The Kuala Lumpur MRT card Tips

Once you arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the most convenient way to get around the city is by taking the Express Train. You can easily use your credit card or cash (ringgit) even if you don’t have a public transport card. It’s a quick and comfortable way to get to KL Sentral. Once you get off at the airport, you can take the Express Train without a public transport card by paying with your credit card or Malaysian currency, and it will take you all the way to KL Sentral. However, you won’t be able to call Grab anymore.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic: Grab vs. Public Transport

Grab is convenient, but considering the traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur, I can’t recommend it. In my experience, there are serious traffic jams about 5 times a day. Especially during rush hour (starting at 8-9am) and every 3 hours during rush hour. If you wait for Grab, you’ll usually have to wait for more than 40 minutes. Rush hour also changes depending on the Islamic prayer times. If you take the subway, you will arrive at the hotel by the time you wait for Grab.

purchasing to recharging the Kuala Lumpur MRT card Tips only locals know

This is a card that even locals want to get. When I first got it and showed it to a local, he asked me how I got it. It was such a precious card. If you don’t know about it, you can’t get it, so only those who know can get it. A must-have for traveling in Kuala Lumpur, the public transportation card! Be careful because it is hard to get it in KL Sentral.

I will share some tips that I found: Buy it at a station a little away from KL Sentral. If you buy a pre-charged card, you can use it right away. This card is hard even for locals to get, so make sure to get it!

Advantages of using the subway

In fact, if you give 25 or 50 ringgit at the airport before arriving at KL Sentral, you can get a 3-day or 5-day free pass. However, if you are a long-term traveler like me, it would be difficult to buy this. Because you can only use it for a short period of time. However, the reason why it is better to buy this pass for a short trip is because it is a better choice than Grab because the waiting time for Grab is at least 30-40 minutes.

And the subway is a strong companion for traveling in Kuala Lumpur. You can move quickly without worrying about traffic congestion, and you can enjoy cool air conditioning to avoid the heat.

Precautions when using the bus

This public transportation card is sold anywhere in the subway, but if you buy it at a station a little further away from KL Sentral Station and its surrounding stations, you can get it anywhere. When I bought the card, I bought a public transportation card that had money pre-loaded, so I could use it right away without having to recharge it. Since the amount you have to pay is the same anyway, I recommend buying a pre-loaded card. And the staff also recommends a pre-loaded card.

Important information! You can only use the public transportation card on the bus. Cash cannot be used, so make sure to prepare the card. This is essential to avoid being refused boarding.

Tips for Short-Term vs. Long-Term Travelers

In fact, there are so many tourists visiting Kuala Lumpur that it is really hard to get a card to use this public transportation at KL Sentral MRT.

There are always too few cards placed there, and when I asked for a card to use public transportation, it took too long for the staff to know which card it was. Because they have to deal with too many complaints and are too busy. - Short-term travelers: Recommended to purchase a 3-day pass (RM25) or 5-day pass (RM50) at the airport.

Long-term travelers: It is more economical to purchase a general public transportation card

Additional travel information from JonesGo

If you want more Kuala Lumpur travel tips and information, please visit my YouTube channel, "Jones Go's Travel Story"! It is full of vivid information that only locals can know.

Kuala Lumpur subway line guide

Kuala Lumpur's subway system is largely composed of LRT (Light Rail Transit) and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). It is important to understand this route map well to efficiently tour major tourist attractions.

LRT Kelana Jaya Line: Easy access to KLCC and Bukit Bintang areas

MRT Kajang Line: Connects Bukit Bintang, Pavilion Shopping Mall, etc.

In my experience, the most used route by tourists is the LRT Kelana Jaya Line. When you get off at KLCC Station, you can see the Petronas Twin Towers right away. Here it is!

How to top up your public transport card Tips only locals know

Once you’ve purchased your card, you need to know how to top it up. Topping up is very simple:

Find a ticket booth or automatic charger inside a subway station.

Select the amount you want and pay with cash or card.

Tap your card on the machine to complete the top-up!

Tip: During rush hour, charging stations are crowded, so top up your card in advance when you have time.

Tips for using Kuala Lumpur buses

Bus is useful for going to places that the subway doesn’t reach.

However, there are some things to keep in mind

GO KL City Bus: Free shuttle bus that goes around major areas in the city. You can use it without a public transport card!

Regular buses: You must pay with your public transport card. No cash!

Be sure to check the route map at the bus stop. The actual information may differ from Google Maps.

Precautions when traveling Kuala Lumpur MRT card Tips at night 

When traveling late at night, be especially careful about safety

If possible, we recommend taking the subway. The last bus is usually around midnight.

When using Grab, always check the vehicle number. - Avoid walking alone late at night.

JonesGo Special Tip: Finding Local Restaurants

When using public transportation, you can find restaurants that only locals know about! Let me introduce one of the restaurants that I discovered by chance:

'Nasi Lemak Village Park' near Kampung Baru Station. The nasi lemak here is amazing. It's a hidden restaurant that can be easily accessed by public transportation!

Guys, if you use public transportation in Kuala Lumpur well, you can find many hidden gems like this. If you want to know more Kuala Lumpur travel tips and hidden attractions, subscribe to my YouTube channel, Jones Go! I will make your trip even more special with vivid information that only locals know.