Johor Bahru is now considered as the third largest city in Malaysia although it was only declared as a city in 1994. Since then, the area had progressed as a home to manufacturing plants of different top electronic brands in the world. While the area is generally considered as an industrial hub, millions of tourists flock to this city each year.
Also popularly known as JB, Johor Bahru is just a 30 to 45-minute drive from The Lion City of Singapore (SG), which is why tourists often drop by from SG to JB.
There are numerous cross-border activities and interesting places to see in this industrial city of Malaysia. These places include the shopping district in Jalan Wong Ah Fook, the fantasy world of Hello Kitty and Legoland, golf resorts in Pulai Springs and Horizon Hills, and the economic region of South Johor.
Getting to Johor Bahru with Singapore as a Starting Point
Before everything else, please be reminded to plan your travel in advance in order to avoid inconvenience such as hotel arrangements and presenting documents at the border immigration stop.
People coming from Singapore used to walk the 29 kilometer pathway in the remote past, but with the availability of different transport services today, it is now more comfortable to travel to Johor Bahru.
There are four different ways you can reach JB from Singapore including via bus, taxi, train, and by private or rented vehicle.
By Bus
If you are thinking of a weekend holiday and shopping rendezvous, there are enough bus services going to and from JB to help you go back to Singapore in time for the succeeding week’s appointments or work. There are different bus services you can board through various locations such as Woodlands, Yishun, Jurong East, and of course, at Changi Airport.
There are also several bus companies you can choose from such as SBS Transit 160, SBS Transit 170, Advance Coach AC 7, Singapore-Johore Express, Causeway Link (CW 1,2,3,4,5,) Transtar Express TS1 and TS8, and Compass Coaches. These bus companies operate daily. You just need to visit their websites to check schedules and find out one which suits your itinerary and of course, to compare individual fares as there are no uniform rates when you travel by bus from Singapore to Johor Bahru.
By Private Car
If you are using your own car, there are important things to consider such as determining the less busy link going to JB. There are two links you can use; Causeway Link using the Woodlands checkpoint and a second link which is Tuas Checkpoint. Traffic situation on the latter is better but toll fees are more expensive.
The entire ride takes around 15 to 30 minutes when it is an off peak season. During peak hours though, it can get worst as you may end up spending between 2 to 3 hours stuck in a traffic jam. So when possible, do not travel by car during evenings, especially Friday. Do not forget to fill your gas tank with at least 3/4 petrol or risk being fined.
By Taxi
If you choose to use this mode of transport, you need to remember that only accredited yellow taxis are allowed to travel across Malaysia. Your journey starts at Ban San Street Taxi Terminal in Singapore which is just adjacent to Queens Bus Terminal. Taxi will only drop you at Kotaraya Terminal in Johor Bahru; thus, you need to book another taxi in advance if you want to travel somewhere else within JB. Taxi fare is around 70 SGD per trip and limited to 4 persons only. There are additional charges you might incur depending on the duration of your journey. Luggage allowance is only at a maximum of 3.
By Train
There is a service train called Shuttle Tebrau and operated by KTM. It operates 12 trips daily from JB Sentral and 10 trips from Woodlands area. It will only take you five minutes travelling by train from JB Sentral to Woodlands and vice versa. Ticket is 10 SGD if you travel from Singapore and RM10 if you travel from Johor Bahru. You can buy your tickets online or at the terminal counter.
As you can see, there are different ways you can choose from to travel from Singapore to Johor Bahru. You can always select one which suits your needs, budget and individual preferences.
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