Kuala Lumpur has a well-developed system of urban transport, in addition, its development does not stop. There are several types of metro, taxi, as well as paid and free tourist buses to choose from. The Kuala Lumpur metro system to an inexperienced tourist may seem complicated and confusing, but then we will consider in detail all the nuances necessary for transportation.
Metro as the most common way to get around
Metro is the most suitable transport if you plan to stay in the city longer than a couple of days. Firstly, it’s cheaper, secondly, it’s faster than a taxi, and thirdly it’s convenient. The organization of this type of transport is quite logical, and even if you do not speak English, you can figure it out quickly enough. Schedule of the metro from 6:00 to 11:30 with a difference of plus / minus 15 minutes depending on the line. Please note that the term “metro” should not be taken literally, since it is customary to call all railway transport, which is usually classified into four types.
This is a traditional city metro, covering all areas (abbreviated name LRT). This type of transport Kuala Lumpur is represented by two lines. Stations are mainly located above the ground (49 ground stations versus four underground).
Transport is equipped with automatic control and there are no drivers in it, which allows you to make successful photos and videos in the head and tail of the train. Universal pass valid for LRT. If you want to buy a ticket separately for the lines of this metro, you should focus on a period of 7, 15 or 30 days for RM35, RM60 and RM100, respectively. On both lines or each individually, you can buy savings tickets, but if you are in Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days, one-time tickets will be a more reasonable choice. The price of single tickets can reach RM2.5-RM5.1, taking into account the need to travel on one or two lines.
Electric trains in Kuala Lumpur are the same as in any other city. You can use this mode of transport to get to the suburbs and individual states. They can also be used for trips around the city, however, the traffic interval is half an hour, so other transport is more preferable.
Two lines cross the central part of the city, and their length extends beyond Kuala Lumpur. The Batu Caves-Port Kelang line is of great interest to tourists, trains run from 5:35 to 22:35, and the fare is RM2. For women there are special trailers with pink stickers in each composition, where men are forbidden to enter.
Kuala Lumpur has a monorail metro with a single line that runs through the center and is represented by 11 stations. The rules for using this transport are similar – they are disposable, accumulative and single travel. The cost of a single ride, taking into account the distance, can vary from RM1.2 to RM2.5. The cost of the accumulative travel card is RM20 or RM50.
High-speed trains that can be used to move between the city and the airport. For transportation around the city, such transport is not relevant.
- KLIA Transit follows 35 minutes on the road and stops three times. The interval between trains is half an hour, the fare is RM35.
- KLIA Express has a 28-minute travel time. The fare is similar, the traffic interval is every 15-20 minutes. Schedule of both lines from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.
The following is a subway map of Kuala Lumpur excluding commuter trains.
Features of using the subway
A metro ticket of any kind in Kuala Lumpur is represented by plastic cards, which can be purchased at any station in a touch-machine or a traditional ticket office. You can choose single tickets valid for most types of transport, accumulative, as well as travel tickets for single trips. The fare depends on the distance of your trip, and this indicator varies with the number of stations.
When buying a ticket at the ticket office, just name the terminal station. If you do not speak English, use a leaf and a pen, in the same way you will receive the cost of the trip.
Checking tickets is carried out at the exit and entrance, so you will not be able to get out at the station, which is not indicated on the travel card. Tickets for single trips are more suitable for tourists than others. Accumulative and universal travel are relevant for frequent trips.
There are separate tickets for each type of metro, but for buses, Monorail and the city metro there is a universal ticket, which costs 150 ringgit per month. Such a ticket can also be purchased for 1, 3, 7 and 15 days, the cost will be appropriate. The rule applies – your travel card for each passenger.
A preliminary look at how much the train will cost, as well as a diagram of each individual branch, can be found at www.myrapid.com.my (in English only).
How to buy tokens
At the entrance to the subway, you can find special touch machines for buying tokens. The price of the trip is calculated taking into account its range.
- Locate the green button at the top left of the screen to choose between English and Malaysian.
- Decide on the metro line and click on the station you are interested in. If the desired station name is not available, try searching on another line.
- The price of the trip is displayed immediately after clicking on the selected station. If you are not traveling alone, press the blue button with a plus sign to calculate the fare based on the number of passengers.
- Then press CASH and place the bills in the machine (no more than 5 ringgit). Near the machine you can find a cabin with a specialist, where you can exchange money. The machine issues change 1 ringgit.
- Attach the token at the top of the turnstile to get on the subway and do not throw it away until the trip is completed. Above the entrance to the car, a Kuala Lumpur metro map with the corresponding station name is displayed, each of which has its own index so as not to get confused and not get lost.
- When your trip is completed, use the dedicated exit hole to dispose of the token.
Alternative modes of transportation
Among the alternative transportation options in Kuala Lumpur, it is worth highlighting a taxi, car rental, as well as paid and free tourist buses.
Taxi in Kuala Lumpur is one of the cheapest, however, and the quality matches this price.
You can choose between private traders and taxis from different companies. Do not agree to the offer to pay a fixed cost of the trip and refuse the counter, and this will be offered to you by almost every taxi driver. If the driver insists on his own, feel free to go in search of another taxi.
Despite the fact that between different cars there is no significant difference in service and quality, the cost will be different depending on the color of the car.
- orange and white are the cheapest;
- reds are a little expensive;
- blue ones are even more expensive.
Baggage is paid separately, as well as a taxi call by phone. The counter will count the passage even when you are in a traffic jam. An additional 50% of the cost must be paid from 12 nights to 6 in the morning, and also if there are more than 2 passengers in the car.
You can rent a motorcycle or car in Kuala Lumpur if you have international rights in the form of a book. To obtain them, contact your IFC or your local traffic police with your national rights; you do not need to pass exams for this. Remember about difficult and confusing roads, as well as very heavy traffic before choosing this type of transport. For rent, you can use the services of rental offices in Kuala Lumpur or at the airport.
Hop-On-Hop-Off buses run every half hour and stop at major attractions.
- The schedule of such vehicles from 8 am to 20:30, no days off.
- The ticket is bought from the driver or in advance, where tickets for the rest of the modes of transport are sold.
The principle of using such buses is simple: at the nearest stop, you wait for one of them, buy a ticket or show the one you bought in advance, go to the nearest attraction, go out, walk, take photos and videos, inspect the area and return to the stop where you left. Next, you must again wait for the nearest bus with the necessary markings and present a ticket at the entrance. Its validity is a day or 48 hours. Children under 5 travel on such buses for free. The cost of a daily ticket is RM38, and a ticket for 48 hours costs RM65. Among the advantages of such buses:
- the presence of an open area for successful photos and videos;
- free wifi
- availability of audio guides in 9 languages.
Among the shortcomings are the slow speed, high fare, when compared with other vehicles, the movement is only one way, in a circle.
GO KL City Bus buses in Kuala Lumpur are a very popular form of transport, they are free and run on four routes that can be distinguished by color on the map. The buses themselves are comfortable and new, equipped with air conditioning, they stop at every city stop. Another advantage is that they can even reach those attractions that are not accessible when traveling by metro or other transport.
The stops for these buses are marked with the GO KL logo with the color of the line and the name of the stop. At some stops you can find an electronic board with the arrival time of the next bus, not only free. The interval of movement is 5-15 minutes, and the direction of movement of a bus along a specific route can be found on the map. Each route is indicated in a separate color – red, blue, magenta and green. The main disadvantage of free Kuala Lumpur buses is the large influx of passengers, because they are actively used by local residents.
Schedule of free buses:
- from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday,
- until one in the morning from Friday to Saturday,
- from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Summing up, it is worth highlighting the Kuala Lumpur metro as the optimal mode of transport due to its mobility, convenience, comfort and affordable cost. You don’t have to worry that you will miss the best views of the city while traveling underground, because the main part of the metro is ground-based.
An informative interesting video about the subway in the city of Kuala Lumpur.
