We flew to Kuala Lumpur in February 2025 from Nha Trang as part of a visa run, for four days — we decided that this would be enough time for a first acquaintance with the Malaysian capital at this time of year.
Of course, a logistical question arose even before we arrived in Kuala Lumpur: how to get from the airport to the city center. There are several options here. For a number of reasons (which I will discuss below), we chose the bus, but I gathered information in advance on all the options — you can estimate everything based on your budget, luggage, and time.
- To Kuala Lumpur by train
- To Kuala Lumpur by bus
- To Kuala Lumpur by taxi
- Book a transfer to the city
- Frequently asked questions
- Helpful tips
Train from the airport to Kuala Lumpur
The advantages of the train are obvious: it is fast and does not depend on traffic jams. However, it is not suitable if your hotel is far from KL Sentral — in that case you will have to transfer to the metro, monorail, taxi, or bus. This is especially inconvenient if you have luggage.
It is also several times more expensive than the bus, about five times more, so even though we didn’t have any luggage (we didn’t even take our laptops with us), we decided to take the bus. But here is some information about trains from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the city center.
KLIA Express
Actually, the correct name is KLIA Ekspres, although it sounds unusual to those who are used to reading English correctly. But that is the official name of the high-speed train from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the city center.
This is the fastest way to get to the center of the Malaysian capital — the train runs non-stop from the KLIA1 airport terminal to KL Sentral, the city’s main transport hub. The journey takes just under half an hour.
KLIA Express fare
A ticket costs 55 ringgit, with a reduced fare of 25 ringgit for children aged 6 to 15 and free travel for children under 6. A return ticket costs 100 ringgit for adults and 45 ringgit for children.
You can buy tickets at the ticket offices at the airport station and from vending machines near the boarding area. You can also buy tickets online through Klook, which is even cheaper, with an option for 50 ringgit.
KLIA Express schedule
Trains do not run 24 hours a day, but approximately every 15–20 minutes during the following time periods:
- The first train from KLIA2 departs at 04:55, from KLIA1 at 05:00
- The last train from KLIA2 departs at 00:00, from KLIA1 at 00:05
From the city to Kuala Lumpur Airport on the KLIA Express:
- The first train from KL Sentral departs at 05:00, arriving at KLIA1 at 05:28 and KLIA2 at 05:33
- The last train from KL Sentral departs at 00:00, arriving at KLIA1 at 00:28 and KLIA2 at 00:33
KLIA Transit
There is also KLIA Transit, a train that makes stops along the way (for example, Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya, Bandar Tasik Selatan) and arrives at KL Sentral at the end of the line.
KLIA Transit fare
In terms of cost, if you are traveling to KL Sentral, it is no different from KLIA Ekspres, and it makes sense if you need to get off somewhere in the southern part of Kuala Lumpur, before reaching KL Sentral — in the Putrajaya or Bandar areas. The fare to these stations will be lower.
You can also take KLIA Transit from Terminal 1 (KLIA1) to Terminal 2 (KLIA2) and vice versa. Cost: 2 ringgit for adults, 1 ringgit for children.
KLIA Transit schedule
Trains run like KLIA Ekspres, not 24 hours a day, and at similar intervals.
- The first train from KLIA2 departs at 05:18, from KLIA1 at 05:22.
- The last train from KLIA2 departs at 00:30, from KLIA1 at 00:34.
From the city to Kuala Lumpur Airport on KLIA Transit:
- The first train from KL Sentral departs at 05:03, arriving at KLIA1 at 05:39 and KLIA2 at 05:42.
- The last train from KL Sentral departs at 00:03, arriving at KLIA1 at 00:39 and KLIA2 at 00:42.
You can find the full schedule on the operator’s website.
KL Travel Pass
This thing helps you save money on train travel from Kuala Lumpur Airport. It includes the following perks.
- A ticket for the KLIA Ekspres (one way or round trip).
- 2 days of unlimited travel on RapidKL buses and rail transport (BRT, LRT, MRT, and monorail lines).
- A top-up option that lets you pay for KLIA Transit, KTM Komuter, toll roads, parking, and services at some retail outlets.
KLIA Ekspres trips remain valid for 1 month from the selected travel date (you choose this date at the time of purchase).
Where to purchase the KL Travel Pass
- KLIA Terminal 1: International Arrivals, 3rd floor and platform, 1st floor.
- KLIA Terminal 2: International Arrivals, 2nd floor, and gateway@klia2 shopping mall, 2nd floor.
- KL Sentral: KLIA Ekspres departure hall, 1st floor.
- You can also buy a ticket online through the KLIA Ekspres website or mobile app (you can find the link on this website), and then exchange the voucher at the ticket offices listed above.
- Another option (simple and affordable) is to use the Klook service. Here is the page with the KL Travel Pass offer.
KL Travel Pass price
- With one-way KLIA Ekspres travel: 88 ringgit.
- With round-trip KLIA Ekspres travel: 133 ringgit.
By *angys* – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Buses from the airport to Kuala Lumpur
Buses are a great option, especially if you are not in a hurry and want to save money. We ended up choosing this option.
Main bus routes
Several bus operators serve the airport, but they all stop at specific locations. SkyBus, Aerobus, and Airport Coach operate the most popular routes between KLIA (and KLIA2) and various locations in the city.
Popular drop-off points in the city
- KL Sentral functions as the main transport hub and city center, and most people go here.
- Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) is a large bus station in the southern part of the city, far from the center, and it appeals to those who are not staying in the city and plan to continue traveling.
- Puduraya (Pudu Sentral) is another bus terminal, closer to the center, and it serves as the main bus station in Kuala Lumpur.
Intervals and operating hours
Buses run between the airport and the city from around 3 a.m. to midnight, depending on the carrier. In general, buses from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the city operate almost around the clock, but you will need to arrive well in advance for morning flights.
Travel time: about 1 hour, but it may be longer in traffic.
Bus fare to downtown Kuala Lumpur
This is one of the cheapest ways to get from the airport to the city. A ticket costs approximately 12 to 15 ringgit (sometimes you may find it on sale for 10 ringgit).
Where to buy a ticket
You can buy tickets at special ticket offices at bus stops at the airport (KLIA1 / KLIA2). To reach them, you will need to walk a short distance from the arrivals area.
- At KLIA terminal: the transport hub sits on the first floor, about a 3-minute walk from the arrivals terminal.
- At KLIA2 terminal: the bus terminal sits on the first level (Aras 1), in the same place as the taxi rank. We found it easily by following the signs.
You can also buy tickets in advance online through services such as Klook — here is an example of such an offer.
Buying a ticket and boarding
You will see ticket offices with live cashiers and ticket vending machines. At the ticket office, they refused to sell me a ticket with a bank card, only cash — I don’t know if they didn’t like me or if it’s a general rule, but keep that in mind.
You can easily pay by card at the vending machine; everything is intuitive. You can choose your seats in the cabin. The only inconvenience is that the exit to the platform isn’t marked, so I had to ask at the ticket office.
You can wait for the bus inside the airport near the ticket office, or go outside, but to get back inside, you will have to go around and pass through another gate.
You need to show the driver either a printed receipt or your ticket on your phone screen. Staff check in your luggage before boarding and store it in the lower part of the bus.
What to look out for
- Buses are sensitive to traffic: during rush hour, the journey can take well over an hour. This is especially important to consider if you are going to the airport so as not to miss your flight.
- It can be very cold on the bus: as in other Southeast Asian countries, the air conditioning is often turned up to the max.
- Getting off at KL Sentral isn’t without its challenges: after you get off the bus, you will have to climb stairs or take an escalator to reach other modes of transport.
Taxi from the airport to Kuala Lumpur
Official taxi
Official taxi stands operate at the airport, and a ride to the city center costs around 100 ringgit.
Unofficial taxi
You will also meet unofficial taxi drivers in the arrivals area of both terminals, but keep in mind that they may quote one price and then demand an additional payment for each toll road section. The airport posts warnings and recommendations not to use their services.
Grab
This service is extremely popular in Malaysia; it is not just a taxi service but an entire ecosystem. The airport has even designated separate pick-up points for cars ordered through this app:
- Terminal 1: exits 3 and 4 on the first level
- Terminal 2: exit 5 on the first level near the KK Super Mart store
Transfers from the airport to Kuala Lumpur
In some cases, a regular taxi is not an option. For example, if there are more than four of you, or you need a child seat, or you have a lot of luggage and a regular sedan cannot carry it all. Here are a few options.
Klook
I’ve already mentioned this service more than once in this guide, but what can you do — it is genuinely useful in Malaysia and can save you a lot of money. You can choose an option within 100 ringgit, or simply go to the website and enter KL Airport Transfer in the search bar.
GetTransfer
This specialized website helps you find transfers in different countries. It works globally and supports many languages, currencies, and locations. Malaysia is on the list, and you can find offers comparable to the cost of a regular taxi. Here is the official website: gettransfer.com.
Kiwi Taxi
Many travelers already know this service, and I have personally used it — in Thailand with a child and a stroller, and in Vietnam for an urgent and difficult transfer. I can highly recommend it: everything went smoothly, and the quality of the cars pleasantly surprised me. I even added the search form to my website, so feel free to use it.
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal am I flying to?
Your ticket should indicate this. You can also determine the terminal based on the airline you’re flying with. Most airlines fly to Terminal 1, while Terminal 2 handles low-cost carriers. The following airlines use KLIA2:
- AirAsia
- Cambodia Airways
- Cebu Pacific Air
- FitsAir
- Jetstar Asia
- Qingdao Airlines
- Scoot
Is there a transfer between KLIA1 and KLIA2?
Yes, you can take a free bus between the terminals. You can also take the KLIA Transit train for 2 ringgit (1 ringgit for children aged 6 to 15 and free for children under 6).
How far is Kuala Lumpur from KLIA?
Kuala Lumpur lies 58 kilometers from Terminal 1 and 60 kilometers from Terminal 2.
Is there Wi-Fi at the airport?
You can connect to free Wi-Fi in the arrivals area of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — for example, to call a taxi.
How to save money on the train?
In addition to purchasing through Klook and buying a KL Travel Pass, there is another life hack. You can save money with a group ticket: if three or more adult passengers travel on the KLIA Ekspres, each ticket costs 40 ringgit. The promotion runs until January 11, 2026.
Can I buy a SIM card in KLIA?
Yes, vendors sell SIM cards at the airport, and you can purchase and activate them immediately. Some options are ideal for tourists — for a week with hotspot sharing. Operators include TuneTalk (check the terminal; they used to deliver only to Terminal 2) and Digi. You can also order in advance on Klook (yes, it’s cheaper) and pick it up when you arrive. Here’s a good option for a week of unlimited data.
How to get to the Petronas Twin Towers?
The fastest way is to take the KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral, then transfer to the Kelana Jaya Line LRT and get off at KLCC station. You can also take a bus from the airport to KL Sentral. In general, KL Sentral is the easiest gateway from the airport to all the key places in the city.
Helpful tips
- If you arrive during the day and want to save money, take the bus. Yes, it takes longer, but it’s cheap and easy.
- If you are short on time or want comfort, choose the KLIA Ekspres: it’s fast and reliable. You can take the bus into the city and the train back to the airport to avoid being late.
- If you arrive late at night, it may be easier to take a taxi or Grab, especially if the last buses have already stopped running. Or you can simply wait a bit.
- Buy your bus or train ticket in advance if possible — this helps you avoid queues and reduces the risk of missing your flight.
- Check which terminal you arrive at and depart from: KLIA or KLIA2. The list of airlines arriving at the second terminal is above.