7 Interesting Facts About Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia

Johor Bahru is Malaysia’s southernmost city and its main gateway to Singapore — home to a century-old royal mosque, Asia’s first LEGOLAND, and one of the world’s busiest land borders.

Most visitors cross the Causeway for food and shopping and never learn how much history sits under their feet. Here are seven fun facts about JB that are actually worth knowing — each one checked against independent sources, so you can repeat them without fear.

Why is Johor Bahru called the “southern gateway”?

JB is the southernmost city on the Malay Peninsula, sitting right across the Straits of Johor from Singapore. The town was founded in the mid-1800s as Tanjung Puteri, and in 1866 Sultan Abu Bakar — often called the “Father of Modern Johor” — renamed it Johor Bahru, which literally means “New Johor” in Malay. So every time you say the city’s name, you’re saying “New Johor.”

How busy is the Johor–Singapore Causeway?

The Johor–Singapore Causeway 📍 Map opened in 1923 and runs about 1.06 km across the water. It is one of the busiest land border crossings on the planet — on a typical day, somewhere between 250,000 and 400,000-plus people cross it, and holiday peaks have topped 400,000 in a single day. It also doubles as a water pipeline between the two countries.

Which landmarks make JB special?

• Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque 📍 Map — completed in 1900, it blends Victorian and Moorish styles, with minarets that look like British clock towers, and can hold over 2,000 worshippers on a hill overlooking Singapore.
• Sultan Ibrahim Building 📍 Map — built between 1936 and 1940 on Bukit Timbalan, this stone-clad former state secretariat was the tallest building in all of Malaya before independence.
• LEGOLAND Malaysia 📍 Map — opened on 15 September 2012, it was the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia (the sixth in the world at the time).

Did you know JB was once the end of the line?

The former Johor Bahru railway station opened in 1909, and because there was no land link to Singapore yet, JB was the southernmost train terminus on the whole Malay Peninsula. History is now rhyming: the driverless RTS Link between Bukit Chagar 📍 Map in JB and Woodlands North in Singapore is targeted to start carrying passengers in January 2027, with a crossing time of roughly five minutes. For more on getting around, see our JB transport guide.

Where should you base yourself to explore all this?

Which fun facts should you tell your friends on the Causeway?

Here are three more conversation starters for the queue. First, the pipes in the photo above are not decoration: the Causeway carries water from Johor to Singapore, which is why the two countries have long had a very practical relationship. Second, the Sultan Ibrahim Building on Bukit Timbalan was completed in 1940 as the state secretariat, and it is an easy landmark to spot when you are getting your bearings downtown. Third, the old Johor Bahru railway station opened in 1909, so before the Causeway existed, this was the southern end of the line on the Malay Peninsula.

What is the best way to enjoy these facts in person?

• Pros: most landmarks are compact, photogenic and free to look at from outside, so you can tick several off in one morning.
• Cons: interiors of royal and government buildings are often closed to the public, so do not plan your day around going inside.
• Pros: a short Grab ride links the old core with KSL D'Esplanade, and the mall downstairs is a good place to cool off afterwards.
• Cons: midday sun is fierce, so go early and carry water.

Local tip: visit the hilltop landmarks in the late afternoon when the light is soft and the heat has dropped, then walk down for dinner. For the full story behind the name and the sultan who chose it, read our short history of Johor Bahru, or see the buildings up close in our famous buildings guide.

The easiest way to tick off JB’s landmarks, heritage lanes and theme parks is to stay in the city centre. Southern Homestay’s serviced units at KSL D’Esplanade 📍 Map sit directly above KSL City Mall, about 10 minutes from the JB CIQ, with Grab pickup at the door. Planning your itinerary? Read our things-to-do guide, then see our Studio and 2-bedroom units or WhatsApp us at +60 12-708 8789 to book a unit that fits your group.