Book four hours for a Putrajaya tour from KL if you want the mosques and the bridges, five if you want them lit up after dark. Putrajaya is about 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur, and its landmarks are spread round a big lake, so a car that waits at every stop does most of the work. With a Grandpride chauffeur it's booked by the hour, from RM 150 an hour in a Toyota Vellfire, minimum three hours.
Morning or sunset
| Morning tour | Sunset tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 9 am to 1 pm | 4 pm to 9 pm |
| Stops | Putra Mosque, Perdana Putra, the Iron Mosque, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Millennium Monument | Botanical garden or wetlands, the two mosques, then the bridges lit after dark |
| Cost | Four normal hours: 4 × the hourly rate | Three normal hours and two evening hours at +30%: 3 + 1.3 + 1.3 = 5.6 × the hourly rate |
| Suits | Families, a first visit | Photographers |
In the Toyota Vellfire, the morning tour is four times RM 150. Each hour is charged at the rate for the time it starts: 7 am to 7 pm is the normal rate, 7 pm to 11 pm adds 30%, 11 pm to 7 am adds 50%. The booking page prices your exact hours for every free car before you reserve, and part-hours are charged as part-hours, not rounded up.
The morning version ends back in KL for lunch, or with lunch by the lake first; the car waits while you eat. On either one, tell your chauffeur the order you want and change it as you go.
What you're looking at
Putrajaya is Malaysia's federal administrative centre. The Prime Minister's office moved there in 1999, and it became a federal territory in 2001. Kuala Lumpur is still the capital. The town was planned from scratch round a man-made lake, which is the reason to come: big government buildings, two very different mosques, bridges that are sights in themselves, and wide parks in between. It's also much calmer than central KL.
Putra Mosque (Masjid Putra) is the pink one, built of rose-tinted granite on the edge of the lake, and the picture most visitors want. Beside it, on the hill, the green-domed Perdana Putra houses the Prime Minister's Office. Entry is restricted, so it's a view and a photo from outside.
The Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque is known locally as Masjid Besi, the Iron Mosque, because it's built mainly of steel. Its open, airy design is the opposite of the pink mosque, and seeing both on one trip is the point.
Seri Wawasan Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge shaped like a sailing ship, lit in colour at night. Putra Bridge has arches and viewing platforms and links precincts across the lake. The Millennium Monument is a tall obelisk etched with milestones from Malaysia's history, set in gardens.
For the sunset version, start greener. Taman Botani Putrajaya, the botanical garden, has themed collections you can see on foot, by bicycle or by tram. Putrajaya Wetlands Park has observation towers and is good for birdwatching. Lake cruises leave from the lakeside and pass under the bridges; check the operator's schedule on the day.
Distances between sights look short on the map and feel long on foot in the afternoon sun, which is why you want the car waiting.
At the mosques
Visitors of all faiths can go into Putra Mosque, dressed modestly. Everyone covers up and women need a headscarf, so bring a scarf and wear long sleeves and long trousers or a skirt. The mosques are places of worship first: check prayer times and plan the mosque stops around them. Midday Friday prayers draw the biggest congregation of the week, so pick another day if you can.
Kira-kira empat jam sudah cukup untuk masjid, Perdana Putra dan jambatan utama, dan kereta dengan pemandu ditempah mengikut jam, minimum 3 jam.
Which car
For a couple, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW i7 makes it a quiet, formal day out. For a family or a small group, the Vellfire and Alphard seat seven, and the sliding doors help at every one of the stops. Luxury chauffeur cars compared sets all six side by side. Online bookings need at least two days' notice; book by the hour to see the price for your times.
On the way to KLIA
Putrajaya sits between Kuala Lumpur and KLIA, so it fits into a long layover or a last morning before a flight. A tour that ends at the airport would be booked by the hour CHECK: can a by-the-hour booking end with a drop-off at KLIA, and is it priced the same. If you only need the airport run, the KLIA transfer to Kuala Lumpur is a flat fare. With a few days to fill, a KL city tour with a private driver works the same way and pairs well with a Putrajaya morning; the full chauffeur service page lists the cars.
