Malacca, or Melaka, is located on the southwestern coast of Malaysia. It was once a bustling trading hub that attracted numerous traders from all over the world. This is one of the reasons why you can observe diverse architectural styles in the town.
I visited Malacca twice, and I just love it so much. The town is absolutely stunning with ancient houses, colorful mural art, and vibrant streets. The most outstanding area is undoubtedly the Dutch Square, where everything is painted pink. Isn’t that convincing enough to visit this wonderful town?
In this guide, I’m going to show you in detail how to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca by bus.
DISCLOSURE: My articles may contain affiliate links. To click on those links, you won’t be charged any extra cost, instead, you help me to get some small commissions to maintain my blog. Thanks for understanding!
Useful links for your Melaka trip
- Buy 4G Malaysian sim card (KLIA2 pickup) : Click here
- Buy bus tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca: Click here
- Highly-rated hotels in Melaka (below 100RM): Hotel Arissa, Ohana House HQ, Greystone 99 Suites
- Best tours in Melaka: Melaka historical tour with lunch, Melaka & Putrajaya tour from KL
Table of Contents
1. Distance from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca is 121km.
Usually, if there is no traffic jam, it takes only around 2 hours to travel from KL to Melaka.
If you travel during the weekend or holiday, it will take at least 2.5 hours
➡ My Kuala Lumpur travel guide: Read this post
2. How to go from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca by bus?
From Kuala Lumpur, you can go to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) bus station to take the bus to Melaka. Below is all the information you must know before the trip.
How to buy the bus tickets?
You can buy the ticket online or at TBS station.
- Buy online: I find it easy and convenient to buy tickets online because I won’t need to queue at the ticket counter. Based on my experience, I bought the ticket at this link and the trip went well. Note: You’ll need to print out the e-ticket at the counter located below the bus information display board. The process is fast and easy.
- Buy at TBS station: You can buy tickets from KL to Melaka at the ticket vending machines or ticket counters at TBS station. If you need some assistance, reach out to the information counter.
➡ Wanna book a car charter from KL to Melaka? Whatsapp me to get the best price
Which bus operators should you choose?
The bus fare from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca ranges from 10-15RM, depending on which operator you choose.
According to my local friend, KKKL Express and Delima are better options for buses from KL to Melaka as they are newer and more comfortable compared to other local bus companies. For these 2 companies, the ticket price is RM15/person.
From my experience, I bought the KKKL Express bus from this website. My experience was good. The bus was punctual, the chair was large and comfortable. One good thing is that, as I bought the ticket online, I chose the seat in the single-seat row, so I won’t need to sit next to a stranger.
Read more: How to take the Melaka River Cruise
How to go from KL to TBS station?
There are 2 common ways to go from KL to TBS station:
- By Grab: It’s always a good choice to take Grab as it’s fast and affordable. Tips: Remember to ask the driver to drop you off at Gate C (Departure).
- By public transportation: You can take the LRT train (Putra Heights direction) to TBS Station. Here are some LRT stations near KLCC/China Town: Plaza Rakyat, Hang Tuah, and Pudu. You can download the app Moovit to get real-time instructions for public transportation in KL. Note: Remember to get off the train at Chan Sow Lin station and get on the other train from the opposite platform (this LRT line is a little tricky, lesson I leant 😥 ).
KL to Melaka Bus Schedule
Numerous buses are departing from TBS station to Melaka from 3 AM to 11 PM. The bus frequency is about 30 minutes.
Check the bus schedule from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca: Click here or Click here.
➡ Watch my YouTube video about my experience taking the bus from KL to Melaka below:
3. From Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal to your hotel
You can go to your hotel from Melaka Sentral by Grab car or by bus.
By Grab car
This is absolutely the most convenient way to travel around any city in Malaysia, and Malacca is no exception. The price for a Grab ride in Malaysia is pretty affordable. So you don’t have to worry too much about the cost.
By bus
Upon reaching the Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal, you can walk to the Domestic Bus Terminal to find local buses to the Jonker Street area. Here are 2 buses to take: Panorama bus No.17 and Bandaraya bus No.100.
From my experience, I just asked the staff at the information counter which bus I can take to get to Jonker Street, then he pointed to the Bandaraya bus No.100.
➡ Note: The bus fare is RM 1.4 and do prepare the exact amount, otherwise, the bus driver won’t return small changes (the coins) to you.
3. How to go from KL Airport (KLIA) to Malacca by bus
There are 2 terminals in the Kuala Lumpur Airport: KLIA and KLIA2.
The bus stop is located on the Lower Ground Floor at KLIA and on Level 1 at KLIA2.
The bus fare from KLIA/KLIA2 to Malacca is about 25-35RM/person/way.
You can buy tickets at the ticket counter at the bus stop or buy online via this link.
Check the bus schedule from KLIA2 to Malacca: Click here.
➡ Wanna book a car charter from KLIA to Melaka? Whatsapp me to get the best price
Read more: Melaka travel blog – transportation, best things to do, how long to stay
Above is my guide on how to take a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca. I hope you find it helpful and comment below for any questions.
Thanks for reading!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Does Malacca have Grab?
Yes, it does.
In fact, I found it very easy to book a grab car in Malacca.
2. How much is the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca?
The bus tickets from KL to Malacca cost from 10-15RM/person.
3. How long is the journey from KL to Malacca?
It would be 2 hours or less if the traffic is light.
4. Is a day trip to Malacca worth it?
Yes, it totally is, especially for history lovers and those interested in experiencing a blend of cultural influences.
In addition, it’s one of the nearest tourist destinations from KL making it very convenient to visit if you are traveling to KL.
5. How many days in Malacca is enough?
Although a day trip to Malacca is feasible, I would recommend at least 3 days 2 nights so that you can explore more places around the town.
