Joanna James
Tipped to be one of the easiest cities to navigate using public transport in Asia, Kuala Lumpur is only second to Singapore in terms of the efficiency of its local transfer options. Affordable and easy to use, the extensive MRT network in the Malaysian capital can be used to travel to nearly every corner of the bustling metropolis. From walking around and hopping on a bus to taking a train to the Batu Caves, here's how to get from Point A to Point B during a getaway in KL.
Those who love to walk around foreign cities will find that Kuala Lumpur is a very pedestrian-friendly city. Although the city's sidewalks are not too wide and often crowded with locals, it is possible to walk around and sightsee some of Kuala Lumpur's most popular tourist areas and highlights. In fact, the distance between major landmarks, shopping districts and food streets is not too extreme so one can technically walk to most points of interest without hassle. There are occasional sidewalk closures and road obstacles due to construction, however, that travellers must be mindful of.
Cyclists will be disappointed to find that biking is not a great way to get around KL. The lack of respect for road rules and the limited space available for cyclists on most major highways and byways can make it quite dangerous to use peddle power in Kuala Lumpur although one can bike around local neighbourhoods and less touristy areas of the city.
MRT and the LRT are considered the most convenient means of travel available to tourists and locals in KL, and nothing beats the speed and reliability of the city's monorail and light rail train services. The KTM Komuter trains and the RapidKL LRT is made up of a network of more than a hundred separate stations and the KL Monorail is connected to an additional 11 stations that cover most of the city centre. Those who are heading to the lyf Raja Chulan Kuala Lumpur or their guestrooms at a Jalan Raja Chulan hotel can board the KLIA Ekspres trains from the airport terminal and travel to their accommodation hub. Tourists can buy travel passes valid for a specific number of hours or days at any station to ride both the MRT and the LRT trains while those who wish to buy an ordinary pass can top up the value as they explore KL.
Although buses in KL may not be as comfortable or as fast as the subway trains, getting around by bus is the least expensive way to explore the Malaysian capital. Backpackers and budget travellers will marvel at the low fares but will have to contend with heavy traffic jams and crowded buses full of working professionals on most days.
Red in colour, these double-decker buses are officially known as the KL Hop-On Hop-Off Buses and are used primarily to offer travellers a way to hit the major landmarks in the city in one go. The route, which includes 22 stops, covers all the main highlights of the city and is available from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. The tour also includes commentary in 8 languages and a single ticket will enable travellers to hop on and hop off as they please.
As the most expensive way to get around in KL, taxis should only be used in the case of an emergency or when one is in a particular hurry. Most cabs are not metered and there are many drivers who are intent on swindling tourists into paying more than the actual cost of the ride.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
