Quick Guide: Planning Day Trips to Places in Johor, Malaysia

Here's a quick reference to all posts on iPackTravel on day-tripping in Johor for local food, street arts, coffee, confectionery, shopping, transportation, etc. Most of the places mentioned here can be reached and returned within a day — easy for day trips without an overnight stay.

To begin, plan your visits to Malaysia in 2023 by making use of public holidays or avoiding them to enjoy congestion-free travels.

Read: Going Over the Border to Malaysia in 2023? Let's Plan!

On our blog, do make use of tags to filter and retrieve updated posts.

Tags: Johor, Johor Bahru, Pontian, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Muar, Johor Story

1. JOHOR BAHRU CITY

Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor, Malaysia, and is the nearest city to Singapore. It attracts many tourists from Singapore, especially day trippers. The busiest border-crossing between the two countries is via the Causeway between Woodlands Checkpoint (Singapore) and Sultan Iskandar CIQ (Johor Bahru). Another border-crossing is via the Second Link between Tuas Checkpoint and Sultan Abu Bakar ICQS in Gelang Patah, a suburb city of Johor.

Crossing the border:

• Bus Guide: Border-Crossing Bus Services from Singapore to Johor

• Best Times to Cross Singapore-Johor Causeway

• Best Times to Cross Singapore-Johor Causeway During Long Weekends

• 14 Tips to Go Through Singapore-Johor Customs Faster (2022)

Tag: SingaporeJohorCrossing

Relevant posts about Johor Bahru:

• Best Time to Go Shopping in Johor Bahru

• 8 Shopping Malls in Nearby Johor Bahru for Singapore Day-Trippers

• Day Trippers from Singapore! Watch your Purchases or Pay GST!

• Bus Guide: Get Around Johor Bahru with NEW myBAS Public Bus Services

Tag: BusGuide, JohorBahruEat, JohorBahruCafe

Johor Bahru City Square Mall and KOMTAR JBCC are two shopping malls just opposite JB Sentral, which is just next to JB CIQ. Other shopping malls, such as Galleria @ Kotaraya, R&F Mall, etc, are also located within short walking distance from JB Sentral.

Related posts:

• Bus Guide: Singapore to JB Sentral or City Square in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Tags: JBCitySquare, TanHiokNeeEat, BandarJohorBahruEat

KSL City Mall is another shopping mall that is popular with tourists from Singapore. It is about 3Km from JB Sentral and easily accessible by public transports.

Related posts:

• Bus Guide: Get to KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru (2022)

• What to Eat around KSL City, Johor Bahru (2022)

Tags: KSLCityMall, KSLCityEat, KSLCityCafe, TamanCentury

Around Taman Sri Tebrau, Taman Pelangi & Taman Sentosa

• Bus Guide: Get to Pelangi, Dai Mah or Sentosa in Johor Bahru

• What to Eat in Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru (新山大马花园) (2022)

• Johor Story 3: A Day Trip to Pelangi & KSL City for Local Food

Tags: TamanSriTebrauEat, PelangiEat

IKEA Tebrau (or AEON Tebrau City)

• Bus Guide: Get to AEON Tebrau City & IKEA Tebrau in Johor Bahru

• On a Bargain Hunt to IKEA Tebrau

• 6 Tips to Make Your Trip to IKEA Tebrau Value for Money

Tags: IKEA

Beyond Johor Bahru

If you are travelling to districts or states further north of Johor, Larkin Sentral (Bus Terminal) is where you should go for long-distance inter-city buses. Trains are also available at JB Sentral for travelling long distances to the north but, for short distances within Johor state, it is slower and not accessible to most districts, other than Kluang and Johor Bahru.

• Bus Guide: Singapore to Larkin Sentral in Johor, Malaysia (2022)

2. PONTIAN DISTRICT

A little further out of Johor Bahru, visit Pontian Kechil, Kukup Village or Pekan Nanas (Pineapple Town) in Pontian District for more things to do other than shopping. Pontian is about 1.5 hours from Johor Bahru by public buses.

Related posts:

• A Different Getaway to Pontian & Kukup

• What Local Food to Eat in Pontian Kechil (笨珍)

• Bus Guide: Singapore to Pontian Kechil & Kukup in Johor (柔佛笨珍)

• Bus Guide: Getting to Pekan Nanas in Pontian District of Johor (北干那那)

• Johor Story 7: A Day Trip in Johor Bahru & Pekan Nanas (北干那那) for Eats

• Johor Story 8: 3D2N to Batu Pahat, Pontian & Pekan Nanas (峇株巴辖+笨珍+北干那那) - Part 2

Tags: Pontian, PontianEat, PontianCafe, PontianStay, PekanNanas

3. BATU PAHAT DISTRICT

Batu Pahat is about 119Km from Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru, and takes 2.5 hours by long distance buses.

Related posts:

• Johor Story 8: 3D2N to Batu Pahat, Pontian & Pekan Nanas (峇株巴辖+笨珍+北干那那) - Part 1

Tags: BatuPahat, BatuPahatEat, BatuPahatCafe, BatuPahatBuy

4. MUAR DISTRICT

Muar is about 170Km from Larkin Sentral and takes 2.5 hours by long distance buses.

Related posts:

• Bus Guide: Singapore to Muar or Malacca via Larkin Sentral

• Johor Story 2: A Day Trip to Pekan Muar for Food, Coffee & Street Arts

• Giant Street Arts of Muar

Tags: Muar, MuarMurals

5. KLUANG DISTRICT

Kluang is about 106Km from Larkin Sentral and takes 1.5 hours by long distance buses.

Related posts:

• Johor Story 4: A Day Trip to Kluang (居銮) for Mooncakes, Coffee & Street Arts

• Johor Story 6: A Day Trip to Kluang (居銮) for More Eats & Buys (Part 2)

Tags: Kluang, KluangEat, KluangBuy

6. MALACCA STATE

Malacca is another state at the northern border of Johor. It is about 3 hours from Johor Bahru. Technically, it is still possible to travel to Malacca for eats and buys and return within a day.

Related posts:

• Bus Guide: Singapore to Malacca and Return (2022)

• Malacca Tip: Singapore to Malacca and Return for Just S$20

• Malacca Eats: 12 Must-Try Local Food in Malacca Old Town (2022)

• Malacca Eats: 10 Places to Eat Outside Malacca Old Town

Tags: Malacca, MalaccaEat, MalaccaCafe, MalaccaStay, MalaccaTip, MalaccaMurals