Using Grab, Buses and Trains in Malaysia: A Traveller’s Transport Guide

A card for the trains, an app for rides, a terminal for buses and a fast train to the airport: a simple guide to getting around Malaysia without a car.

Malaysia is one of the easiest countries in South-East Asia to travel around independently. Kuala Lumpur has a large urban rail network, fast electric trains run up the west coast, comfortable express buses link almost every town, and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps. Here is how the main options work, what they cost, and the few things that catch visitors out. Before you fly, see our entry checklist for visas, the arrival card and SIM cards.

From the Airport

The quickest way from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) into the city is the KLIA Ekspres train. It runs non-stop to KL Sentral, the city’s main rail hub, in 28 minutes from Terminal 1, every 20 minutes, according to the operator. The adult one-way fare is RM55 (about US$13). Note that on 1 October 2026, The Star reported that fares will rise from 1 January 2027: KL Sentral to KLIA will cost RM65 one way and RM118 return for adults. The slower KLIA Transit stops at stations along the way, including Bandar Tasik Selatan, next to the main bus terminal.

Trains and Buses in Kuala Lumpur

Rapid KL runs the city’s LRT, MRT, monorail, BRT and buses. The single most useful thing to buy is a Touch ’n Go card, a rechargeable stored-value card you tap at the gates. In May 2026, Prasarana, the operator, told Malay Mail that gates accept only Touch ’n Go cards or single-journey tokens: you cannot tap in with a bank card, phone wallet or QR code. Prasarana said an “open payment” system for bank cards and phones was at the contract award stage, to be rolled out in phases, so do not plan around it yet.

• Buy a card at station customer service counters, Touch ’n Go outlets or convenience stores. Prasarana recommends the Enhanced (NFC) version, the only one you can top up from your phone.
• Tokens: machines sell single-journey tokens for cash or card, if you only need a ride or two.
• Buses require a Touch ’n Go card; cash is not accepted.
• Unlimited rides: the Rapid Kembara pass gives unlimited rail, BRT and bus travel for one day (RM25) or three days (RM55), loaded onto a Touch ’n Go card, said Malay Mail in May 2026.

Ride-Hailing: Grab

Grab, the South-East Asian “super app”, is the ride-hailing service most visitors use in Malaysia. You set your pick-up and drop-off in the app and see the fare before you book, which avoids haggling and language problems. You can pay by card in the app or, for many rides, in cash. It is often the easiest way to reach a hotel, a restaurant across town or a bus terminal with luggage. Fares rise at busy times and in heavy rain, when it can take longer to find a car, so allow extra time for airport runs. Use the app’s designated pick-up points at airports and malls, and check that the number plate matches before you get in.

Metered taxis are also available. At airports, buy a fixed-price coupon at the official taxi counter rather than accepting offers in the arrivals hall.

Long-Distance Express Buses

Express buses are the cheapest way between cities, and reach places trains do not, such as most of the east coast. In Kuala Lumpur, many leave from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), a large integrated terminal opened in 2011 and linked to Bandar Tasik Selatan station, which is served by the LRT, KTM Komuter and KLIA Transit. From TBS, buses run south to Johor Bahru and Singapore and east to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. Book online or at the terminal’s machines, especially for weekends and school and public holidays, and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Buses are air-conditioned, often very cold, so bring a layer.

Trains Up the West Coast

KTM’s Electric Train Service (ETS) runs fast, air-conditioned trains along the west coast, from Padang Besar on the Thai border through Butterworth (for Penang), Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Since December 2025, with the electrified line completed to Johor Bahru, ETS trains also run between KL Sentral and JB Sentral, Bernama reported. Book through KTMB’s website or its KITS app; popular trains sell out at weekends.

The East Coast

The east coast has no electric trains yet. Most visitors fly to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu or Kota Bharu, or take an express bus, then use Grab or local buses. In Kuantan, the Rapid Kuantan bus network also serves the royal town of Pekan. The new East Coast Rail Link will change this; our ECRL guide explains the plans.

Get a Touch ’n Go card in the city, book the train or bus between cities, and let an app handle the last mile.

What is your favourite way to travel around Malaysia? Share your tips in the comments below.

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