How to get from Singapore to Johor Bahru

For those who have been planning to cross over to the neighbouring land of JB for some cheap shopping, massages, and food, this travel guide is for you. From the different modes of transport to take and their expected costs to helpful tips, here’s our guide on how to get to JB.

– What to do before departing for JB –

Apply for E-Gates

Good news: you can now skip the snakey queue at JB customs and opt for automated clearance via E-Gates instead.

The speedy service, however, is only available for Singaporeans, Malaysian Permanent Residents, and Malaysia Automated Clearance System pass holders arriving by bus and train. If you’re qualified and hold a biometric passport with at least 6 months’ validity, you can submit a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card up to 3 days before your trip to gain expedited entry.

Once you arrive in JB, go through the manual counter to register your passport in the system. This step is only required for those using E-Gates for the first time and will ensure you can breeze through the electronic customs clearance on your subsequent visits.

– Getting to JB –

Now that you’ve got your travel prep sorted out, it’s time to settle your transportation.

The cheapest way to get to JB from Singapore is via bus; the fastest way to get to JB from Singapore is by train; and the most convenient way to get to JB from Singapore is by car.

By bus – cheapest way into JB from SG

Cross-border bus services

In case you’re not in the know, there’s a whole arsenal of cross-border buses that will get you to JB from a plethora of sites in Singapore.

Image credit: @__nadia_1135__ via Instagram 

One of the most popular options around is the Causeway Link Bus. They’ve got a couple of routes departing from locations like Kranji, Bugis, and Newton that’ll take you into JB in a jiffy. Best part is, a round trip on the Causeway Link bus can cost under S$3.50, making it mighty affordable as well.

SBS Transit

SBS Transit also has the following options that’ll take you to JB:

• 160 that goes between Jurong East and Johor Bahru
• 170 which commutes between Queen Street Terminal and JB Larkin Terminal
• 170X that travels between Kranji MRT station and JB Sentral

Other buses you can catch include SMRT bus 950 cross-border service from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange to JB Sentral Terminal, as well as Transtar Travel TS1, TS6, and TS8 services.

By car – most convenient way into JB from SG

Image credit: Simply Enjoy JB

You can also get a cab from the Queen Street taxi terminal, or hire a car from taxi companies such as Strides with licensed cross-border taxi drivers to bring you across. As usual, your passports will be checked and digitally stamped, and toll fees are charged to your CashCard.

Image credit: Grab

Another licensed cross-border private hire car service you’ll definitely be familiar with is Grab. They launched a Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service earlier this year, and although it can be a bit pricey with trips into JB costing around S$120, it makes getting to our neighbours extra fuss-free, and you won’t have to worry about breaking any laws on the way there.

FYI: There are a few cross-border private car services that might seem legit, but are actually illegal. Here’s a full list of cross-border private car hires you should avoid. It’s best if you stick to the officially-licensed taxi services to get to and from JB.

By train – quickest way into JB from SG

If you didn’t know you could reach JB by train, well, now you do.

The KTM Shuttle Tebrau that made a comeback in 2022 can get you from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to JB Sentral Railway Station in 5 minutes. Yep, you read that right.

A ticket from Singapore to JB will set you back $5 and can be purchased on the KTM website in advance, especially if you’re heading to JB on the weekend. On the way back, it’ll only cost you RM5 (~S$1.59). If you take the train route, you’ll get to clear customs at a separate station from those coming in by bus and car.

When the RTS Link between Johor Bahru and Singapore comes online in early 2027, a one-way trip via train will be even faster as it goes directly from Woodlands North MRT to Bukit Chagar RTS Station in JB. Trains are expected to come every couple of minutes compared to the KTM Shuttle Tebrau’s hourly service.

By ferry – best way to get to coastal destinations like Pengelih

Say goodbye to gridlock traffic, sardine-packed bus station, and hours of queuing when you travel to Johor by ferry. In a mere 40 minutes, you’ll cross the ocean from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pengelih in Johor.

However, there’s a catch. A 1-way ticket will set you back S$49, and the ferry service only runs on the weekends. That, plus the roughly S$58 you’ll have to set aside for a private car to take you from the jetty to JB City Square, certainly doesn’t scream cheap. But if your goal is to explore the shops and stores on the eastern side of Johor before venturing into JB, then this route’s for you.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, you can secure a seat on the ferry on the Batam Fast website. Besides getting off at Pengelih, they also have ferries that go further North to Desaru, which is home to pristine white beaches, and family-friendly attractions like the Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast.

By foot – free way to get into JB from SG

Here’s another way to cruise through JB customs and beat traffic on the causeway without spending a dime: go by foot.

Those travelling light and don’t mind working their quads for a bit can consider walking across the SG-JB Causeway. To start your journey, get off at Marsiling MRT station and follow the signs towards Woodlands Checkpoint. The 40-minute walk is pretty easy and will help you prep your appetite for the mountains of food at JB buffets you’ll devour on the other side of the border.

– Upon arrival at JB –

Once you’ve made it to JB Sentral, you can get a SIM card to let your folks back in SG know you’ve arrived safe and sound.

These stands don’t open till 9am so you can hang around and take some “arrived in JB” selfies while waiting. 

The stalls we saw offered 3 different mobile service providers – Maxis, Celcom and Digi, which are among Malaysia’s main telcos. However, remember to double-check the prices as there are specific ones only for Malaysians and others for non-Malaysians. You can also opt to purchase a Malaysian eSIM beforehand on platforms like Shopee and activate it once you’ve crossed over so you don’t have to go hunting for a physical SIM card.

You can also hit up the nearby money changer shops to exchange for Malaysian Ringgit. We came across one that’s next to a SIM card store, and the exchange rate was similar to the ones we checked in Singapore – S$1 to ~RM3.14.

City Square Mall is a stone’s throw away from the customs. 

After that, you’re all set and ready to begin your JB journey.

– Getting around JB –

When it comes to getting around JB, we can only really recommend hiring private hire cars to get you anywhere. Unless you’re driving or riding in yourself, it’s honestly the most convenient way to hop between cafes or massage parlours and spas in JB.

Image credit: BAS.MY Johor Bahru

It ain’t too costly as well, with most trips within JB costing around S$10, and if you’re splitting the cab fare with friends, you can see why it’s our de facto mode of transport. But, if you’re looking to save money where you can, consider taking the public bus in JB. They’ll get you from point A to B too, but you’ll be trading dollar savings for time and convenience, so it’s your call.

– Getting back to Singapore –

After all the fun in JB, getting back to Singapore – and reality – is straightforward. For those travelling via land, you’ll basically be going through the same processes as when you arrived: head over to customs, go through the necessary passport and luggage checks and head over to the bus station, train station, or ferry terminal.

Image credit: Must Share News

Just keep in mind that you’ll be battling hordes of Singaporeans looking to return home if you choose to head back around peak hour, which starts from roughly 6pm onwards. If you’d rather not brave the crowds, head back earlier at around 5pm, or begin trudging home a little later at 9pm to 10pm.

You’ll also want to take note of last bus timings should you choose to return to Singapore via cross-border buses. The last buses operated by SBS Transit and SMRT typically depart at around 11.30pm to 12am. But if you’ve missed these, fret not. Causeway Link’s CW2 buses run all-day long, and drop you off at a central location – Queen Street Bus Terminal near Bugis.

Travelling from Singapore to JB and back

We hope this guide dispels any misconception that JB is harder to get to than it actually is. With all these options, you can now pick the mode of transportation that best suits your need – whether you’re going budget or prefer to travel in comfort.

For more JB-related things:

• Best things to do in JB
• Affordable supermarkets in JB
• Best hotels in JB

Remove featured image

Originally published on 24th June 2019. Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 3th July 2026.