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MalaysiaOverview of ways and what's important to know about payment
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handles all international flights to Kuala Lumpur, and most tourists arrive in Malaysia through it. It is located 50 kilometers south of the city (airport on the map), and consists of two separate terminals: KLIA and KLIA2. KLIA terminal handles all international and domestic flights of regular airlines, while KLIA2 exclusively serves budget airlines. You can find out which terminal you are arriving at when purchasing your ticket or from the itinerary receipt of your already purchased e-ticket.
But in practice, it doesn't matter which terminal you arrive at. The terminals are close to each other, and everything is arranged so that all transport towards the city starts at KLIA1 and passes through KLIA2. As a result, prices are the same, and the schedule difference is only a few minutes.
For the trip from the airport to Kuala Lumpur, you have three main options:
- Taxi (including via the Grab app) - expensive, but the most convenient option, right to your hotel door.
- KLIA Express or Transit high-speed train - slightly cheaper than a taxi but arrives not at your hotel, and not even in the tourist area. For two people on the train, you'll pay more than for one taxi.
- Bus - many times cheaper than a taxi and the train, arrives at the same place as the KLIA Express, and also directly in the tourist area (this is our choice, the best value for money/convenience 👍).
Currency and payment for transport at the airport
- Taxi: payment in cash or through the app (cards from Russian banks, including UnionPay, do not work in the Grab app).
- Airport Express: accepts both cash and UnionPay cards.
- Buses: tickets are sold at ticket offices and automatic terminals for cash or card, but UnionPay from Russian banks is not accepted.
If you need cash upon arrival, it's better not to exchange currency at airport exchange offices, or exchange a minimal amount — the rate there is extremely unfavorable. It's better to withdraw ringgit from Maybank or CIMB ATMs: they don't charge a fee on their end and work with UnionPay cards. In the end, this is more profitable than exchanging cash. Read more about currency, cards, and exchange in the article 'Money in Malaysia: currency, exchange, cards'.
And now — detailed instructions for each type of transport:
🚖 By taxi
- 💰 Cost: from 65 ringgit (15.93 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 60-120 minutes, depending on traffic
- 📅 Operating hours: 24/7
A taxi is the most convenient and fastest way to get to your hotel, especially if you have luggage. We recommend using the Grab app (similar to Uber). It's cheaper than an official taxi from the counter, and the car will come directly to the terminal exit.
Grab zone in Terminal 1: in the arrivals hall, there is a special Grab waiting area located in the center — hard to miss. They'll even help you order a car if you don't have the app.
The cost of a trip via Grab from the airport to the center of Kuala Lumpur starts from 65 ringgit (15.93 USD). This is cheaper than a taxi at the counter or the parking lot. To order, you can use the airport's free Wi-Fi or immediately buy a local SIM card (sold at operator counters without markup).
Besides Grab, the Maxim app works (prices are lower, but car arrival can be delayed — don't risk it if you're in a hurry) and MyCar (more expensive, glitchy app). Our choice is Grab, but you can check the price in the other two as an alternative.
Official taxi from the Limo Taxi counter is also available, but it will be more expensive: budget fare — from 75 ringgit, premier — from 100 ringgit. At night, fares are almost 50% higher.
Payment in a taxi is by cash or a card linked in the app, but Russian UnionPay cards do not work in Grab. Take care of cash ringgit in advance (see withdrawal tips above).
You can also pre-book a tourist transfer. It's convenient: they'll meet you with a sign and take you directly to your hotel, and payment is online. Check prices and book using the search form:
By airport express
- 💰 Cost: adults (over 12 years old) – 55 ringgit (13.48 USD); children (2-12 years old) – 25 ringgit (6.13 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 28-33 minutes to KL Sentral station + 30-60 minutes around the city
- 📅 Operating hours: from 4:55 AM to 1:00 AM, every 15-30 minutes, you can check on kliaekspres.com.
The airport express (KLIA Express) is a high-speed train that will get you to KL Sentral station in half an hour. But keep in mind: KL Sentral is not in the tourist center, but in the Brickfields area. To the main tourist zones — Chinatown and KLCC — you need to take the city metro from here, and to the Bukit Bintang area — the monorail. If you haven't chosen a residential area yet, check out our guide 'Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur: complete guide to districts and hotels with map and prices'.
Previously, the KLIA Express and KLIA Transit trains differed in price and travel time. Now there is no difference: the ticket costs the same (55 ringgit), and trains run at a single tariff. So you can't save money by choosing Transit, as before.
Trains depart from the lower level of both terminals. Tickets can be bought at ticket offices and automatic terminals for cash or cards; UnionPay works. Trains run frequently, every 15-20 minutes, no need to adjust to a schedule.
Conveniently, at KL Sentral station there is a remote airport terminal (KL Sentral Air Terminal), where you can check in for your flight and check your luggage before heading to the airport.
🚌 By bus
- 💰 Cost: from 15 ringgit (3.68 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 60-90 minutes, depending on traffic
- 📅 Operating hours: from 3:00 AM to 12:00 AM, interval 15-30 minutes
If you want to save money and aren't in a hurry, the airport bus is the cheapest way to get to the center of Kuala Lumpur. The fare is from 15 ringgit (3.68 USD), which is several times cheaper than a taxi or airport express. Buses run frequently, every 15–30 minutes, and you don't need to buy tickets in advance — you can pay on the spot. They depart from KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2, where there are bus stations on the lower level: follow the signs, lifts and escalators lead to the platforms (in KLIA1 you need to go through a covered walkway).
Buses arrive at the following stations in the city:
- To KL Sentral station (station on the map) — the most convenient option. The bus arrives on the lower level of the station. The stop and ticket counters are on the lower level, but be careful: there are no signs inside KL Sentral for the buses, you need to look for the escalator down or ask locals. From KL Sentral, you can go to any part of the city by metro (LRT, MRT, monorail), taxi, or even walk to hotels in the Brickfields area (read more about districts in the article 'Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur').
- To Pudu / Pudu Raya station (station on the map) — this used to be the main tourist bus station, located near the main tourist area of Chinatown. But now it is almost abandoned. So note: there are no more ticket offices at Puduraya. Tickets can be bought either online in advance on the carrier's website https://www.starmartbus.com/, or directly on the departure platform from the driver.
- To the TBS bus station (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) (more about TBS). It is convenient if you are immediately heading to other cities in Malaysia on intercity buses upon arrival. If for some reason you couldn't buy tickets to Puduraya or KL Sentral, you can get to TBS and transfer to the city metro — from there it's easy to get to both Chinatown and KLCC.
Useful links for buying bus tickets:
- starmartbus.com — carrier's website for the route to Puduraya.
- redbus.my and busonlineticket.com — popular local aggregators with all routes. But they don't accept RF cards.
- 12go.asia — a reliable aggregator where you can book a ticket and pay online with a foreign card or in cash at any 7-Eleven at the counter.
Due to blockages in the Russian Federation, these sites may not open — use workarounds.
🚗 By car
- 💰 Rental cost: from 110 ringgit (26.95 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 60-120 minutes, depending on traffic
- 📅 Rental operating hours: counters at the airport are usually open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM; with online booking, access is 24/7
In our opinion, driving in Kuala Lumpur is a bit of a challenge. The roads and interchanges are complex, and traffic is left-hand drive. So we advise avoiding it if possible. If you still decide to go for it, here's what you need to know:
To rent a car or motorcycle in Malaysia, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued as a booklet in addition to your main national license (see more details: What license is needed in Malaysia here). You can get it at the local traffic police (GAI/GIBDD) or at a MFC, and you don't need to retake any exams. The easiest way is to order an IDP on the gosuslugi.ru website. The cost is 3200 rubles.
The best way to find and book a rental car is online using a search and price comparison form from different rental companies: