How to Get to Johor Bahru: Bus, Train, Car & Flight

Featured image: Chongkian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick Answer: How to Get to Johor Bahru by Starting Point

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Choose by starting point first, then by crossing time. Singapore visitors pick between bus, train and car. Kuala Lumpur visitors ride KTM or a coach into JB Sentral. Air passengers land at Senai and finish the trip by road. Public buses cost S$2–4 one way, while private coaches run S$5–11. Cells marked "varies" change by operator and date.

From Singapore: Bus, Train, Car or Taxi Compared

Most Singapore visitors take a Causeway Link or SBS Transit bus. Fares run S$2–4 one way, and buses leave every 10 to 30 minutes. CW2 keeps running late into the night. Pay with EZ-Link, ManjaLink, a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or cash. Our Singapore to Johor Bahru guide covers each route in detail. Private coaches from Transtar Travel, Starmart Express and Sri Maju cost S$5–11. They offer air-conditioning and assigned seats, and they usually terminate at JB Sentral, City Square or Larkin Terminal. Families and anyone with luggage should pay the extra. Grab and taxis cost more than buses, especially at weekends. Grab shows the fare in the app before you confirm.

• Kranji MRT: CW1 buses
• Queen Street Terminal: CW2 buses
• Woodlands Checkpoint area
• Jurong East
• Boon Lay

What Actually Happens at the Singapore–Malaysia Border

Bus passengers get off twice. At Woodlands Checkpoint, or Tuas on western routes, everyone leaves the bus with passport and bags. Clear Singapore exit immigration, then walk back outside. If your bus has left, board the next JB-bound bus, because your fare covers the crossing. Buses do not wait for stragglers. A few minutes later you get off again at JB CIQ for Malaysian immigration. Singapore passport holders can usually use Malaysia's e-gates. Other nationalities may be sent to manual counters. Non-Singapore citizens must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within 3 days before entry. That rule applies to children too, and each child needs a passport. Keep the QR code or a screenshot ready. Official departure details are on the Singapore ICA site. Packaged snacks are usually fine at customs. Fresh fruit, meat and plant products can be confiscated. Woodlands suits most travellers heading to central Johor Bahru. Tuas is usually quieter and suits western destinations.

Best and Worst Times to Cross

Border time swings from 15–30 minutes off-peak to 1–2 hours on busy weekends and holidays. Cross before 8 AM or after 8 PM when you can. Skip Saturday mornings heading out of Singapore. Skip Sunday evenings heading back. Queue patterns change by day, so read our Causeway traffic timing guide before you fix a departure. Keep your passport in a pocket, not the bottom of a bag.

• Best: before 8 AM or after 8 PM, any day
• Worst outbound: Saturday morning
• Worst inbound: Sunday evening
• Holiday eves: plan for 1–2 hours at the checkpoint

From Kuala Lumpur and the Rest of Malaysia

From Kuala Lumpur, the two usual choices are a KTM ETS train or a long-distance coach, and both end at JB Sentral. Coach departures are listed at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan. KTM Intercity services also leave JB Sentral for Tampin and Tumpat, so the station serves wider Malaysian rail trips. Our Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru route page compares journey options in full.

By Air: Senai Airport to the City

Senai International Airport is Johor's airport. Its Wi-Fi service is currently unavailable, so download maps before landing. Flight schedule questions go to your airline or the call centre on +607-599 4500. Terminal details are on the Senai Airport website. From the arrivals hall you continue by road to the city, and the Senai Airport transfer guide lays out the options. Book a Grab or taxi to JB Sentral if you arrive late at night.

By Train: Shuttle Tebrau

KTM Intercity runs a JB Sentral to Woodland Singapore route, and Shuttle Tebrau train details explain how it works. JB Sentral sits in central Johor Bahru with direct access to CIQ and the Singapore checkpoint. Seats are limited, so book early via KTMB. The RTS Link is the next rail crossing. Its Bukit Chagar Station sits next to JB Sentral and connects to Woodlands North in Singapore over a 4km cross-border line. Government planning documents target service by the end of December 2026. Until operators announce a start date, treat it as not yet running.

Driving In: What to Sort Out Before the Causeway

Driving means fuel, tolls, parking and border traffic. Foreign-registered cars need a Vehicle Entry Permit before you reach Malaysia, so arrange it through the official Malaysian road transport channels. Fees vary, so none are quoted here. Malaysian immigration for cars is handled at the Sultan Iskandar Building CIQ on Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Bukit Chagar. Choose Woodlands for central Johor Bahru and Tuas for western destinations. Expect the same peak windows as buses.

• Vehicle Entry Permit registered to your car
• Passport for every passenger, plus MDAC for non-Singapore citizens
• Full tank and a payment card for tolls
• Parking plan near City Square or your hotel

After You Arrive: JB Sentral, City Square, Komtar and Onward Trips

JB Sentral connects directly to CIQ and shopping malls. City Square and Komtar are next to it, so short stays need no transport. Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, a food street with heritage shophouses, is a short Grab ride away. Mid Valley Southkey takes about 10–15 minutes by Grab. LEGOLAND Malaysia takes 35–45 minutes by Grab or taxi and costs RM 45–RM 65. The public bus route goes via Larkin Sentral. It takes 1–1.5 hours and costs under RM 10. City buses were reorganised under BAS.MY Johor Bahru on 30 September 2025, and all routes now start with "J". JB Sentral remains the main hub, but read the current route map before you ride. Ferry passengers use Stulang Laut. Batam Center takes about 150 minutes by ferry and Tanjung Pinang on Bintan about 220 minutes. Indonesia is one hour behind Malaysia.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Match the route to your constraint, not the headline fare. Official transport and tourism details for the state are at Johor Tourism.

• Day trip: public bus at S$2–4, crossing before 8 AM.
• Family or luggage: private coach at S$5–11 to JB Sentral.
• Predictable rail: Shuttle Tebrau, booked early.
• Late night: Grab, since buses thin out after CW2.
• Budget: public bus plus walking to City Square and Komtar.
• Kuala Lumpur start: rail or coach straight into JB Sentral.

When the Crossing Disrupts Your Plan

Build slack into any Johor Bahru day trip, especially on weekends and public holidays. Border processing can take 15–30 minutes off-peak, but busy periods can stretch to 1–2 hours. Keep your passport and Malaysia Digital Arrival Card QR code accessible until you have cleared JB CIQ.

If your bus leaves after Singapore exit immigration, do not return through the checkpoint. Board the next JB-bound bus instead; the crossing fare remains valid. This is why bus travellers should avoid placing bags or travel documents on the departing vehicle.

Shuttle Tebrau seats are limited, so a sold-out train is a reason to switch to a cross-border bus rather than wait at Woodlands. Public buses normally leave every 10 to 30 minutes, although the queue can still determine the real journey time.

For a late return, check the Grab fare before confirming and allow extra time at Malaysian immigration. CW2 runs late into the night, but services thin out later, so do not leave the border crossing until the last minute.