Practical Tips for Getting Around Kuala Lumpur

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Traffic at Kuala Lumpur can get frustrating, but with its excellent railway system, getting around Kuala Lumpur is quite easy. Once you get in Kuala Lumpur, there are several options available for getting around the city.

Unless you arrive by boat, which is not a viable option, transfers are available to get to the KL Sentral Station. The KL Sentral is Malaysia’s main transportation hub where trains, buses, taxis and all other kinds of transportation vehicles available in Kuala Lumpur converge. If you got in the country by plane, airport transfers from the KLIA main terminal and KLIA-low cost carrier terminal going to KL Sentral are available. The KL Sentral Station serves as your gateway to many of Kuala Lumpur’s famous attractions.

GETTING AROUND KUALA LUMPUR ON LAND

There are three light railway trains in Kuala Lumpur. All are using advanced technology system, with Touch ‘N Go stored value cards and ticket vending machines for ticket-buying convenience. But although there are plenty of signs around and you’ll easily find your way through them, they are not integrated and you have to get out of one train station’s premises and walk a couple of blocks to get to another station.

TRAINS

KLIA Ekspres. The KLIA Ekspres connects directly from the airport to the KL Sentral Station. Train arrives every 15 to 20 minutes from 5:00 A.M. till midnight. From KL Sentral Station, you can go to other places in the city.
KLIA Transit. The KLIA Transit also connects the airport to the KL Sentral station, but while the KLIA Ekspres takes you to the KL Sentral in 28 minutes only, the KLIA Transit travels in 36 minutes from the airport to the KL Sentral. It has several stops that make the journey longer, but the fare from the airport to the KL Sentral is the same with the KLIA Ekspres. The train arrives every 30 minutes from 5:52 A.M. till 1:00 A.M.
KTM Komuter. The KTM Komuter connects you to other cities of Malaysia and its suburbs. From the airport, you may take the Airport Coach or the Sepang Omnibus to go to the Nilaj station. It’s roughly two hours away from the airport. The KTM Komuter serves stations like the Selangor and Negri Sembilan stations.

TAXIS

You can also take a taxi for getting around the city. Just keep in mind though that it is common for taxi drivers in Malaysia to cut a deal with their passengers rather than use the meter for the fare, especially during the rush hour, which could be from 4:00 P.M. till about 8:00 P.M. It’s wise to take a taxi, however, outside of rush hours and when you’re traveling with two or three companions because the cost of the fare would be roughly the same as that of the train fare.

Most agree that the best way for getting around Kuala Lumpur is by taking the trains. If you’re on a budget, you can explore this option more and be sure to get a map of the city. The map would be most helpful to you especially if you’re asking for directions from the locals as not all of them speak English.