Johor · Malaysia
Where to stay in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is a city in Johor, Malaysia, home to about 798,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- XSP13 km · Seletar Airport
- Currency
- MYRMalaysian ringgit
- Time zone
- Asia/Kuala Lumpur
- Language
- Malay
About
About Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru (JB) is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and economy.
Johor Bahru is the second largest city in Malaysia and a fast-growing city. The city has about 860,000 inhabitants (2020), and its district has about 1.7 million. Johor Bahru is mostly suburban and lacks a condensed metropolitan environment. Given its relatively large land space, the city is not as dense as many other cities in the country. Many of the world's top electronics manufacturers have at least one plant in Johor Bahru. Due to its proximity to Singapore, Johor Bahru is frequently visited by Singaporeans looking to take advantage of its much lower prices, particularly on weekends.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Johor Bahru
See
Johor Bahru has a well-mixed balance of things to see from historic, traditional and modern landmarks, cultural and religious places, sports and entertainment venues, as well as nature from city parks and seafront places. Most of the tourist places are well spread throughout the city. So if you plan to go to any corner of the city, you will always find something interesting to see, to do or to enjoy.
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Majidee Malay Village
- Austin International Convention Centre
- JLand Tower
- Johor Bahru City Square
- Johor Public Library
- Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum
- Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House
- Permas Square
- Persada Johor International Convention Centre
- Serene Square
Do
Johor's top theme park, Legoland Malaysia, is some 20 km away in the satellite town of Iskandar Puteri and covered in that article. It can easily be visited on a day trip from JB.
- Legoland Malaysia
- Austin Heights Water and Adventure Park
- Dinosaur Alive Water Theme Park
- La Stella Water Theme Park
- Tiram Indoor Water Park
- Drift Culture Enterprise
- The Escaper
- G Flights
- Lost in JB - The Haunted House
- Permas Go-Kart Club
- Seadoo Safari
- Skyscape
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Johor Bahru to stay in
There is plenty of accommodation in Johor Bahru to suit all budgets. The cost of a double room in a budget hotel right in the city centre (i.e. around Jalan Meldrum, between Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and Jalan Wong Ah Fook near City Square) starts from RM50 net per room per night. In general, the budget hotels outside the city centre are cheaper and most of them are located within shop lots areas. Backpacker hostels with dormitories (dorms) are not as commonly found in Johor Bahru as in Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and George Town. For short term stay, the city offers many choices of accommodation from Airbnb's platform.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Johor Bahru
188 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Berjaya Waterfront | 3.0 km | |
| Citrus Johor Bahru | 0.7 km | |
| Crystal Crown Hotel Johor Bahru | 1993 | 3.5 km |
| GBW Hotel | 1.1 km | |
| Granada Hotel | 11.9 km | |
| Jen Hotel Puteri Harbour | 12.4 km | |
| LEGOLAND Hotel | 14.7 km | |
| Meldrum Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| New York Hotel | 2.6 km | |
| The Puteri Pacific Hotel | 0.6 km | |
| Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| Tune Hotel Danga Bay | 5.9 km | |
| 1 Million Hotel | 12.3 km | |
| AB Inn Hotel | 22.2 km | |
| Amansari Residence Resort | 12.4 km | |
| Amari Johor Bahru | 0.9 km | |
| Amerin Hotel | 9.8 km | |
| Amerin Hotel Johor Bahru | 9.8 km | |
| Atelier Hotel Johor Bahru | 3.0 km | |
| Attrus by LSE | 0.9 km | |
| Austin Park Hotel | 11.9 km | |
| Avantgarde Hotel | 12.2 km | |
| Baguss City Hotel | 1.0 km | |
| Bayu Marina Resort | 6.0 km | |
| Belllo Hotel JB Central | 0.6 km | |
| Bluebell Hotel | 12.7 km | |
| Bzz Hotel Skudai | 14.5 km | |
| Capital O 90130 Sawadee Hotel OYO Rooms | 3.6 km | |
| Capital O 90447 Hotel Ezzyhome Kebun Teh OYO Rooms | 4.7 km | |
| Capri by Fraser Johor Bahru | 1.2 km | |
| Carlsun Hotel | 24.4 km | |
| CIQ Hotel | 1.1 km | |
| CIQ Hotel at Jalan Trus | 0.7 km | |
| Citrus Hotel Johor Bahru by Compass Hospitality | 0.7 km | |
| D Elegance Hotel | 19.7 km | |
| De Sweet Boutique Hotel | 8.3 km | |
| DK Hotel | 8.9 km | |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru | 2014 | 1.1 km |
| Dragon Inn Hotel | 0.6 km | |
| Dragon Inn Premium Hotel Johor Bahru | 0.6 km |
All 188 hotels in Johor Bahru, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 332 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Johor Bahru: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Seletar Airport (XSP), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Senai International Airport (JHB, 23 km) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN, 28 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
The most practical way for most international visitors to enter is through Singapore Changi Airport or Senai International Airport (see below). Senai International Airport (JHB) is the main airport serving Johor Bahru, located in the neighbouring town of Senai. It has several international flights from other Southeast Asian countries, and it has also domestic flights from major airports around Malaysia, including connecting flights from Malaysia's main airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which is served by flights from major destinations around the globe.
Getting around
If you wish to explore Johor Bahru by bus, the main bus terminals of the city are Larkin Sentral, JB Sentral, Taman Johor Jaya and Ulu Tiram. From these terminals, buses going to almost major suburbs of Johor Bahru as well as Kulai, Iskandar Puteri and Pasir Gudang. The destination also serves Pontian Kechil, Ayer Hitam and Kota Tinggi in the neighbouring districts of Johor Bahru. Public buses are operated by BAS.MY Johor Bahru, easily identifiable by their bright pink livery.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
XSP · Seletar Airport
JHB · Senai International Airport
SIN · Singapore Changi Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Johor Bahru
Eat
Johor Bahru offers local delicacies of Malaysia to Western and Asian choices of food. Dining venues range from budget and mid-range eateries to high-end restaurants with various price ranges. Many of them are in restaurant and entertainment districts, shopping malls, along sea fronts, hawker centres, pedestrian zones, food courts, stand alone food stalls or even food trucks. Alternatively, you can always use food delivery apps from your mobile phone to get your favorite foods delivered straight to your accommodation from major restaurants in the city. Halal-certified logos are displayed at many restaurant entrances.
Drink
In some particular areas, the nightlife scene in Johor Bahru can be quite an adventure with many choices available on the ground. The most popular inland nightlife areas within the Johor Bahru metropolitan area, are the Mount Austin and Sutera Utama areas for younger crowds, where it features nightclubs, pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, karaokes, gaming centres, shops and an occasional night market. A well-known concentrated drinking area along the coast is The ZON at Stulang Laut. It features The ZON Duty Free shopping mall selling alcoholic beverages tax-free, but you must pay upon exiting the area through the customs. It also features many pubs and nightclubs within the duty-free precinct.
Stay safe
As of 2025, Johor Bahru has become the city in Malaysia with the second lowest crime rate. However, it used to have a bad reputation, due in part to sensationalised reports by some foreign media of crimes committed against their citizens; the proximity to super safe Singapore hasn't helped perceptions.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Johor Bahru: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 332 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Johor Bahru?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Seletar Airport (XSP), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Senai International Airport (JHB, 23 km) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN, 28 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Johor Bahru?
Malaysian ringgit (MYR).
Nearby
Destinations near Johor Bahru
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.