It is no secret that our friendly neighbour just across the causeway has become our number one destination for a quick yet affordable getaway.

Johor Bahru is known for being a cafe-hopper’s paradise but aside from that, there are a plethora of other things to do. Instead of rushing a day trip just to be stuck in the causeway traffic at the end of the day, why not consider staying for a night or two? Not only are the things here cheaper because of the exchange rate, the city also has incredibly affordable accommodation!

From feasting on lok lok to feeling like a kid again at Legoland Malaysia, here is our Johor Bahru Guide on what to see, do and eat the next time you cross the causeway.

BAK KUT TEH 

Malaysian bak kut teh is known for its distinct herbal taste, which is opposed to Singapore’s peppery rendition. If you’re a foodie like us, it is a must for you to try some of this soupy goodness when you cross the causeway.

A good place to get a taste of Malaysian bak kut teh in Johor Bahru is at the famous Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh that is right opposite KSL mall.

Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh
43, Jalan Serigala, Taman Abad
80250 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 8am – 8pm

CAFE HOPPING 

Johor Bahru is an established cafe paradise and there are a plethora of cafes to visit for some seriously good food. The cafe nosh here is also way cheaper than what you can get in Singapore, so that means you’ll have more money to splurge on shopping and other activities after a good meal!

CITY SQUARE MALL AND KOMTAR JBCC

The shopping begins once you cross the Malaysian checkpoint at the famous City Square Mall and Komtar JBCC. Here, you have everything you can ever need and want under one roof and many people love to come here to run errands, watch a cheap movie or to have a good meal. These two malls alone are a shopaholic’s idea of heaven!

City Square Mall
106, 108, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 10pm

KOMTAR JBCC
Level 3 BUTIK ARMADA LANUN JOHOR, City Centre
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 10pm 

CHEAP MASSAGES

Johor Bahru is home to a number of cheap massage parlours to relax and loosen up those tight muscles. We recommend getting a foot massage after a hectic day of running around and exploring Johor Bahru. 

One place that you can check out is QS Reflexology & Therapy. It is conveniently located in KSL Mall, so you can pop by once you’re done with a tiring day of shopping.

QS Reflexology & Therapy
GE-006, Ground Floor & L2-01a
KSL CITY, 32, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad
80250 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +65 +60 7-331 1898
Daily: 10am – 10pm

EAT LOK LOK 

There is something oh-so-addictive about street food in any shape and form and here in Johor Bahru, we are completely obsessed with lok lok — skewered sticks of meats and vegetables which are deep-fried to a nice golden brown. These can commonly be found along the streets of Johor Bahru and make great late-night snacks!

Photo Credit: mulan_in_singapore 

EXPLORE JALAN TAN HIOK NEE 

The famous and gorgeous streets of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee are rich with history and are definitely worth exploring on your next trip to Johor Bahru. Here, you can find lots of cafes, old school local eateries as well as pretty, colourful, Instagram-worthy buildings. They even have guided heritage walks for people who are curious about the roots and beginnings of the area.

GO GO-KARTING 

For the more active ones out there, you can always try your hand at go-karting. Race along the track with your friends in tiny cars and see which one of you is the better driver! It’s also a great experience for kids who are interested in driving but are too young to do so.

You can have a go at go-karting at Permas Go-Kart Club.

Permas Go-Kart Club 
Jalan Bunga Matahari, Taman Plentong Baru
81750 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 19-711 1733
Mon to Fri: 10am – 6.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 6.30pm

Photo Credit: Legoland Malaysia 

HAVE FUN AT LEGOLAND MALAYSIA 

Unleash your inner child at Legoland Malaysia. This family theme park is filled with exhilarating rides that are great for both children and adults. We also adore all the breathtaking, detailed lego structures which are reminiscent of our childhood. You’ll never know; you may even end up having more fun here than the kids!

Legoland 
7, Jalan Legoland, Medini
79250 Nusajaya
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-597 8888
Daily: 10am – 6pm

Photo Credit: Klook 

JOHOR PREMIUM OUTLETS 

The best place to take advantage of the exchange rate is at Johor Premium Outlets. Not only do they house popular brands such as Nike, Puma and Kate Spade, everything here is heavily discounted. Shopaholics, rejoice!

Johor Premium Outlets
Jalan Premium Outlets Indahpura
81000 Kulai
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Photo Credit: M Suites Hotel Johor Bahru 

NIGHT MARKETS 

Besides the abundance of cafes and malls, there are also messy yet exciting night markets. Here, you can find plenty of classic Malaysian street food, cheap clothes and other interesting knick-knacks.

Some markets you can explore are JB KSL Monday Night Market and Taman Munsyi Ibrahim Pasar Malam.

JB KSL Monday Night Market
33 Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad
Johor, Malaysia
(Outside KSL Mall, in front of Coffee Bean)
Mon: 5pm – 9pm

Taman Munsyi Ibrahim Pasar Malam
Jalan Besar, Taman Munsyi Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Sat: 5pm – 12am

Photo Credit: Simply Enjoy Johor Bahru (JB) 

PARADIGM MALL 

Spanning over 1.3 million square feet and seven floors, Paradigm Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the whole of Johor Bahru with over 500 retail shops for you to explore. Moreover, this massive complex also houses an ice skating rink, a state-of-the-art 16-screen cinema and even an indoor climbing gym!

Paradigm Mall 
Jalan Bertingkat Skudai
Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-231 3888
Daily: 10am – 10pm

PLAY PAINTBALL 

Paintball is incredibly fun, but it can be painfully expensive in Singapore. So what better place to have a paintball battle with your friends than at Johor Bahru? There are a number of affordable options just across the causeway and many of these paintball fields have different and exciting themes to spice up your game.

One place you can check out for paintball is AOV Paintball Trading.

AOV Paintball Trading
PTD114143, Jalan Desa Tebrau
Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-760 6184
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Photo Credit: Neway 

SING KARAOKE 

It’s time to quit belting out those Mariah Carey songs in the shower and up your game to a proper karaoke place! Johor Bahru has numerous KTV outlets across the island with shockingly low prices, making it the perfect destination to practise for the release of your debut album.

We recommend The Rhythm at Mount Austin.

The Rhythm 
55, Jln Austin Height 8/8
Taman Mount Austin
81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-1558 7777
Daily: 10am – 3am

Photo Credit: ______ym______doesnt

VISIT ZOO JOHOR

Animal lovers, fret not, we did not forget about you! At the heart of Johor Bahru is Zoo Johor, one of the oldest zoos in Malaysia. It is home to more than 100 species of animals which include the likes of gorillas, elephants, flamingos and horses. The entrance fee is only RM2, which is definitely a steal! 

Johor Zoo
Jalan Gertak Merah
80000 Johor Bahru
Tel: +60 7-223 0404
Daily: 9am – 6pm 

Photo Credit: imemily

WATCH A MOVIE ON A BEANBAG  

Watching a movie in Johor Bahru is already very affordable, but something to make the experience even better is doing it on a bean bag. Snuggling with your partner on these plush, comfortable bean bags will definitely make the movie experience even more exciting; you may not want to watch a movie anywhere else in the future!

You can catch a movie on a bean bag at Aeon Tebrau.

Aeon Tebrau
3, Jalan Persiaran Desa Tebrau
Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 1-300-22-2848

Staycations are hugely popular among couples during Valentine’s day. A few days away from the familiarity of your own home, playing tourist and exploring your own country as if you were overseas. Staycations are great, but here in Singapore, they are crazy expensive—especially if you’re looking for a place that’s beautiful and grand.

A good option to get over this problem is just across the causeway. Johor Bahru is home to a plethora of gorgeous hotels that cost just a fraction of the ones here in Singapore and it’s great for a quick, short getaway to relax and rejuvenate.

For those of you who are looking for an affordable place to have a staycation with Bae to feel like royalty for a day or two, we have here a list of 10 picturesque hotels in Johor Bahru for a luxurious getaway that you can consider below S$110.

AMARI JOHOR BAHRU 

Amari Johor Bahru is located just next to the causeway and directly opposite City Square Shopping Mall and Komtar JBCC. This makes it incredibly convenient to access and you can always pop by over to one of the malls to get a little shopping done!

82C, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-266 8888

Prices start from S$90.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON

Tucked away in the heart of Johor Bahru is Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru. This luxurious staycation destination has rooms with beautiful wooden furnishings, carpeted floors and gorgeous city views. The rooms are also fitted with a minibar and plush bathrobes are provided so you’d feel like a king when relaxing in your room.

No. 12 Jalan Ngee Heng,
80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-268 6868

Prices start from S$92.

HOTEL JEN PUTERI HARBOUR

Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour is just a convenient three-minute walk away from the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park and a five-minute drive to Legoland Malaysia, making it an ideal place to stay at if you’re planning for an adventurous day out. Some of the rooms even have adorable themes which is perfect for people who are looking for something a little different.

Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya,
79000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-560 8888

Prices start from S$106.

KSL HOTEL AND RESORT 

KSL Hotel & Resort is located within the popular KSL Shopping Mall, so it’s great for shopaholics out there! The hotel’s luxurious rooms and plush beds are practically made for an intimate, romantic getaway with Bae. To top it off, there are interesting on-site facilities such as a golf simulator, a cinema, and a karaoke centre that you can use to your heart’s content!

33 Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad,
80250 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-288 2999

Prices start from S$62.

Photo Credit: Agoda 

KSL HOT SPRING RESORT 

The newly opened KSL Hot Spring Resort has exactly what its name says: hot spring spas! It is definitely one of the more exciting hotels in Johor to check out, especially if you’re dying for a good soak. Aside from the hot springs, they also have other facilities such as a golf simulator, a sauna room and a children’s playground.

31, Jalan Kangkar Tebrau, Taman Daya
81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-288 2999

Prices start from S$61.

Photo Credit: Booking.com

MIDORI CONCEPT HOTEL 

If you’re looking for a place that has a theme going on then you need to check out Midori Concept Hotel. The entire hotel is dressed up in a modern Victorian theme and the rooms are beautifully furnished with colourful, vintage decor. Located in the heart of Mount Austin, it is also surrounded by a plethora of cafes that sell amazing food.

57, Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin
81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-364 6555

Prices start from S$54.

Photo Credit: Booking.com

RENAISSANCE JOHOR BAHRU

Renaissance Johor Bahru is the one place you should go to if you want to feel like a King. This luxury hotel by Marriott is equipped with all that you need for that much-needed getaway. The surrounding area is also filled with an abundance of eateries so you’ll never have to worry about feeling hungry.

No. 2, Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya
81750 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-381 3333

Prices start from S$101.

THISTLE 

Thistle Johor Bahru provides you with a magnificent view of the Straits of Johor and aside from that, they have spacious hotel rooms that feature sexy interior designs which are accentuated by the right choice of colour blocking furnishings. Their pool area is also a pretty solid place to chill at!

Jalan Sungai Chat,
80100 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-222 9234

Prices start from S$61.

Photo Credit: Agoda 

TROVE JOHOR BAHRU 

Trove Johor Bahru provides stylish and luxurious accommodation for their guests, especially couples. It is located only a couple of minutes away from the causeway and City Square Shopping Mall, making it an ideal and convenient spot for Singaporeans and shopaholics.

Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, Taman Abad
80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-272 8888

Prices start from S$52.

Photo Credit: Expedia

THE ARDENS

Tucked away in a corner of Mount Austin is The Ardens, a small boutique hotel that provides their guests with a cosy, welcoming escape from the city life. Each room is simply yet beautifully furnished and their minibars are stocked up with snacks for when the midnight hunger pangs strike. We recommend getting the room with the bathtub!

19&21, Jalan Austin Perdana 2/22, Taman Austin Perdana
81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-354 9323

Prices start from S$35.