Johor Bahru and Desaru
Johor Bahru, often called JB, is the big city at the southern tip of mainland Malaysia. Only a narrow strait separates it from Singapore, and two road bridges join the two countries. Every day many thousands of people cross for work, shopping and food. For visitors, JB is an easy first taste of Malaysia. The city has large modern malls, busy night markets and cheap, tasty local food, from kopitiam breakfasts to seafood dinners by the water. Families come for Legoland Malaysia, the first Legoland park in Asia, with a water park and an aquarium next door. About an hour or more to the east is the Desaru Coast, a long sandy beach facing the open sea with large international resorts, a water park and golf courses. It is a calm place for a slow weekend. A new cross-border train, the RTS Link, is due to open soon and should make the trip from Singapore much faster. Until then, plan around the busy hours at the Causeway, especially on Friday evenings and at the weekend.
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All Johor Bahru and Desaru Guides
6 in-depth guides to Johor Bahru and Desaru — food, nightlife, beaches, transport, money and the practical detail that is hard to find.