KLIA to Kuala Lumpur: Train, Bus, Grab and Taxi

Getting from KLIA to KL is easy, but the airport is a long way from the city: about 45km south, in Sepang. You have four main options, the KLIA Ekspres train, airport buses, Grab and taxis, and the right one depends on your budget, your luggage and where your hotel is. This guide compares them from both terminals, with fares and times as they stood when we last checked.

KLIA to KL at a glance

Option	Time to central KL	Typical cost	Best for
KLIA Ekspres train	About 30 minutes to KL Sentral	RM55 one way (adult)	Speed and avoiding traffic
KLIA Transit train	Longer, stops at 3 stations	Cheaper to intermediate stops	Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Bandar Tasik Selatan
Airport bus	About 1 hour 15 minutes or more	Around RM13	Tight budgets
Grab	About 45 to 75 minutes	Around RM80 to RM100 off-peak	Groups and door-to-door
Airport taxi (coupon)	About 45 to 75 minutes	Around RM75 (budget) to RM102 (premier)	Late arrivals without a data connection

Road prices are estimates from recent reports and vary with demand, traffic and time of day.

Terminal 1 or Terminal 2

KLIA has two separate terminals, several kilometres apart. Terminal 1 (the original KLIA building) handles Malaysia Airlines and most full-service international airlines. Terminal 2 (formerly called klia2) is the base for AirAsia and other low-cost carriers. There is no airside connection between them, so if you are switching terminals you must clear immigration and travel landside by train or shuttle bus.

Both terminals have their own KLIA Ekspres station. At Terminal 2 the station is in the Gateway@klia2 building, a short walk from arrivals. Check which terminal your flight uses before you travel, especially for departures.

KLIA Ekspres: the fastest way from KLIA to KL

The KLIA Ekspres is a non-stop airport train to KL Sentral, the city’s main transport hub. The journey takes about 30 minutes from Terminal 1, with Terminal 2 a few minutes further down the line. Trains run roughly every 20 minutes from about 5am until around midnight, though late-evening timetables have been adjusted recently, so check the official site if you land late.

Fares: an adult one-way ticket between KLIA and KL Sentral costs RM55 at the time of writing. Express Rail Link has announced the first fare increase since 2016, taking the adult one-way fare to RM65 and the adult return to RM118 from 1 January 2027, with a child fare (ages 6 to 15) of RM29 one way. Children under six travel free.

Ways to save: the operator offers group fares for three or more travellers and family packages for two adults and two children, as well as card-linked discounts. Check the current offers on the official website before buying.

Tickets: buy from machines or counters in the station, online or through the operator’s app. KL Sentral connects to the LRT, MRT, KL Monorail and KTM Komuter lines, and there is a taxi rank and Grab pick-up area, so most hotels are a short onward ride away.

The KLIA Transit uses the same line but stops at Salak Tinggi, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, and Bandar Tasik Selatan. It is useful if you are heading to Putrajaya or catching a long-distance bus from the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) terminal at Bandar Tasik Selatan.

Airport buses

Buses are by far the cheapest way into the city. Coaches leave from the bus terminals at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for KL Sentral, and some services run to TBS and other city stops. Recent reports put the Skybus fare to KL Sentral at around RM13, with buses roughly every 30 minutes from early morning until after midnight.

The catch is time: allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes, and longer at rush hour or in heavy rain. Buy tickets at the counters in the terminal transport areas, and follow the signs for buses rather than leaving through the main arrivals doors.

Grab from KLIA

Grab, Southeast Asia’s main ride-hailing app, is the most popular door-to-door option. Book in the app once you have collected your bags and follow the signs to the e-hailing pick-up point. Recent reports suggest RM80 to RM100 to central KL at quieter times, rising at peak periods such as Friday evenings and public holidays. The app shows the price before you confirm.

For three or four people with luggage, Grab is often cheaper than four train tickets and drops you at the hotel door. Allow 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Download and set up the app before you fly, and buy a local SIM or eSIM at arrivals if needed; our Malaysia SIM card guide explains the options.

Airport taxis

Official airport taxis are sold by coupon at counters in the arrivals hall, with fixed fares by zone and vehicle type. To central Kuala Lumpur, recent reports put the fare at around RM75 for a budget taxi and RM102 for a premier car, with larger vehicles for families. A surcharge of about 50% applies between around 11.30pm and 6am.

Only use the official coupon counters. Ignore anyone in the arrivals hall offering a ride.

Arriving late at night or early in the morning

Many long-haul and low-cost flights land at KLIA late at night or before dawn. If you arrive after the last train, your choices are Grab, a coupon taxi with the night surcharge, or the airport buses, which run later than the trains. Some travellers with a very early or late connection prefer a transit hotel or one of the hotels within walking distance of the terminals, which saves a long round trip into the city.

Immigration queues at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 vary a lot. Allow up to an hour from landing to the exit at busy times, and do not book a fixed-time pick-up too tightly.

Travelling with children and luggage

The train is easy with luggage: there is level access, lifts at both ends and space for suitcases. If your hotel is not close to KL Sentral, though, you will need a taxi or Grab for the last part, and the total cost for a family may be close to a direct car. For young children, Grab lets you book larger vehicles, but child seats are not standard, so bring a travel seat if you need one.

Which option should you choose?

• Solo travellers or couples staying near KL Sentral, Brickfields or a train line: KLIA Ekspres.
• Groups of three or more, or families with bags: Grab or a premier taxi, or the train’s group fare.
• Budget travellers with time: the airport bus.
• Arriving after midnight: Grab or a coupon taxi.

Going back to the airport, allow extra time: leave central KL at least three hours before an international flight if travelling by road at rush hour. Not sure where to base yourself? Read our guide to where to stay in Kuala Lumpur, then plan your first days with our Kuala Lumpur guide and 3-day KL itinerary.