Arriving in Kuala Lumpur by Road

Expressway signages in Kuala Lumpur (2 January, 2010)


Kuala Lumpur has the best road infrastructure in Malaysia, and one of the best in Southeast Asia. I say "one of the best" because despite all the expressways being constructed in the city, Kuala Lumpur still suffers from perennial traffic jams.

A common grievance among locals and visitors alike are the unforgiving road system - if you miss a turn, you have to cover a long distance before you have a chance to turn back. Another complaint is that, within the city centre, road signs are often posted right at the junction, giving motorists who are not familiar with the roads little chance to make the turn until it is too late.

Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling city. The urban area spills out of the Federal Territory to cover much the Klang Valley. Quite often, you have to travel a long time on the road to get anywhere. Having said all the above, I have to admit that it is still quite a joy driving in Kuala Lumpur compared to a few other Asian cities. There are certainly fewer motorcycles compared to Penang. Its expressways are well signaged (as opposed to city streets), with numbered exits that correspond to the expressway numbers. However, with expressways come another grievance: paying to pay toll is now a way of life in Kuala Lumpur.

Where from are you arriving in Kuala Lumpur by road?

I have created three different pages to describe your arriving in Kuala Lumpur, depending on your direction:

Back to Discover Kuala Lumpur; return to Tips for Visiting Kuala Lumpur