Many travelers, us included for this most recent visit to Malaysia, begin their visit to Malaysia at the international airport in Kuala Lumpur. And if you’re traveling on a budget airline like AirAsia, that means you’ll be landing at KLIA2. And while we spent a night at KLIA2 – in the fabulous Tune Hotel – we weren’t planning on visiting Kuala Lumpur this time, so we needed to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh. A night at the airport meant that we had all of the following day to get to Ipoh and so we investigated the different options for transport between KLIA2 and Ipoh, so here’s our guide on how to get to Ipoh from KLIA2.
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BEST WAY TO TRAVEL

Take the KL Express + Train to Ipoh
Book tickets for the KL Express HERE
And the train from KL Sentral to Ipoh HERE
If you don’t plan on visiting the city of Kuala Lumpur immediately after landing at KLIA2 and want to go straight to Ipoh then there are several transport options for this route. We arrived, fresh from two weeks in the Maldives, landing at KLIA2 in the early evening. And while we could have headed into KL and stayed there for the evening it made sense to us to stay at the airport – in the great Tune Hotel – and begin our journey to Ipoh directly from KLIA2 the following day.
KLIA and KLIA2 are located to the South of Kuala Lumpur, which means that traveling as the crow flies you’ll need to go through Kuala Lumpur to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh. And that, along with KL traffic and road systems can be a problem.
Where is Ipoh
Ipoh is located on the River Kinta, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) to the north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. It’s the capital of the Malaysian State of Perak and is Malaysia’s third-largest city (although it doesn’t feel like a big city at all!). Ipoh is a good place to visit en route from Kuala Lumpur to George Town and the island of Penang.
How to Go from KLIA2 to Ipoh – Transport Options
In this guide on how to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel from KLIA2 to Ipoh, the easiest way to go to Ipoh from KLIA2, and the cheapest way to get to Ipoh from KLIA2, as well the route that we took from KLIA2 to Ipoh.
How to get to Ipoh from KLIA2
For transport from Ipoh to KLIA2, you have several options. The most convenient is to take a direct transfer, and this is also the most expensive option, however, I’ve included it, as if you’re short on time, then actually while it’s the most expensive way to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh, it’s not break the bank expensive.
There are also a few direct buses that go from KLIA2 to Ipoh, which is the cheapest way to go to Ipoh from KLIA2. Some of these buses are large 38-seater buses, others are smaller minivans, taking 14-17 people. These obviously have limited seats and it’s recommended to book it as soon as you have your flight details. These buses depart usually up to 13 times a day from KLIA2 to go to Ipoh.
And then next, there’s a combination of two trains that you can take, this isn’t a combination ticket, but two separate tickets that you buy, and you’re responsible for your transfer. This is the route that we took (and I’ll explain why), and it was an enjoyable journey.
Taking a Taxi or Transfer from KLIA2 to Ipoh
Taking a private taxi to Ipoh from KLIA2 is the fastest way to go to Ipoh. You’ll be met outside arrivals and dropped off directly at your accommodation in Ipoh. It is the most comfortable way to travel. You can check prices for KLIA2 to Ipoh taxis here. It can take as little as 2 hours and 45 minutes to go by taxi from KLIA2 to Ipoh.
Schedule your trip from KLIA2 to Ipoh here.
KLIA2 to Ipoh Bus
The first and probably most important thing to know about the bus from KLIA2 to Ipoh is that you’ll get it directly at KLIA2. The second is that these buses drop off at the Terminal Meru Raya (Ipoh Amanjaya) in Ipoh. This bus terminal is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) to the north of Ipoh Old Town, which is where most visitors will be staying, and visiting. You can see exactly where it is on our map.
There are buses that run from the bus terminal to central Ipoh You can get a taxi or Grab (Grabs from the Terminal Meru Raya (Ipoh Amanjaya) to the Ipoh Old Town cost between 15 and 30 MYR). Perak Transit runs buses from the Meru Raya Terminal to the Medan Kidd Bus Station (which is near the old town). You’ll need bus number T30a or T30b, they cost 2-3 MYR and take about 30 minutes. This bus service from Meru Raya Terminal to Medan Kidd Bus Station operates from 06:00 until 21:00 (ish). You can pay on the Perak buses with cash.
It’s about 200 kilometers (120 miles) by road from KLIA2 to Ipoh (the buses from KLIA2 pick you up from outside the arrivals area and drop you off at the Meru Raya Terminal in Ipoh). There are 13 buses a day that run this route, so you should be able to find one that coincides with your flight arrival time. Don’t forget to complete the digital Malaysian Immigration Form that’s now replaced the paper forms before your arrival in Malaysia, to save time in immigration! (there are more details on the form here)
Buses from KLIA2 to Ipoh are run by two companies, YOYO Express and Starmart Express and you can check the timetables of these buses here.
The first bus from KLIA2 to Ipoh leaves KLIA2 at 02:00 and the last bus to Ipoh from KLIA2 leaves at 23:30! It’s pretty much a round-the-clock operation. You should prebook, otherwise you’ll potentially be waiting several hours for the next bus to depart.
Timetable of buses from KLIA2 to Ipoh
Buses leave KLIA2 for Ipoh at 02:00, 06:30, 07:30, 09:00, 11:30, 12:15, 13:45, 14:00, 17:45, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, and 23:30. There may be some timetable changes during Ramadan, you should check well in advance if you’re traveling at that time.
You don’t need to print a ticket for buses from KLIA2 to Ipoh, you can use an electronic ticket from your online booking from KLIA2 to Ipoh.
Online booking of buses to Ipoh from KLIA2 lets you select which seats you want and that’s a good thing as some seats are better than others for legroom and also for seeing the sights along the way, if you’re traveling during daylight hours!
Check availability, and prices, and book seats on buses from KLIA2 to Ipoh here.
KLIA2 to Ipoh Trains
To take the train from KLIA2 to Ipoh, you actually need to take two trains (woo hoo!). The first is to get from KLIA2 to the main train station at KL Sentral.
KLIA2 to KL Sentral Train – the KL Express
For this, take the KL Express. KL Express runs from right outside arrivals at KLIA2 and goes to KL Sentral in 30 minutes. It’s super quick, clean, and easy with free WiFi onboard.
You can save time at the terminal by pre-booking your tickets from KLIA2 to KL Sentral here.
The first train from KLIA2 to KL Sentral is at 04:55 and the last train to KL Sentral from KLIA2 is at MIDNIGHT. Trains run every 20 minutes. Buy a ticket for KL Express from KLIA2 to KL Sentral here.
Tickets are open date and open time, so you don’t need to commit to a time. You just turn up, use the booking QR code on your phone and scan through. If you buy tickets for more than one person, then simply hand the phone to the next person to scan through on the next QR code. It’s really easy and quick to do.
KL Sentral to Ipoh Train
The big benefit for us of taking the train from KLIA2 to Ipoh was that the train station in Ipoh is very close to the old town. And it was an easy 20-minute walk to the apartment that we rented for our time in Ipoh.
Trains to Ipoh depart from KL Sentral and make several stops, including at Kuala Lumpur. DON’T make the mistake of booking a ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh if you’re traveling from KLIA2 to Ipoh, as that is NOT KL Sentral and the KL Express does NOT go to Kuala Lumpur, but only to KL Sentral.
You can use Busonlineticket to book train tickets from KL Sentral to Ipoh. Now these ARE timed tickets and you select seats as well. Our train from KL Sentral to Ipoh was fully booked. We booked our tickets three weeks in advance – as soon as we knew the details of our flight into Malaysia.
There are FIVE trains a day that go from KL Sentral to Ipoh. Check what you’re booking carefully, as it also displays Kuala Lumpur as well as KL Sentral. And I repeat, it’s KL SENTRAL to IPOH that you want.
The first train from KL Sentral to Ipoh is at 08:47 and the last train to Ipoh from KL Sentral is at 21:40. The train from KL Sentral to Ipoh takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Check availability and times on KL SENTRAL to Ipoh trains here.
Our Trip from KLIA2 to Ipoh
We arrived at KLIA2 from the Maldives early evening and headed straight to the Tune Hotel which is attached to the airport by a covered walkway (after getting some cash from one of the ATMS outside the arrivals area). The Tune Hotel is great, with super food options, a great comfortable bed, quiet, and a good shower, and our room rate came with an included buffet breakfast. It’s definitely recommended. You can check rates and availability here.
KLIA2 to KL Sentral – via the KL Express
We’d booked our train from KL Sentral to Ipoh for 11:32 the following morning, figuring we’d have a leisurely start. So after breakfast at the Tune Hotel, we walked the 3-4 minutes back through the covered walkway to KLIA2 to the KL Express station.

We scanned our tickets that we’d prebought, at the automated barrier.

We then went downstairs to get on the train to KL Sentral where the platform is clearly signed to KL Sentral.

The train was about 15% full, and clean, with good WiFi and loads of free seats,

There was also plenty of luggage storage space above some of the seats and at the end of the carriage too.

Arriving at KL Sentral
We arrived at KL Sentral, where there are more ATMs should you need some cash just after you exit the KL Express barriers. We headed to the main stairway and went UPSTAIRS to the second floor, where the waiting area is for trains at the moment. It took less than 5 minutes to go from the KL Express exit to the waiting area for the train to Ipoh. They’re doing some track work right now, so they call you through to a holding area one train at a time and then lead you back downstairs to the first floor and through to the trains. It sounds and looks like chaos, but is actually well organized.
There’s a sign outside the waiting area saying which passengers are in the “holding pen”, and they also call it out. Your train number is under the QR code on your ticket. These trains are all seated. There’s no standing, so tickets ARE limited. Book yours now.
Each coach has a letter (we were in coach E), and you have a seat number which is clearly labeled on both your ticket and on the train. There’s luggage storage behind seats and on an overhead rack. Our Osprey backpacks went up there easily.
Blinds on the windows will keep out the wickedly hot sun, but the A/C in the train is pretty effective too.

We arrived in Ipoh on time – the station names are clear on all the platforms of the stops that you go through, and there are also announcements on the train as to what the next stop is.
When you arrive in Ipoh you can easily walk to the old town area, or taxis are waiting out the front of the train station or you can call a Grab. Grabs are seriously cheap here.
Map of Bus Stops and Train Stations for going from KLIA2 to Ipoh
You can also see full map of the train stations and bus stops from KLIA2 to Ipoh here

Popular Routes in Malaysia
Traveling around Malaysia? Here’s some of the most popular routes and the best ways to go between these places.
- How to go from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
- How to go from Penang to Cameron Highlands
- How to go from Krabi to Langkawi
- How to go from Langkawi to Penang
- How to go from Cameron Highlands to Melaka
- How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- How to go from Labuan to Brunei
- How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan Island
- How to go from Brunei to Miri
- How to go from Ipoh to Penang
- KLIA2 to Ipoh – buses, transfers and trains
- How to go to George Town from Ipoh
- How to go from Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolok
- How to go from Singapore to the Perhentian Islands
- Penang to Langkawi
- How to go from Melaka to Kuala Lumpur
The quickest way to get from KLIA2 to Ipoh
The quickest way to get to Ipoh from KLIA2 is to take a private, direct transfer or taxi. It takes, depending on traffic, as little as 2 hours and 45 minutes to go to Ipoh from KLIA2 and you can book tickets from KLIA2 to Ipoh here.
The easiest way to go to Ipoh from KLIA2
The easiest way to get from KLIA2 to Ipoh again depends on where you are staying in Ipoh. It is easiest to get a door-to-door transfer, but that might be out of your price range. Take a look at our map and decide if this is the best option for you, or if the bus or train combination works best for you.
The cheapest way to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh
The cheapest way to get to Ipoh from KLIA2 is to take a bus– reserve your seats here. Don’t forget that you’ll have to plan to get from the bus station in Ipoh to your hotel.
The best way to go from KLIA2 to Ipoh
I’d never been on a train in Malaysia and so that combined with the location of the train station in Ipoh (and its proximity to the apartment we rented), meant that for us, taking the KL Express and then the KTM train from KLIA2 to Ipoh was the best way to travel.
You can book the KL Express tickets here
And book the train from KL Sentral to Ipoh here.
Malaysia Travel Tips
- Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
- Get online immediately with an eSIM for Malaysia.
- Complete your Malaysia Digital Arrivals Card – this replaces the paper based card as of November 2023.
- Arriving by air? Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.
- Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Malaysia > discount coupon here
- Book the best Malaysia tours and guides on Klook
- Save money in Malaysia with a Wise debit card
- Book Buses in Malaysia with BusonlineTicket
- Book accommodation in Malaysia with Booking
Final Words on How to Go from KLIA2 to Ipoh
The trip from KLIA2 to Ipoh is an easy one, and you have several options, from a direct transfer, which is best if you’re short on time, to a bus that takes you to the Ipoh inter-city bus terminal, or a combination of the KL Express and a train from KL Sentral, which takes you to the well-located Ipoh train station in just a couple of hours.
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