How to Get to Malacca from KL, Vice Versa

Malacca City -sometimes spelled Melaka, Malaka or Malacca- is the capital city of the Malaysian State of Malacca. It is the oldest Malaysian city on the straits of Malacca, thus offering tourists some old style buildings and its heritages. In 2008, it was listed -together with George Town in Penang- as UNESCO World Heritage for its long history. Currently, the city rely on tourism, so you may expect some friendly tourist neighborhood here.  Those are valid reasons to pay a visit to Malacca.

The only downside is, it is accessible only by plane or bus. No trains heading there. But don’t worry, if you have extra time in KL (and you must!) then hop on the bus and enjoy the 1,5 hours ride! Most of the buses are cozy, with good aircon and no bumpy roads all along the way. It is quite easy, follow these steps:

P.S. Better go to Malacca at the weekend. Since they will have Jonker Walk Night Market, only from Friday to Sunday night.

IF you are already in KL

Go to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) or BTS (Bandar Tasik Selatan). Both are actually the same place, TBS is the bus terminal name, and BTS is the train station name. Don’t be confused. You can go there by bus or train or taxi or uber. Your choice! It is easier to go there from KL Sentral, but depends on where you are, you may check Google Maps later! 

Once you get in the KL Sentral, you have 3 options to go to TBS; 

1. By KTM Komuter Train. 

Ticket Price    : 2.60RM
Journey Time : 17 minutes
Distance         : 4 stations away
Availability      : Every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes after 9.30 pm)
First Train       : 5.48 am
Last Train       : 11.03 pm


This one is the cheapest option. Purchase your ticket at the ticketing . machine, choose KTM Komuter heading to Sugai Gadut on the Rawang-Sungai Gadut Line. 

Once you’ve reached the BTS station, go upstairs and cross the bridge. It will lead you straight to the main hall of the terminal.

2. By LRT (Light Rail Transit )

Ticket Price    : 1.60RM + 3.20 RM
Journey Time : 6 + 17 minutes
Distance         : 1+1 stations away
Availability      : Every 5 minutes 
First Train       : 6 am
Last Train       : 11.25 pm

Not really a convenient option, since you have to make transit but the availability is high. At KL Sentral, go to Laluan Kelana Jaya platform, then purchase the ticket to Masjid Jamek, heading towards Gombak. Then transit at Masjid Jamek, walk to Sri Petaling Jaya Line towards Putra Height. Buy the ticket (again) that stops at BTS.

3. By KLIA Transit Train

Ticket Price    : 6.50RM
Journey Time : 13 minutes
Distance         : 1 stations away
Availability      : Every 20 minutes

This one the fastest but of course expensive. This the train heading to the airport. Please note that there ara KLIA Transit Train and KLIA Express. Purchase the ticket for the transit one, as the direct one is going directly to the airport without stopping any stations. 

Once you arrived at BTS, go upstairs (or use elevator) and walk through the pedestrian link bridge to the TBS main building. Once you enter the building, you can purchase the ticket at any counter available, all integrated. There’s a big screen for you to see the available bus company, time departure & price.   

The view from the bridge. This area is well developed.

The view if you reached BTS by bus (usually from KLIA or back from Melaka). Below images are the main hall, just pick any counters available, they all are connected. You can see there’s a big screen that stated the arrival & departure buses, which makes planning your trip easier.

IF you just arrived in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

Previously, there are no direct buses from the airport to Malacca. But recently, it is available (Yay!) Go to the lowest part of the building where the bus terminal located. Follow the signage. It is quite confusing, I know, since the building is not as new as KLIA2, but please just ask if you get lost. Once you arrive at the bus terminal, go to the small building across the terminal. They have two buildings for ticketing, and the ones to Malacca is on the other side.


On the other side, there will be several lockets based on the bus company. Usually they put some board which tells you what time they are departure. Or, you can ask them one by one. Once you’ve done comparing price and timing, buy ticket by showing your ID or passport. They will give you the ticket and sometimes you need to ask which & where the platform is.

The bus usually comes 5 minutes before departure. Hop on by showing your ticket to the driver (or the assistant) If you have luggage, put your luggage first then show your ticket, or vice versa. No Problem. Hop on the bus & enjoy!

IF you just arrived in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport2 (KLIA2)

If you arrive with LCC (low cost carrier) flight, you’ll arrive at KLIA2. Same with KLIA, previously there are no direct buses from KLIA2 to Malacca. Even though it KLIA2 is for LCC, but the building is new and the bus terminal is much better and convenient compare to KLIA.

After the immigration, follow the sign to bus stop at the lowest level of the building. You won’t miss it. Then, go to any ticketing locket there on the bus ticket side (the other side is for taxi). Any locket won’t matter coz they have integrated system. Means you can pick the earliest bus or the cheapest one from any locket (see, unlike KLIA which still using old school system). Buy the ticket, and they will give you a print out ticket and show you which gate & platform you should wait, and which seat number you purchased (means no standing passengers).

Bus Ticket to Melaka Sentral

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Inside the buses (different buses). Quite cozy and clean (sometimes, if you’re lucky)

The bus usually comes 5 minutes before departure. Show your ticket and they will rip some part for them and gave the rest to you. Then hop on. 

Once you arrived in Malaka Sentral

All the buses will stop at Malaka Sentral, which is a centralised bus station. The building has two wings, one for intercity buses and the other for domestic buses. Alight your bus then go the other wing of the building. Follow the sign “Bas Domestic” (which is normally you missed). Go to platform #17, destination to Ujong Pasir. The bus name is Panorama Melaka. The bus will go around the city via the red building (bangunan merah), which is a step away from Jonker Walk, where all the touristy spots are located. 

Melaka Sentral has two wings, one for city bus (Bas Domestik), other for intercity bus (Bas Antar Negeri). Look for the signage, and you won’t missed it!

Panorama Melaka is the city bus in Malacca. Go for #17, destination Ujong Pasir (usually the bus painted red). This one will take you to the Jonker Walk / Stadhuys (red buildings).

Hop on by telling the driver where you want to go (tell them jonker) and they will tell you the price (it was RM2 per person the last time I went there in November 2018). Then sit down, if any seats available. Once the bus arrive at bangunan merah, you will notice it since it will be crowded by people. Hit the stop button then alight the bus.

Enjoy Melaka!

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How to get Back To Kuala Lumpur

First, go to Melaka Sentral

Take the bus #17 again. But this time, instead of taking it from the red building, walk through the other side of Jonker Walk (to Jalan Kubu), until you saw a massive gate from stone, signed Jonker Walk. Cross the street and there’s a bus stop there. Wait for the bus.

Or

Bus ticket service in Malacca Sentral. This one is not integrated, unlike the modern TBS in KL. You have to check the departure schedules & prices yourselves. Those informations will be put at the front of each ticketing lockets.

Walk to Jalan Hang Tuah. Just after the Hang Tuah Bridge, in front of University Teknikal Malaysia campus, there’s a bus stop. It’s should be around here.

Once the bus appears, wave your hand to the bus to sign them that you want to get in to that specific bus. Enter from the front door, and tell the driver you want to go to the Melaka Sentral (it’s the last stop) and pay the driver RM1 per person, the driver will give you the ticket, then take a seat (if any available). 

Once you are in Melaka Sentral, alight the bus then go to the other wing or follow the sign “bas Internasional”. There you will see several bus counters according to the bus company. They usually will give some info about the next departures to TBS or KLIA/KLIA 2 on the board in front of their counters.

KLIA or KLIA2

Chose the bus to KLIA/KLIA2 according to your budget or schedule timing. The journey usually took 2 hours. Once you arrive the airport, alight the bus, take your luggage then go upstairs to the departure terminal.

To the City Center? Then Go to TBS 

Chose the bus to KLIA/KLIA2 according to your budget or schedule timing. The journey also took around 2 hours. Once you arrive the TBS, get to the elevator to the main building. To go to the city center of KL, you should go to BTS, which is the other building across the main building, Just walk through the walking bridge that linked these buildings. You may go by bus or train to KL Sentral or Pudu Sentral. 

If you want to know where to stay and which interesting spots in Melaka to visit, please read here.

More about Melaka cuisines, check here for the article and for the videos.

More information, check my video here!