Getting Around

Car Hire

It is advisable to hold an International Driving Permit. Drivers must usually be at least 23 years old and have held a full driving licence for two years. Car hire companies include Avis (tel: 1 800 88 AVIS (2847) or (03) 7628 2317; www.avis.com.my), and Hertz (tel: (03) 2148 6433; www.hertz.com.my).

Public Transport

KL has an efficient and cheap public transport system, overseen by Rapid KL (tel: (03) 7885 2585; www.rapidkl.com.my). Integrated tickets and passes are available on all trains and buses that come under the scheme. English is almost universally spoken, so communication is never a problem. Two cross-city Light Railway Transit (LRT) lines, the Kelana Jaya Rail Line running west from the Putra Terminal via KL Sentral, and the Ampang Rail Line, linking northern and southern suburbs.

There are over 160 bus routes. The most useful for tourists are the 10 City Shuttle services that provide efficient transport around the central area. The KL Monorail (tel: (03) 7885 2585; www.klmonorail.com.my) runs from Titiwangsa to the north to a stop near Kuala Lumpur's Sentral Station.

Taxis

Public Cab (tel: (03) 6259 2020) and Sunlight Taxis (tel: (03) 9057 5757) offer pre-booked cabs, or you can hail them on the street. Taxi ranks are also found throughout the city. Be prepared to haggle over the fare.

Driving in the City

Roads are generally of good standard, but the one-way system can be confusing, and traffic is heavy. The ubiquitous scooters are a constant hazard in the city, and not just to their own riders. Car parks are mainly located at large hotels and city-centre shopping malls.