How to Get from Kuala Lumpur Airport to Puduraya Station and Back

One of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur is the area around the Puduraya bus station. Within walking distance are Chinatown, a short taxi ride away is the Bukit Bintang district, and Little India is also not far (see more about Kuala Lumpur districts here).

One reason budget travelers choose to stay here is that getting to/from Kuala Lumpur Airport is the cheapest option. A trip from the airport or back costs only from 15 ringgit (3.78 USD), compared to 55 ringgit for the KLIA Express airport train, which moreover takes you to KL Sentral station, not the center of the tourist district. So, all things considered, the bus to Puduraya is one of the best options for getting from the airport to Kuala Lumpur's tourist area on a budget, and vice versa.

This route is served by Starmartbus (formerly StarWira). Official website: http://www.starmartbus.com/.

• Fare: 15 ringgit
• Travel time: 1 hour
• Buses depart from Puduraya from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, hourly
• Buses depart from the airport from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, hourly

From the airport, these buses depart from both the new budget terminal KLIA2 and the international KLIA. Tickets are sold at KLIA on the lower level at the airport bus station counters and automatic terminals. At KLIA2, you need to look for the ticket counters in the arrival hall, or simply find the exit to the bus stop and pay the driver.

However, things are a bit more complicated when departing from Puduraya station. Previously, there were counters for various bus companies here, but now it's become quite deserted. The counters no longer operate; only the boarding platforms remain. So now, to leave from Puduraya, you need to buy tickets online in advance and arrive at the boarding gate with your ticket at the departure time. Theoretically, you could go to the departure platform and buy a ticket from the driver, but we haven't personally tested this method. If you want to try, the departure platform for this bus is Platform 4. It might change, but you can confirm it on site at Puduraya.

We still recommend buying tickets online in advance to avoid being denied boarding. You can do this on the following websites:

• Official website http://www.starmartbus.com/. However, it does not accept Russian cards, only foreign cards or local e-wallets.
• Aggregator site 12go.asia. We recommend this, as you can make a booking and then pay for it with cash at 7-Eleven stores.

If this direct transfer option to the tourist district doesn't suit you or isn't available, there are other ways to get to the city center. For example, you can take a bus to the KL Sentral or TBS terminal, and from there get to your hotel via city rail, buses, or taxis; use the KLIA Express airport train with a transfer to city transport; or finally, simply take a taxi from the airport. All these methods are detailed in our separate guide: how and by what means to get from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the city.