Major city · Malaysia
Arau
Skip Arau as a destination: use it only as a train stop to change for Kuala Perlis (ferry to Langkawi) or Padang Besar (border to Thailand). 30 minutes is enough.
Arau is the royal capital of Perlis but a quiet town with little to detain a traveller. Its railway station connects Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and from here you can reach the ferry port at Kuala Perlis or the Thai border at Padang Besar. Most visitors pass through in under an hour.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MYR
- Best months
- Dec–Feb (dry, cooler)
- avoid Apr–Oct (monsoon, heavy rain)
- Airports
- LGK · AOR
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Malaysia ↗Most foreign visitors must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online shortly before arrival; use only the official immigration site.
- Malaysia ↗Remove shoes before entering mosques, temples and homes; cover shoulders and knees, and use the robes on loan at major mosques.
- Malaysia ↗Cards and e-wallets are common in cities; keep some ringgit in small notes for hawker stalls, taxis and tolls.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Arau999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Arau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.Malaysia-wide
- SIM or eSIMCelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.Malaysia-wide
- Tap waterTreated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.Malaysia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.Malaysia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 240 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Malaysia-wide
- SafetyArau is very safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.Malaysia-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police · 994 fire and ambulance · 112 From mobile
- Sundays & holidayscheckKelantan, Terengganu and Kedah have Friday–Saturday weekends; Johor Saturday–Sunday since 2025 — check…Malaysia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckLGK Langkawi International Airport (About 1.5 h by taxi + ferry; check).
- Getting aroundWalk: the railway station, bus hub, mosque and mausoleum are within 1 km (0.6 mi).Walk: the railway station, bus hub, mosque and mausoleum are within 0.6 mi (1 km).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedBudget room (Arau or Kangar), a night, per roomRM60
- Mid-range bedBudget room (Arau or Kangar), a night, per roomRM90
- High-end bedBudget room (Arau or Kangar), a night, per roomRM150
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RM50 · Mid RM100 · High RM200
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- LGK Langkawi International Airport (About 1.5 h by taxi + ferry; check) · AOR Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar) (About 45 min by taxi; check)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Dec–Feb. Avoid: Apr–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C) low), wettest Oct (18 rain days), driest Feb (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Arau: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
6 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk: the railway station, bus hub, mosque and mausoleum are within 1 km. Taxis and e-hailing (Grab) available for longer trips.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 30 min
Taxi or bus from Arau station, about 20 min
Ferry to Langkawi runs hourly; check the schedule.
Padang Besar (Malaysia)
goDoor to door: 30 min
Train or taxi, about 20 min
Border crossing to Thailand; check visa requirements.
Kangar
goDoor to door: 25 min
Taxi or bus, about 15 min
Perlis's administrative capital; food and shops.
Wang Kelian
cautionDoor to door: 45 min
Taxi, about 30 min
Border market; check opening days.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Arau town centre
Near the railway station; limited options, mostly budget.
Kangar (10 km west)
More accommodation and food choices; 15 min by taxi.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- RM 50–80 (transit only)
- Mid
- RM 100–150 (with a meal and taxi)
- High
- RM 200+ (with a hotel in Kangar)
Trip budget
| Budget room (Arau or Kangar)1 × 1 night × RM60 | RM60 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × RM50 | RM50 |
| Taxi Arau → Kuala Perlis1 × RM25 · check | RM25 |
| Train Arau → Padang Besar1 × RM10 · check | RM10 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RM15 |
| Trip total≈ RM160 per person per day, bed included | RM160≈ US$40 |
2026 estimate in ringgit; Arau is a transit stop, not a base.
Prices of common things
| Nasi lemak or local meal | RM 5–10 |
| Taxi Arau → Kuala Perlischeck | RM 20–30 |
| Train Arau → Padang Besarcheck | RM 8–12 |
| Bottle of water | RM 1.50–2.50 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No direct ferry from Arau to Langkawi: take a taxi or bus to Kuala Perlis (about 20 min).
- Train station has no left-luggage lockers; check with the ticket counter.
- Limited food options after 8 pm; eat in Kangar or Kuala Perlis.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 999
- Fire and ambulance
- 994
- From mobile
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ArauArau
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, tolongTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police999
- Fire and ambulance994
- From mobile112
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Arau → Kuala Perlis (taxi): RM 20–30, about 20 min (check)
- Arau → Padang Besar (train): RM 8–12, about 20 min (check)
Say or show
- Terima kasih — Thank you (tuh-ree-muh kah-seh)
- Berapa? — How much? (buh-rah-pah)
- Stesen keretapi di mana? — Where is the station? (steh-sen keh-reh-tah-pee dee mah-nah)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Arau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Feb (dry, cooler) · avoid Apr–Oct (monsoon, heavy rain) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Arau
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