Joanna James
A tourist-savvy town hugging the border between Malaysia and Singapore, JB is an atmospheric enclave filled with stunning architecture, decadent fusion cuisine, and quirky allurements perfect for a family-friendly day trip. Here's how to best enjoy this charming old-world realm.
Your first step into Malaysia from Singapore could not be any richer in diverse experiences, from traditional brunching cafés graced with vintage furniture and Victorian-style museums hosting imperial heirlooms to lush tech-infused manmade islands like Forest City, which combines cutting-edge aesthetics with nature-kissed serenity. However, if you want to plunge straight into the most thrilling attractions JB has to offer, lose no time in immersing yourself in Legoland Malaysia's myriad of themed escapades. Whether it's splash-worthy slides like the Brick Blaster, building your own Lego boats and racing them down rapids, getting entertainingly innovative at Lego Technic interactive workshops, or flying aeroplanes at Lego City Airport, this epic LEGO Adventureland spans an area as massive as 50 full-sized football pitches and caters to your wildest thrill-seeking wishes!
While inventing your own Lego robots, living your racing fantasies at 75 kmph courtesy of RUD Karting, and exhilarating calorie-burning antics at the EnerG X Park are all must-try experiences in Johor Bahru, there's also a dreamier side of this history-infused city you don't want to overlook. Whimsical, eclectic, and delightfully eccentric avenues like Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, with its colonial façades, quaint Chinese shophouses, antique boutiques, and picturesque cafés, are idyllic if you crave some serene yet fascinating sensations. While you're admiring the more old-school side of JB, don't forget to visit local gems like the striking Moorish and Victorian blended Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque and the retro carnival-style theme park lighting up Danga Bay.
Johor Bahru is one of those unique settings that enrapture all your senses in such a way that you thrive at the moment and forget to whip out your camera! However, if you want to dignify your Instagram feed with some seriously spectacular visuals while enjoying panoramic sights and interactive VR games, don't miss out on the dizzying neon-lit cityscape views from its premier aerial entertainment space.
If you want to explore a palace of subtly opulent graces, including an intricacy of white pillars and an unusual, blue-tiled roof, Istana Besar will gently take your breath away with its exquisite medley of Western and Malay architectural techniques and its enchanting museum rich in the beautiful antiques and heirlooms that belonged to the royal family. If you're looking for a sophisticated serviced apartment in Johor Bahru proffering prime access to the city's prime enticements, venture no further than Somerset Medini Iskandar Puteri.
Regardless of your shopping preferences, budget, and recreational taste, JB is brimming with a plethora of shopaholic-worthy hotspots, from the avant-garde City Square featuring over 300 high-end boutiques to the picturesque Pasar Karat flea market where you can pounce on top-quality second-hand pieces at stellar bargains. If you're a bookworm in search of Instagrammable literary bliss, Book Xcess is a magical floor-to-ceiling fortress of gold-lit stories!
From rustic no-frills Salahuddin Bakery with its melt-in-the-mouth curried pastries that epitomise soul food to magical garden cafés like Flowers in the Window and authentic Malay eateries like Medan Selera Meldrum Walk serving piquant creamy Laksa and spice-rubbed grilled fish, JB has no short of unforgettable gastronomic venues to splurge on.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
