Transportation in Malaysia

Complete guide to transportation in Malaysia: apps, taxis, public transport, car rental and more.

Route Planner

Estimate your trip from A to B: private transfer with instant pricing, or information depending on the destination. Enter the departure and arrival address or city.

🚗 Transport planner

Compare every way to travel: flight, train, bus, ferry, private transfer. Real prices and durations.

Land Transport

Taxi & Ride-Hailing

Grab is the most widely used app in Malaysia, followed by AirAsia Ride, inDrive and Bolt. Fares are very affordable: a city ride typically costs between RM 5 and RM 20. inDrive lets you negotiate the price directly with the driver.

Car Rental

Renting a car starts from RM 80/day for a compact car and RM 150/day for an SUV. Major agencies (Hertz, Avis, Sixt) are at the airport and in the city. You can also rent a car with driver through our rental service.

View our rental offers →

Buses

RapidKL buses cover most KL areas. The network is extensive but punctuality varies. GoKL buses are free in the city centre. Use Moovit or Google Maps to plan your routes.

Personal Car

Owning a car in KL is convenient for families. Touch n Go cards are mandatory for highway tolls. Petrol is among the cheapest in Southeast Asia (around RM 2/litre). Parking at shopping malls is usually free or low cost.

Is it safe to use apps like Grab at night?

Absolutely — it is strongly recommended over street taxis. Grab and AirAsia Move provide GPS tracking, driver identity and trip-sharing features with loved ones. Incidents are extremely rare.

Train & Metro

LRT & MRT

KL metro network is expanding rapidly. The LRT Kelana Jaya, MRT Kajang and MRT Putrajaya lines cover most areas. Trains are air-conditioned, punctual and accessible. Fares from RM 1 to RM 6 per trip.

KTM Komuter

The commuter train network connects KL to outlying towns like Port Klang, Seremban and Rawang. Ideal for commuters. Frequency every 15-30 minutes during peak hours.

KLIA Ekspres & Transit

Direct train from KL International Airport (KLIA) to KL Sentral in 28 minutes. KLIA Transit makes intermediate stops (Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, Bandar Tasik Selatan). Fares from RM 55 (Ekspres) or RM 14 (Transit).

ETS & Train Intercity

The KTM mainline network serves the whole peninsula:

North (ETS): KL Sentral → Ipoh (~2h15) → Penang (Butterworth, ~4h) → Alor Setar → Padang Besar (Thailand border, ~6h).
South: KL → Seremban → Gemas → Segamat → Kluang → Johor Bahru (~7h).
East — jungle line (night train): KL → Kuala Lipis → Gua Musang → Kota Bharu (Wakaf Bharu station).

Booking is required via the KTM KITS app — tickets for popular routes (Penang, JB) open 30-60 days ahead and sell out fast. The train is often more comfortable than the bus.

Going to Singapore: train + bus

Take the train to Johor Bahru (JB Sentral station), then cross the border by bus: Causeway Link CW1/CW2 or SBS Transit 160/170 from JB Sentral to Woodlands Checkpoint — 15-30 minutes depending on customs traffic. Buses cross the Causeway 24/7. The new RTS Link (direct JB–Woodlands train) is under construction.

Bus & Ferry

Intercity Buses

KL to Penang (4h, RM 35), Cameron (3h30), Malacca (2h). Book via Easybook or BusOnlineTicket.

Ferry & Boat

Kuala Kedah > Langkawi (1h15), Mersing > Tioman (2h), Merang > Redang (1h). Book via Easybook.

Air Transport

Domestic Flights

AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly. From RM 50.

SZB Subang (20 min from KL)

Firefly serves Penang (40 min, RM 60), Langkawi (1h, RM 80), Singapore. Much closer than KLIA.

International Flights

KLIA: major SE Asia hub. Flights to all Asian capitals, Middle East, Australia, Europe.

Essential Apps

VTC & Taxis

Grab

Essential app. Taxis, private cars, delivery.