✈️ Entry to Malaysia
As
of August 1, 2022, Malaysia has lifted all COVID-19 travel
restrictions. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are allowed
to enter the country freely.
Several
airlines operate direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar,
including:
- Malaysia Airlines
- Batik Air Malaysia
- AirAsia
💡 Flight duration: ~3 hours
💡 Prices: ~IDR 700,000 to 1,200,000+ depending on airline and season.
🛂 Entry Requirements
- Visa-free entry for many nationalities including Indonesia (30–90 days depending on passport).
- Visa-on-arrival: Not required for most ASEAN countries.
- Passport Validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months at time of entry.
- Return/onward ticket: Recommended, often checked by airlines rather than immigration.
- Arrival form: You may need to fill out a form, which could be requested at immigration.
📱 Internet & SIM Cards
Telkomsel Roaming (Indonesian SIM users)
Telkomsel's
roaming service works well in Malaysia:
- Open the Telkomsel app
- Go to Shop > Roaming > Malaysia Package
- Example: 15 GB for 3 days = 150,000 IDR
- Packages available from 1 to 30 days
Local SIM Card Options (For Tourists)
If
you prefer a Malaysian SIM card, expect to pay:
- 20–30 MYR (about 106,000 IDR) for 3–8 GB of data
- Available operators: Celcom, Maxis, Digi, TuneTalk
- SIM card booths are located at the airport, including before passport control, so you can purchase one right after landing.
🚖 Getting from KLIA2 Airport to Kuala Lumpur
🚗 Taxi & Ride-Hailing Apps
- Taxi is a convenient option for groups of up to 4 people.
- Gojek is technically available in Malaysia but has limited service—not recommended.
- Grab works very well and is widely used.
- You can link your bank card to the app or pay with cash.
- Estimated cost to the city center: 60–70 MYR (~$14–16 / ~250,000 IDR).
🚆 Train: KLIA Ekspres & KLIA Transit
These trains connect KLIA & KLIA2 with KL Sentral (the main transport hub in Kuala Lumpur).
- KLIA Ekspres: Direct, non-stop service to/from KL Sentral
- KLIA Transit: Same route, but with intermediate stops
⏰ Schedule:
- First train: 5:00 AM
- Last train: 12:40 AM
- Runs every 15–20 minutes
- Journey duration: 30–35 minutes
💸 Ticket Prices:
- Adults (15+): 55 MYR (~195,000 IDR)
- Children (6–15): 25 MYR
- Children under 6: Free
- Family Package (2 adults + 2 children): 40 MYR per adult, 20 MYR per child
- Group (3+ adults): 40 MYR per adult
🚌 Bus
Budget-friendly and convenient.
- Buses depart every 20 minutes, from 3:00 AM to 12:30 AM
- Travel time to city center: ~1 hour
- You can get off at KL Sentral, then take a taxi or metro
💸 Bus Fare:
- 13 MYR
💳 Withdrawing Cash & Using Bank Cards
- ATMs are plentiful, including CIMB Bank, Maybank, AmBank, and others.
- Cash is dispensed in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) only.
- Permata Bank cards are widely accepted, though:
- Cash withdrawals may incur a fee (usually around 4%).
- The fee is shown on-screen before the transaction is confirmed.
💱 Currency Exchange in Kuala Lumpur
In Malaysia, all payments must be made in the local
currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
While some vendors may accept foreign currency for large purchases, it’s not
recommended—the exchange rate will be poor,
and change will always be given in Ringgit.
Money exchange services are known as "Money Changers", and you’ll
find them marked with clear signage.
💵
Exchange Rate as of Early 2024:
- USD Buying: ~4.65 MYR
- USD Selling: ~4.80 MYR
🔁
Tip: Avoid exchanging money if the
difference between buying and selling rates exceeds 0.30 MYR.
✅ Recommended Money Changers
Jalinan Duta
& Antara Duit are known for
competitive rates and reliability.
📍 Jalinan Duta
Locations:
📍 Antara Duit
Locations:
🚗 Car Rental & Car Sharing in Kuala Lumpur
🧾 Requirements
- A valid home-country driver’s license
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) (mandatory for most foreign licenses)
- Passport
- A credit or debit card (for deposit/payment)
❗ Note: Some rental agencies may require drivers to be 23+ years old
with at least 1–2 years of driving experience.
🚙 Traditional Car Rental
- Rental counters are located at KLIA, KLIA2, and within the city.
- Brands include: Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Mayflower, Hawk and more.
- 7-day rental prices range from 500 to 1,500 MYR (~$110–330 USD), depending on car type (compact, SUV, etc.)
🚗 Driving in Malaysia is on the left side of the road.
📱 Car Sharing Apps in Kuala Lumpur
Several convenient apps offer hourly or daily car
rentals. Here are the top three:
1. SOCAR
- Available on Google Play & App Store
- Hourly or daily rental + KM top-up packages
- Fuel reimbursed with receipts
- Insurance included
- Payment: Credit/debit card or GrabPay
- Locations: Available at major malls, train stations, residential complexes
2. Trevo
- Available on
Google Play & App Store
- Peer-to-peer car rental (like Airbnb for cars)
- Daily and weekly rentals
- Insurance included
- Fuel not reimbursed
- Payment: Credit/debit cards
- You book from individual car owners (more flexible, but some variability)
🔄
Account System: SOCAR & Trevo
- SOCAR acquired Trevo, so accounts are linked.
- If approved in one, you're approved in both.
- If verification is rejected on one, it applies to the other.
3. GoCar
- Available on Play Store & App Store
- Hourly rental + optional kilometer top-up packages
- Fuel reimbursed with receipts
- Insurance included
- Known for its user-friendly app and wide coverage
⚠️ For all apps, a small deposit or pre-authorization may be
required.
🚇 Metro System in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala
Lumpur has a convenient and extensive metro
network, which includes underground
and aboveground lines.
🚆 Transit Systems
- MRT – Mass Rapid Transit (modern, fast)
- LRT – Light Rail Transit (older lines)
- Monorail – Short inner-city route
- KTM Komuter – Longer suburban commuter rail
🎟️ Ticketing
- Single-ride tokens from machines
- Touch ‘n Go card – reloadable contactless card, also usable for buses and some shops
- MyRapid passes for daily, weekly, or monthly travel
- Best for commuters or extended stays
- Machines accept coins & small notes only (RM 1, 5, 10)
- Use the cashier counter to exchange large bills
🔄 Transfers
- Some transfers require exiting one system and entering another
- In such cases, you may need to buy a new token
- Distances between lines can be long in certain stations (e.g., KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek)
💬 Assistance
- Station staff speak English and are helpful
- Info is posted in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and often Mandarin
🚌 Free Tourist Bus: GoKL
Right
outside the Pasar Seni metro station
(near Chinatown), you'll find a GoKL bus
stop.
- GoKL is a free city bus service for tourists and locals
- Stops at key landmarks: Chinatown, KLCC, Bukit Bintang, KL Tower
- 🚌 Look for color-coded routes (Purple, Blue, Red, Green)
- Operates daily, ~6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Offers air conditioning + free Wi-Fi
- Stops at major metro stations, including Pasar Seni (near Chinatown)
🏨 Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur (Short-Term Travel)
Choosing the right
accommodation and neighborhood can make a big difference in how
enjoyable and convenient your stay in Kuala Lumpur will be.
📍 Key Considerations
- Location: Staying within a 2.5 km radius of Petronas Twin Towers or Menara KL (KL Tower) is ideal for walkability and access to attractions. Areas beyond that (especially south and west) may have fewer pedestrian-friendly streets and limited transit access.
- Building height: In KL’s central business district (CBD), high-rise buildings are the norm. Higher floors (20th and above) often offer better views and less traffic noise.
🏙️ Best Neighborhoods to Stay In
- Bukit Bintang: A vibrant shopping and entertainment district. Great for nightlife, dining, malls (Pavilion KL, Lot 10), and close to the MRT & Monorail.
- Chow Kit: A more local and budget-friendly area, slightly north of the city center. Close to markets and transport but quieter than Bukit Bintang.
- Other good alternatives: KLCC, Brickfields (Little India), and Kampung Baru (for culture lovers).
🏨 Recommended Hotels & Apartments
Note that prices fluctuate
depending on the season.
🔍
Always check cleaning/service fees and
cancellation policies on platforms like Booking.com.
🛏️ Budget Hostels & Guesthouses
⚠️ Tourist Tax in Malaysia
- A tourism tax of MYR 10 per room per night applies to foreign visitors staying in registered accommodations (hotels, hostels, etc.).
- In effect since Jan 1, 2023, payable at check-in or check-out, even if booked online.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Kuala Lumpur
🍛 Budget-Friendly Local Eateries
Malaysian-Indian restaurants offer delicious and
inexpensive meals.
Try: Restoran Yusoof dan
Zakhir (next to Masjid Jamek)
Menu highlights:
- Roti Canai – flaky flatbread
- Teh Tarik – sweet “pulled” tea
- Nasi Kandar, Mee Goreng, and naan dishes
Meals cost 5–15
MYR (~$1.10–3.30 USD)
🏢 Food Courts in Malls
- Most malls like Pavilion KL, Suria KLCC, Lot 10, Nu Sentral, and Mid Valley Megamall have spacious, clean food courts with local, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes.
- Malls also have supermarkets with fresh fruit, bakery items, and ready-to-eat meals.
✅ Central Market (near Chinatown) – The second floor has a quiet,
air-conditioned food court. A hidden gem!
🌃 Jalan Alor – Night Market Experience
Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang is one of KL’s most famous food streets.
A must-visit for:
- BBQ seafood
- Satay skewers
- Durians (seasonal)
- Chinese stir-fries
- Local desserts and juices
Open daily from 5 PM to late night (midnight or later).
You'll need at least a day or two in Chinatown to try all the food there. Then, it's great to visit Chow Kit, near the Vitra store. There are several cool cultural venues like Rex KL, Godown Art Centre, and Zhongshan Building. You can find them on Instagram; they often host events such as exhibitions, markets, film screenings, and raves — everything that Bali is missing. Spend a day exploring Little India and another day in Bukit Bintang for shopping.