International
Johor Bahru
If you are in Singapore and looking for a quick day trip then Johor Bahru is a great choice, and you will find a number of cutting-edge malls, bars, and eateries here. If you want to enjoy some of the histories of this area, then the city has a good range of historic and cultural sites, many of which date from the time of the British colonial period. Any history buff will also enjoy the number of fascinating museums in Johor Bahru or you can spend time eating your way around the city.
Below are some places to see, and signature experiences when traveling in this city:
1. Explore Theme Parks in Johor Bahru:
Theme parks abound in Johor Bahru. It’s even safe to say that Johor Bahru is the theme park capital of Malaysia (or Southeast Asia for that matter) for you will find a handful of theme parks in this progressive city. The famous Legoland Malaysia resides in Johor Bahru. Kids—and adults who remember what it's like to be a kid—will love spending the day at Legoland Malaysia in Johor Bahru. Try thrilling rides, or more sedate activities like building robots from Lego bricks. There are activities to suit a range of interests and ages at this fun theme park. Simplify your visit by buying tickets in advance, so you can have more fun playing inside.
2. Visit Johor Old Chinese Temple
This is one of the oldest religious buildings in Johor Bahru and the oldest Chinese temple. The front of the building is beautifully decorated with paintings of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The front entrance is painted in bold red and contrasts beautifully against the predominantly white background of the front wall. The temple interestingly serves all the main dialectal Chinese groups of the city. So it’s not a surprise that the temple has a mixture of shrines for Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese deities. The Chinese deity Yuan Tian Shang Di is most prominent in the temple as the shrine is in the main central building while there is a subsidiary building for the Goddess of Mercy.
3. Admire Art Scene
If you fancy visiting Penang and Melaka for their street wall paintings, then you will like Johor Bahru’s version too. The wall art in the city is spread out and you’ll have to summon the Sherlock Holmes in you to discover these paintings in town.
4. Walk along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Jalan Tan Hoik Nee is named after one of the founding fathers of Johor Bahru and is also known for being one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. It is here that you will find a number of delicious cafes and restaurants and there is also a high concentration of antique shops dotted along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
5. Visit Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple
Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple is a traditional temple that dates from the 19th century and was built in honor of five deities venerated by the Chinese community. This is one of the oldest religious buildings of its kind in the city and is instantly recognizable thanks to its bright red and white color scheme. In addition to the actual temple you will also find some exhibits that tell the story of how the Chinese community first came to Johor Bahru. Certainly, no trip to the city is complete without a visit to this famous site.
6. Visit Danga Bay Danga Bay is a waterfront complex that has a range of dining and lifestyle attractions.
It is a very popular spot for tourists in Johor Bahru as it is also the home of the Danga World Petting Zoo which is smaller than the main zoo in Johor but has animal shows where younger visitors can get up close to the animals. Danga World Theme Park is also located in the Danga Bay Complex and has around 20 rides such as a scenic Ferris wheel and spinning teacups.
Johor Bahru is the second-largest city in Malaysia and, with the opening of two major amusement parks in 2012, it is poised to become a major tourist destination.