Kota Bharu travel guide

Safety

Tourists travelling to Thailand need to be aware that since 2004, southern Thailand has been plagued by separatist violence that has killed more than 2500 people. The most severely affected Thai states are Narathiwat (adjoins Kelantan), Patani, Songkhla and Yala. Check http://www.fco.gov.uk for the latest information.

Getting there and around

KB’s airport is 8 km from town. There are direct links on MAS with KL, and with KL on Air Asia. Firefly have frequent connections with Penang and Subang. The train station is 6 km out of town at Wakaf Bharu. The line runs south to KL and Singapore. There are three bus terminals but most express buses depart from the most central. Buses run to most towns, including to Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor on the Thai border. Taxis have replaced trishaws as the most popular form of local transport. There is also a city bus service.

Air

The airport is 8 km from town; RM25 per taxi. Regular connections with KL (MAS, Air Asia), Subang and Penang (Firefly). Get there by taxi, (RM25), or town bus No 9 (RM2).

Airline offices

AirAsia office at the airport. MAS, Ground Floor, Komplek Yakin, Jln Gajah Mati (opposite the clock tower), T09-744 7000 and T09-744 0557 at the airport.

Bus

City buses and some long-distance express buses leave from the Central Bus Station, Jln Hilir Pasar. Many long-distance buses also depart from Jln Hamzah, 2 km from the city centre (RM8 taxi ride). (Check which terminal your bus leaves from.) Buses to Gua Musang and Pasir Puteh and Kuala Besut (for Perhentian Islands, RM6, 1½ hrs) also depart from here. Regular connections with Grik, Kuala Terengganu (RM14.30), Kuantan (RM31.50), KL (RM40.20), JB and Singapore (both RM77), Penang (RM36), Alor Star (RM38), Melaka (RM52.90), Mersing, Temerloh, and other destinations.

Note: Long-distance buses sell out quickly. Book as early as possible. There are a string of booking offices by the Central Bus Station.

Car hire

Avis, Hotel Perdana, Jln Sultan Mahmud, T09-748 4457; South China Sea, airport, T09-774 4288, F09-773 6288; from Perdana Hotel; Pacific, T09-744 7610.

Taxi

Taxi station next to Central bus station, Jln Hilir Pasar. Destinations: Kuala Besut (RM50), Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, KL, JB, Butterworth, Grik. Also taxis to Rantau Panjang (for Sungai Golok, Thailand).

Train

Wakaf Bharu station is 6 km out of town, across the Kelantan River. Bus 19 or 27. Several daily connections with Singapore and KL via Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis, and Jerantut. The railway is slow but the scenery makes the journey worthwhile. The daily train to KL leaves at 1846 to arrive around 0725. The daily service to Singapore leaves at 2028 and arrives at around 1055.

Banks

Money changers in the main shopping area.

Embassies and consulates

Royal Thai Consulate, 4426 Jl Pengkalan Chepa, T09-744 5266, thaicg@tm.net.my, Mon-Thu and Sat 0900-1200, 1330-1530.

Immigration

3rd floor, Federal Bldg, Jl Bayam, T09-748 2120.

Medical services

Hospital, Jl Hospital, T09-748 5533.

Post office

Jl Sultan Ibrahim.