All of Malaysia
Johor Bahru
Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Johor / Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru

Malaysia's Southern Gateway Across the Causeway

Plan this trip
1 dayIdeal stay₹2,560From / night₹930Food / dayFreeEntry

The southern city on the causeway to Singapore, busy with Singaporean weekenders: the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque and Royal Abu Bakar Museum, the old shophouses and Hindu and Chinese temples round Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, the Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman glass temple, and Legoland Malaysia at Iskandar Puteri. The jumping-off point for Mersing and Tioman, and a Borneo flight hub. Johor has a large Tamil community and plenty of Indian food.

Highlights

  • Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
  • Royal Abu Bakar Museum
  • Jalan Tan Hiok Nee cafes and shophouses
  • Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman glass temple
  • Legoland Malaysia
  • Seafood at Danga Bay
  • Bus to Mersing for Tioman

Things to do

  • Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque & Royal Abu Bakar MuseumMorning · 2h 30m
  • Heritage walk: Jalan Tan Hiok Nee & the Old Chinese TempleAfternoon · 2h
  • Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman glass templeAfternoon · 1h
  • Legoland MalaysiaMorning · 6h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Johor Bahruvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Johor Bahruvia Klook

Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.

When to go

Best time: May – September

Heads up

Haze Season

Smoke from forest and peat fires in Sumatra and Borneo can blanket the west coast between June and September, worst in dry years: hazy skies, poor views from the towers and an unhealthy air index on bad days. Check the API/AQI before outdoor days and carry N95 masks for children, the elderly and anyone with asthma.

  • Chinese New Year — Two public holidays and a week of lion dances, lanterns and open houses, finest in Penang (Kek Lok Si lit up) and Melaka's Jonker Street. Many Chinese-run shops, hawker stalls and kopitiams close for 3-5 days, and buses and flights out of KL sell out the weekend before as people go home.
  • Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri — During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk: Malay restaurants are quiet by day and the evening Ramadan bazaars, with food stalls at every mosque and market, are the best street food of the year. Don't eat or drink in the street in Kelantan and Terengganu. At its end, Hari Raya Aidilfitri brings the "balik kampung" exodus: buses, trains and flights sell out weeks ahead and KL empties for a week. Dates move about 11 days earlier each year; they are set by the new moon.
  • Deepavali — A national holiday for Malaysia's Indian community: Brickfields in KL and Little India in Penang fill with lights, kolam and stalls of sweets and saris in the week before. Homes hold open houses on the day.