Wondering how to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur? Or even the other way around – from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
The best way to travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by flight, but if you are on a budget, traveling by bus would be the cheapest option.
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If you’d rather fly to Kuala Lumpur, it will be short and sweet! But, if you want to save money, book your flight in advance as it can be pretty expensive if you’re booking last minute!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The fastest way to travel to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore is by flight.
- The cheapest way to travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by bus.
- The best way to go to KL from Singapore depends on your budget and preferences.
How To Get From Singapore To Kuala Lumpur By Bus
I always use 12GO to book bus tickets in Southeast Asia; this also applies to Singapore to KL bus.
You can also directly head to Golden Mile Complex and book a bus ticket from one of the several bus companies.
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur buses depart super often, so get there early and try to get a bus ticket! As most buses aren’t full, it’s easy to get a spot!
Tips For Booking Your Bus From Singapore To Kuala Lumpur
Here are some things to remember when booking a Singapore to Kuala Lumpur bus ticket.
Pick The Right Bus Stations
When it comes to getting from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by bus, you must make sure you’re booking the right bus station.
Some tickets might appear to be cheaper than others. It is simply because the bus stations aren’t that great.
I’ve been there trying to take the cheapest bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, and it was so complicated in the end that it wasn’t worth it.
Example: the bus was 5 hours late, and the bus stop was very hard to find as it wasn’t a “real” bus station.
In Singapore, you should pick the Golden Mile Complex. It’s the main bus station, and it’s easy to find as all companies have their office on site.
Also, remember that the only toilet around Golden Mile Complex is located at the Caltex Gas Station on the left side of the bus station.
In Kuala Lumpur, you should pick Berjaya Time Square (which will bring you to the city centre) over TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), which is still quite far away from the city centre.
Pick The Right Bus Company
There are no good or bad companies for traveling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by bus. In my opinion, there are pretty much all the same.
Although the experience showed me that I take the cheapest ticket, the bus always gets canceled, and they put me on a later bus, which is time-wasting. I’d rather spend a few dollars more and get there without losing my patience.
Get There Early If You Can
This seems perhaps weird to get there earlier, but this way, you will see how much delay they actually have on their buses.
As most buses are late/canceled, they have fewer buses than expected, so you could hop on the next bus instead of waiting hours for the bus you previously booked.
This being said, if you’re going to catch a flight in Kuala Lumpur, make sure to book a very early bus or book on the previous day to avoid missing your flight.
Singapore To Malaysia Real-Life Example (July 2018)
I booked a bus (the bus company name was Seasons) for 1 PM, and I arrived around 11h20AM as I had to check out of my hostel early anyway. When I reached the Golden Mile Complex, I realized that many people were waiting for the previous bus.
Their bus was supposed to leave at 10h30AM, and they were still waiting. I found a staff member, and I asked if I could go on this bus as I was there early.
He accepted without hesitation since my initial bus was canceled and delayed to 2h30PM.
So the bus left around 11h40AM. We arrived at the Singapore border checkpoint around 12h15PM (it took around 15 minutes as their system is now automated).
Then, we arrived at the Malaysian borders, which is always a bit slower (it took around 30 minutes). They took our fingerprints, and they scanned our luggage. We left around 1h05PM, and we reached Kuala Lumpur around 6 PM.
We stopped a few times along the way, and there was almost no traffic (which was great).
What To Expect From The Bus During Your Trip From Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
The buses are rarely fully booked. They never checked my ticket, which always makes me laugh! As I just mentioned, there are no toilets on the bus, and there’s no Wi-Fi either.
Depending on traffic and bus companies, stops can be quick or long. They do have to do a few toilet breaks as no toilets are on the bus.
Make sure you have Malaysian currency (MYR) with you if you’re planning on buying something to eat on the way (or make sure to bring some snacks) because you might not see any ATMs around these stops.
You can expect to pay around SGD 20 for a bus ticket from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
How To Get From Singapore To Kuala Lumpur By Plane
The flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is only 1 hour, which is the fastest way to get from one city to another.
You can expect to pay around SGD 90 for a one-way ticket if you book in advance (which I advise you to do). We recommend checking your options on AirAsia and Scoot for the most affordable flights.
You will need a passport to take this flight as you will be going through immigration in both countries.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport is located around 55 kilometers from the city center, and you can take a bus, metro, or taxi to get into the city.
I advise you to take the metro train as it is the fastest and most comfortable option. It takes about 38 minutes to reach the city centre
The bus is the cheapest option but is rather long, and the taxi is the most convenient option, but make sure you have cash in hand to pay the driver. I’d recommend using Grab to find a driver.
Where To Stay In Singapore
Finding a decent and affordable in Singapore is super tricky. Every time I looked at cheap options, I stayed in some crappy hostels. I tried many of them, and it always came with disappointment.
Even when I try spending a bit more, it’s still is bad, so the only solution I found is to pay a lot more to have something decent, which means my holidays in Singapore are always super short!
The best hostel I have stayed in so far is DreamLodge, but here are some of the top-rated hostels found in Singapore:
Where To Stay In Kuala Lumpur
Finding a good hostel in Kuala Lumpur is super easy and also cheaper! Personally, I love to stay on what I call the backpacker street.
These hostels are located on that street and are close enough to the Food Night Market and Pub Street. It’s also walkable from Berjaya Time Square (around 10 minute walk). Not a fan of hostels?
Check these awesome Airbnbs (all under $60).
Final Thoughts On Traveling To Kuala Lumpur From Singapore
I hope this guide on how to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur was helpful.
Don’t forget to book your ticket in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the high season!
If you’re traveling in Asia soon, make sure to get an Asia SIM card.
Traveling in Southeast Asia? Read one of the following guides:
