Do as the locals do, visit JB for cheap thrills!
Did you know that you can do a day trip to Malaysia from Singapore? The next time you are in the sunny island, leave a day to visit Johor Bahru, or JB as the locals call it.
With lower prices than Singapore (and a very attractive exchange rate of SGD1:RM3.5), JB has become the go to budget travel spot for Singaporeans. Go café-hopping, go-kart racing, outlet shopping, and many more in JB!
Getting There
You would need to cross the land border from Woodlands Checkpoint to enter Malaysia from Singapore. While there are many transportation options to cross the border, including car, shuttle buses and even by train, the cheapest way is to take the public bus. Singapore has public bus services that cross the border daily.
Head to Woodlands checkpoint and after clearing the customs, board Bus 160/170/170X at the bus terminal. These buses are part of Singapore public transportation system, and will take you to the JB customs.
TIP: If you take public transportation to the Woodlands checkpoint, boarding any of the Singapore buses above will be considered part of the same trip! This saves you from having to pay the base fare twice.
The JB customs are usually crowded in the late morning, with wait times of at least an hour! Avoid the crowds by heading there early, and enjoy breakfast in JB before the shops open at 10am.
Getting Around
It is possible to spend the day travelling around by foot if you stay around the checkpoint and explore the malls nearby. But the easiest way to travel around JB would be by Grab, a ride-hailing service similar to Uber. It is also cheaper than flagging down a taxi, and safer as some taxi drivers might try to scam tourists by charging a higher price.
Grab SG
Download Grab for Apple and Android here.
Things to Do
1. Shop till you drop
Right when you exit the JB customs, you would be in one of JB’s biggest malls, JB City Square. Here, boutique stores and international brands are located under one roof. There is also a laser tag arena, karaoke rooms and a cinema for you to spend your day. Other notable malls in JB include KSL City Mall, The Mall Mid Valley Southkey, and Sutera Mall.
If you venture further into JB, consider stopping by the outlet mall Johor Premium Outlets, home to 150 designer and name brand outlet stores offering discounts up to 65% off.
Thrifting is also a fun experience in JB, where you can cop t-shirts for as low as 1RM! This list of thrift stores by SHOUT is worth a read.
2. Eat, Eat, and Eat!
Much like the Singapore food scene, the food scene in Malaysia is another one to watch out for. You can get Nasi Lemak, a coconut milk rice served with sambal, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts and cucumber for only RM4.50 (SGD$1.29) at Onn Kitchen. Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Pork Rib Soup) is another popular dish among Singaporeans, and Soon Soon Heng provides free refills of the rich and umami-filled broth.
If you are looking for something more classy, Arashi in JB City Square serves affordable and quality Japanese Hotpot. Its soup pots are small enough for 1-2 people, so you don’t need a table of friends to dine here.
Beside having a meal or two (or three) in JB, some edible souvenirs that you need to bring back to Singapore includes Rotiboy’s coffee buns and Hiap Joo Bakery’s banana cake.
Selling the best banana cake in JB, long lines are a common sight outside Hiap Joo Bakery. They are closed on Sundays and closes at 4.30pm on the other days, so don’t forget to grab the cakes before heading for dinner!
My personal favorite, Rotiboy is a famous Malaysian bakery chain across Asia. There is one outlet right outside the JB customs, in JB Sentral. I kid you not when I say you can smell Rotiboy from meters away. The light and fluffy buns are best eaten warm, but the coffee coating can stay crunchy for up to a day.
Eatbook.sg
TIP: There are Rotiboy outlets in Singapore too, but the prices are much lower in JB. Same goes for other shops you might find familiar when in JB. This is why JB is so appealing to Singaporeans!
3. Ride a Go-Kart
Live out your Mario Kart dreams at RUD Karting, an 840m go-karting track with 16 turns that opens daily till 2am. A basic session only sets you back RM55 (SGD$17.20).
📍 PTD 200284, Persiaran Medini Sentral 6, Bandar Medini Iskandar, 79250 Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 11am – 2am (Mon to Sun)
X Park Sunway Iskandar is another great location to try go-karting. This extreme adventure park also offers a variety of activities, from mountain biking and motocross to rock climbing, archery, paintball, flying fox, ATVs and more.
X Park Malaysia
📍 Jalan Medini Selatan 2 Medini Zone F, Bandar Medini Iskandar, 79250 Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 2pm – 12am (Mon to Thu), 10am – 12am (Fri to Sun)
4. Try Café-Hopping
JB is home to many aesthetic and quirky cafes for some quiet time and a cup of coffee. What’s even better, the prices are half that of Singapore! A short walk from JB City Square, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and the surrounding area boasts a slew of cafes such as Bev C’afe, The Replacement, and Flowers in the Window.
Slightly further up north, Keijometo is a fan-favorite among Singaporeans. Its Japanese-inspired menu and aesthetic makes it a super instagrammable spot.
For more cafes to visit, check out this useful guide on the top cafes to visit in JB!
5. Reward yourself with a massage
To end the day, treat yourself and get all the knots out after all that exploring. You can find reputable massage parlors in all the big malls across JB. This is one of the must-dos when you are visiting JB, so don’t be surprised to see many Singaporeans taking a relaxing break alongside you!
While you are visiting the two neighboring countries, why not join the longstanding debate: Is Malaysia or Singapore food better? Check out our 5 must-try hawker stalls in Singapore, do a taste-test, and choose your side!
Let us know your pick in the comments below 🤔.
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