Travel Malaysia - Getting to Johor

GETTING TO JOHOR

Via the modern North-South Expressway, the state capital Johor Bahru (JB) is just 220km, a 4-hour drive, from Kuala Lumpur.

KTM
Johor Bahru is the entry point to Malaysia from Singapore. From here, most major cities and towns are accessible via rail.

Air
Located at Senai about 32km from Johor Bahru is Sultan Ismail Airport. Malaysia Airlines flies to JB from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Kuching. Air Asia flies to JB from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Kuching.

There is a shuttle coach service to the airport, which leaves from the Water Front City in JB, and services all incoming and outgoing flights between 5.00am and 7.00pm. This coach also picks up passengers from Singapore. Most downtown hotels also organise taxis, limousine and shuttle services.

Bus
Bus services from major cities and towns run several times a day to Johor Bahru whilst making stops at smaller towns and villages on the way.

Taxis
Johor has lots of metered taxis. However, some drivers will take you around for an agreed fare. The fare is about RM20-RM30 per hour for sightseeing.

The Causeway - Linking Johor to Singapore
Construction began on the 1,038m Causeway in 1920 and was completed in 1924. This popular transit point to and from Singapore supports both road and railway links. Parallel to the link are also large pipes that bring clean fresh water from Malaysia into Singapore. Immigration and Customs checkpoints are based at the entrance to the Causeway.

Residents from Johor cross the causeway to work in Singapore daily making this the busiest part of Johor. The Johor Causeway carries some 60,000 vehicles to and from Singapore every day. A nominal toll is charged for all vehicles that enter Malaysia from Singapore.

Despite the availability of other modes of transport like air travel, ferry, railway and a second crossing, the Singapore-Johor Bahru Causeway still remains as the most frequently-used mode for commuting between the two cities. A second bridge links Tanjung Kupang 30km southwest of Johor Bahru, to Tuas in Singapore. This bridge serves as an alternative crossing to the Causeway, and is often less congested.

During the Second World War, the Causeway was partly demolished by the British Army to prevent Japanese soldiers from advancing and invading Singapore. However, the Japanese soldiers soon resolved matters by repairing the broken link and the Causeway resumed its role as an important transport link.