Getting Around Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is a sprawling city, and how you get around depends largely on where you're staying and where you're headed. The city has no metro or tram system, so visitors rely on a mix of buses, taxis, ride-hailing, and their own two feet. The good news is that the main entry points, shopping districts, and transport hubs are reasonably well connected by road.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Johor Bahru does not have a metro or tram network. Rail service in the city is limited to KTM Intercity trains, which connect Johor Bahru with Singapore via the Causeway. A future rail link, the RTS Link, is planned to connect the city with Singapore, but it is not yet in service. For practical day-to-day movement within the city, visitors should not expect to use rail.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses are the main form of public transport in Johor Bahru, and several operators run services across the city.
- Larkin Sentral Terminal is the major long-haul bus terminal for the whole of Johor Bahru. Buses between JB and other Malaysian or Thai cities, and those between JB and Singapore, usually start and terminate here or at JB CIQ.
- Local buses connect Larkin Sentral with various parts of the city. To travel from JB Sentral to Larkin Sentral, you can take the Maju bus or Transit Link's orange-red "City Bus" — these do not display bus numbers, but show the word "Larkin" prominently on the front. The one-way fare is RM1.70, and the Maju bus runs at an average frequency of 5–10 minutes.
- These buses stop at the bus stop opposite City Square in Jalan Wong Ah Fook and at JB Sentral's bus bays facing Jalan Jim Quee.
- To go from Larkin Sentral to JB Sentral, you can take Maju bus numbers 208, 224 and 227 (one-way fare RM1.70) or Transit Link's orange-red "City Bus" (one-way fare RM1.70). Maju buses 208, 224 and 227 run from Larkin Sentral to JB Sentral en route to Masai, Pasir Gudang and Kota Tinggi respectively.
- Larkin Sentral itself has coach and bus ticket booths, shops, food and beverage outlets, a market, and a left luggage office (RM2 per bag per day, 7AM–10PM).
For intercity travel, several dozen bus companies run direct services between Larkin Sentral and various destinations in West Malaysia, with services to Kuala Lumpur typically starting just after sunrise and ending slightly past midnight. Except during public holidays, you can usually buy your ticket on the day of departure or even less than an hour before the scheduled departure time. On public holidays, expect to pay a surcharge and buy in advance.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are widely available in Johor Bahru, and ride-hailing services also operate in the city.
- At Senai International Airport, taxis operate on a voucher system: buy your voucher from the taxi desk inside the terminal, next to the car rental desks. A trip to the city centre costs RM45 for up to four passengers, and the ride takes about 30 minutes.
- From JB Sentral, you can take an ordinary Malaysian taxi for an official rate of RM45 to Senai Airport. Buy your coupon from the counter before boarding. From JB to Senai takes around 30 minutes off peak.
- Shared taxis also depart from Larkin Sentral to various destinations in West Malaysia, though only as far as Genting Highlands. Unlike intercity buses, shared taxis do not depart at set times — they leave only when they have reached a maximum of four passengers, or when passengers are willing to pay for the remaining seats. Sample per-person fares in RM include: Genting Highlands 120, Kuala Lumpur 95, Kuala Lumpur International Airport 95, Malacca 65, Mersing 40, Senai International Airport 10, and Kota Tinggi 10.
Walkability
Johor Bahru is not a particularly walkable city overall, but certain areas are manageable on foot. The city centre around JB Sentral and the Causeway entry point connects directly into the heart of JB, and the area around City Square in Jalan Wong Ah Fook is served by local buses and is within walking distance of JB Sentral. Beyond these central pockets, the city is spread out and most visitors will find themselves relying on buses or taxis to cover longer distances.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Senai International Airport (JHB) is the main airport serving Johor Bahru, located in the neighbouring town of Senai. It has international flights from other Southeast Asian countries and domestic flights from major airports around Malaysia, including connecting flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
From the airport to the city, you have several options:
- Airport express shuttle bus: Causeway Link operates express shuttle buses between the airport and JB Sentral, with 12 return journeys per day. First departure from either side is at 9AM and last departure is at 8:30PM. Tickets cost RM8 one-way and the journey takes about 45 minutes.
- Non-express buses: JB Central Line's A1 bus (Larkin Sentral: 7AM–8:30PM) and Causeway Link's 333 (Larkin Sentral: 6AM–8PM, about every 1½–2 hours, one-way fare RM3.50) run between Larkin Sentral terminal and the airport. The A1 bus terminates at Senai Airport and Permas Jaya, so you can board or disembark at various points.
- Taxi: Taxis are available and the ride takes about 30 minutes. Taxis leaving from the airport operate on a voucher system — buy your voucher from the taxi desk inside the terminal (next to the car rental desks). A trip to the city centre is RM45 for up to four passengers.
If you are coming from Singapore and heading to Senai Airport, the cheapest option is to travel to JB Sentral first and then transfer to a Causeway Link Airport (CWA) shuttle bus, or go to Larkin Sentral terminal by express or non-express bus and transfer to an airport-bound bus. If you're in a hurry, you can take an ordinary Malaysian taxi for an official rate of RM45 from the taxi rank at JB Sentral, after clearing Malaysian immigration and customs. Buy your coupon from the counter before boarding.
Some visitors also use Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) across the border, which has better connections. The downside is that you will have to pass through customs and immigration twice, and cross-border taxis are rather expensive. Transtar Travel's "cross border" coach service operates between Changi Airport Terminals 1 and 4 and JB CIQ, from which you can catch a taxi or public transport to anywhere in Johor Bahru.