Getting Around Muar
Muar is a town in the Muar District of Johor, Malaysia, and its flat terrain shapes how visitors move around it. There is no metro, tram, or light rail network in the town, and Muar's own rail heritage survives only in names like Muar State Railway rather than as a working service for travellers. In practice, getting around means walking, cycling, chartered taxis, and buses, with longer journeys handled by road.
On Foot and by Bicycle
Muar's geographical ground and surrounding areas are flat, and this has enabled the extensive use of bicycles and tricycles as a main mode of transportation in the town. For a visitor, that makes cycling a genuinely practical way to cover local ground rather than a novelty.
- Bicycle and tricycle use is widespread locally, so you will not be alone on the road.
- Bike rentals and a bike guide are available from NO-JOB (North Johor On Bike), reachable at +60 16–6412716.
- Because the terrain is level, walking between nearby points in town is comfortable, though you should plan on using a vehicle for anything farther out.
Trains
Muar has no railway station of its own serving visitors. The nearest railway stations are at Segamat, with Seremban and Kluang located farther away. If you arrive by train, you must transfer to a bus or taxi to continue to Muar.
Buses
Muar is served by two bus stations: Hentian Maharani Bus Station and Bentayan Express Bus Station (formerly Pagoh Bus Station). These are your practical hubs both for arriving in Muar and for leaving it.
- From Kuala Lumpur: services run from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), taking roughly 2–3 hours, with operators including Mayang Sari Express, Hasry Express, SKS KL, and Transnasional.
- From Johor Bahru: roughly 2–3 hours.
- From Malacca: an hour or less, with SKA running frequently (about every 15 minutes) and Mayangsari, MOS, and Orkid also serving the route.
- From Batu Pahat: Mayangsari Express.
- From further afield: services connect Muar with Ipoh, Penang, Alor Star and northern Malaysia; with Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru and the East Coast; with Segamat; with Singapore via HKKL Express; and with Hat Yai in Thailand, also via HKKL Express.
For local movement within the town and district, buses are limited, so plan to combine them with taxis or a bicycle.
Taxis and Chartered Cars
Taxis in Muar are chartered services, known locally as Perkhidmatan Kereta Sewa, and you will find them at taxi stands and at the bus stations. Two useful contacts are the stands at Hentian Maharani Bus Station (+60 6-9529980), run by the Muar district taxi and hire-car drivers' association, and Hentian Bentayan Bus Station (+60 6-951 5341), run by the Muar district hire-car owners' association.
- Chartered taxis travel within the Muar district and also outside it, including to KLIA International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, and even Singapore.
- They carry up to four passengers at a time, which makes them a reasonable option for small groups.
- Muar taxis do not use a metered system. Fares are typically charged according to travel distance, time, and the number of passengers, so agree on the price before you set off.
Arriving from the Airport
Muar has no airport of its own. The nearest airport is Malacca's Batu Berendam Airport (MKZ), while Johor Bahru's Senai International Airport (JHB) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang are located farther afield. Singapore's Changi International Airport (SIN) is also an option across the causeway.
From any of these airports, you cannot reach Muar directly by air or rail. You must transfer by bus or taxi to redirect to Muar. Chartered taxis from Muar's bus stations can also be arranged for the run to KLIA, so a pre-booked chartered car is one way to close the final leg.
Arriving by Car
If you are driving yourself, Muar is accessible via federal roads and via the North–South Expressway through the Tangkak and Pagoh interchanges, which lie roughly 20 km and 30 km from the town respectively.
- From Kuala Lumpur: take the Tangkak exit (Interchange 235) and continue past Sg. Mati and Parit Bunga along highways 23 and 5. Muar town is about 27 km from the Tangkak exit.
- From Johor Bahru: exit at Pagoh and head for Muar town.
Arriving by Boat
Ferry services run from Bengkalis and Dumai in Sumatra, Indonesia, operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The ticketing booth is located at, and ferries depart from, the Custom Jetty at Jalan Maharani at noon. The journey takes just under two hours, and tickets cost RM80 one-way or RM160 return. For enquiries, call +60 12-6363614. Muar is the only district in Johor besides the state capital Johor Bahru to have its own Customs and Excise Duty Department office and checkpoint at its own jetty.
Practical Summary
- Best for local movement: walking and cycling, given the flat terrain; rent a bike through NO-JOB if you want a guide.
- Best for longer trips within the district: chartered taxis, with fares negotiated up front since there is no meter.
- Best for reaching Muar from elsewhere: express buses into Hentian Maharani or Bentayan Express Bus Station, or a chartered taxi from KLIA, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore.
- No rail option: the nearest stations are at Segamat, with Seremban and Kluang farther, so a bus or taxi transfer is always required.