Singapore - Evening in Johor Bahru

I'm in Singapore for a few days at the end of the month, looking for something interesting to do.

Tanjong Pagar station is closing soon, and a quick border-hop to Johor Bahru, a meal, then a taxi or train back to the Singapore hotel (with a new stamp in the passport) would certainly beat another evening of steak and beer in the hotel.

Are there frequent trains? Glances at things like seat61.com tell me about the long distance trains, but only mention the shuttle-service for commuters. If I were to get a train around 5 or 6pm, would something like this be doable?

If the train route wouldn't be possible, how easy is a border hop by taxi or similar?

Thanks

If the train route wouldn't be possible, how easy is a border hop by taxi or similar?

Thanks

The border hop is very frustrating, it's your call but there would be no way I would do it. If you have ever crossed from Hong Kong to China or Thailand into Cambodia , these would be similar. First you have to deal with the Singapore authorities, so it is up and down stairs and then onwards to the Malaysian side where they want a piece of you. What slows the process down is the vast number of day laborers that use this crossing. last time it took us close to one and a half hours, there again it was peak time. Taxis drop you on the bridge and there is a walk involved. A geat idea in theory

Taking the express bus from near Bugis is fairly simple (think it's $2.40 each way). When you get to the Singapore border hop everyone hops off and goes through customs, gets on bus again and then driven across to Malaysia where you get dropped off in their customs building which is connected to a decent sized shopping centre.

Other option is to take MRT to Woodlands then just on a local bus to JB from there. Not sure which is faster as the local bus stops more but the MRT won't get stuck in traffic!

You can also take taxi's across but the bus is simple enough to do

Not sure if the OP had heart set on trip to Malaysia. As a frequent biz traveler to Singapore, I have to put in my 2 cents worth for an alternate excursion.

The Night Safari is Singapore's nighttime zoo. It is only open in the evening and features all nocturnal animals. The exhibits are very well done with amazing lighting. And because Singapore is just 2 degrees north of the equator, the time of sunrise/sunset is nearly constant throughout the year. So regardless of what season we might be experiencing at more northerly or southerly latitudes, the days and nights are nearly the same length. And the night zoo is in full swing by 7pm. Access by subway and bus. Or splurge on a taxi. I like walking through the bat habitat where huge fruit bats with 6 foot wingspans nest just over your head.

Bearing in mind the OP's question, I'd like to reply directly and offer some affirmative information. To the OP: this is not to disrespect the other posters, their reluctance is largely well founded.

If you want to ride on the KTM train from Tanjong Pagar, this is the time to do it. Bearing in mind that service to this station will be closed latest July 1, your timing is perfect. On your question, assume that there are say four or five trains daily that go to Singapore; AFAIK any train that comes here stops at JB Sentral (although this needs to be checked). According to the KTM timetable, there is a train that leaves Tanjong Pagar at 6PM and arrives JB Sentral station at 7:22PM http://www.ktmb.com.my/images/default/intercity/1110TrainInfo.pdf But bear in that the train is notorious for being hours late. What I would do is to go to Tanjong Pagar station by say 5:15 on your chosen day and see if the train is on the platform, and if there's a line of people with tickets waiting to board. If not, then what I would do is to go to the Tanjong Pagar MRT station (about 10 minutes on foot), and take the MRT to Kranji station via Jurong East. Exiting at Kranji station, go across on the overhead bridge and take any of SBS bus 160, 170 or Causeway Link bus (I think it's CW1). Any of these will take you first to the Singapore checkpoint, then proceed to the Malaysia Immigration and Customs at JB Sentral (all co-located with the new JB KTM train station). You can then grab your bite, either from one of the restaurants in the City Square shopping centre across the street (another skybridge) or at a nearby kopitiam ('coffee shop'). For argument's sake you can be on your way back by 9:30PM. I would not take the Singapore-JB taxi or the Singapore-Johore Express bus (all on Queen Street near Bugis MRT) to go to JB because 6PM is rush hour and the traffic downtown and on the expressways will be bad.

When returning to Singapore, I would either reverse the bus/MRT trip mentioned above or take the Singapore-Johore Express (it's in the bus station under JB Sentral). This will get you back to town in one shot. I wouldn't take the train since it will be dark outside, neither would I take a taxi because only special cabs run between Singapore and JB. They have fixed pick up/drop off points (Queen Street in Singapore, behind Plaza Seni shopping centre in JB), they don't drop anyone off mid-way, and they always run full with four people. Just to be clear, a regular Malaysia taxi can't be hailed off the street to go to Singapore, and a regular Singapore taxi can't go to JB or elsewhere in Malaysia.

Again to be fair to the other posters, there is a fair bit of bother when doing this trip. It won't be the first/business class experience! But if your objective is to get that extra stamp(chop) in your passport, then know that you will have to tolerate some crowds, some heat to do so, and somewhat unpredictable transport (at least on the JB side). I do this run semi-regularly so I know what are the irritating bits and how to deal with them. But if this is not what you want then try us for ideas on what to do in Singapore.

(BTW if you go ahead with this, note that in a worse case situation, the last bus 170 leaves Larkin terminal in JB at 12:30AM, and should get to the bus station under JB Sentral about 15 minutes later.)

If not, then what I would do is to go to the Tanjong Pagar MRT station (about 10 minutes on foot), and take the MRT to Kranji station via Jurong East. Exiting at Kranji station, go across on the overhead bridge and take any of SBS bus 160, 170 or Causeway Link bus (I think it's CW1).
Doing this trip by MRT will easily take up an hour, since the route is very circuitous, and at rush hour you'll be standing for most of the way. Unless money is at a premium, I'd grab a cab to Kranji, which should get you there in less then half the time, even in rush hour. (All the better if you can do this on a weekend though!)

Any of these will take you first to the Singapore checkpoint, then proceed to the Malaysia Immigration and Customs at JB Sentral (all co-located with the new JB KTM train station).
You make it sound easy, but there's actually a loooot of waiting around and walking involved, especially in the totally perversely laid out new Malaysian CIQ building. Figure on at least an hour in each direction, and that's assuming the traffic on the Causeway is not jammed (rarely the case, alas).

This will get you back to town in one shot. I wouldn't take the train since it will be dark outside, neither would I take a taxi because only special cabs run between Singapore and JB. They have fixed pick up/drop off points (Queen Street in Singapore, behind Plaza Seni shopping centre in JB), they don't drop anyone off mid-way, and they always run full with four people.
You can actually hire a full cab for yourself, it just costs more. But while they do speed up Customs processing in both directions and save you from all the walking, they can't use the special bus lanes and are thus even slower if (when) there's a traffic jam.

Doing this trip by MRT will easily take up an hour, since the route is very circuitous, and at rush hour you'll be standing for most of the way. Unless money is at a premium, I'd grab a cab to Kranji, which should get you there in less then half the time, even in rush hour. (All the better if you can do this on a weekend though!)


You make it sound easy, but there's actually a loooot of waiting around and walking involved, especially in the totally perversely laid out new Malaysian CIQ building. Figure on at least an hour in each direction, and that's assuming the traffic on the Causeway is not jammed (rarely the case, alas).




I suppose you might have a point that I made it sound easy, but a re-read of the entire thread and the negative commentary (as I said, well founded) from the other posters should make it clear that this is not a straightforward trip. My thinking was to give the OP concrete information as to how to do the trip (per his wish) rather than to say in a few lines that it's not a good idea. I mean, if he can make it all the way here from the UK, let's let him make up his own mind. I'm sure that when he gets here if he really wants to go to JB that he will get fine tuning suggestions from the concierge at the hotel where he will stay.

As for taking cabs from town area to Woodlands during rush hour, let's agree to disagree. I suggested the MRT simply because the travel time from say Tanjong Pagar to Kranji is more predictable regardless of the hour of the day.

Apologies for this not being fully related to the above post, but is the Singapore - Batam run by ferry an easy one to do, given a 12 hour stop-over in SIN...??

Thanks for the advice (and the tip about the night safari). Not sure how much time I'm going to have now as 2 day install and 3 day training has been compressed into 1 day install, 1 day training, and then on air at 5AM Monday :eek:

Apologies for this not being fully related to the above post, but is the Singapore - Batam run by ferry an easy one to do, given a 12 hour stop-over in SIN...??
Doable, yes; easy or fun, probably not. It involves roughly the same level of hassle as the JB crossing, but you'll need to get (and pay for) an Indonesian visa on arrival, and there's a higher risk of things going pear-shaped due to bad weather (= ferries delayed or stop running). Also note that ferry schedules after dark are very limited.

Doable, yes; easy or fun, probably not. It involves roughly the same level of hassle as the JB crossing, but you'll need to get (and pay for) an Indonesian visa on arrival, and there's a higher risk of things going pear-shaped due to bad weather (= ferries delayed or stop running). Also note that ferry schedules after dark are very limited.

Completely forgot to factor in the weather aspect with regard to these ferries. There seems to be a fair number of crossings every day, but as you mentioned all subject to the weather i guess.

Completely forgot to factor in the weather aspect with regard to these ferries. There seems to be a fair number of crossings every day, but as you mentioned all subject to the weather i guess.
That said, it's a fairly short and sheltered crossing, so if the weather forecast looks OK in the morning, I doubt you'll have any problems coming back the same day. YMMV.

I am going to be in Singapore for a few days and I am super intersted in going to Johor Bahru for a border stamp. I've done a lot crazier things for stamps in the past!

I will be in town from a Friday to a Sunday. Would any of those days be easier and is there a better time of day? Also transport wise I would be willing to pay about 75USD for a cab or the like to make it simple. Is that a good option or would a cab cost way more? I would just want to go across the border, see a thing or 2 of interest if it can be done quickly and come back.

I am going to be in Singapore for a few days and I am super intersted in going to Johor Bahru for a border stamp. I've done a lot crazier things for stamps in the past!

I will be in town from a Friday to a Sunday. Would any of those days be easier and is there a better time of day? Also transport wise I would be willing to pay about 75USD for a cab or the like to make it simple. Is that a good option or would a cab cost way more? I would just want to go across the border, see a thing or 2 of interest if it can be done quickly and come back.

Those days are worst to go there. You have a better chance on Friday around 11AM to 2PM - lines on a crossing should be shorter. When I went in JR on saturday morning border crossing took at least 45 minutes and you have to do it twice on each direction. Singapore side usually is much faster, but still - on weekend budget 1.5-2h just for the border crossing.

As far as taxi - I do not think that it offers the best price/performance ration because taxi will drop you at the border crossing and you have to do what was written in the previous paragraph. Instead, you can save $70, hop on MRT, go to Kranji, get on bus #160 or #170 which will take you to the crossing. At after crossing the border go to City Square mall, or hawkers around it, enjoy some food and come back (which also means that you need to have some ringgits with you).

Note: do this well before sunset and under no condition walk on JB's streets after dark unless you want to get a needle in stomach. Read about this in wikitravel article (http://wikitravel.org/en/Johor_Bahru#Stay_safe)

Those days are worst to go there. You have a better chance on Friday around 11AM to 2PM - lines on a crossing should be shorter. When I went in JR on saturday morning border crossing took at least 45 minutes and you have to do it twice on each direction. Singapore side usually is much faster, but still - on weekend budget 1.5-2h just for the border crossing.

As far as taxi - I do not think that it offers the best price/performance ration because taxi will drop you at the border crossing and you have to do what was written in the previous paragraph. Instead, you can save $70, hop on MRT, go to Kranji, get on bus #160 or #170 which will take you to the crossing. At after crossing the border go to City Square mall, or hawkers around it, enjoy some food and come back (which also means that you need to have some ringgits with you).

Note: do this well before sunset and under no condition walk on JB's streets after dark unless you want to get a needle in stomach. Read about this in wikitravel article (http://wikitravel.org/en/Johor_Bahru#Stay_safe)

Thanks for all the detailed info!! Once I get to JB is there anything to do right near the border crossing that is more safe than hitting the town?

Also approx how long would it take to get from the Sheraton towers to JB taking the MRT to Kranji and then the bus to the border?

Thanks for all the detailed info!! Once I get to JB is there anything to do right near the border crossing that is more safe than hitting the town?

Also approx how long would it take to get from the Sheraton towers to JB taking the MRT to Kranji and then the bus to the border?

There's a recently renovated mall pretty much attached to the checkpoint building "City Square"

Though its near identical to a mall in Singapore. If you want the 'real' JB, you need to go further away.

is there anything to do right near the border crossing that is more safe than hitting the town?

Take a look at the 'Do' and 'See' sections in the article and find out if you are interested in anything. Again, if you plan to spend several hours in the city and walk on streets too, better to leave everything in hotel except passport and $20-$30 equivalent of ringgits.

I'd personally rather spend several hours in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=naturereserves&id=57&Itemid=75) which is also next to Kranji.

Also approx how long would it take to get from the Sheraton towers to JB taking the MRT to Kranji and then the bus to the border?
Streetdirectory says (http://www.streetdirectory.com/sg/woodlands-crossing-woodlands-checkpoint-46101/27428_1.html#journey:103.836691,1.311962_to_103.76 859189976459,1.4453605820487077/bustrain) that it will take 45 min to get there by MRT+bus. Which is kinda right. How much you spend to cross the border - another topic

In terms of crime, is JB really that bad? How does it compare to, say, BKK or SGN?

In terms of crime, is JB really that bad? How does it compare to, say, BKK or SGN?

JB has worse reputation than KL, for example. At least there people are not chasing others with machetes in broad daylight.

Last year money changer's delivery guy was robbed in the middle of causeway, the took $700K cash with them. There were cases of carjackings too.

Don't know how this compares to other countries. I bet Manilla is worse than that...

JB has worse reputation than KL, for example. At least there people are not chasing others with machetes in broad daylight.

Last year money changer's delivery guy was robbed in the middle of causeway, the took $700K cash with them. There were cases of carjackings too.

Don't know how this compares to other countries. I bet Manilla is worse than that...

Quite recently KL's managed to get a reputation for increased street crime against tourists: low level stuff in the tourist centre. Petty crime but distressing to its targets - and to tourism chiefs.

JB's a grittier place, with no "golden triangle". It's not a tourism destination as such: more a transit point. A large part of the short-term tourism involves Singaporeans, among others, shopping for kicks in many different areas: organised crime, as always, circles those activities. There are rivalries between gangs and violence can be involved. It's not the wild-west though; and as far as I know, the violence doesn't generally involve tourists. Though those chasing thrills may end up spending more than they intended...

The centre isn't the most salubrious place: messy, run-down and honky-tonk, but I've never felt unsafe there.

An armed bank robbery may form a noisy backdrop to tourism, but it doesn't target tourists.

The border might also be busy due to SIN residents wanting cheaper petrol (using a remote, of course.)
As for crime, just be cautious and you should be fine.