Johor Bahru: Malaysia's Southern Gateway

About Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru (commonly called JB) is the capital of Johor state and Malaysia's third-largest city. Strategically located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, just across the causeway from Singapore, JB serves as a vital economic and cultural hub. The city blends modern development with rich Malay royal heritage, offering visitors excellent shopping, historical sites, and access to coastal attractions like Desaru.

History & The Johor Sultanate

Founded in 1855 as Tanjung Puteri, the city was renamed Johor Bahru ("New Johor") in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar, the modernizer of Johor. The Johor Sultanate dates back to 1528 when Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II established it after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese.

Key facts about the Johor Sultans:

• Sultan Abu Bakar (1862-1895): Known as "Father of Modern Johor" who established British-style administration
• Sultan Ibrahim (1895-1959): Longest-reigning sultan who built Istana Bukit Serene
• Current Sultan: Sultan Ibrahim Ismail (since 2010) who maintains close ties with Singapore

The royal family remains highly visible with their blue and yellow colors displayed throughout the city. Key royal sites include:

• Istana Besar: Grand palace built by Sultan Abu Bakar (now Royal Abu Bakar Museum)
• Istana Bukit Serene: Current royal residence with iconic tower
• Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque: State mosque overlooking Singapore Strait

Proximity to Singapore

Johor Bahru is directly connected to Singapore via:

• Johor-Singapore Causeway (1km, completed 1923) - Busiest border crossing in Southeast Asia
• Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Tuas) - Western crossing with less traffic

Travel facts:

• Distance to Singapore CBD: Just 25km from Woodlands checkpoint
• Crossing time: 30 mins to 2 hours depending on traffic (clear immigration both sides)
• Transport options: Causeway Link buses, Singapore-JB shuttle trains, taxis
• Currency advantage: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) offers significant cost savings vs Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Top Attractions in Johor Bahru

Bazaars & Markets

Tours & Excursions

Half-Day Tours (4-5 hours)

• JB Heritage Walk - Royal sites, old shophouses and temples (RM120)
• Singapore Border Shopping Trip - JBCC, Komtar and City Square malls (RM80)
• Evening Food Tour - Sample JB specialties like laksa and satay (RM150)

Full-Day Excursions

• Desaru Coast Adventure - Beaches, fruit farms and firefly cruise (RM250)
• Singapore Highlights Tour - Marina Bay, Orchard Road (includes visa assistance) (RM350)
• Kukup Fishing Village - Water village on stilts with seafood lunch (RM180)
• Endau-Rompin National Park - Jungle trekking and waterfalls (RM300)

Desaru Coast Highlights (60km from JB)

• Desaru Beach - 25km of golden sand coastline
• Desaru Fruit Farm - Tropical fruit tasting and farm tour
• Desaru Waterpark - Malaysia's largest water theme park
• Firefly Valley
- Evening boat tour to see fireflies