Melaka, also known as Malacca, is one of the top destinations of Malaysia. This popular UNESCO Heritage town is known for its rich cultural heritage (its UNESCO listed) and colonial structures as well as for its mouthwatering traditional delicacies.
Equally as interesting, the Malaysian town of Ipoh should be on your travel radar as well. It’s less touristy and therefore quieter compared to Melaka. It features amazing street art, delectable hawker food and colonial architecture. Ipoh also gives off a wonderfully laid-back vibe, and it feels as if you’re in a charming country town rather than in a city.
Now, you might be wondering how you can travel from Melaka Sentral to Ipoh.
Below, I describe exactly how to go to Ipoh from Melaka whether you are looking for a bus from Melaka to Ipoh, wondering whether to travel on a train from Melaka to Ipoh or will drive from Melaka to Ipoh by car or take a taxi.
I also describe the reverse journey from Ipoh to Melaka.
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Contents
Map: Melaka To Ipoh
This map shows you how you can get from Melaka to Ipoh. The distance from Melaka to Ipoh is around 360 kilometres.
The approximate driving time between Melaka to Ipoh (and vice versa) is 4.25 hours. This depends on traffic and road conditions.
BEST OPTION: How To Get From Melaka To Ipoh
There are different options for how you can travel to and from these destinations.
The cheapest way is to travel via direct bus from Melaka to Ipoh. The quickest and easiest way to get to Ipoh is by private taxi.
Here’s a summary of your options:
| Mode of transport | Duration | Best For? | Book |
| Bus | 6.25 hours | People who like the cheapest option | Book here |
| Bus + Train | 7.5 hours+ | Only for people who really love trains | Book here |
| Car | 4.25 hours | People who are happy to hire a car or who like to stop along the way | Book here |
| Taxi | 4.25 hours | Anyone who wants the easiest and most straightforward way to get between Ipoh and Melaka | Book here |
Note that there is no direct Ipoh to Melaka flight. There are not many flights out of Ipoh or Melaka and it’s not worth trying to fly when there are other alternate options that are cheaper, faster and easier.
Option 1: Melaka To Ipoh Bus
If you plan to take the bus from Melaka to Ipoh, there are several bus lines available at the Melaka Sentral Bus Station that operate multiple trips daily. Taking the bus is the cheapest option for this journey. The buses are also very comfortable and depart regularly.
The travel time is approximately 5.25 hours, depending on the traffic and stops. Ticket prices start at RM30, but do vary a lot on this route. Note that the bus schedule from Melaka to Ipoh can change. It’s best to purchase your bus ticket from Melaka to Ipoh in advance.
Buying your Melaka to Ipoh bus ticket in advance is especially recommended if you’re travelling on weekends and holidays because of the large influx of travellers.
Click here to see the latest schedules and prices and to purchase your ticket.
Moreover, taking the express bus from Melaka to Ipoh is a lot quicker, and convenient. Keep in mind though that taking premium buses can be more expensive.
Buses depart from Melaka Sentral which is a few kilometres north of the main tourist area in Melaka and where your hotel probably is. You’ll need to catch another bus to the terminal or take a taxi. Using the Grab app is the best way to do the latter and the easiest way to get to Melaka Sentral.
Google maps can help you find a local bus to Melaka Sentral. It’s often not that close to where hotels can be located though.
Buses arrive at Terminal Meru Raya (also called Ipoh Amanjaya or Amanjaya Bus Terminal – they are the same place). It’s about 10 kilometres north from Ipoh Old Town and the main attractions. There are local buses that can take you between the bus station and the centre, but they don’t run that regularly. Looking at Google maps will show you the options for your departure time.
It’s much easier to take a Grab taxi, which is usually very affordable.
All up, this is likely to take you at least 6.25 hours assuming you take Grab taxis at each end.
Option 2: Melaka To Ipoh Bus + Train
If you really love trains, another way you can travel to your destination is to take a bus and train option. If you’re not in a hurry, this is possible, but it’s pricier and a lot more effort than just taking the direct bus.
I don’t recommend this option. The bus is far easier.
From Melaka, take a bus going to Kuala Lumpur. You’ll travel Melaka Sentral to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS). TBS is the major bus station in Kuala Lumpur.
The total travel time is about 2.5 hours and costs from RM10. Trips are available very regularly, but note that they can still sell out. This recently happened to my brother as he didn’t realise it was a long weekend.
I recommend booking your bus tickets online here to secure your seat in advance and avoid the hassle.
Once you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, you need to travel from TBS to KL Sentral where the trains depart to Ipoh. You can take the train from TBS at the Bandar Tasik Selatan to KL Sentral.
You can take the KLIA Transit train or the KTM Komuter train. Travel time is six minutes on the KLIA Transit train or 20 minutes on the KTM Komuter. Tickets start at RM6.50 depending on your option.
Finally, from KL Sentral, book a train ticket going to Ipoh.
The total travel time is about 2.75 hours and tickets start at RM36. There are five departures spread out over the day.
Option 3: Melaka To Ipoh By Taxi
The easiest and quickest way to get from Melaka to Ipoh is to book a long distance taxi to take your door-to-door.
While it is more expensive, it’s also stress free! And you can arrive in Ipoh refreshed and ready to go instead of hot and sweaty.
We can book a taxi for you with a safe and trustworthy local operator. Prices start at RM800.
Click here for more details and prices.
Option 4: Melaka To Ipoh By Car
Another alternative way to travel from Melaka to Ipoh is to rent a car. This is one of the fastest (and the most convenient) ways to get to your destination. Total travel time is approximately 4.25 hours.
Traveling with a private vehicle lets you create a more customised itinerary, allowing you to plan side trips and numerous stopovers to popular destinations along the way.
Just note that this option can be more costly if you’re a solo traveler or budget traveler though. And it can be hard to get a one-way rental if you aren’t starting and finishing in major cities.
Click here to check out car hire prices and options or click here to read more about driving in Malaysia.
Ipoh To Melaka
If you’re wondering how you can get from Ipoh to Melaka, all you need to do is to take your preferred option above and reverse it..
If you’re traveling by bus from Ipoh to Melaka Sentral, these run regularly with the earliest Ipoh to Melaka bus leaving around 8:30am. Most buses leave by 3pm, and there is no direct bus Ipoh to Melaka available again until around midnight with some middle-of-the-night departures.
Ideally, you should also secure your Ipoh to Melaka bus ticket in advance.
Click here to see your bus ticket options.
You can also take an Ipoh to Melaka train + bus via Kuala Lumpur as described above or drive in a private car.
Although the easiest way is to take a private taxi from Ipoh to Melaka. We can book a taxi for you with a safe and trustworthy local operator.
Click here for more details and prices.
Note that it is not possible to take a flight Ipoh to Melaka and it’s faster to travel by direct bus rather than taking flights from nearby airports.
Final Words
In this guide, we’ve covered the different transportation options that you can take if you’re planning to travel from Melaka to Ipoh (or vice versa!).
Again, if you’re short of time, and if you want to arrive at your destination in the quickest and most hassle-free way possible, you can take a private taxi.
If that isn’t an option, another convenient (and cheaper!) way to get there is to take the bus.
Whatever option you choose, hopefully, you find this guide helpful in planning your upcoming trips and jump starting your travels in Malaysia!
I hope you found this guide to how to travel from Melaka to Ipoh useful. You can find our complete travel guide to Melaka here and to Ipoh here.
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!
