Generally, the trip cost around 10 to 20 Ringgit. So make sure o download it on your phone before your trip. Late at night, this will be the only option available.

Check our list of the best travel Apps you always need on your phone here.