Johor Bahru Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Johor Bahru is about 330 km from Kuala Lumpur, and the estimated drive via the North-South Expressway takes four hours. Larkin Bus Terminal has services to towns around Peninsular Malaysia, and JB Sentral serves ETS and KTM Intercity trains.

Senai International Airport is about 32 km from Johor Bahru. Car rental is available at the airport, and e-hailing services operate in Malaysia.

Visitors can use e-hailing, taxis, buses and trains. Taxi stands are at Larkin, bus stations, hotels and shopping centres; ask the driver to use the meter or agree the fare before the ride.

Stay near JB Sentral for central access to shopping malls, city attractions and the Singapore checkpoint. For an old-town food walk, choose a base around Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Bandar Johor Bahru.

Families focused on LEGOLAND can choose a base near the resort, while the city centre suits a trip mixing shopping, food and sights. The resort has a Theme Park, a separate Water Park and indoor family attractions.

Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang is halal-certified and Muslim-owned, while Mat Corner Nasi Ambang is Muslim-owned. You can search for certification through the Halal Malaysia Portal’s “Verify Halal Status” feature.

Abu Bakar Mosque is a city landmark, and Johor Bahru also has the Johor Old Chinese Temple and Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple. The Glass Temple’s stated daily opening hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; check locally before planning a visit to other religious sites.

Choose respectful clothing when visiting religious places.

Non-Malaysian guests are charged tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, and registered taxable hotel accommodation is subject to 8% service tax. Confirm the tourism-tax charge with your hotel.

Tips are voluntary in Malaysia. Check your bill for a service charge, which is separate from a voluntarily given tip.

Most foreign visitors need to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within the three days before arrival. Some traveller categories are exempt, so check the current Immigration guidance for your circumstances.

Malaysia uses a three-pin square socket, so bring a compatible adaptor. The domestic supply is nominally 230 volts at 50 Hz.

Rain falls throughout the year, and average highs range from about 30°C to 32°C. November and December have about 280 mm of monthly rain, while February has about 140 mm.

City Square, KSL City and AEON Tebrau City are among Johor Bahru’s named shopping malls. JB Bazaar is a flea-market-style option in the city centre, with musicians and evening hours.

Browse the city-centre JB Bazaar or have dinner at Anjung Selera Hutan Bandar, an outdoor evening food spot. JB Bazaar’s council hours run as late as midnight.

Children can spend a day at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, which has family rides, a separate Water Park, an indoor aquarium and indoor play activities. The Theme Park is generally closed on Wednesdays and the Water Park on Tuesdays, with exceptions possible during holiday periods.

Desaru Coast is about a 1.2-hour road journey from Johor Bahru and includes a beach and resort attractions. Desaru Fruit Farm in Kota Tinggi offers a guided walking tour with fruit tasting that takes about 1–1.5 hours.

The city’s notable sights include Abu Bakar Mosque, Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, the Johor Old Chinese Temple and the Glass Temple. Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is a cultural street with cafés and food stops, while the Glass Temple is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.