How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Why visit Singapore?
For a small island city-state, Singapore is a huge tourist hub in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the number of tourists visiting Singapore was nearly 3x its population!
This is for good reason. Head to downtown Singapore and you’ll find a number of tourist attractions, all connected by efficient and high-quality transportation.
To revisit your childhood, there’s Universal Studios and the resort island of Sentosa. For shopping, head to Orchard Road. For art, visit the Kampong Glam area. For an amazing night and light show, you have to visit Marina Bay Sands.
What are the 3 ways to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
There are 3 ways to travel the 315 kilometre (196 miles) distance from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. You can choose between the bus, train and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 25 minutes to 9 hours 25 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 17.20 SGD ($13.40).
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Bus
The bus is the most popular way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. It’s direct, usually with just a stopover for immigration at the border crossing.
Bus fares start from 17.20 SGD ($13.40) for the journey that takes 4 hours 35 minutes to 9 hours 25 minutes.
This is a very popular route, so you will be spoilt for choice when choosing a bus company for travel to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur. We recommend reading up on the reviews, though! Some companies don’t get good reviews, mainly because of old buses and travel delays.
Departure and arrival stations
Buses depart throughout the day, from different key locations in Kuala Lumpur. Some of these are Berjaya Times Square, KL Sentral, Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, and the main bus station Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS).
In Singapore, there are also various arrival points. These include Bugis MRT, Golden Mile Tower, Boon Lay, and Grantal Mall.
Always double-check the departure and arrival points before booking, so you don’t end up on a bus that leaves from or arrives at somewhere inconvenient.
Bus schedules from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Immigration Checkpoints
About 4 hours into your journey from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, your bus will stop at Johor Bahru for customs and immigration. You will get off the bus with all your belongings and have your passport stamped to show you have left Malaysia.
Once you have returned to your bus (make sure you remember which bus you took!), it will cross the border to Singapore and the stop again at Woodlands Checkpoint for Singapore’s customs and immigration. You will have to fill out an entry card and also have your passport stamped.
After this, return to your bus, which continues the journey for another 30 minutes to downtown Singapore.
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Train
There are no direct trains from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. But thanks to a new development in Malaysia’s train system, you now only need two trains to get into Singapore.
In December 2025, Malaysia launched an Electric Train Service (ETS) that connects Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru. Before, travellers had to make an overnight stop in Gemas, because the next connecting train didn’t run until the following day.
This has made train travel even more doable and convenient for this route, although more expensive than the bus.
Combined prices start from 38.50 SGD ($30) and the train journey to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur takes around 5 hours 20 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes.
Step 1: Train from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru
Six direct trains operate daily from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, with departures from 07:55 to 21:10. A ticket costs about 95 MYR ($24), depending on which train you take. Also note that prices often increase during holidays.
This direct train journey takes about 4h 10m - 4h 40m.
Step 2: Train from Johor Bahru to Singapore (Woodlands Checkpoint)
From Johor Bahru, the train that crosses the border to Singapore only takes 5 minutes. You should buy your ticket at the train station for 16 MYR ($4.10) before heading to the customs and immigration office.
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
The good thing about the Woodlands Train Checkpoint is that it already has both Malaysian and Singaporean immigration offices in one location. You won’t have to make 2 stops as you would with the bus.
Prepare for long queues if you are travelling during peak times. Note that there are a good number of Malaysians who cross this border every day for work in Singapore.
This leg of your train journey takes around 4.5 hours. A ticket costs 16 MYR ($4.10) when booked online through Baolau.
Step 3: How to get from Woodlands Checkpoint to Downtown Singapore
From Woodlands Checkpoint, you have 3 choices to reach downtown Singapore: a 40-minute taxi, a 1-hour bus, or a 1-hour bus + MRT. Rates range from 2.50 SGD ($2) to 30 SGD ($23.50).
Bus from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
The Woodlands Checkpoint is conveniently connected to downtown Singapore by the Causeway Link, which are direct cross-border buses.
You have 2 options: CW2 from Woodlands Checkpoint to Queen Street Bus Terminal and CW5 from Woodlands Checkpoint to Newton Circus. CW2 departs every 15-20 minutes, 24 hours a day. CW5 is available every 45 minutes from 05:00 to 22:30.
Travel time with the Causeway Link from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre is 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic. During peak hours, it could take up to 2 hours.
A bus ticket costs 3 SGD ($2.30) to 5 SGD ($3.90).
Bus + MRT from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
If you’re not keen on experiencing Singapore’s heavy traffic as soon as you enter the country, you can take a combination of bus and MRT.
There are 2 train stations near Woodlands Checkpoint:
- Marsiling MRT Station (4 km away): From here, you can take the red line to key stations like City Hall, Raffles Place and Marina Bay.
- Woodlands MRT Station (6 km away): From here, you can take either the red line or the brown line to Orchard Station and Outram Park, which is connected to Chinatown and Clarke Quay.
You can get to these MRT stations by bus from Woodlands Checkpoint.
The journey by combined bus and MRT from Woodlands Checkpoint to downtown Singapore takes about 1 hour. Ticket prices range from 2.50 SGD ($2).
Taxi from Woodlands Checkpoint to Singapore city centre
You shouldn’t have a hard time getting a taxi from Woodlands Checkpoint. You can hail one from the street or order one through Grab.
Travel time by taxi is around 40 minutes, but it can take longer during peak hours. Rates are from 30 SGD ($23.50) to 40 SGD ($31.50).
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Flight
The flight is the fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, with a combined travel time of 2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours. However, it’s worth noting that when you add the waiting time at the airport, it’s not really much faster compared to a bus.
With combined rates from 58 SGD ($45.50), here is a step-by-step guide to help you decide if it’s worth taking a flight for this route.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: How to get to Kuala Lumpur Airport
You can find Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) about 55 km south of the city centre. There are 3 ways you can get there: a 1-hour-15-minute bus, a 30-minute train, or a 1-hour taxi.
We recommend taking the train if you’re short on time. It’s the best way to skip the heavy traffic in Malaysia’s capital. You can catch the KLIA Ekspress from KL Sentral, every 20 to 30 minutes from 05:00 to midnight. A ticket costs 55 MYR ($14) and you can book one online through BookAway.
If you’re travelling in a group or with bulky luggage, the taxi is a convenient choice with fares from 80 MYR ($20.50). Make sure you have plenty of time to spare, though! Traffic can be bad, especially during peak hours. You can hail a taxi on the street or book one in advance through Klook.
Step 2: Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Air Asia normally offers the cheapest flights from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, with airfares starting from 64 MYR ($16.20) if you book your tickets in advance. Other carriers operating this route are Firefly and Malaysia Airlines.
The flight departs from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and arrives at Changi Airport in Singapore after a little over an hour.
Step 3: Singapore Airport to City Centre
From Singapore Changi Airport, you’ll have to travel 20 km west to reach downtown Singapore, where most of the tourist hotels are located. You have 4 options: a city shuttle for 10 SGD ($7.80); a taxi from 25 SGD ($19.50); the train for 2.70 SGD ($2.10); or a public bus for 2.50 SGD ($2).
Travelling solo? The city shuttle is a good mix of comfort and affordability. Although a shared ride, they offer free drop-off to most hotels in the city centre. You can book them at the airport upon arrival or online beforehand via Klook.
If you’re travelling in a group, it will be more cost-efficient to take a taxi. There’s plenty available at the airport. But if you want your private ride waiting for you as soon as you arrive, you can also pre-book one through Klook or BookAway
The train and the public bus are way cheaper, but often require at least one transfer. If you’re carrying bulky luggage, they’re not exactly a convenient way to get from the airport to Singapore city centre. For more details, check out our page on Singapore Airport.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. 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!
Frequently Asked Questions about Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
What is the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore is 315 kilometre (196 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
The fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore is by flight and takes 2 hours 25 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
The cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore is by bus with ticket costs starting from 17.20 SGD ($13.40).
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 travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon.
