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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!
In this post, 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 During Long Weekends
Relevant posts about 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:
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:
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
IKEA Tebrau (or AEON Tebrau City)
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.
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:
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:
Tags: BatuPahat, BatuPahatEat, BatuPahatCafe
4. MUAR DISTRICT
Muar is about 170Km from Larkin Sentral and takes 2.5 hours by long distance buses.

Related posts:
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
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 back within a day.
Related posts:
Tags: Malacca, MalaccaEat, MalaccaCafe, MalaccaStay, MalaccaTip, MalaccaMurals