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Johor Bahru is the capital of the southern most Malaysian state of Johor and is the place you arrive in after crossing the causeway from Singapore. Although vast numbers of travelers pass through here by bus and train en route to the rest of Malaysia and on to Thailand, few stop to explore this interesting coastal city.
Johore Bahru caters to Singaporeans who come here for cheap sex on weekends, a commodity which is somewhat restricted in their home country. As such there are plenty of seedy hotels and even seedier gentlemen hanging around the local nightspots.
Crossing from Singapore into Johore Bahru by train, in the words of one traveler, is quite a change - “On arrival we immediately noticed the difference from very clean and modern Singapore to a somewhat antiquated and dusty looking Johor Bahru.”
“Not what we expected to see as our initial view of Malaysia, but you immediately sense that you are in a different country and that in itself was exciting and interesting as we checked out the industrial looking border town and its many Muslim inhabitants.”
“You notice the patriotism with the Malaysian flag seemingly flown off every building, something that is not evident in Singapore. A short stop and we were on our way to Kuala Lumpur through winding tropical jungle and over many bridges providing a grand view of the surrounding hinterland.”
For those who linger a while in Johore Bahru, there are a few sights worth checking out. Overlooking the Johor Straits is the Royal Abu Bakar Museum, which was once the palace of the Johore royal family. Today it is a museum and you are welcome to visit and explore the palatial grounds.
Also worth visiting is the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, the Istana Bukit Serene, the residence of the Sultan of Johore and a motley assortment of colonial era buildings.
There are plenty of accommodation options in town, ranging from the somewhat sleazy places catering to Singaporean visitors up to 5 star hotels like the Hyatt Regency and the Hotel Grand Continental.
Prices vary with the number of stars however prices are generally high by Malaysian standards although competitive in comparison to Singapore just across the straits.
It is always worthwhile visiting a city that is bypassed by the backpacker hordes and jetsetters so if time permits, spend a night or two in Johore Bahru and soak up some of the history and culture on offer.
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
