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MalaysiaOverview of ways and what's important to know about payment
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is located 50 kilometers south of the city (airport on the map) and consists of two terminals: KLIA and KLIA2. KLIA terminal handles all international and domestic flights of regular airlines, while KLIA2 exclusively serves budget airlines. You can check which terminal your flight departs from in the itinerary receipt of your e-ticket.
In practice, the difference in terminals is not critical: all types of transport from the city first arrive at KLIA2 and then proceed to the final stop at KLIA1. Prices are the same, schedules differ by a few minutes.
For the trip from central Kuala Lumpur to the airport, you have three main options:
- Taxi (including via the Grab app) — expensive, but the most convenient, especially with luggage.
- KLIA Express or Transit high-speed train — faster than the bus, but more expensive and departs from KL Sentral station, which you need to get to first.
- Bus — the most budget-friendly option, departs from several points in the city, including the tourist center (our choice for value/convenience 👍).
Currency and payment for transport
- Taxi: payment in cash or through the app (Russian UnionPay cards do not work in Grab).
- Airport Express: accepts cash and UnionPay cards.
- Buses: tickets are sold at ticket offices and machines for cash or local cards (UnionPay from Russian banks is not accepted).
If you have ringgit left, this is the most reliable way to pay for transport to the airport. But don't leave too much for exchanging back at the airport, as the rate there is extremely unfavorable. If you don't plan another trip to Malaysia and don't want to keep local cash, it's better to spend as much as possible on purchases in the city, leaving only enough for transport to the terminal. How much to leave is explained below, and you can learn more about money in the article 'Money in Malaysia: currency, exchange, cards'.
And now — detailed instructions for each type of transport:
🚖 By taxi
- 💰 Cost: from 65 ringgit (16.46 USD) via Grab, hotel transfer from 80 ringgit
- 🕑 Travel time: 60-120 minutes, depending on traffic
- 📅 Operating hours: 24/7
A taxi is the most convenient way to get to the airport, especially with suitcases. We recommend the Grab app (similar to Uber): it's cheaper than an official taxi, and you can order a car directly to your hotel or any point in the city. The cost of a trip via Grab from the tourist center of Kuala Lumpur (Chinatown or Golden Triangle area) to the airport starts from 65 ringgit (16.46 USD). 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 for your flight) and MyCar (more expensive, glitchy app in our experience). Our choice is Grab, but you can check the price in the other two for comparison.
Many hotels offer airport transfer services. The cost starts from 80 ringgit (20.25 USD). This is convenient: they will pick you up from the hotel door at an agreed time, and you won't have to worry about finding a car.
Payment in a taxi is by cash or a card linked in the app, but Russian UnionPay cards do not work in Grab. So don't forget to save the required amount for the end of the trip.
You can also pre-book a tourist transfer online. They will pick you up from your hotel with a sign and take you to the airport, and payment is online. Check prices and book using the search form:
By airport express
- 💰 Cost: adults (over 12 years old) – 55 ringgit (13.92 USD); children (2-12 years old) – 25 ringgit (6.33 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 28-33 minutes from KL Sentral to the airport + travel time to the station
- 📅 Operating hours: from 4:55 AM to 1:00 AM, every 15-30 minutes, current schedule on kliaekspres.com.
The airport express (KLIA Express) is a high-speed train that will get you from KL Sentral station to the airport in half an hour. Keep in mind: KL Sentral station is located in the Brickfields area, not in the tourist center. You need to get to it by city metro, monorail, or taxi. more about KL Sentral and how to get there.
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.
Tickets for KLIA Express are sold at ticket offices and machines for cash or cards; UnionPay works. Trains run frequently, no need to adjust to a schedule, there are always seats. 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, and travel there light.
🚌 By bus
- 💰 Cost: from 15 ringgit (3.8 USD)
- 🕑 Travel time: 60-90 minutes, depending on traffic
- 📅 Operating hours: from 3:00 AM to 12:00 AM, interval 15-30 minutes
The bus is the cheapest way to get to the airport from Kuala Lumpur. The fare is from 15 ringgit (3.8 USD), which is several times cheaper than a taxi or airport express. Buses run frequently, you don't need to buy tickets in advance — you can pay on the spot, but during peak hours it's better to take care of a ticket in advance.
The main departure points for buses to the airport from the city center:
- KL Sentral Station (station on the map) — the most reliable option. The ticket counters and departure platform are on the lower level of the station. There are no signs inside KL Sentral for the buses, so if you get lost — ask locals. The ticket counters only sell tickets for the next immediate departure; you can't buy in advance. Therefore, we recommend adding an extra 30-60 minutes in case there are no seats on the next bus. Although, in our experience from several trips from here, there were always empty seats.
- Pudu / Pudu Raya Station (station on the map) — this used to be the main tourist bus station near Chinatown. Now it is almost non-functional: there are no more ticket offices at Puduraya. Tickets for buses from this station need to be bought online in advance, for example on the carrier's website https://www.starmartbus.com/, or pay the driver in cash upon boarding (but there's a risk there will be no seats). Therefore, we strongly recommend buying online. To purchase tickets without a bank card, you can use 12go.asia, book a ticket there and pay for it in cash at 7-eleven stores or others.
- TBS Bus Station (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) (more about TBS). If you are in the southern part of the city or have arrived from other cities in Malaysia, buses to the airport also depart from here. It's convenient that a metro station is nearby.
Useful links for buying bus tickets to the airport:
- starmartbus.com — carrier's website for the route from Puduraya.
- redbus.my and busonlineticket.com — local aggregators, but they don't accept RF cards.
- 12go.asia — a reliable aggregator where you can pay with a foreign card or cash at any 7-Eleven store (convenient if you don't have a local card).
Due to blockages in the Russian Federation, these sites may not open — use workarounds.
🚗 By car
- 💰 Rental cost: from 110 ringgit (27.85 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
Driving in Kuala Lumpur is a bit of a challenge: the roads and interchanges are complex, and traffic is left-hand drive. We advise avoiding it if possible, but if you have rented a car for your trip around Malaysia, getting to the airport is quite realistic.
To rent a car in Malaysia, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued as a booklet in addition to your 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 without retaking exams; the easiest way is to order it through gosuslugi.ru. 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:
✈ By plane
Many domestic flights from other cities in Malaysia and neighboring countries operate to Kuala Lumpur Airport. Ticket prices are affordable, especially from budget airlines (AirAsia, Malindo Air). If you are traveling around the region, flying can be more convenient than a long bus ride. Therefore, for example, from Penang or Langkawi, we recommend flying directly here and connecting to the next flight rather than taking a bus or train to KL and then transferring to another transport.
But an important point! There is another passenger airport in Kuala Lumpur, the old Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (formerly Subang). It still receives flights, so don't confuse them when purchasing.
There are no direct flights from Russia to Kuala Lumpur. Connecting flights are offered via the Persian Gulf countries (Qatar, UAE), China, or Thailand. Travel time depends on the connection, but usually takes 14-20 hours.
Flight options to Kuala Lumpur Airport can be conveniently and safely searched on trusted search engines Aviasales and Trip.com, or via the search form:
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