Getting There and Around in Ipoh
Part of the Ipoh travel guide — see every topic in All Ipoh Guides.
Ipoh is the easiest heritage city in Malaysia to reach. The electric train — the ETS — runs from Kuala Lumpur in about two and a quarter hours and from Butterworth, for Penang, in about two, arriving at a 1917 Moorish-revival station in the middle of the old town. That single fact makes Ipoh a natural stop on any peninsular Malaysia itinerary, and it is why the city has become a weekend destination for Kuala Lumpur in the last decade.
The train
KTM's Electric Train Service runs frequently from KL Sentral to Ipoh in roughly two hours fifteen minutes and from Butterworth in about two, at 25–60 ringgit depending on class and service. It is comfortable, air-conditioned, punctual and cheap, and it delivers you into the old town rather than a suburban terminal. Book online in advance for weekends and holidays, when services fill. There are also slower and cheaper intercity trains, and the line continues north to Padang Besar on the Thai border.
By road and air
Express buses run from Kuala Lumpur's Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in three to four hours for 25–40 ringgit, and from Penang, Cameron Highlands and Taiping. Driving from Kuala Lumpur on the North–South Expressway takes about two and a half hours. Sultan Azlan Shah Airport has limited services, mostly to Singapore and Johor Bahru, and most air visitors arrive via Kuala Lumpur or Penang. For the Cameron Highlands, buses go via Simpang Pulai in about two hours.
Around the city
The old town is compact and flat, and walking is the right way to see it — the heritage buildings, the murals and the cafes fit in a couple of square kilometres. New Town, across the Kinta river, holds much of the food and is a ten-minute walk or a short ride. Grab covers everything at 8–25 ringgit within the city and 12–30 to the cave temples on the outskirts. A free heritage shuttle bus has run at times. Car hire is 100–180 a day and is only needed for the wider Perak trips.
Practicalities
Ipoh sits in a valley and is hot — noticeably hotter than the coast — so walk before ten and after four. The old town and New Town are separated by the river and a ten-minute walk, which catches people out when the restaurant they want is on the other side. Weekends bring Kuala Lumpur and Singapore visitors in numbers, filling hotels and the famous food shops; midweek is a different and much quieter city. And book the train, not the bus.
Getting There and Around at a glance
| From Kuala Lumpur | ETS train, ~2 h 15, RM 25–60 |
|---|---|
| From Penang | ETS from Butterworth, ~2 h |
| Arrives at | The 1917 station, in the middle of the old town |
| Bus from KL | 3–4 h, RM 25–40 |
| In the city | Walkable; Grab RM 8–25, RM 12–30 to the cave temples |
| Note | Weekends fill with KL and Singapore visitors |