Ipoh Transport Service And Getting Around Ipoh

Even though Ipoh is the third most populated city in Malaysia, there are surprisingly not many transport and tour services in Ipoh!

The locals rely on using their own cars or motorcycles. For tourists, getting around means taking a bus, taxi, or tour service. Or renting a car. You can explore Ipoh Old Town on foot.

Which option is for you? Find out in this post as we compare the available transportation methods!

Table Of Contents:

  1. Bus
  2. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
  3. Grab Or Taxi
  4. Car Rental Service
  5. Electric Scooter
  6. Ipoh On Foot
  7. Transport And Tour Service

1. Public Transport – Bus

The local public bus system in Ipoh is known as myBAS by Perak Transit. There are 2 bus terminals in Ipoh. And they are 20 minutes’ drive apart.

There are 2 bus terminals in Ipoh. And they are 20 minutes’ drive apart.

Ipoh Public Bus At Medan Kidd Station - Local Buses In Ipoh
Local Buses In Ipoh – photo credits to Bakeling (Flickr)

Bus Terminal:

  1. Terminal Amanjaya – Main terminal for inter-city buses (e.g. Penang or Kuala Lumpur)
  2. Medan Kidd Station (Ipoh Old Town) – Main terminal for the local routes

The local buses are not known for their punctuality or reliability. So do prepare yourself for some waiting!

Bus stops around Ipoh are simple, with no facilities except for a roof and a bench. They do not have the estimated arrival times for the buses.

1.1. Getting From Ipoh Airport To Ipoh Town

Flying to Ipoh? There is a bus route that stops at the airport:

Sultan Azlan Shah Airport at Ipoh
Sultan Azlan Shah Airport at Ipoh – photo by Travelswithsun

But compared to the driving time of 10 minutes, taking local bus is inefficient. If you take the T37 bus from Medan Kidd Station to Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (or vice versa), it will take more than 20 minutes.

Moreover, Bus T37 doesn’t come often either! The frequency is 1 hour between the operation hours of 5:40am to 6:40pm.

Bus T37:

Route:

SJKC Bandar Seri Botani – Symphony Suites Hotel – Sam Poh Tong Temple – Gunung Rapat Market – Medan Gopeng Station – Sultan Azlan Shah Airport – Quest International University Perak – Tow Boo Keong Temple – Mural Art’s Lane (Near Jalan Sultan Iskandar – Ipoh New Town) – Railway Station Ipoh (Ipoh Old Town) – Medan Kidd Station

  • Frequency: 60 minutes
  • Operating Hours: 5:40 am – 6:40 pm

1.2. Bus From Amanjaya To Ipoh Town

Buses from out of Perak stop at Amanjaya Terminal. This residential area has a mall and an international school. But nothing interesting for toursits.

Ticket Counter At Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Terminal
Ticket Counter At Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Terminal

Naturally, visitors keen on seeing more of Ipoh will want to head to the main town instead!

And they can get there via the 30-minute bus journey from Amanjaya Terminal to Medan Kidd Station in Ipoh Old Town!

Waiting Area Inside Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Terminal
Waiting Area Inside Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Terminal

Bus T30a & T30b:

Route (T30a):

Amanjaya Terminal – Meru – Jelapang – Silibin – Medan Kidd Station

Note: Not all stops are listed here.

  • Frequency: 60 minutes
  • Operating Hours: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm

Route (T30b):

Chemor – Amanjaya Terminal – Meru – Jelapang – Silibin – Medan Kidd Station

Note: Not all stops are listed here.

  • Frequency: 60 minutes
  • Operating Hours: 6:30 am – 9:30 pm

Reference: peraktransit.com.my

1.3. Getting Around Ipoh

Tourists will want to look out for Bus F100 which makes a loop around Ipoh Old town and other busy areas in the city!

Bus F100 conveniently makes a stop at Ipoh Railway Station too. This is another common arrival point for visitors from Penang or Kuala Lumpur!

Ipoh Train Station At Sunset
Ipoh Train Station At Sunset

The one-way fare for the bus ranges from RM1 to RM3+.

Bus F100:

Route (F100):

Medan Kidd Station – Railway Station Ipoh (Ipoh Old Town) – St. Michael’s Institution – UTC Ipoh – Gerbang Malam Ipoh – Ipoh Parade – Greentown – Angsana Mall – Ipoh General Hospital – Railway Station Ipoh (Ipoh Old Town) – Medan Kidd Station

Note: Not all stops are listed here.

Frequency: 20 – 30 minutes

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 6:30 am – 8:10 pm
  • Saturday to Sunday, 6:30 am – 8:00 pm

Stops To Look Out For:

  1. Ipoh Railway Station – 8-10-min walk from Concubine Lane, passing by Ipoh High Court, Birch Memorial Clock Tower
Birch Memorial Clock Tower In Ipoh
A Famous Ipoh Landmark, Birch Memorial Clock Tower – Photo by Travelswithsun
  1. Gerbang Malam Ipoh – Close to Ipoh souvenirs, Ipoh salted chicken and peanut candy shops! 2 –min walk from Octagon apartment; 4-min walk from The Majestic condominium; 7-min walk from Panglima Kinta Mosque.
  2. Ipoh Parade – one of Ipoh’s most well-loved malls; it is linked to Weil Hotel

Note: if you wanted to see Ipoh’s Little India, it’s a 7-minute walk from the Medan Kidd Station or Concubine Lane.

Other Bus Routes To Take Note Of:

The public bus system has routes that go past Ipoh Old Town. A few routes have stops close to cave temples and close to Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village.

Exhibit Huts Around The Lake At Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village
Exhibit Huts Around The Lake At Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village – Photo by Travelswithsun

But you’re much better off taking a taxi or Grab when travelling further than Ipoh Old Town!

Because it is unlikely that the buses will stop directly at these locations. And thus, walking in the heat for 10 to 20 minutes is in order.

Bus Route 35Perak Cave Temple (from Ipoh Old Town, Medan Kidd Bus Station)

Bus T33a, T33b, F101a, F101b – Lost World Of Tambun (from Ipoh Old Town)

Tips For Taking The Public Bus In Ipoh

Communication may be an issue as there’s a good chance the driver doesn’t speak fluent English.

But you can try your luck!

Tips:

  • Have loose change so you can prepare the exact change
  • Let the driver know where you intend to get off
  • Dress appropriately – locals are not accustomed to seeing a lot of bare skin. You may get uncomfortable glances.

Pros Of Taking The Public Bus Around Ipoh:

Cons Of Taking The Public Bus Around Ipoh:

  • Buses are quite old
  • Language barrier
  • No buses after 8pm
  • Not always on time

2. Perak Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (Weekends Only)

From 12 stops to 7 stops, the Perak Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is now run by Perak Transit. The colorful bus only runs on weekends and has an open-top for visitors to enjoy the view.

You can get a day pass and with the pass, you can have countless rides (i.e. unlimited times) on this bus until it ends its service in the late afternoon.

The Perak Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Is Only Available On Weekends In Ipoh
The Perak Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Is Only Available On Weekends In Ipoh – photo credits to travelcolour-blogspot

Stops Along The Route

The route begins at the Ipoh Railway Station. There are hourly intervals throughout the day starting from 8:30am to 4:30pm (last departure). The bus service stops at 5:30pm.

Note: The bus will stop at each stop for 5 minutes maximum.

  1. Ipoh Railway Station
  2. Little India
  3. Ipoh Old Town, Concubine Lane
  4. Kinta Riverwalk
  5. Gerbang Malam (Night Market)
  6. Ipoh Parade Shopping Mall, WEIL Hotel
  7. Panglima Kinta Mosque, People’s Park Chang Jiang White Coffee @ Ipoh River Front

Ticket Pricing (Day Pass)

TypeAdults Children/Disabled/Senior Family Package (2 adults, 3 kids below 12 years old)
MalaysianRM20RM10RM60
ForeignerRM40RM20RM120

How To Book Tickets

To book online, use the “Just Naik” Apps. There are QR codes to scan on the poles of the Hoho Bus stop signs.

You can make direct payment to the driver as well. Keep your ticket because you must show it to the driver whenever you board the bus

3. E-Haling Service Or Taxi

We would only recommend taking the bus if you’re trying to make your money stretch. And if you have lots of time to spare.

Because taking a taxi or e-hailing service in Ipoh can usually get you where you want to go in half the time!

Taxis In Queue At Ipoh
Taxis In Queue At Ipoh – photo credits to Bakeling (Flickr)

You’ll find it easier to hail a car or taxi closer to the shopping malls in Ipoh. As well as the airport.

Typical Costs (Based on the Grab app in Feb 2023):

  • Amanjaya to Ipoh Railway Station (Ipoh Old Town) – ~RM14
  • Amanjaya to Lost World Of Tambun – ~RM18
  • Ipoh Sultan Azlan Shah Airport to Ipoh Railway Station (Ipoh Old Town) – ~RM9
  • Ipoh Sultan Azlan Shah Airport to Lost World Of Tambun – ~RM13
  • Ipoh Old Town to Perak Cave Temple – ~RM9
  • Ipoh Old Town to Kellie’s Castle – ~RM30

Tips:

  • It’s polite (and expected) to take the first taxi in the queue
  • Check that they use a meter first
  • If they quote you more than RM20 for within the city, that’s too much!

Pros Of Taking Grab Around Ipoh:

  • Not too expensive
  • You can go anywhere you want in Ipoh
  • Fixed prices through the app

Cons Of Taking Grab Around Ipoh:

  • Usually just a small car
  • Arranging return trips with the driver is an additional hassle but necessity for places that are further (e.g. Tasik Cermin)
  • Grab is not as common as in Penang or Kuala Lumpur so don’t assume that you can find one easily after dark or further from the city

4. Car Rental Service

Not your first time driving in Malaysia? Renting a car is another option you may want to look into. Especially if you’re arriving at the Amanjaya Bus Terminal or Ipoh Airport.

Price averages around RM120 per day for a small car of local make. Or ~RM250+ per day for a reputable brand (e.g., Honda). An 8-seater can cost RM800.

Pros Of Renting A Car In Ipoh:

  • Keeps your schedule flexible
  • Travel together in a private group

Cons Of Renting A Car In Ipoh:

  • Have to pay parking fees
  • Pricey for more than a day
  • It’s not easy to find car park slot in Ipoh Old Town

5. Electric Scooter

We spotted this new rental service providing purple scooters around Ipoh Old Town near Concubine Lane and Ipoh Padang.

Scooters For Rent By Ipoh Padang
Scooters For Rent By Ipoh Padang

Pros:

  • Go at your own pace
  • Family-friendly activity
  • Not too expensive

Cons:

  • Only available around Ipoh Old Town
  • Need to register on the app first
  • You can return the bicycle at any of the parking stations around town.
  • Exposed to the elements

Staying in a hotel in Ipoh Old Town?

Then walking is an ideal way of sightseeing at a leisurely pace! With more chances of spotting street art!

3D Ipoh Mural Near Birch Memorial Clock Tower In Ipoh Old Town
3D Ipoh Mural Near Birch Memorial Clock Tower In Ipoh Old Town

You can get a map from the Ipoh Tourist Information Centre by Ipoh Padang if you need it. Or read our guide on taking the heritage trail.

Tips:

  • Snatch thieves exist in Ipoh! Always keep your bag close to you. And eyes off your phone when walking the streets.

Pros:

  • No time limit
  • Free
  • Don’t have to worry about parking or catching the bus

Cons:

  • Very hot with limited shade

7. Getting Around Ipoh With Transport And Tour Service

Finally, there is a private tour service that you can take for the better part of the day to explore Ipoh.

RayTheTour offers flexible private tours to Ipoh and even up to Cameron Highlands!

Penang Tour - RayTheTour & Travelswithsun

Other benefits of booking a tour with RayTheTour include:

  • Friendly local tour guide (English or Chinese-speaking)
  • Pick up from your hotel
  • Drop off at your hotel after the tour
  • MPV or van transport
  • All transport costs covered
  • No limit to the number of places to visit!

Conclusion

Choosing the most suitable transport in Ipoh for your trip depends on your arrival point, your budget, location of your hotel, and the places you want to see!

It may be the local bus, taxi, e-hailing service or your own two feet! And don’t forget, you can also choose to go with an electric scooter, car rental or a private tour service!

Share this post with your friends and family!

Similar Posts