Johor Bahru destination guide
Johor Bahru is the capital of the state of Johor, on the Straits of Johor directly across from Singapore. The Causeway and the Second Link carry road traffic between the two, and a cross-border train runs from JB Sentral.
Flights arrive at Senai International Airport (JHB), with direct domestic flights recorded to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuching and Sibu in Sabah and Sarawak. In and around the city are LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum and Zoo Johor.
What to see and do in Johor Bahru
LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort
LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort is in Iskandar Puteri (also known as Nusajaya), west of Johor Bahru proper. It combines a LEGO-themed theme park with rides and shows, a Water Park with slides, a LEGO Wave Pool and a Build-A-Raft River, and a SEA LIFE Aquarium. The resort's themed hotel has rooms in Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, NINJAGO and LEGO FRIENDS styles.
Royal Abu Bakar Museum
The Royal Abu Bakar Museum is in the Istana Besar, Johor Bahru. The Department of Museums Malaysia lists it as open every day from 9am to 5pm, and closed on the first and second days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and of Hari Raya Aidiladha (as listed in September 2026).
On the federal holiday schedule for 2027, Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri) falls on 10 and 11 March and Hari Raya Qurban (Aidiladha) on 17 May. The schedule marks both dates as subject to change, so check them before planning a museum visit around either festival.
Zoo Johor
Zoo Johor is run by the Johor state government. Its ticketing site lists daytime opening from 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm and a midday break on Fridays from 12.30pm to 2pm. A night session runs on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public and school holidays from 8pm to 11pm, with last entry at 10pm.
The zoo is closed on Tuesdays, except during school and public holidays. Those are the hours listed in September 2026, so check the Zoo Johor ticketing page before you go.
Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum
The Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum is run by a Chinese community association, on the 7th floor of Wisma Tiong-Hua, No. 8, Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau. It reopened in late December 2025 after a renovation. Its own site does not state opening days, so ask the association when you visit.
Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is in Johor Bahru. Check visiting arrangements with the mosque before you go.
When to go to Johor Bahru
The northeast monsoon, from November to March, is Malaysia's main rainy season, and the Malaysian Meteorological Department names East Johor among the areas where it brings heavy rain. The southwest monsoon, from late May to September, is relatively drier across most of the country. Between the two monsoons, winds are light and clear mornings typically give way to afternoon thunderstorms.
Johor Bahru also holds a Chingay Parade. Published dates and venues for the 2026 parade differ, so confirm the next one close to the time before planning a trip around it.
Seasons, public holidays and entry to the country are covered in the Malaysia travel guide.
Flying to Johor Bahru
Senai International Airport is run by Senai Airport Terminal Services, not by Malaysia Airports. Its published operating hours are 06:00 to 23:59, so do not plan an overnight wait there. The airport has no railway station and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link does not serve it; a Causeway Link shuttle bus runs to JB Sentral, and the airport page covers the transfer.
Direct domestic flights recorded from Senai International Airport go to the places below, flown by AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air Malaysia.
| Destination | Airlines recorded | Destination guide |
|---|---|---|
| Alor Setar | AirAsia | Alor Setar guide |
| Ipoh | AirAsia | Ipoh guide |
| Kota Bharu | AirAsia | Kota Bharu guide |
| Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) | AirAsia | Kota Kinabalu guide |
| Kuala Lumpur | AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur International Airport; Firefly and Batik Air Malaysia to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang) | Kuala Lumpur guide |
| Kuching (Sarawak) | AirAsia | Kuching guide |
| Langkawi | AirAsia | Langkawi guide |
| Penang | AirAsia | Penang guide |
| Sibu (Sarawak) | AirAsia | Sibu guide |
| Tawau (Sabah) | AirAsia | Tawau guide |
Flying between Johor Bahru and Sabah or Sarawak
Kota Kinabalu and Tawau are in Sabah; Kuching and Sibu are in Sarawak. Under Section 66 of the Immigration Act 1959/63, a Malaysian citizen needs a pass or permit to enter and stay in either state, even arriving on a domestic flight. Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia can get one, a Document in Lieu of Internal Travel Document giving a visit pass of up to three months, at the immigration counters in the arrival hall.
Crossing from Johor Bahru to Singapore
The Causeway and the Second Link
The Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Second Link are the road crossings, and each has its own Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex on both the Malaysian and the Singapore side. The Second Link, from Tanjung Kupang to Tuas, is a 47 km expressway operated by PLUS Malaysia, with a 1.92 km bridge over the Straits of Johor. It opened in 1998 to relieve congestion on the Causeway.
Cross-border coaches
Causeway Link runs cross-border coaches over both the Causeway and the Second Link, serving Johor Bahru's CIQ points, and separate connecting services between those CIQ points and other stops around the city. The operator says its cross-border services run from early morning until midnight.
The KTM Shuttle Tebrau train
The KTM Shuttle Tebrau is the national rail operator's cross-border train between JB Sentral and Woodlands CIQ in Singapore. Your passport serves as the boarding pass, and the operator requires it to be valid for at least 30 days from the date of travel.
At JB Sentral, boarding opens 30 minutes before departure and closes 10 minutes before; at Woodlands it opens 40 minutes before and closes 20 minutes before. Ticket counters stop selling 20 minutes before departure. The operator's Shuttle Tebrau questions page carries the current rules.
The RTS Link from Bukit Chagar
The RTS Link is a 4 km light-rail line from Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore, run by RTS Operations, a joint venture of Prasarana Malaysia and Singapore's SMRT Corporation. It is not yet open: Singapore's LTA states on its own project page that service is targeted for the end of 2026, though a paultan.org report of 15 September 2026, citing an LTA announcement, put it at 2027 instead. Check the operator before planning around a date.
Intercity trains from JB Sentral
KTM Intercity diesel trains run from JB Sentral to Tampin and to Tumpat, on the service that covers the Southern Region and the East Coast Line.
Side trip to Desaru
Desaru is a beach area on Johor's south-east coast, which Tourism Malaysia describes as a coastal destination of beaches, jungle and waterfalls. It is roughly 80 to 100 km from JB Sentral, about one hour to one hour 22 minutes by road depending on where in Desaru you are going. Its draws include beach and water sports, a water park, an ostrich farm and a fruit farm.
Johor Bahru questions
How do you get from Johor Bahru to Singapore by train?
Take the KTM Shuttle Tebrau from JB Sentral to Woodlands CIQ, with a passport valid for at least 30 days from the travel date. The RTS Link from Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North is not open yet: the LTA's own project page targets the end of 2026, while a paultan.org report of 15 September 2026, citing an LTA announcement, puts it at 2027; check the operator for the current date.
Is Johor Bahru's airport open at night?
Senai International Airport's published operating hours are 06:00 to 23:59, although its fact sheet says operation beyond 23:59 is available on request. Check that any connection fits inside those hours rather than planning to wait there overnight.
Can you fly direct from Johor Bahru to Sabah and Sarawak?
Direct AirAsia flights are recorded from Senai International Airport to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in Sabah, and to Kuching and Sibu in Sarawak. Malaysian citizens need a pass or permit to enter either state, and the Document in Lieu of Internal Travel Document is issued at the immigration counters in their airport arrival halls.