Discover 10 of the best things to do in Johor Bahru that the whole family will enjoy – this rapidly growing border city is home to Legoland Malaysia, Angry Birds Theme Park and some of the most epic malls you will ever set foot in.

Johor Bahru – I’ll admit, I had never heard of this Malaysian city until some of our Singaporean family members dropped the name and mentioned that a Legoland theme park existed under an hour’s drive from Singapore. In an instant, I pulled out my notepad and scribbled down this important fact, and so, Johor Bahru landed high up on my bucket list.

If you’re travelling to this corner of South East Asia as a family, then this city needs to be added to your Singapore Malaysia itinerary. It’s also doable as a day trip if you’ve got time to squeeze in your Kuala Lumpur itinerary.

Out of all the amazing places we visited on our trip, the most memorable place for the kids was Johor Bahru. I mean, let’s be real – kids don’t appreciate culture, food or pretty sights. They just wanna get their hands dirty at playgrounds and jump on all the rides. That’s precisely what they’ll get right here.

So, allocate (at least) a couple days to get a good grasp of what Johor Bahru has to offer and bask in the cheap prices of food, attractions and shopping.

Essential Must-Knows & Travel Tips

How exactly do you get from Singapore to Johor Bahru? Pick your whip – private transfer, bus or train. It all depends on your budget – the most efficient way that requires the least amount of effort is a car transfer, which can cost between $60-120 SGD. Catching a bus is the cheapest option, often only costing $1-3 SGD each way – but, the catch? Making your way through immigration can be very time-consuming, depending on how busy it is. You can also catch the train, but be sure to book this well in advance as this is an extremely popular option.

Book a hassle-free transfer from Singapore to Johor Bahru:

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Do I need a visa? This depends on your passport, but generally speaking, you will be entering a different country, so be sure to check visa requirements for your passport in advance.

Avoid crossing the border during Singapore/Malaysia school holidays. You know one of those moments where you think, “I’ve made a huge mistake.”? We did that. Crossing the border during school holidays took us – wait for it – 4 hours by bus. To ensure you don’t make our mistake, check the Singaporean and Malaysian school holiday calendar.

3. Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple

The first – and only – glass jeweled Hindu temple in Malaysia, Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman is a sight to behold. Featuring a number of altars with various colourful figures and deities, it’s worth noting that each piece of glass was hand cut by the artist before being put in its respective place.

The temple takes a little more Google Map’ing and effort to find, but I can assure you that it’s well worth the extra steps accrued on your FitBit. Once inside, simply sit back and revel in the beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Visitor Information

Opening hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon-Fri), 7am – 10pm (Sat-Sun)

Entry price: RM10 ($2.50 USD) for foreigners

4. Istana Bukit Serene

Did you know that there’s a Sultan of Johor? Yup, neither did I. The palace isn’t open for the public, but you can snap as many pics for the ‘gram as your heart desires, and soak in the majestic view from the crown arc.

If you’re stuck on what to do in Johor Bahru at night – make your way to the light show in front of the palace gates that takes place every evening. It’s a great spot to take kids at night to enjoy the colourful lights, run amuck in the gardens and play with the bubble gun.

7. Mall Hop ’til you Drop

If there’s one thing Johor Bahru is know for – it’s shopping malls. Scores of them. Hundreds. Thousands. Okay, maybe not that many. But, you getm my drift.

‘Epic’ is probably the most appropriate word to describe some of these mega shopping centres where you’ll find everything from dining alleys to supermarkets and retail store chains. Local brands or international – you’ll find, literally, everything you could possibly need in your life in Johor.

Three of the newest (and biggest) ones are R&F Mall, Mid Valley South Key and Paradigm. Although, we loved to frequent KSL City because it gave us MBK (Bangkok) vibes – designer replicas, cheap electronics and massage parlour every 12 steps you take.

We loved eating inside shopping centres, namely because there’s so much variety and.. there’s air con. You can go real cheap at the food court ($2-3 per dish) or eat at a dine-in restaurant.

8. Desaru Beach

Feeling suffocated from the city life? Book a Grab car and get yourself over to the one place where most humans recharge – the beach. Positioned on the east coast of Johor, Desaru Beach is little over an hour’s drive from the city centre.

Covering a 25km long stretch – this is the place to get back in touch with nature by way of fishing, boating, swimming and hiking.

If you’re keen to turn your Johor Bahru day trip to Desaru into an overnight or multiple-day getaway – take a look at these gorgeous hotels and resorts in the area.

9. Thomas Town & Hello Kitty World

If you’re headed to Johor Bahru with kids and you’re planning to visit Puteri Harbour – Thomas Town and Hello Kitty World are a must-visit. Little boys and girls, rejoice, for dreams do come true.

Visit the Island of Sodor for an unforgettable adventure where little ones can jump on rides, like, Harold’s Helitour, Bertie the Bus and Colin Crane Drop. But, the absolute highlights are the entertaining live shows filled with singing, dancing, bubbles and games.

Minimalist and contemporary in design, this place ticked all the boxes for our wee little travelling family. Our 1-bedroom apartment included a well-equipped kitchen, which included a convection stovetop, microwave and kettle. This is perfect for when you need to quickly prepare meals or soft foods for your hangry little ones.

But, guys. Just wait until you set foot into the bathroom. I don’t even know if it can be classified as that because it’s, legitimately, the size of a bedroom. It is – hands down – the biggest bathroom I have ever had the pleasure of using in my lifetime of hotel stays. Naturally, my first instinct was to jump in the bath, switch off and recover from a hard day of running amuck with kids.

The bedroom also comes with a huge king-sized bed that you could probably fit your entire family into, and a killer view overlooking downtown JB and the bridge crossing into Singapore. If you’re on a high enough level, you can even see Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer on a clear day.

Here’s the real amazing thing about staying here though – it basically feels like you’re in the comfort of your own home, but with all the facilities and services of a 5-star hotel. Gym? Check. Beautiful pool? Check. Large buffet breakfast? Checkity, check. Oh, and on top of that? A fun coin laundry where you can play a game of FIFA on the Playstation while you wait for your laundry. How cool is that?

But, I’m not gonna deny it – the one thing we looked forward to the most every day was breakfast. Held in a gorgeous and well-lit space with floor-to-ceiling windows, the buffet selection includes everything from local Malaysia delights to a Western-style breakfast, featuring eggs, cereals, breads, sausages, cold-cut meats and many more yummy treats.

Kids or no kids – this stylish apart-hotel has rooms suited for all types of travellers. From Studios to 1-Bedroom Suites, this is the place to stay in Johor Bahru if want all the amenities from home, yet still want to experience the perks of hotel life (ahem – breakfast and housekeeping).

We stayed as part of the hotel’s Family Package, which included buffet breakfast for all 4 of us and a 20% discount on food and beverages. We were also provided a cot for our youngest one, which easily fit into the large bedroom.