Johor Bahru Things to Do – Attractions & Must See

Johor Bahru Things to Do

Johor Bahru is the gateway city between Singapore and Malaysia. It’s a large city with many things to do. Here are a few of the top attractions and activities.

Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore possesses a wide range of religious temples and structures. Basically every major religion you can name has a home in Singapore. Malaysia, on the other hand, is primarily Islamic and Buddhist. Johor Bahru, as the neighboring city to Singapore, has some cultural gems including the Sri Marimman Hindu Temple. Hindu temples are not common in Malaysia.

Istana Besar

Istana Besar is a museum showcasing a wide range of royal heirlooms. The building itself is a large, white with blue roof construction. This region played an important role in the colonial push of European nations. England colonized Singapore and parts of Malaysia, using it as a major seaport, so you can see the European architectural styling throughout Johor Bahru. Even if you don’t go inside the museum, the grounds and the building itself are worth the visit.

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Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque

The mosque stands out for several reasons. The shimmering white stone structure is massive. You can see it from the highway or train as you head north out of the city. While it does have some more traditional arches like you’d see further east, the building still takes advantage of a colonial English construction style. This marriage of Victorian English construction and Islamic designs is a unique architectural appearance and makes it worth your time. If you go inside though, be respectful as it is a place of worship and prayer is held throughout the day.

Old Chinese Temple

With Johor Bahru and Singapore serving as major port destinations for international travel before the airplane was invented, Chinese immigrants often turned to this area as a new home. The Old Chinese Temple is on the smaller side, yet beautiful with its red and white trimmed building. Topped with an emerald green roof, it is another building worth seeing.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

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