Travel in Malaysia

Getting around Malaysia is easy with many transport options available. There are many commercial airports throughout the country and the national airline carrier, Malaysian Airlines, has many inexpensive flights to all the popular tourist destinations. The rail network in Malaysia is quite extensive, reaching from the borders with Singapore and Thailand. Although the train service isn’t high-speed, the service is consistent.

With decent roads, traveling by car is a good option. Rental cars are reasonably inexpensive and a driver can be employed for a small fee. Public buses have many routes through the country but can be hot, uncomfortable and slow. There are some private bus companies which have air-conditioned coaches that are a much better alternative. Rickshaws are popular in the rural areas.

Transport in the capital of Kuala Lumpur is very good, although the most common mode of commuting is by car. The city has many rail systems, including city trains, a rapid transit light rail and a monorail service. Buses are plentiful and easy to use with many different routes covering all areas. There is also an abundance of metered-taxis available at all times of the day.

There are four bus terminals in Kuala Lumpur. The first is Puduraya, which is the main station and has buses leaving and arriving from all parts of the country. Putra bus terminal has buses mainly servicing the east coast of Malaysia. Duta station is serviced by Transnational Bus Company and has services heading north towards Thailand. The last terminal in Kuala Lumpur is Pekeliling bus station, from where buses head to destinations in the east, including Kuantan and Jerantut.

Kuala Lumpur Sentral is a new building that opened in 2001 as the main transit hub of the city. The station is the largest train station in all of Southeast Asia. KL Sentral took over all the rail services of the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. The station caters to commuter trains as well as national services.

With a long coastline and an array of islands, Malaysia has many ferry services. Boats are an alternative mode of transport when traveling between the coastal towns. There is a ferry service to Penang off the northwest coast.