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Getting from Kuala Lumpur Airport to the City Centre

There are 3 different transport options when travelling from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. Your first and most efficient option is to take a Kuala Lumpur airport taxi, with a travelling time of about 50 minutes. Your second option is to take the Klia Ekspres or the Transit metro train; both options will take you from the airport to the KL Sentral station in the city centre, with the Ekspres (or Express) train being the faster option, only taking 28 minutes to get you to your destination. Finally, the “Airport Bus Coach Service” runs from the airport to KL Sentral station and takes around 1 hour to reach the centre.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Kuala Lumpur at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €23 50min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €15.60 50min 24/7
Metro €15.80 38min 05:00–00:30
Bus €5.20 70min 06:00–00:30

How to get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre by taxi

Kuala Lumpur airport provides taxis that operate 24/7; they offer a door-to-door service, taking you to the city centre in 50 minutes, in normal traffic conditions. There are two types of taxis that operate from KUL airport, the first are known to be regular or budget taxis, with red and white vehicles. The other type of taxis are the ‘executive’ taxis, with blue or yellow vehicles. As any taxi, they should have a rooftop sign on the top of the car that reads ‘Teski’. Kuala Lumpur airport taxis work on a taximeter and should all be licensed, so it is important to make sure that your driver resets and starts the meter before heading out of the airport. However, there is an option to purchase a coupon from a taxi counter at the airport with a set cost; please note that these coupons can be more costly than a metered fare, dependent on weather, time of day or the distance travelled.

Taxi fare from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre

Generally, if you are to get a taxi from the airport you will be asked to purchase a taxi coupon from the Transport Desk near the arrivals terminal. Here, you will state your destination to the staff and will be given a set price for the journey on a coupon, that you will then need to show your driver. If you decide to take a metered taxi, the price can be more or less dependent on traffic; it is important to ensure the meter has been reset and is on. A coupon price for a regular taxi trip to Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) should not cost more than €15.60 (RM74.30).

Please note that taxi fares increase more than 50% when taken between 00:00 and 06:00.

Taxi prices
Day time
(05:00–24:00)
Night time
(00:00–05:00)
Duration
FROM KUL - TO CITY CENTRE
€15.70
€23.55
50 min
FROM KUL - TO HOTELS IN CITY CENTRE
€15.70
€23.55
50 min
FROM KUL - TO SUBANG AIRPORT
€16
€24
45 min
FROM KUL - TO BATU CAVES
€19.50
€29.25
1 hr 10 min
FROM KUL - TO PETRONAS TOWERS
€15.70
€23.55
50 mins
FROM KUL - TO BUKIT BINTANG
€15
€22.50
48 min
Cost

€15.60

Trip Duration

50 Min.

*Rates may vary unless booked in advance

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Kuala Lumpur (KUL) airport.

Where do I get it from?

Taxis are available at the airport taxi ranks outside the arrival halls at both KLIA 1 and KLIA 2.

Convenience

Taxis are the fastest and most efficient transport option to get to the city centre as they provide a 24/7 door-to-door service. They are also very convenient for those travelling with luggage. If you prefer to travel on a set taxi fare, you can either purchase a coupon at the airport or book a private airport transfer in advance.

Editor’s Note

Standard sized taxis do not have much storage space; if you are travelling with a lot of luggage, it is best to book a minivan.

Useful Tips

When taking a budget, regular or executive taxi, do not accept a set price from a driver who does not turn his meter on, as this price will most often be much higher than usual.
Only accept a set cost when it is purchased via a coupon at an official taxi counter.
Make sure that your taxi driver has his license on display and that the meter has been reset and is running before leaving the airport.

How to get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre by metro

There are two different train options when taking the metro from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre: you can either take the KLIA Ekspres or the KLIA Transit. Both trains travel through both airport terminals on their route. The Ekspres (express) train is the fastest and most convenient option, as it takes you directly into the city centre, whereas the KLIA Transit stops at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya, Bandar Tasik and Selatan.

Moreover, the Ekspres is much faster, taking only 28 minutes to reach the station in the city. Unfortunately, both trains only go to the KL Sentral station, therefore, you will need to take an additional train if you wish to reach the area of Petronas Towers. This additional train is the LRT Kelana Jaya Line (n° 5) and you will need to stop at KLCC, this last travel leg takes around 15 minutes.

How much is a metro ticket from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre?

A one-way ticket on either the KLIA Ekspres or the KLIA Transit costs €7.40 (RM35). You can purchase your tickets at the ticket counter available on the platform.

If you wish to take the LRT Kelana Jaya Line (n° 5) to KLCC, you can buy your metro ticket at the vending machines in the station, for the cost of €0.50 (RM2.50).

Cost

€7.90

Trip Duration

38 Min.

There can be up to a 15 minute wait for the metro.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The airport metro is available from 05:00 to 00:30 everyday, departing every 15 minutes.

Where do I get it from?

Take the metro from the arrivals terminal – follow the signage to the platform. Note that the KLIA trains stop at both KLIA 1 and KLIA 2.

Take the LRT from the KL Sentral station which leaves every 3 minutes between 06:00 – 23:59. Please note, that on special days there is a time extension to 01:00.

Convenience

Although only a slightly cheaper option than taking a taxi, the metro is not the most convenient method for those staying in the city centre, as all transportation goes through the KL Sentral station, and therefore requires an extra metro transfer. This can be quite inconvenient when travelling with children or luggage.

Editor’s Note

Trains have the advantage of avoiding the rush hour traffic but they can still be quite busy themselves. To avoid this extra stress, it is recommended to take the metro outside the peak hours.

Useful Tips

It is important to know that the running hours of the MRT differ between stations.
The TnGo card is a very convenient way of getting around as it is accepted on multiple transport options and it is rechargeable.
You are charged as you scan in and scan out based on the total distance travelled on the metro.

How to get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre by bus

If you wish to take the bus from the airport, KLIA (both terminals) provides an Airport Coach Service. Unfortunately, as for the metro, the bus only travels to KL Sentral, so an additional transit is required either by metro or by bus. The airport bus provides a comfortable and cheap transit to the city; however, if you are caught in rush hour, the journey can be very long, often taking over an hour.

You will then need to take an additional train or another bus to get to the city centre (to the area of Petronas Towers), as the bus stops at KL Sentral. To get to the city centre, you can take the LRT Kelana Jaya Line (n° 5) from KL Sentral and stop at KLCC, which will take an extra 15 minutes.

How much is a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city centre?

A one-way bus ticket costs €2.10 (RM10). Tickets are available from the Transportation Hub (the area where the bus departs) which is located on the ground floor of the main terminal building – only a 3-minute walk from the arrivals area. You can purchase your bus tickets from counter n° 3.

For your onward journey from KL Sentral to the city centre KLCC, you can buy your metro ticket at the vending machines in the station, for the cost of €0.50 (RM2.50).

Cost

€2.60

Trip Duration

1 H 10 Min.

There can be up to 1 hour 30 minutes wait for the bus.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The bus is available from 06:00 to 00:30, leaving every 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where do I get it from?

You can find the bus at the KLIA bus station, on the ground floor of the main terminal building, only 3-minutes’ walk from the arrivals hall exit. Follow the signage for the “Transportation Hub”.

The LRT leaves from the KL Sentral station every 3 minutes between 06:00 – 23:59. Please note, that on special days there is a time extension to 01:00.

Convenience

Much like the metro, the bus does not go to the city centre but stops at KL Sentral, requiring additional transport to get you to your final destination within the city. For those travelling with luggage, this option can be quite an effort as well as time consuming. The best option is getting an airport taxi to the city centre.

Editor’s Note

You also have the option to take the monorail from KL Sentral to reach the city centre; however, this will take just as long as you will firstly need to walk to the Monorail Station from KL Sentral, then exit at Bukit Nanas and walk to your final destination.

Useful Tips

When taking a taxi from KL Sentral you can also get a set fare with a taxi coupon.
Trains are often the preferred method of public transport due to their ability to avoid traffic, which can be heavy during peak hours.
The Go KL City Bus is available for free transport to limited destinations around the city between 06:00 and 23:00.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Kuala lumpur. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Kuala Lumpur airport (KUL) to the city centre?

KUL taxis are available at a set fare from the airport. The journey costs €15.60 (RM74.30) to the city centre, if using a coupon. Please note that if you wish to take a metered taxi, or if you are travelling at night, taxi fares can vary.

How far is Kuala Lumpur (KUL) airport from the city centre?

Kuala Lumpur airport is located 55 Km away from the city centre. The trip by taxi takes around 50 minutes, in normal traffic conditions.

How many transport options are available from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) airport to the city centre?

There are 3 transportation options; you can either take a taxi, the metro and the bus. Unfortunately, if you choose to take the public transportation system, you will need to take an additional method from KL Sentral. Therefore, taking a taxi is your only direct option.

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