Johor Bahru
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Bandaraya selatan | Southern city
Why visit
Use Johor Bahru as a cross-border base or as a destination in its own right. The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque overlooks the strait, the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple anchors the older center, and the Galeri Diraja Sultan Abu Bakar sits in a former palace. Legoland Malaysia and Hello Kitty Town are out in the Iskandar Puteri area, and the Malay-Chinese-Indian food is often cheaper than in Singapore.
When to avoid
Border-crossing queues at the Causeway can stretch hours during Singapore long weekends. Cross at off-peak times. Petty crime targeting cross-border visitors is opportunistic. Keep valuables hidden. Some peripheral areas have higher crime. Stick to the main commercial zones at night. Heavy traffic on weekends. Bargain hard at markets but respect the asking price for set-priced goods.
