Colloquially known as JB, the city of Johor Bahru is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Many will tell you that there is not much for a tourist to do there as JB is more of a transport and industry hub. But the truth is, if you are traveling through Malaysia and want to go to Singapore, your journey will most likely start at JB. It is also possible that at the end of your holiday you will want to fly from Singapore airport, as it has very good connections, rather than returning to Malaysia airport. Singapore is a very fun place full of contrasts, where British colonial heritage mixes with state-of-the-art skyscrapers and large shopping malls. But this city also has many open spaces such as parks, gardens, a zoo and lots of places to walk. Read on to find out the best way to get from Johor Bahru to Singapore.
The second Malaysia-Singapore link is one of two bridges connecting the two places © EQRoy / Shutterstock.com
Travel options from Johor Bahru to Singapore
Johor Bahru and Singapore are separated by a small stretch of water known as the Strait of Johor, so getting around between the two cities is quite easy. Still, you need to remember that on this trip you are crossing an international border, which comes with some inconvenience. When we check the distance from Johor Bahru to Singapore, specifically to the city center, we see that there are only 23 kilometers (14 miles) between the two places. Aside from being able to travel by taxi (which should have a special licence), the two most common means of transport from Johor Bahru to Singapore are train and bus, and we’ll tell you the details of these two options below.
Johor Bahru to Singapore by bus
With the increasing frequency and number of buses from Johor Bahru to Singapore, the bus has become a very popular means of transport to move between these two destinations. But the truth is that there are few differences between buses and trains as they have similar prices. In fact, trains are usually a bit cheaper, but prices are generally very affordable, so one or two euros won’t make much of a difference either.
You might be wondering what the buses from Johor Bahru to Singapore look like. There are several types of buses that serve this route. Express buses are much more expensive, but can be a good option if you want to go to the Woodlands area of Singapore. This is the closest area of Singapore to Malaysia, so you’ll be passing through it wherever you go. Buses that are not express are more frequent and are both public and private. Transtar Cross Border is one of the companies operating these buses, with many departures throughout the day, from 05:00 in the morning to 21:15. Their buses depart from JB Sentral in Johor Bahru and go to Terminal 2 at Singapore Changi Airport, so this is ideal if you want to fly direct, although not very practical if your Singapore destination is elsewhere.
The planned duration of the tour is 55 minutes, but the truth is that it can last several hours. Everything will depend on the hustle and bustle at the border, because sometimes there are several hours of detention, especially on Sunday afternoons on the way from Johor Bahru to Singapore.
Transborder bus tickets can be booked in advance via the travel website 12Go.asiawhere you can see all departure times and prices for all tickets.
From Johor Bahru to Singapore by train
KTM train in Johor Bahru © Amnat Phuthamrong / Shutterstock.com
Since there is almost no difference in train and bus fares between Johor Bahru and Singapore, you may wonder if there is any reason to consider traveling by train. The answer is definitely yes. Traveling by train from Johor Bahru to Singapore has several advantages.
KTM, Malaysia’s state-owned railway operator, introduced a new shuttle service in 2015 to speed up traffic on highways and the causeway, home to the busiest border crossing from Johor Bahru to Singapore. As well as helping to reduce traffic, it has also helped to speed up the arrival process for tourists and Singaporeans as all formalities are completed before boarding the train.
Performing this procedure in advance allows you to complete all formalities in a faster and simpler way. Boarding gates open 30 minutes before departure for these procedures and close 10 minutes before departure.
Once you board the train, it only takes 5 minutes to travel from Johor Bahru to The Woodlands in Singapore, so it saves time compared to traveling by bus or car. The train only goes to Woodlands, which means that from there you will have to find a way to get to the center of Singapore, but it is very easy.
There are over a dozen trains every day from Johor Bahru to Singapore, so there’s plenty to choose from. Keep in mind that the train has become a very popular means of transport and can be completed up to a week in advance. For this reason, we recommend booking your tickets in advance via the 12Go website. On this page you will be able to see all available timetables and receive an instant purchase confirmation.
By simplifying the immigration process involved in traveling by train from Johor Bahru to Singapore, this option can save the traveler a significant amount of time compared to traveling by bus. Traveling by train avoids the uncertainty of how long the journey will take, which can be a problem, especially if you have to go to the airport to catch a flight.