With our ever strengthening political and social ties with the state of Johor in Malaysia, it is only natural that Johor continues to attract many Singaporeans for a weekend visit or being part of their daily commute to or from work. The strong Singapore Dollar against the Malaysian Ringgit in recent times makes it an extremely appealing getaway destination from the expensive lifestyle that Singapore is known for.
If you’re spending a night in Johor Bahru, here are some of the places you should visit and stay at! Plan to head out early in the wee hours of dawn to avoid any jams on the causeway that could really break your plans.
X Park Sunway Iskandar
Start of your trip in the morning or early afternoon with X Park Sunway at Iskandar. A great place if you’re looking for thrilling activities with friends or family. X Park Sunway Iskandar has its own Go-Karting track with many sharp turns and corners for you to race with friends. They also have a natural landscaped course for their ATV (all-terrain vehicle) ride, which is even better when its wet!
Looking for something even more anxiety inducing? Why not try their high ropes course dangling three storeys above their Go Kart track with platforms and zip lines, this will surely keep you on edge. Or if you’re the opposite and looking for something more relaxing, the park also has a lake where they offer all sorts of water sports such as jet skiing, stand-up paddling and kayaking.
If you are with a bunch of friends you also might want to try their paintball
Prices are listed below (Check website for full list of prices):
Go Kart (10 Mins) – RM 70 / $19.73 SGD
ATV (20 mins) starts from – RM 40 / $11.28 SGD
High Ropes Course (per trip) starts from – RM 45 / $12.69 SGD
Paintball (200 pellets) starts from – RM 85 / $23.96 SGD
Address: Jalan Medini Selatan 2 Medini Zone F, Bandar Medini Iskandar, 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Pasar Karat Johor Bahru
As night falls, it’s time to head over to Pasar Karat. Situated in central Johor Bahru itself, this bazar is the place to be with many different stalls selling street food, affordable clothing and accessories and smaller knick knacks. It’s conveniently located from the customs so if you plan this to be part of the start or end of your trip, it will be a great stop to have. Challenge yourself to a bargaining spree and make sure to try the BBQ skewers from here. Skewers start from RM 2 / $0.56 SGD.
Operating Hours: 6pm – 2am everyday except Mondays
Address: 26, 20, Jalan Segget, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Where to Get a Good Night’s Sleep?
Double Tree By Hilton Johor Bahru
One of the most luxurious hotels in the JB vicinity nearest the causeway, this hotel offers everything you could ask for, sleek, modern interiors, cheap prices (as is everything in Malaysia compared to Singapore), great hotel facilities, and convenient location for an overnight trip!
Prices for one night start from RM 324 / $91.30 SGD for a twin room.
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Center
Alternatively, if you’re looking for another option, Holiday Inn JB City Center is a great option which is also very modern and more family friendly with bright colors. The hotel has similar rates with less facilities.
Prices for one night start from RM 317 / $89.34 SGD for a twin/king standard city view room.
Day 2: LegoLand Malaysia Resort
Take a short trip down to Legoland Malaysia, Johor’s only theme park and one that is also closely located near to the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints at the western end of Malaysia. The park spans 31 hectares of land with 3 roller coasters and 2 water based rides.
The theme park has 8 themed areas:
The Beginning
Lego Technic
Lego City
Lego Kingdom
Miniland
Land of Adventure
Lego Ninjago World
Lookout for The Lego Ninjago Ride, The Great Lego: Race Virtual Reality Coaster, The Lost Kingdom Adventure and The Dragon’s Apprentice. These rides are some of the top rated attractions at the park. Don’t forget to check out Miniland Malaysia and Asia which would be a really cool experience to see miniature sized lego cities within the region.
The 1-day theme park prices start at RM 199 / $56.16 SGD for an adult and RM 169 / $47.69 SGD for a child or a senior.
Operating Hours: 10am – 6pm with last entrance by 5pm.
Address: 7, Persiaran Medini Utara 3, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Food Recommendations To Try Out If You Have Extra Time
Todak Seafood Restaurant
Located on the waterside facing Singapore’s shores, this seafood restaurant allows customers to select any of their seafood from their live tanks and the preparation style they wish to have for each order as well. Their signature dish is their Chili Crab coated with a thick spicy chilli sauce, where a single piece of mantou is insufficient to fully enjoy the bold and aromatic flavours. Do get there early as their seafood sells out fast once the dinner rush sets in, and you would not want to miss their crab. This restaurant even earned the title of ‘Best Seafood Restaurant in JB’.
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Address: 1, Jln Dedaru 11, Kampung Teluk Jawa, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Powertea Lok Lok
All though this Lok Lok place is quite a drive away, the key ingredient that makes this lok lok better than the others is the batter that they use, a recipe for sin. At only RM 1 / $0.28 per stick, it is cheap and great. You definitely need to try their stingray with sambal sauce as well! It is just to die for!
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Address: LOT GF-L005, AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
