Muar is a town in the Muar District of Johor, Malaysia, sitting on the Muar River. For a visitor it works as a calm, walkable base where the main commercial streets, the riverfront and the older shophouse quarters sit close together, and where accommodation runs mostly from cheap to medium.
As a visitor, the layout is simple to grasp: the town centre clusters around streets such as Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Maharani, Jalan Meriam, Jalan Ali, Jalan Sisi and Jalan Bentayan, while outlying areas like Sungai Abong, Sabak Awor, Tanjung Agas and Parit Jawa sit further out and are reached by road. This guide covers which of those areas to base yourself in, what kind of accommodation each one holds, and how the choice changes depending on your budget and priorities.
Best areas to stay in Muar
1. The town centre (Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Maharani, Jalan Meriam, Jalan Ali, Jalan Sisi, Jalan Bentayan)
This is the middle of the town, and it is where the widest spread of places to stay is found. You find budget and cheap rooms here, including older hotels, alongside mid-range hotels, several of them on or just off Jalan Sisi, Jalan Ali and Jalan Bentayan. It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be central and within reach of the town's streets on foot.
The practical point is condition versus convenience: the cheapest rooms in this area are described as not so clean, but they are located in the middle of the town. If being central matters more to you than the state of the room, this is the area to choose.
2. Sungai Abong
Sungai Abong lies along Jalan Sungai Abong and the Pusat Perniagaan Sungai Abong commercial area, with further accommodation on Jalan Kg Tengah in Taman Selasih 2. It holds budget rooms and furnished semi-detached houses, so it suits budget travellers and small groups or families who prefer a house-style stay over a hotel room.
Practically, this is an outlying area rather than the town centre, so you should expect to rely on road transport to reach the central streets and the riverfront.
3. Jalan Khalidi and Taman Khalidi Baru
This area, around Jalan Khalidi and Taman Khalidi Baru, offers budget rooms and furnished semi-detached houses. It suits budget travellers and families looking for a quieter, residential-feeling base with food options nearby.
The practical point is that a food court sits at Taman Khalidi Baru, which makes eating locally straightforward, while the town centre remains a short road journey away.
4. Jalan Junid and the stadium area
Around Jalan Parit Haji Baki, near the stadium and Jalan Junid, you find budget rooms on the top floors of commercial buildings. It suits budget travellers who are content to be slightly outside the core commercial streets.
The practical point is location: this area sits near the stadium and Jalan Junid, so it is a road journey rather than a walk to the main town-centre streets.
5. Across the river at Tanjung Agas
Across the river, near the hypermarket in the Maharani Rivera Tanjung Agas area, there is budget accommodation. It suits travellers with their own transport or those who prefer to be on the opposite bank from the town centre.
The practical point is that you are across the river from the centre, so crossing into town is part of your daily routine.
6. Sabak Awor
Sabak Awor, on Jalan Bakariah near the second bridge and bypass, offers accommodation with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, television and Wi-Fi at budget to medium rates. It suits travellers who want a quieter setting and easy access to the bypass road.
The practical point is that the bypass location makes this convenient if you are arriving or leaving by road, but it is removed from the walkable centre.
7. Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa, at Pantai Leka next to the Chinese temple, has budget lodging. It suits travellers heading out in that direction, or those who want a coastal village setting rather than a town one.
The practical point is distance: Parit Jawa is away from Muar town, so it works best if you have transport and do not need to be central.
8. Rural homestay areas (Kg. Sarang Buaya, Kg. Melayu Bt. 28 Lenga, Kg. Parit Bugis, Parit Raja Tengah)
Outside the town, homestays are available in villages including Kg. Sarang Buaya, Kg. Melayu Bt. 28 Lenga, Kg. Parit Bugis and Parit Raja Tengah on Jalan Temenggung Ahmad. These suit travellers who want a village stay and are not concerned with being near the town centre.
The practical point is that these are rural locations, so a vehicle and a willingness to travel for meals and sights are effectively required.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Super budget: mostly old hotels providing budget and cheap rooms, located in the middle of the town; room condition is not so clean.
- Budget: rooms in the town centre and in outlying areas such as Sungai Abong, Jalan Khalidi, Jalan Junid, Tanjung Agas, Sabak Awor and Parit Jawa, typically with air-conditioning, a built-in toilet, television and free Wi-Fi; also furnished semi-detached houses in some areas.
- Mid-range: centrally located hotels, including some converted from pre-war shophouses, plus rooms-and-apartment style accommodation.
- Splurge: a limited choice, with a hotel beside a shopping parade in the town centre.
- Other options: resorts and homestays, including a herbal spa resort on the Muar–Pagoh road and village homestays outside town.
Best area for a first visit
For a first visit, base yourself in the town centre, around Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Maharani, Jalan Meriam, Jalan Ali, Jalan Sisi and Jalan Bentayan. It holds the widest range of accommodation, from super budget to mid-range and a splurge option, and it puts you in the middle of the town rather than in an outlying area that requires a road journey for everything. If you would rather trade centrality for a quieter setting, Sungai Abong or Sabak Awor are the alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of accommodation are available in Muar?
Hotels and apartments are available, mostly ranging from cheap to medium. There are also resorts and homestays, including village homestays outside the town.
Where are the cheapest rooms in Muar located?
The super budget options are mostly old hotels in the middle of the town, with room condition described as not so clean. Budget rooms are also found in outlying areas such as Sungai Abong, Jalan Khalidi, Jalan Junid, Tanjung Agas, Sabak Awor and Parit Jawa.
Which areas of Muar are outside the town centre?
Sungai Abong, Jalan Khalidi and Taman Khalidi Baru, the stadium and Jalan Junid area, Tanjung Agas across the river, Sabak Awor near the second bridge and bypass, and Parit Jawa at Pantai Leka are all outside the central streets.
Can I stay in a house rather than a hotel in Muar?
Yes. Furnished semi-detached houses are available in areas including Taman Khalidi Baru and Taman Junid Perdana, and homestays operate in villages such as Kg. Sarang Buaya, Kg. Melayu Bt. 28 Lenga, Kg. Parit Bugis and Parit Raja Tengah.
Compare live prices for the area you have chosen using the booking tools on this page.