Top 10 things what to do in Johor Bahru (JB) - Travel Guide

Johor Bahru, just over the causeway, is the perfect day trip when you want a change from Singapore. There are plenty of things to do in Johor Bahru for day trippers - and enough to justify extending your visit over a couple of nights if you’d like to.

Whether you’re looking for things to do in JB with the family, or planning a weekend with friends, this guide has what you need. We’ll walk through what to do in Johor Bahru, and also introduce Wise as the perfect way to save money when spending in ringgit. That means your dollars will stretch to even more fun things to do in JB!

Table of contents
Legoland Malaysia Skyscape Johor Shop brands for less Royal Abu Bakar Museum (The Grand Palace Johor) Johor Zoo Eco Spring Labs Get pampered Abu Bakar State Mosque Danga Bay Eat

1. Legoland Malaysia

Without doubt the biggest tourist draw for JB, Legoland Malaysia takes pride of place in our roundup of top 10 things to do in Johor Bahru. You’ll be able to take your pick of the rides and attractions, visit the water park and the aquarium. There’s even a hotel on site so you can make it a longer trip if you’d like. Legoland is a big hit for families of all ages, but bear in mind that individual rides and attractions do have their own height limits which you’ll need to check out if you’re travelling with younger children.

Pick up your tickets conveniently online in advance - you can also buy annual passes, book your accommodation and more.

Address: No. 7, Persiaran Medini Utara 3, 79100 Nusajaya, Johor

Opening hours: Legoland Malaysia opening hour calendar

Learn more: Legoland Malaysia

2. Skyscape Johor

Tourism Johor describes the experience of Skyscape Johor as unforgettable¹ - but it might be better for people without a fear of heights! Take in the view and snap some photos 149 metres above ground on the glass bottom Sky Bridge, grab some friends and play with the virtual reality headsets, check out the multi-sensory LED Tunnel and play interactive floor games. There’s even a mini-theatre you can go to, to catch your favourite film.

Buy your tickets at the ticketing counter on the ground floor of Menara JLand, or through a third party like Klook².

Address: MENARA JLAND, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru

Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm; Last admission 4.00 pm

Learn more: Skyscape

3. Shop brands for less

If you’re planning to hop over to JB for shopping, you’re in luck. While there are plenty of malls to pick from, one stands out if you’re looking for luxury and branded items for less - Jalan Premium Outlets. You’ll have over 150 stores to pick from, and there are regularly scheduled events so you’re never short of things to do. Pack a Wise card to pay easily in MYR and you could even save extra by beating foreign transaction fees. We’ll walk through Wise and how using your Wise card when you transact in foreign currencies can mean you pay less - later.

Address: Jalan Premium Outlets, Bandar Indahpura, 81000 Kulai, Johor

Opening hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm daily

Learn more: Johor Premium Outlets

4. Royal Abu Bakar Museum (The Grand Palace Johor)

If museums are more your thing, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum will be perfect for you. Built back in 1866, it’s one of the oldest buildings in Johor and houses collections including rare items owned by the Royal Family, lavish household furnishings, weapons and more. The museum is in a handsome building in the palace grounds, to the north of the Grand Palace of the Sultan of Johor.

Address: Royal Abu Bakar Museum, Grand Palace, 80500 Johor Bahru

Opening hours: Open daily except Fridays - 9:00am to 5:00pm

Learn more: Royal Abu Bakar Museum

5. Johor Zoo

If you’re wondering what to do in JB on a day trip, why not pop to the zoo? Kids of all ages will love the Johor zoo, which is conveniently right in the middle of JB, close to many other attractions. It’s one of the oldest zoos in Malaysia and is home to over 100 species of animals including some endangered ones. There are shows and places to eat so you can make a day of it if you’d like to. Entry is only 3 MYR so you can’t really go wrong!

Address: Jalan Gertak Merah, 80000 Johor Bahru

Opening hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm daily

Learn more: Johor Zoo

6. Eco Spring Labs

Eco Spring Labs is a popular place to grab your instagram pictures, with photogenic backdrops aplenty. It’s not super central, so may be one to pick if you’re heading over the border by car, but you can pop into some shops, grab a coffee and get all the insta pics you need for the day with aesthetic shophouses in the background. Head over after lunchtime to find the most stores open, and bear in mind that it’s not a shady area and can get pretty hot.

Address: Jalan Ekoflora1, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Opening hours: 9:00am 6:00pm Monday – Thursday;10:00am- 6:00pm Saturday- Sunday

Learn more: Eco Spring Labs

7. Get pampered

One of the most common reasons to visit JB (after eating, of course) is to take advantage of the price and easy availability of services like manicures, massages, stylists and even aestheticians for treatments like facials, fillers or botox. You’ll be able to find what you’re looking for super easily in JB, so it’s just a question of what takes your fancy. It’s worth asking for personal recommendations from friends if you’re planning a pamper trip - you’ll be surprised how many people skip over the border for a treat fairly regularly.

8. Abu Bakar State Mosque

Close to the Royal Abu Bakar Museum is the state mosque of Johor, the Abu Bakar State Mosque. You’re allowed to enter as a visitor to take a look at the fantastic architecture of this building which was completed back in 1900. The architecture shows influences from Victorian Britain, and Moorish culture - with very little reference to more local Malaysian style. Bear in mind you’ll need to dress appropriately for this trip, covering shoulders and knees.

Address: Jalan Abu Bakar, 80100, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Learn more: Abu Bakar State Mosque

9. Danga Bay

A couple of kilometres from the city centre, Danga Bay attracts families looking to relax in the park, couples looking for a romantic spot, and anyone looking for glamorous options for dining, shopping and drinking. You’ll be able to visit Danga City Mall for a spot of retail therapy and then pick out any of the fine dining options for dinner with a view of the bay, for a perfect end to the JB day trip.

Address: Skudai, 80200, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Learn more: Danga Bay

10. Eat

You didn’t think we’d finish without mentioning makan? Of course, there’s always a good reason to head to Johor Bahru, and when you do, you need to eat. Come to think of it, why not take a trip simply to eat? Everyone has their favourites, whether that’s Dessert Library for your sweet fix, Bornga for Korean, or Image Cooker for a broad mix of Asian and Western food, all set in a perfect place to take your food photos. Make the most of your trip, and visit them all.

Travelling to Malaysia? Get the Wise card to spend MYR without losing on exchange rates and foreign transaction fees

Make your SGD - or whatever your home currency is - go further with Wise.

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise card for a low, one time fee. Add some money from your bank or using a card, and you’re ready to start spending in MYR - and 40+ other supported currencies - right away.

Wise stands out from the crowd for using the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43% for currency conversion³ - that means you avoid the foreign transaction fee your bank charges you, so you can do more, for less.

See how much you can save with Wise, on your next trip to Johor Bahru - or wherever else in the world you decide to go.

Order a Wise card today!

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Sources:

1. Tourism Johor - Skyscape
2. Klook - Skyscrape
3. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information