Go beyond your typical Johor Bahru day trip to KSL and City Square Mall while sticking to a friendly budget!
Many of us head to JB for one of two reasons: to shop or to cafe-hop. After all, cheap shopping steals are all there is to JB right? — Not exactly.
It’s true that JB is cheap, but there’s so much more to eat, play and shop here than just shopping malls or aesthetic cafes.
Apart from your familiar hot spots, this adventurous itinerary will show you how to zhng your Johor day trip with panoramic skyline views, a bustling night market, and an exciting pop-up theme park.
Plus, you don’t have to spend much to enjoy these cool experiences at all!
Getting To and Around JB
There are two options to get to Johor via public transport:
– Train from Woodlands Train Checkpoint (S$5 to JB and RM5 to SG)
– Bus 160/170 from Opposite Kranji MRT Station or Bus 170X from Kranji Station (S$1.25/ one-way journey)
The train ride is a more comfortable option at only $5/one-way trip (S$5 to JB and RM5 to SG), with way less squeezing than the bus.
*Pro-tip: Pre-book your train tickets as seats get sold out quickly.
Meanwhile, buses offer the flexibility of time without having to rush for your ride. At Kranji station, all three buses to JB arrive every 15-20 mins (depending on road conditions).
You’ll have to alight at the Woodlands Checkpoint for immigration, before continuing your journey across the Causeway to Malaysia’s checkpoint.
When travelling around Johor for a day trip, Grab is an affordable and convenient option even for those on a budget. From Customs, a ride to KSL mall costs about RM5 (~S$1.50), while further places like the Euro Fun Park cost RM24 (~S$7.50).
To book a Grab, you’ll need to buy data for your day trip. Check out prices for data roaming with your service provider, or book a 5GB e-SIM (~S$9) via Klook.
9AM: Breakfast at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
A short 15-minute walk from Customs, you’ll find the heritage street of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. With various old-school eats and plenty of aesthetic cafes, Tan Hiok Nee is home to both the “old” and the “new” where trends and tradition co-exist.
Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory
Be prepared to queue.
This famous bakery often has long snaking lines with people eager to get their hands on the delicious, fragrant banana cake. Each box comes with 10 slices of cake.
Photo credit: Tripadvisor
While Hiap Joo Bakery does export its banana cakes to Singapore, the cheaper prices and joy of savouring these cakes fresh out of the oven are worth the trip down.
Cost: RM9.60/box (~S$3)
Opening hours: 7:30AM – 5PM, closed on Sun
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Restoran Hua Mui
Restoran Hua Mui is an open-air eatery great for breakfast before the cafes open around 10AM.
The signature Hainanese Chicken Cutlet (RM17.90, ~S$5.70) is what most people visit for, while toasts and sandwiches are available if you’re looking for something lighter.
We also tried some interesting drinks that are less common in Singapore, like the Kopi Gu You (RM3.40, ~S$1) (coffee with butter) and the Three Layer Milk Tea or Milk Kopi (RM6.30, ~S$2).
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM
Address: 131, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Salahuddin Bakery
One of JB’s oldest, Salahuddin Bakery is much like a living museum. Opened in 1937, it still seems to retain its rustic and antique decor with Peranakan tiles and old-school signages and calendars.
Traditional bakes and pastries sold here include bread, cakes, and curry puffs — all baked in an old wood-fired oven. We tried the Karipap Ayam (RM3.50, ~S$1.10) and Sugar Puff (RM2, ~$0.60), which is a good try if you like flaky and crumbly pastries!
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM, closed on Friday
Address: 26, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
11AM: Pop-up Art Gallery at 11+ JB
Located opposite Bev C’afe, we noticed a unique display at this storefront that piqued our interest. Turns out, it was a pop-up art gallery featuring a rotating roster of artists!
On our visit, we caught the artworks of Lu Shui Rou, an artist from China. This happens to be her first exhibition in South East Asia. The staff gave us a quick introduction to her art before leaving us to appreciate them. Coffee is also sold here as you browse.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 11AM – 11PM
Address: 22, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
12PM: Cafe-hopping
Trust us when we say that Jalan Tan Hiok Nee has plenty of cafes — we saw about 10 cafes within a short 15-minute walk around the neighbourhood.
The well-known ones here are The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe or Flowers in the Window. But next time you’re visiting JB, check out some of these lesser-known ones.
Bev C’afe
With rustic, woody interiors, Bev C’afe is relatively small but cosy.
According to their menu, they serve what they like to eat! We found unique creations such as the Jackfruit Cheesecake (RM10, ~S$3) and Leicha Cake (RM16, ~S$5).
The Jackfruit Cheesecake is an interesting try, albeit a little tiny. It tastefully balances both flavours well, without the cake being overpowered by the strong scent of jackfruit. The Citrus Honey Lemon Soda (RM16, ~S$5) also paired well with it for a refreshing finish.
The cafe is located on the second floor, above the Bev C concept store.
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Wednesday
Address: 54, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Offee Cafe
Recommended by the staff at 11+ JB, the new Offee Cafe (opened in June 2022) boasts a sleek, white modern interior.
One can probably guess what it’s known for — yes, coffee! ☕️ They serve interesting creations including the Coconut Latte (RM12, ~S$3.80) and Oat Latte (RM12, ~S$3.80).
While I’m more of a tea person, coffee-lovers Shai and Bren gave the cafe and its coffee an 8/10 for its taste and ambience.
Opening hours: 9AM – 7PM
Address: 30, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
2PM: Panoramic Skyline Views at Skyscape
Skyscape is most famous for the glass-floored sky bridge located on the 33rd floor.
At 149m above ground, the translucent glass floor may be challenging for people with acrophobia (fear of heights) — although Bren took it alright! Here, we enjoyed a panoramic overview of Johor Bahru and the Causeway bridge.
Skyscape also offers complimentary activities included in your ticket, like virtual reality games, access to the observation deck and an LED tunnel amongst others.
*Note: The LED tunnel is currently undergoing an upgrade.
Admission fee: S$8/pax, RM1 (~S$0.30) for shoe covers paid on site
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 4PM, closed on Saturday
Address: Level 34, Menara JLand Johor Bahru City Centre (JBCC, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
3PM: Shop Near KSL City Mall
KSL City Mall is no stranger to most Singaporeans. It’s easily accessible via Grab or by a feeder bus at the custom and has stores like KTVs, massage parlours or shopping options.
But other than shopping inside the mall, step outside and you’ll find new interesting places to explore.
Avery Day Convenience Concept Store
For all snack-lovers like myself, this unique convenience concept store could most probably make for your dream snack heaven 😍
Located outside KSL City Mall at the CBTL entrance, Avery Day sells snacks from various countries: Thailand, Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan… you name it. We recognised some familiar snacks and picked out new ones less commonly found in SG.
This Taiwanese yoghurt drink (RM9.90, ~S$3) caught our eyes as it came in the shape of a milk bottle. We can’t remember the last time we drank from milk bottles but we decided to try it once again that day.
It did feel weird drinking from a teat, but the yoghurt was tangy and refreshing.
Hot snacks like fried chicken, fries, and nuggets are also available, and you can enjoy your snacks at the outdoor sitting area on the second floor.
Opening hours: 9AM – 12AM
Address: 2, Jalan Rusa 6, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Pasar Karat
Take a step out of Avery Day and join the crowds at Pasar Karat. It’s a night market that stretches a few hundred metres down the street and will probably take a good 30 minutes to walk down the entire lane.
There were many stalls selling local delights such as fried carrot cake, Assam laksa, BBQ skewers, chendol — we were absolutely spoilt for choice. We had a great dinner snacking on a little bit of everything!
Some stalls also sold everyday items like nail cutters, fire starters, and water bottles that make for good souvenirs to bring home.
Admission fee: Free
Opening hours: 5PM – 2AM
Address: 26, 20, Jalan Segget, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
7PM: Pop-up theme park at Euro Fun Park
To end off the night with a bang, visit Euro Fun Park, a pop-up theme park!
The rides here are pretty thrilling — I dare say they’re better than your typical neighbourhood fairs. Our top choices were definitely the Vortex and Space Flyer.
The Vortex takes you cartwheeling high up into the air while you spin around endlessly for a fun yet dizzy experience. The Space Flyer takes the usual spinning chair carnival ride but goes up high to 30m in height.
Rides are paid in tokens (RM2/S$0.60 per token). For instance, the Vortex requires 15 tokens while the Space Flyer requires 10 tokens.
*Note: The theme park shifts around to different locations in Malaysia.
Admission fee: RM5 (~S$1.50) excl. cost of rides
Opening hours: 7PM – 12AM
Address: Angsana JB Mall, Jalan Tampoi, Taman Damansara Aliff, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (Till 12 July 2022)
Budget Breakdown for JB Day Trip
Transport: S$6.36
Activities: S$25.54
Miscellaneous: S$31.66
Total: S$63.56
(detailed breakdown for one pax here)
Budget Tips for A Johor Day Trip
If you’re planning to take a day trip to JB sometime soon, here are some things to note:
– Cash: Cards are accepted in malls and cafes, but not at traditional stalls like Salahuddin or the night market. Hence, we recommend changing cash for the trip. When paying for bigger ticket items in shopping malls, use multi-currency cards like YouTrip or Revolut to avoid lousy exchange rates.
– Activities: Pre-purchase your tickets online for cheaper prices. For instance, we bought our tickets to Skyscape via Klook and saved ~S$4/adult.
– Transport: Depending on the number of people you travel with, Grabbing around JB can be a cheaper and more convenient option compared to public transport. For instance, the bus to KSL from Customs costs RM2/pax (~S$0.60) but a Grab that can take four people costs RM5 (~S$1.60).
I’ve been guilty of sticking to shopping malls on my usual visits to Johor Bahru (thank the weather 🥵), but this day trip to JB got me wanting to explore more of the city’s not-so-hidden gems that I’ve long overlooked.
What else do you usually do on a day trip to JB? Let us know in the comments below and we might include it in the itinerary!
Thanks for an interesting write up.
Amlooking into cafe hopping for my next trip.
Another reason I go JB for is body massage, paying MYR 132 for 2 hours, and using WISE card get good exchange rates too.