Getting around · Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia
Getting around Kuala Lumpur
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wiki Farazi, CC0
Quick answer
Kuala Lumpur's rail network of LRT, MRT, monorail and KTM Komuter lines covers most sights, and ride-hailing cars are inexpensive for the gaps. Walking is pleasant only in short stretches because of heat, busy roads and broken pavements, though covered walkways link KLCC and Bukit Bintang. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- KUL, SZB
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Touch 'n Go card
Ways to get around
Metro
Rapid KL's LRT, MRT and KL Monorail lines connect KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Pasar Seni (Chinatown), Masjid Jamek and KL Sentral. Pay with a Touch 'n Go card or tokens; contactless bank cards are accepted on many lines.
Interchanges between lines can involve long walks; allow extra time at Masjid Jamek and KL Sentral.
Train
KTM Komuter trains run from KL Sentral to Batu Caves in about 30–40 minutes, and the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit link KL Sentral with the airport.
Ride-hailing
Grab is the main ride-hailing app and is inexpensive and reliable; fares rise during storms and rush hour.
Bus
GoKL free city buses run loops linking KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Chinatown and KL Sentral, and are a good option in short hops.
Walking
An elevated, air-conditioned walkway links KLCC with Pavilion in Bukit Bintang in about 15 minutes, keeping you out of the heat and rain.
Taxi
Metered taxis are available, but some drivers refuse the meter; ride-hailing apps avoid fare disputes.
Use the official taxi counters at the airport and stations if you do not use an app.
Tickets and passes
Touch 'n Go card
A stored-value card used on Rapid KL trains and buses, KTM trains, tolls, parking and some shops; buy and top up at stations and convenience stores.
From the airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with Terminals 1 and 2, is about 50 km south of the city at Sepang. The non-stop KLIA Ekspres reaches KL Sentral in about 30 minutes; buses and ride-hailing cars take about an hour. Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang, about 20 km west, handles some regional turboprop flights.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic is heavy and tolls and parking add up; trains, ride-hailing and tours cover the city and the main day trips. A car is useful for road trips to the Cameron Highlands or the east coast.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Melaka | About 2–2.5 hours each way by bus | Express bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) |
| Putrajaya | About 20 minutes by train, then a short taxi ride | KLIA Transit to Putrajaya & Cyberjaya, then taxi or bus |
| Genting Highlands | About 1–1.5 hours by road and cable car | Bus from KL Sentral or ride-hailing, then the Awana SkyWay cable car |
| Kuala Selangor fireflies | About 1.5 hours each way by road | Tour or car with driver; best as an evening trip |
| Ipoh | About 2.5 hours each way by ETS train | ETS electric train from KL Sentral |
| Cameron Highlands | About 3.5–4 hours each way by road | Bus or car; best as an overnight stay |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kuala Lumpur?
No. Traffic is heavy and tolls and parking add up; trains, ride-hailing and tours cover the city and the main day trips. A car is useful for road trips to the Cameron Highlands or the east coast.
+How do you get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with Terminals 1 and 2, is about 50 km south of the city at Sepang. The non-stop KLIA Ekspres reaches KL Sentral in about 30 minutes; buses and ride-hailing cars take about an hour. Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang, about 20 km west, handles some regional turboprop flights.
+What is the best way to get around Kuala Lumpur?
Metro: Rapid KL's LRT, MRT and KL Monorail lines connect KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Pasar Seni (Chinatown), Masjid Jamek and KL Sentral. Pay with a Touch 'n Go card or tokens; contactless bank cards are accepted on many lines.