What to expect when visiting Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL) is Malaysia’s capital, a vibrant mix of skyscrapers, Asian-European architecture, large shopping districts, and flavourful cuisine. The busy city can be quite overwhelming, but it’s all about finding your rhythm in Kuala Lumpur’s beautiful chaos.
The Petronas Towers — the tallest twin towers in the world — are the city’s most iconic attraction. But there’s so much more to see in Kuala Lumpur. The old KL Railway Station, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang, and Jalan Alor are all must-visits. And if you have more time, the colourful Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away from the city.
3 ways to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 315 kilometers (196 miles) from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by bus (4 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours 30 minutes), train (5 hours 45 minutes to 10 hours) and flight (1 hour 10 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 10 minutes to 10 hours and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 51 MYR ($11.90) for the train.Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by Bus
Singapore doesn’t have a centralized bus terminal. This is why buses operating from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur have varying departure points. The most common bus “terminals” are located at Kitchener Road, Golden Mile Complex, and Aperia Mall, all of which is about 5 km north of downtown Singapore.
We highly recommend booking online when travelling this route to be assured of a seat at the time of your departure. There’s nothing worse than arriving to discover there are no available seats left for the bus you want to take!
We recommend buying your tickets on BookAway. You can choose from seven bus companies. Below are the bus schedules from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur:
Bus schedules from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
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We recommend travelling with Transtar Travel as they get good reviews and they offer the best value for money. If you opt for their solitaire buses, you can enjoy a luxurious journey in a cosy cocoon seat with free TV and a complimentary meal.
Departure and arrival station
Note that they have at least three different departure and arrival points. Best to double-check these details when finalizing your booking.
Transtar buses have departure points from Kitchener Road, Golden Mile Complex and Aperia Mall. They arrive at either Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal or TBS, about 13 km south of the city centre, or at Berjaya Square or Jalan Imbi in the city centre.
The other bus company, Lapan Lapan, departs from 181 Kitchener Road and arrives at Berjaya Square in Kuala Lumpur city centre. They also get good reviews, but they’re quite expensive.
Immigration Checkpoints
About 30 minutes into your journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, your bus will stop at Woodlands Checkpoint for customs and immigration. You’ll need to bring all your belongings for this. Here, you’ll be asked to fill out a Singapore departure card before getting your passport stamped. You’ll then go back to your bus (make sure you remember which bus you took!).
The bus will then cross the border to Malaysia and stop again at Johor Bahru for Malaysian customs and immigration. Here, your fingerprint will be scanned and your passport will be stamped again. And then you’re off to Kuala Lumpur!
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by Train
Years ago, you could travel by train directly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. That line has since been disconnected, though, so now you’ll have to take at least three trains. That’s excluding the one you need to take from downtown Singapore!
This option is neither fast nor convenient, but it’s an adventure on its own. There’s also the bonus of a glimpse into local life in rural Malaysia.
Keep in mind that there is only one train schedule that will allow you to complete the train journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in one day. To do that, you’ll have to depart from your accommodation as early as 06:30 or aim for an 08:00 arrival at Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
Step 1: Singapore (Woodlands Train Checkpoint) to Johor Bahru by Train
To travel by train from Singapore to Malaysia, you will have to go through immigration at Woodlands Train Checkpoint. This is located some 35 km north of downtown Singapore. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can take the MRT or a bus to reach it.
The closest MRT station to Woodlands Checkpoint is Marsiling MRT. From here, you can take a 20-minute bus (#856 or #912) to the checkpoint.
Remember not to confuse Woodlands Checkpoint with Woodlands MRT Station. The two are actually far apart.
Just in case you’re reading this now because you made the mistake of taking the train to Woodlands MRT, you can take bus #911 or #913 to reach the checkpoint.
Upon arrival, buy your train ticket on the ground floor of the station. A ticket costs 5 SGD ($3.80).
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
Most nationalities are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa, so the process is quite simple.
First, you have to fill out a Singapore departure card, before having your passport stamped as proof that you have left Singapore.
Then, you move to the Malaysian side, where they will scan your fingerprint and stamp your passport to show that you have now entered Malaysia.
You need to bring all your belongings with you because they normally x-ray your luggage.
Once you’re done, you can take the train to Johor Bahru, which takes only 5 minutes.
Step 2: Johor Bahru to Gemas by Train
Johor Bahru is the gateway to Malaysia from Singapore. From Malaysia’s southern tip, you will take an old intercity train to Gemas, located 210 km northwest.
There are four trains operating from Johor Bahru to Gemas daily, but only one of those has a connecting train from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur on the same day.
That’s the KTM ES42, which departs from Johor Bahru at 09:15 and arrives at Gemas at 13:59. Travel time is 4h 45m and a ticket costs 21 MYR ($4.90), which can be booked online through Baolau.
Step 3: Gemas to Kuala Lumpur by Train
Gemas is a railway station connecting Malaysia’s east and west train lines.
Here, you will have to wait an hour for your connecting train going northwest to Kuala Lumpur. It departs from Gemas at 15:10 and arrives at KL Sentral at 17:28.
Travel time from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur takes about 2.5 hours and a ticket costs 40 MYR ($9.30) when you book online on Baolau.
From KL Sentral, you can take a bus or a train to your hotel.
Here’s what your train itinerary from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur would look like:
| Itinerary | Duration | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Train/Bus from downtown Singapore
to Woodlands Train Checkpoint |
1h30m | 33 MYR ($7.70) | |
| Step 2: Train from Woodlands to Johor Bahru
+ Customs/Immigration |
30m | 5 SGD ($3.80) | |
| Step 3: Train from Johor Bahru to Gemas | 4h44m | 21 MYR ($4.90) | |
| Step 4: Train from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur | 2h18m | 40 MYR ($9.30) |
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by Flight
Flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur depart from Changi Airport. This is located 25 km northeast of downtown Singapore and can be reached by train for 5.50 SGD ($4.20), by shuttle bus for 9 SGD ($6.90), or by taxi for around 30 SGD ($23).
Our preferred ride is the shuttle service offered by Klook. It picks you up from your hotel and takes you straight to the airport for 9 SGD ($6.90).
Travel time varies from 30 to 50 minutes depending on the number of stops it has to make on the way to the airport. Don’t worry, though, they schedule the pick-ups efficiently so that all passengers will reach the airport in time for their flight.
Check Shuttle Bus Tickets with Klook
Air Asia, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines offer several flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur daily.
Airfares start from 55 SGD ($42) but can be even cheaper if you book early. The flight takes a little over 1 hour and arrives at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
From Kuala Lumpur Airport, you have three options to travel the 45 km distance to the city centre. You can take the train (30 minutes), the bus (1 hour), or a taxi (1 hour). Fares range from 12 MYR ($2.80) to 75 MYR ($17.50).
Check out our page on Kuala Lumpur Airport for more details.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
What is the distance from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur?
The distance from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is 315 kilometers (196 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur?
The fastest way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by flight and takes 1 hour 10 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur?
The cheapest way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by train with ticket costs starting from 51 MYR ($11.90).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
