If you are looking for a short getaway, why not travel to Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia, located right across Singapore’s borders?
As Malaysia’s second-largest city, JB is quickly rising to the top of the list of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations.
Plan a one-or two-day trip to JB’s malls and local eateries and visit its cultural sites!
To begin your journey, you will first need to get yourself to JB Sentral, the intercity railway center of JB.
Check out below how you can do just that!
**Note that all prices and time schedules in the list below are at the sole discretion of the respective transport operator and are subject to change at any time.
1. Private Car From Singapore To JB Sentral
2. Bus From Singapore To JB Sentral
3. Self-Drive From Singapore To JB Sentral
4. Train From Singapore To JB Sentral
1. Private Car From Singapore To JB Sentral
Tourists most frequently choose private car services from Singapore to Johor Bahru (JB) because there are more pros than cons.
Nusa Transport offers experience and friendly drivers to assist you in crossing borders at affordable rates.
Why Choose Nusa Transport Private Car:
- For immigration clearance, passengers do not need to disembark from the car
- Direct pickup from any Singaporean location and drop-off at any Johor location
- Hassle-free and considerably more pleasant than buses and trains
- The MPV private car fits up to 10 people and is more roomy and comfy
Why Don’t Choose Nusa Transport Private Car:
- Small traveling groups will need to fork out a higher cost for a private car
Recommended For:
- Ideal for large groups or families traveling with elderly and young children
- Travelers who are unfamiliar with the cross-border process from Singapore to JB
Note:
- Travelers can choose to travel in a Toyota Innova (7-Seater), Toyota Alphard (8-Seater) or Hyundai Starex (11-Seater)
- Included services: Luggage assistance, meet & greet at pick up and drop off points, mobile phone contact, and umbrellas provided during rain
Tips:
- It is highly advised to check the trip fares and make reservations in advance via call or WhatsApp
- For more information, go to nusatransport.com
2. Bus From Singapore To JB Sentral
If you are choosing to travel by bus, be prepared to disembark the bus along with all your luggage twice throughout the trip.
One will be at the Woodlands Singapore checkpoint and another checkpoint in Johor Bahru (JB CIQ Building).
Passengers can use their bus ticket to board any bus offered by their initial bus company.
Simply board the next available bus and it will leave once is full.
Between Singapore and JB, the following buses run:-
2.1 SBS Transit
Bus No.: 170X
Ticket Price: SGD1.39
Boarding Point: opposite Kranji MRT Singapore
Boarding Time:
Sunday to Friday & Public Holiday: from 5:37am to 11:37pm
Saturday: from 5:37am to 12:07am
Arrival Station: JB Sentral Bus Terminal
Bus No.: 160
Ticket Price: SGD1.81
Boarding Point: Jurong East Interchange (beside Jurong East MRT)
Boarding Time: Daily: from 5:30am to 12:00am
Arrival Station: JB Sentral Bus Terminal
2.2 Causeway Link Bus
Bus No.: CW1
Ticket Price: SGD1.50-2.60
Boarding Point: Kranji MRT Singapore
Boarding Time: Daily: from 6:00am to 11:30pm, every 15-30 minutes
Arrival Station: JB Custom
Bus No.: CW2
Ticket Price: SGD3.30-4.80
Boarding Point: Queen Street Bus Terminal Singapore
Boarding Time:
Daily: from 6:00am to 11:00pm, every 15-20 minutes
Daily: from 11:00pm to 4:00am, every 45 minutes
Arrival Station: JB Custom
Bus No.: CW5
Ticket Price: SGD3.30-4.60
Boarding Point: Newton Circus
Boarding Time: Daily: from 6:00am to 11:30pm, every 45 minutes
Arrival Station: JB Custom
2.3 Transtar Bus
Bus No.: TS1
Ticket Price: SGD11.00
Boarding Point: Changi Airport Singapore
Boarding Time: Daily: from 8:15am to 10:34pm, every 1 hour
Arrival Station: JB Custom
Bus No.: TS8
Ticket Price: SGD8.00
Boarding Point: Resort World Sentosa
Boarding Time: Daily: from 8:00am to 10:34pm, every 1 hour
Arrival Station: JB Custom
2.4 SMRT Bus
Bus No.: 950
Ticket Price: SGD1.43
Boarding Point: Woodlands Temporary Bus Terminal Exchange
Boarding Time: Daily: from 5:30am to 11:30pm, every 9-14 minutes
Arrival Station: JB Sentral Bus Terminal
Why Choose Bus:
- The bus is the least expensive choice of transportation to get to JB
- You can get on the designated bus at the many different pick-up points along the route nearest to you
Why Don’t Choose Bus:
- Travelers who are not familiar with the many bus operators might get confused as there are many alternative routes to JB
- Passengers need to alight altogether with their luggage at the immigration checkpoint, which is a hassle
Recommended For:
- Traveling by bus is ideal for travelers on a tight budget but with a flexible schedule
Note:
- Users of Ez-Link Cards can continue on with the trip on SBS Transit buses 160, 170X, and SMRT bus 950 once the custom is cleared
- Where as Manjalink users or Causeway Link ticket holders can continue on the journey with any Causeway Link bus
- Causeway Link Bus and Transtar Bus will stop at JB CIQ (Johor Bahru Custom) for you to clear the immigration
- Head over to JB Central from the CIQ building via a connecting link bridge
Tips:
- If there is a lot of traffic, you can walk to Johor Bahru Checkpoint from Woodlands Checkpoint or change to an alternative bus route
3. Self-Drive From Singapore To JB Sentral
During off-peak hours, a car ride from Singapore to Johor Bahru takes between 15 to 30 minutes.
However, during rush hour, you can be caught in a long traffic jam for a couple of hours.
To get to JB, you can drive through Causeway (Woodlands checkpoint) or Second Link (Tuas checkpoint).
In general, the Second Link has better traffic conditions, but the tolls are more expensive.
The price for one Singaporean car to enter Malaysia from the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoint is listed below.
| Departure Place | Toll Charges |
| From Woodlands Checkpoint | SGD0.80 |
| From Tuas Checkpoint | SGD2.10 (from 5:00am to 10:00am & 3:00pm to 11:00pm)
SGD1.10 (other hours) |
Why Choose Self-Driving:
- You can choose your pick-up place and departure time
- Able to travel in the privacy of your travelling companions
- Have the option to make stops at any time and anywhere
Why Don’t Choose Self-Driving:
- Need to cover additional petrol, toll and parking expenses
- Looking for car park space can be difficult at a certain place
- Might get caught in a bad traffic jam if travel time overlaps with peak hours
Recommended For:
- Car owners who are going for a day trip at JB
- Drivers who are familiar with the driving regulations in Malaysia
Note:
- You must have at least a quarter tank of gas in your car if you drive a Singaporean vehicle. Otherwise, you run the danger of being fined SGD500
- Choose either one of these toll-paying methods, Touch N Go (TnGo) or Smart TAG to travel within Malaysia
4. Train From Singapore To JB Sentral
Another choice is to ride the train that runs from Singapore’s Woodlands Checkpoint to JB Sentral.
The only train from Singapore to Johor is the KTM Train (Shuttle Terbau).
Before boarding the train, purchase your train ticket to JB Sentral at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint counter or through KTM’s website.
One-way tickets from Singapore to JB cost around SGD5 and SGD10 (two-way). Once you board, the trip to JB barely lasts five minutes.
Here’s a full list of the train timings from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral:
| Departure Place & Time | Morning
Session |
Afternoon Session | Night
Session |
| From Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Singapore) | 8:30am
9:45am 11:00am |
12:30pm
1:45pm 3:00pm 4:15pm 5:30pm 6:45pm |
8:00pm
9:15pm 10:30pm 11:45pm |
Note: Times shown here are subject to changes by the train operator.
Why Choose Train:
- Traveling by train is the fastest way to JB from Woodlands, which takes about 5-15 minutes only
- Avoid the traffic congestion along the causeway caused by vehicles
Why Don’t Choose Train:
- Similar to the bus, travelers will have to get off twice for the lengthy customs and immigration delays
- Tickets are often hard to get hold of if not booked ahead of time, especially during peak seasons
Recommended For:
- Travelers who do not own a vehicle or driving license
- Passengers who are traveling without any heavy luggage
Note:
- The purchased railway ticket is only good for travel 30 days before the scheduled departure
- Check-in is done using your passport at the station entrance, be sure it is still valid for at least 30 days
- Only 30 minutes before departure does the gate open
- Ten minutes before the train’s departure, the boarding gate will close
Tips:
- Arrive early to queue as there might be a queue during peak hours
- Should the train tickets are sold out, you can still take a bus from Woodlands CIQ to Johor
