Johor Bahru

The southern state of Johor is the gateway for Malaysia to and from Singapore. Thus, it is often common to see many tourists here while locals who would like to visit Singapore have been known to stay in Johor where they will commute to the southern neighbour.

Gateway to major attractions and theme parks

In Johor however, there are also many tourist attractions here while many also travels to other places around the state through the capital of Johor Bahru as it is the main transportation hub of the state. In the city of Johor Bahru, you could stay at the Great Wall Hotel where room rates start from RM75 per night. It is located at Permas Jaya which is easily accessible through the town centre which began operations in 2004 and is one of the preferred choice among budget travellers in Johor Bahru. Alternatively, you could also stay at the WF Hotel with rooms starting from RM50 per night that offer basic amenities.

Education services around the south

JB is one of the most developed cities in the country mainly because of the strong influence with Singapore. The Iskandar Malaysia corridor has brought about vast improvements to the education industry here in which renowned universities have set up their branch campuses here, attracting thousands of students from around the world. Among them include the Southern University College, Cresendo International College, Raffles University Iskandar, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia and the University of Southampton Malaysia campus, to name a few.

Transportation and getting around

The transportation within Johor Bahru is operated by several companies as there are many routes available. One can travel from JB to other parts of the state through the intercity services or take the JB-Singapore bus service that leads straight into the island while there are bus operators that provide links within the city center as well. These services are offered through companies like Transit Link or City Bus, Maju, Handal Indah or Causeway Link, GML Lines and Triton, among others.

Commercial areas

The most prominent commercial center in JB would be the areas surrounding the City Square Shopping Center along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Apart from the shopping mall, there are several rows of shophouses located around here that provide eateries, banking services and retail outlets, all of which are constantly frequented by customers.

Government offices

The Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru is located along Jalan Dato Onn not far from the Causeway. This area is where some of the prominent government offices are located like the Menara Tabung Haji at Jalan Ayer Molek while around the Jalan Bukit Timbalan is where buildings like Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim and the Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negara Johor are located.

Local Culture and Safety

JB is a thriving city which is constantly bustling with activities. Cars from Singapore are streaming in and the same with Malaysian cars heading out to Singapore especially during the rush hours of the morning and evenings. After that, the nightlife around JB can be quite active around Taman Sentosa and certain parts of the city center. Some of the lanes around Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir can be dark and lonely at night. The local culture here is quite similar to other capitals around Malaysia where there could be Mat Rempits on their illegally-modified motorcycles around the main roads of JB.

More about Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor with an estimated population of over 900,000. This second largest urban area in Malaysia plays an important role in tourism, industrial and commercial sectors. You can find one of the country’s biggest industrial centres right here in Johor Bahru. Divided clearly into four parts which are north, south, east and west, the main city centre is within the southern part of the city with large numbers of housing estates. Singapore is connected to the southern part via causeway.

The city has grown tremendously in the last two decades. Declared as a city in 1994, Johor Bahru is well-known as an industrial city because of the ever increasing electronic manufacturers within the city. Of course, one should never compare Johor Bahru with its neighbour, Singapore. Undeniably, Johor Bahru is less organized but nevertheless, it is still reputed as one of the best destinations in Malaysia ideal for sightseers because you can experience an ultimate adventure with the discovery of a wide array of eateries and shopping malls.

Transportation services

The transportation within Johor Bahru is operated by several companies as there are many routes available. One can travel from JB to other parts of the state through the intercity services or take the JB-Singapore bus service that leads straight into the island while there are bus operators that provide links within the city center as well. These services are offered through companies like Transit Link or City Bus, Maju, Handal Indah or Causeway Link, GML Lines and Triton, among others.

To travel towards the eastern parts of the city, services are offered through the Eastern Hub located at the newly built JB CIQ Complex with services heading out to places like Pasir Gudang and Kota Tinggi. To head to the other end, buses going to Taman University, Bukit Indah and Kempas can be boarded at the City Square Shopping Center while the Kotaraya II bus terminal is where bus services going into Singapore is offered. The Larkin Bus Terminal provides inter-state express bus services.

Tourists and visitors can easily travel to Johor Bahru via buses or train. However, getting around the city is an issue because public transportation is fairly limited especially buses. Though you can hire a taxi, you’ll have to negotiate the fare with the drivers because most of the time they refuse to use the meter. If you are up for an adventurous trip, do not hesitate to take a bus around town. A tip for adventurous travelers – follow the local crowds and wait by the roadside for buses. If you are skeptical, ask the bus drivers where the bus is heading to.

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