Do you have plans to take the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Malaysia? We visited Melaka on two separate occasions, on a Melaka day tour from Kuala Lumpur and by travelling to Melaka by bus to explore this historic city at a more leisurely pace.
Melaka Tours vs Independent Travel to Melaka
Our first trip to Melaka from Kuala Lumpur was on a day tour. We loved everything about the day tour, we saw a fabulous range of attractions and learnt a lot about the history of this fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Kuala Lumpur to Melaka day tour was perfect for giving a good impression of what Melaka has to offer and is a great choice for anyone on a short visit to Malaysia.
During our tour we were given time to explore on our own and we were instantly captivated by this charming city and wished we could have stayed longer.
Thankfully, we had the opportunity to visit Melaka again. This time we took the KKKL Express bus from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka and stayed for a few days. On this trip we got to visit the Jonker Street weekend night markets and enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
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Is Melaka Worth Visiting?
Melaka or Malacca as it is also known, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is within easy reach of Kuala Lumpur making it a popular tourist destination for anyone visiting Malaysia.
Melaka has its roots in a colonial past with examples of Portuguese, Dutch, and British architectural styles scattered throughout the city. Alongside you will find a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences which give the city its unique charm and character.
Melaka is a 149km drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The journey between the two cities takes around two hours by car depending on traffic.
We begin with an overview of our Melaka day tour. If you are interested in independent travel to Melaka, scroll down to Kuala Lumpur to Melaka by bus.
Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Private Transfer
The most convenient and hassle-free way to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Melaka is to take a door-to-door hotel transfer. This ensures that you arrive safely, ready to explore Melaka to your hearts content.
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Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Tour
Taking a tour from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka is super easy. With hotel pick up and drop off, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the drive to Melaka.
During our tour we strolled along the Melaka River and admired the massive replica of the Flor de la Mar, a 16th-century Portuguese galleon that sits at the entrance to the Maritime Museum of Malacca.
We visited the historic Church of St. Peter Melaka, Red Square and Christ Church Melaka, A Famosa Fort and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
After a delicious lunch of local Nyonya dishes we spent time at leisure exploring the shops and restaurants of Jonker Street.
Church of St. Peter Melaka
The Church of St. Peter Melaka is the oldest functioning Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia.
Red Square and Christ Church Melaka
This colourful square was built by the Dutch in 1650 and was the administrative centre for the Dutch Governors and a prime example of Melaka’s colonial past.
A Famosa Fort
A Famosa Fort is a 16th century Portuguese fort which was captured by the Dutch in 1641. Much of the fort was demolished by the English, with the Porta De Santiago gate being spared.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia. The temple practices Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism teachings.
Jonker Street
Jonker Street is filled with decorative shophouses selling antiques, clothing and cultural souvenirs. There is also an interesting collection of museums, riverside restaurants and coffee shops.
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Kuala Lumpur to Melaka by Bus
Taking the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka involves more planning, but it is a cheaper and more adventurous option than taking a Melaka day tour from Kuala Lumpur.
When booking the bus, keep in mind that there are two bus terminals in Kuala Lumpur. We took the bus to Melaka from the TBS Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan).
The journey from the TBS Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal took just over two hours. The trip may take longer depending on expressway traffic.
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Getting to the TBS Kuala Lumpur Terminal
The TBS Kuala Lumpur bus terminal is a around a 30-minute drive from central Kuala Lumpur depending on traffic.
We caught a Grab taxi from our hotel to the TBS Kuala Lumpur Terminal. Once there we followed the signs up to the multi-story bus station.
KLIA transit train
The Bandar Tasik Selatan train station adjoins the TBS Kuala Lumpur Terminal. Bandar Tasik Selatan is on the KLIA Transit train route from Terminals 1 & 2 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KL Sentral.
This is an ideal option for anyone wanting to visit Melaka before flying out of Malaysia as it allows you to catch the train to the airport from the TBS Kuala Lumpur bus station.
Alternatively, you can visit Melaka first and then catch the KLIA Transit train straight into KL Sentral Station in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. This is especially handy if you are staying at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur or Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur hotels as they are directly across from KL Sentral Station.
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Purchasing Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Bus Tickets
We purchased our KL to Melaka bus tickets online before arriving in Malaysia. We highly recommend this option as it ensures travel on your chosen date.
When booking buses online we usually choose bus lines that provide both departure and arrival station maps. This allows us to research distances from the bus station to our hotel and transport options before we arrive.
After purchasing your tickets, you will be sent a confirmation email which gives further instructions on where and how to retrieve your tickets once at the TBS Kuala Lumpur bus station.
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TBS Kuala Lumpur Terminal
The TBS Kuala Lumpur Terminal is a massive multi story building filled with information boards, ticket offices, convenience stores and restaurants.
Inside you can collect your boarding pass from the allocated ticket kiosk. After collecting your ticket head to the assigned departure gate to wait for your bus. Entry into the departure gate is two hours prior to departure.
Bus arrival and departure announcements are in Malay. Fortunately, there are TV screens with information on the bus line, destination and bus arrival times written in both Malay and English.
Keep an eye on the TV screen for arrival and departure information and confirm with the ticket collector that you are getting on the right bus.
The bus ride from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka is via a busy expressway. Much of the journey passes through residential & retail areas and oil palm plantations.
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Melaka Sentral Terminal
Melaka Sentral Terminal is a rabbit warren of shops, restaurants and ticket counters. Though there are signs showing the way to go we still found it a confusing place to navigate.
On our return trip to Kuala Lumpur, we made sure to give ourselves plenty of time to find the right ticket counter to collect our bus ticket. Melaka Sentral Terminal has a designated taxi pick up and drop off area outside the building.
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Last Words on Kuala Lumpur to Melaka Malaysia – Travel Options
We hope this article has helped you find the right Kuala Lumpur to Melaka travel option for you.
If you have time we recommend staying in Melaka for at least two days. This will give you time to soak up the historic atmosphere, take a Melaka River cruise and watch the sunset from a riverside restaurant.
Have you visited Melaka? Which travel option did you take? Feel free to comment we would love to hear from you.
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