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Learning about how Kuala Lumpur's transportation system works is crucial to saving a budget and getting around the city conveniently and efficiently. The main transport types in Malaysia are road, railway, air, and water transport. Kuala Lumpur is the main transport hub.
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The main transport hub in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Photo: toonman
To make it easier to comprehend for foreign travelers or international students, Asia King Travel synthesizes and summarizes these options below. Let’s find it out with us!
Operating daily from 6 a.m., KL Monorail provides frequent service for traveling intra-city. From KL Sentral to Titiwangsa, it has 11 stations which are KL Sentral, Tun Sambathan, Maharajalela, Hang Tuah, Imbi, Bukit Bintang, Raja Chulan, Bukit Nanas, Medan Tuanku, Chow Kit, and Titiwangsa.
The map of KL monorail lines - Photo: Malaysiamap
This option is suitable for one traveling within short distances. The fee usually starts at around RM 1.10 (~USD 0.20 or SGD0.30).
LRT is the main transportation in Kuala Lumpur, usually used by locals to go to work or places around Klang Valley. Therefore, LRT has more operational routes and is usually more crowded during peak hours.
The LRT network comprises three main lines: Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, and Sri Petaling Line. The Kelana Jaya Line, being the busiest, links the city center to popular neighborhoods and attractions, while the Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines extend to the eastern and southern regions of the city.
The LRT train in Klang Valley - Photo: rapid KL
Depending on the station you’re heading to, the LRT fare should start at around RM 1.10 (~USD 0.20 or SGD 0.30). The last LRT train is usually at 11.30 pm, depending on the location.
Surpassing the LRT in size, the MRT is the most common mode among locals. Unlike tickets for the KL Monorail and LRT, MRT tickets are issued in the form of tokens at the entry gate and must be inserted into the exit gate upon reaching the destination station.
There are two MRT lines: the MRT Kajang Line and the MRT Putrajaya Line. The MRT Kajang Line connects the northwest suburbs of Sungai Buloh to the southeast suburbs of Kajang, while the MRT Putrajaya provides a link from Sungai Buloh to the administrative capital of Putrajaya, with stops in Serdang.
MRT train decorated with flag- Photo: mavink
The minimum MRT fare should cost between RM 0.80 (USD 0.18 or SGD 0.22) to RM 1.00 (~USD 0.20 or SGD 0.30), depending on whether you’re using a token or a Touch ‘n Go card. We recommend getting the Touch ‘n Go card to save up and have more convenience. You can purchase this at any ticket counter or select business premises.
The KLIA Express / KLIA Transit serves as a transportation option to and from the airport, connecting Kuala Lumpur airport to the city center. The KLIA Ekspres arrives every 15 minutes during off-peak hours and every 20 minutes during peak hours, providing convenient travel options for passengers.
The KLIA Ekspres also provides quick stops at stations like KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, and Salak Tinggi. You can travel between KLIA and KLIA 2 via the KLIA Transit; it will only take you approximately three minutes.
A line of KLIA Ekspres in airport- Photo: malaykufa
The first train begins at around 5 a.m, while the last train departs at around 12 a.m. Depending on your destination, the one-way fare for adults ranges between RM 2 (~USD 0.40 or SGD 0.60) and RM 55 (~USD 12 or SGD 16).
There are eight different bus routes, and the covered areas include Ampang, Cheras, Damansara, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Klang Lama, Jalan Pahang, Lebuhraya Persekutuan, and Sungai Besi.
Go KL City Bus offers a complimentary service covering popular tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur, such as Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, and KLCC.
The common kind of bus in Kuala Lumpur operated by rapid KL - Photo: skyscrapercity
RapidKL operates on 177 routes across Kuala Lumpur. The service has been recently revamped, categorizing routes into express, city shuttles, trunk, and local shuttles.
The normal bus fare for adults ranges from RM 1 (~USD 0.20 or SGD 0.30) to RM 5 (~USD 1.10 or SGD 1.40). If you are paying with the Touch ‘n Go card, remember to tap the card on the reader when you board and tap again before you leave the bus.
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City liner bus in Kuala Lumpur - Photo: klia2
In addition, there are several privately owned airport buses that can take you from the airport to multiple KL places, like Airport Coach, Star Shutter, Airport Liner, City Liner, and JetBus. You can purchase a bus ticket at the ticket counters usually located on the lower floors of the airport; for only RM 10 (~USD 2.10 or SGD 2.90) one-way ticket.
Read more: Wonderful Journey in Malaysia
Taking a taxi is no longer a typical choice when there are many alternatives available nowadays. Nevertheless, in case you need it, this information is still useful, especially when you don’t have data on your phone for using the internet or checking your tracking.
The common color of taxi in Kuala Lumpur - Photo: dreamstine
Taxi fares in KL start from approximately RM 3 (~USD 0.70 or SGD 0.90) during the day and approximately RM 4.50 (~USD 1 or SDG 1.30) at night. Make sure to communicate with the taxi driver about your destination before getting inside the cab. Also, remember requires the driver has the taxi meter on, as some might skip this and charge you extra.
E-hailing services are prevalent in Kuala Lumpur and are used by locals, through apps such as Grab, MyCar, Maxim, AirAsia Ride, and Buddy Driver.
Grab is the biggest e-hailing service brand in Malaysia - Photo: skupist
Grab Malaysia’s minimum rate is RM 5 (~USD 1.30 or SGD 1.70), and the fare might increase during high-demand hours.
Just a simple Google search will get you to many online motorcycle rental websites, but you can also head to a rental shop in the city center. Depending on the period and the type of motorbike or scooter you rent, it should cost you around RM 20 (~USD 4.40 or SGD 5.80) to RM 150 (~USD 32.80 or SGD 43.50) per day.
Ease to find some companies for renting car in Kuala Lumpur - Photo: galaxy asia car rental
But, keep in mind if you want to rent a car that KL is a bustling city, and being stuck in a traffic jam is basically a norm here, especially during rush hours. The price of a car rental in KL will cost you approximately RM 90 (~USD 19 or SGD 26) or more per day, depending on the type of car you choose.
To check the track, you can download the app “Moovit” or “Rapid Pulse”.
Moovit can easily tell you when to leave, if you'd like to arrive at destination before a certain time - Photo: moovit
Travel Pass
MyTourist Pass is an unlimited daily travel pass offering unlimited rides on Rapid KL LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT, Rapid KL bus, and MRT feeder bus services in Klang Valley for some days.
It is easy to find one through apps or websites of KLIA Ekspres, MyTourist Pass… at a reasonable price.
All transports in one card - Photo: KL TravelPass
KL TravelPass offers convenience, especially for visitors to Kuala Lumpur. There is no need to find currency exchange or look for small changes to buy separate train tickets for each train service.
In general, transportation in Malaysia provides a lot of helpful options to plan a trip efficiently. By understanding the routes, schedules, and tips shared in this guide, you’ll save time and maximize your exploration of this dynamic metropolis.
If you are looking for an incredibly suitable itinerary during this vacation time and no need to worry about any other problem to focus on enjoying your time in Kuala Lumpur in particular and Malaysia in general, don’t hesitate to contact Asia King Travel to retail your own private trip.
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