With the borders finally opening after 2 long years, Singaporeans are now allowed to go across and enter Malaysia. Whether you want to go for a quick holiday with yourself or loved ones or even go up for a day trip, all is allowed now! The closest hot spot to us is Johor Bahru which is a great place to start venturing to. With that, Glitz is writing up this helpful guide if you’re planning a road trip up north to Johor Bahru from Singapore.
How To Prepare For Your Trip From Singapore To Johor Bahru
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Remember to complete your arrival card three days before your return to Singapore. On your trip home, you’ll need to display this at the checkpoint. Also, while it may seem little, always double-check that the immigration authorities have stamped and inked your passport before crossing the border into Malaysia from Singapore. Returning to Singapore will be tough otherwise.
Tolls
To enter Malaysia and pay tolls on highways in JB, you’ll require a Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit (MVEP). The registration process is simple enough, and you should receive your confirmation right away. You may either manually fill in your personal information or upload your vehicle registration and let the system extract it for you.
Aside from that, you’ll need a Touch n Go card to pay the road fee (RC) at the immigration checkpoint upon entering JB. As of October 2019, toll booths at the checkpoint no longer have refill booths or take cash, thus you’ll need to arrive with a pre-loaded Touch n Go card.
The trouble is that Touch n Go cards aren’t offered in Singapore right now, and there’s no way to top them up if you already have one. As a result, you’ll need to figure out how to get a credited Touch n Go card ahead of time.
Covid-19 status
Before your road trip to Malaysia, remember to check your immunisation status on MySafeTravel and download the MySejahtera monitoring app to your phone. MySejahtera is similar to TraceTogether in Singapore, where you scan a QR code to check-in at various locations.
How To Get There
By car
The majority of people choose to travel by automobile since it is more convenient to have a car in JB to move from one point to another. When travelling with family, especially the elderly, small children, or newborns, a car is a lot better alternative because they won’t have to walk long distances and you won’t have to haul stuff about as much. The ride will take
By bus
This is by far the cheapest mode of transportation to JB. Bus tickets to Johor Bahru start at $S1.84, and you’ll be there in around an hour to 1.5 hours if the traffic is good. Both Transtar Travel and Causeway Link now offer 32 daily journeys, with 16 departing from Singapore and 16 returning from Malaysia, and 45 seats available on each ride. However, because the Covid-19 situation in both nations might change at any time, it’s important to keep an eye on the news for the most up-to-date information.
Tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and at the time of writing, both websites appeared to be overburdened, with users forced to queue in a virtual waiting room owing to high demand, so be prepared to wait! You should also anticipate paying a bit more for your bus ticket. Transtar Travel and Causeway Link have identical fares, with the only variation being the pick-up and drop-off points in Singapore.
By train
The KTM Shuttle Tebrau train from Tebrau to JB is the quickest method to traverse the causeway, taking only 5 minutes! Trains travel hourly from the Woodlands Train Checkpoint to JB Sentral every day and a round ride costs only S$10. After completing customs processing, you should be ready to start touring JB in around half an hour. Granted, you’ll still need to go to the Woodlands railway station, which is around a 30-minute drive from Suntec City.
What To Do In Johor Bahru
Johor Premium Outlets
Shop to your heart’s content at the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO), a shopper’s paradise with luxury branded products at reduced costs! JPO features nearly 150 stores, including Coach, Nike, Armani Exchange, FENDI, Gucci, and other well-known brands. If you feel hungry, there’s a food court on the premises, as well as cafés, dessert stores, and a variety of restaurants.
Legoland Malaysia
Is it possible to say you’ve visited JB without going to Legoland? You’ve assured a fantastic journey at one of Malaysia’s top theme parks, with seven themed sections to tackle. At the SEA LIFE aquarium, brave the twisting water slides, climb on thrilling rides, and learn about marine life, then cap your day with a memorable stay in a colourful themed room at Legoland Hotel.
Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street
Many colourful paintings and heritage structures may be seen in JB’s Old Town. You could easily spend a day wandering around the neighbourhood and taking photos, but our favourite place to visit is Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street. This ancient boulevard, named for one of the city’s founding fathers, is lined with antique stores, boutique cafés, and restaurants that are eager to greet you.
Istana Bukit Serene
The Istana Bukit Serene in JB is only one of several royal castles in Malaysia that have an irresistible allure. It was built in 1933 and has Art Deco architecture, beautiful sculptures, and well-kept grounds. The building is presently the Sultan of Johor’s official home and is consequently closed to the public. Many people still stop by to admire the gorgeous façade and snap photographs, with the highlight being the distinctive enormous arch topped with a replica of the Sultan’s crown.
