Explore Top Temples in Johor Bahru

I have to start with a correction, because the version of this page that sat online for a few months got something badly wrong. It said Kek Lok Si, the huge hillside Buddhist complex with the tiered pagoda, is in Johor Bahru. It is not. Kek Lok Si is in Air Itam, Penang, roughly six hours away by road. I would rather admit that plainly than leave you standing at the Causeway with a taxi driver who has never heard of the place you named. So this is a fresh, honest guide to the temples, shrines and houses of worship you can actually visit in and around Johor Bahru, written the way I would explain it to a friend who is crossing over from Singapore for the day.

A quick note on what to expect. Johor Bahru is not Penang or Malacca. It does not have a dozen famous temples packed into a few lanes. What it has is a small handful of places that are genuinely worth your time, each tied to a different community that built the city, and a very easy way of linking them together in a single unhurried day. If you go in expecting a temple trail, you will be disappointed. If you go in expecting to understand why this city looks and feels the way it does, you will leave happy.

What Johor Bahru actually has, and what it does not

Let me save you some research. The places people genuinely visit for religious and heritage reasons in Johor Bahru fall into three families. First, the old Chinese temple tucked behind the shophouses of the city centre, which is the spiritual home of five dialect groups that arrived in the nineteenth century. Second, the Hindu shrines, of which the glass-covered temple is the famous one. Third, the grand state mosque on the waterfront, which is the building you will see in almost every photograph of the city skyline from the Straits.

What you will not find is a mega-complex like Kek Lok Si, or a cave shrine on the scale of Batu Caves. Those are in Penang and near Kuala Lumpur respectively. I mention both because many first-time visitors mix them up with Johor, and because later in this guide I will show you how to reach Batu Caves if that is what your heart is set on.

I have organised the rest of this page the way I would plan the day myself: the short list first, then the practical business of getting across the border, then what to wear, what to eat, how to spend the rest of the day, and finally the questions I get asked most often.

Opening hours, entry rules and festival closures change, and a place of worship is not a theme park with a fixed timetable. Treat every time I give as a guide and check on the day, ideally by asking your driver or a local at the first stop. I will say this once more further down because it matters.

The old Chinese temple and why it is worth the detour

If I could only visit one place in Johor Bahru for its heritage, it would be the old Chinese temple on Jalan Trus. It is not large. You could walk the whole interior in ten minutes. But it carries a story that most visitors never hear, and that story is the reason I like it so much.

In the nineteenth century the Chinese who came to Johor to plant gambier and pepper arrived in separate communities: Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainanese. They spoke different dialects, kept different customs and, in other places, sometimes quarrelled. In Johor Bahru, the story goes, they shared one temple. Walk inside and you will see altars to several deities, each one cared for by a different group, all sitting under the same roof. That arrangement is rare, and it says something about the city's character that is still true today, when you can eat Teochew porridge, Indian rojak and Malay satay within a hundred metres of each other.

Every year, usually around the Chinese New Year period, the temple is the starting point for a street procession in which the deity statues are carried through the town. It is loud, crowded and joyous, with drums, lion dancers and a good deal of firecracker smoke. If you can time your trip for it, do. If you cannot, an ordinary weekday morning is lovely in a different way: a few elderly regulars, the smell of sandalwood, and ash falling quietly from the big coils hanging from the rafters.

A few practical things. Arrive before about ten in the morning if you want it quiet. Ask before photographing worshippers up close; photographing the architecture and the coils is generally fine, but people praying are not props. If you wish to light incense, watch what the locals do first and follow along, or simply skip it. Nobody will mind if you do not take part.

Afterwards, wander the lanes around it. You are in the oldest commercial part of the city, with shophouses that have seen better decades, a few that have been lovingly restored, and a scattering of cafes that serve a proper cup of local kopi. This is the best place in Johor Bahru to simply walk with no plan.

The glass temple and what makes it unusual

The Sri Rajakaliamman temple is the one that gets the most attention on social media, and for once the attention is deserved. The temple itself is old, with roots going back to the early twentieth century and a community of Tamil devotees who have worshipped here for generations. What makes it different from every other Hindu temple I have visited is the interior. Over the years the walls, ceilings and pillars have been covered in glass: mirrors, coloured pieces, mosaics, chandeliers. When the light hits it, the whole room sparkles.

I will be honest, because some travel pages are not. The glass work is very much a modern layer on a traditional shrine, and some visitors find it a little overwhelming. I found it dazzling the first time and a touch busy the second. But there is something about standing in a room where every surface throws back light, with a priest chanting and the smell of jasmine and camphor in the air, that stays with you. It is also, in my experience, one of the friendlier places of worship to visit as an outsider. People are used to curious visitors and tend to be gracious about it.

The usual Hindu temple etiquette applies. Remove your shoes before entering, and leave them at the designated spot. Cover your shoulders and knees. Move clockwise around the shrine if you are circling, and do not point your feet at the deity. If you are offered holy ash or a small blessing, you can accept it with your right hand, or politely decline with a smile. Photography rules vary by the area of the temple, so look for signs, and if in doubt, ask.

Festival days, such as Deepavali and Thaipusam season, are the busiest and the most colourful, but they are also not the best time for a quiet look around. If you want to see the glass interior in peace, aim for a weekday morning.

The state mosque on the Straits

The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is the building that anchors Johor Bahru's waterfront. It was completed at the end of the nineteenth century and is named after the sultan who is remembered as the founder of modern Johor. The architecture blends several influences: you can spot Moorish arches, Malay touches, and details that echo the Victorian taste of the era. Its white walls, pale domes and four minarets look especially good in the late afternoon when the sun slants across the water.

For non-Muslim visitors, access arrangements differ from one time to another. Some visitors are welcomed during certain hours, with robes lent out at the entrance for those who are not dressed modestly. At other times, especially around prayer times and Fridays, the mosque is reserved for worshippers. I would not plan your whole day around a visit. Instead, treat it as something you may be able to walk into, and have a perfectly good second option, which is to admire the exterior and the gardens from the outside and take in the view of the Straits.

Dress properly regardless. Long trousers or a long skirt, sleeves to the wrist or at least a modest sleeve, and a scarf for women to cover the hair if you go inside. A light shawl in your bag solves most problems. Keep your voice low, do not walk in front of anyone who is praying, and remember that this is a living place of worship first and a landmark second.

Getting from Singapore without losing half the day

The honest truth about a Johor Bahru day trip is that the border can take as long as the sightseeing. On a good morning you will clear both immigration checks in forty minutes. On a bad Saturday, or on the eve of a public holiday, it can be two hours or more each way. A little planning makes a big difference.

My own habit, when I am travelling with older relatives or with children, is to book a private car for the crossing and then use it for the whole day. A private car transfer between Singapore and Johor Bahru starts from about S$55.68 per way for the vehicle, and as the details state, that price is fixed per vehicle rather than per person for up to seven passengers, so it works out reasonably for a family. The transfer itself usually takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on how heavy the border traffic is. You can read the details and book here: Private Car To/From Johor Bahru.

If you are flying into Johor Bahru rather than driving across, there is also an airport transfer to the downtown area, which takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes and includes a meet-and-greet and some waiting time if your flight is late. It starts around S$43.95; see Johor Bahru Airport Transfer.

A few border habits that have saved me time. Go early; arriving at the Singapore checkpoint before seven in the morning is a different world from arriving at ten. Avoid public holiday eves in either country. Keep your passport somewhere you can reach it without unpacking. Use the automated lanes where you are eligible. And check the current entry requirements before you travel, because rules, including digital arrival forms, do change.

What to wear and how to behave

If there is one section I would ask you to read carefully, it is this one. Johor is more conservative than Singapore, and you are visiting places where people are praying. A little care goes a long way, and you will be treated warmly for it.

• Cover shoulders and knees at every place on this list. For the mosque, go further: long sleeves and long trousers or skirt.
• Wear shoes that come off easily. You will remove them at the Hindu temple, the mosque and sometimes at the Chinese temple's inner halls. Laceless slip-ons beat hiking boots here.
• Carry a light scarf. It doubles as a head covering, a shoulder cover and a sun shield.
• Keep your voice down. People come in the middle of their day to pray. Whispered conversations only.
• Ask before photographing people. Buildings are fine in most areas; faces deserve permission.
• Do not touch statues or offerings. Look, but leave things where they are.
• Use your right hand for giving and receiving anything.
• Do not point your feet toward altars or people.
• Bring small change. Donation boxes are common, and giving a little is a kind gesture, never an obligation.

One more thing that is easy to forget: the heat. Johor is tropical and humid year round. Between mid-morning and mid-afternoon the sun is fierce, and walking between stops will drain you faster than you expect. Carry water, wear sunscreen and a hat, and schedule your outdoor walking in the morning and the late afternoon.

A one-day plan that works

Here is the day I would build, from experience. It assumes you are crossing from Singapore, and that you want to see the temples without feeling rushed or dragging tired kids around.

That is a full but comfortable day. If you would rather slow down, drop one stop. The glass temple and the old Chinese temple are the two I would keep. If you only have a half day, do those two, have lunch, and head home before the afternoon traffic builds.

What to eat between temples

Food is half the reason I go to Johor Bahru, so here is how I fit it around the temple stops. The old town is full of small kopitiams, and a breakfast of kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and strong coffee is the right fuel for a morning of walking. Johor has its own dishes too. Look out for laksa Johor, which is made with spaghetti rather than rice noodles and a rich, fish-based gravy, and for mee rebus, a sweet-savoury noodle dish with a thick potato-based sauce that many locals eat for breakfast.

For the more familiar classics, Malaysia's national breakfast, nasi lemak, is everywhere: coconut rice with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and a boiled egg. Roti canai with dhal or curry is another reliable favourite, and char kway teow, the smoky stir-fried flat noodles, is a fine lunch. Prices are lower than in Singapore, which tempts people to over-order. Order two or three dishes between you, then add more if you are still hungry.

A small word on dietary matters. In Johor, many food stalls are halal, and many Chinese stalls are not. If pork is a concern for you, ask before you order. If you do not eat beef, say so at Indian stalls. Most people are happy to explain what is in a dish if you ask politely.

If you want a bigger temple day: Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur

Several readers have written to ask me where to go if they want something grander than Johor's modest temples. The honest answer is Batu Caves, the famous Hindu cave shrine just outside Kuala Lumpur. It is a different trip altogether, and you would need to fly or take a long drive to reach it, but it is worth knowing about. You climb 272 brightly painted steps past a towering golden statue of Lord Murugan, then enter a vast limestone cave with shrines beneath a high ceiling. Macaques roam the steps, so keep food and sunglasses out of sight.

If you do go, a guided half-day trip makes the experience richer and removes the logistics. Two options I like: a standard half-day tour that gives you commentary and then time to explore on your own, from about S$13.11 (Batu Caves Half-Day Tour), and a private half-day that adds more stops, from about S$53.89 (Private Batu Caves and Cultural Tour). The private route also visits a six-tiered Chinese temple, the national mosque, Chinatown and Little India, which makes it a nice one-day tour of how the city's faiths sit side by side.

Food lovers should look at the Chinatown morning walk, which starts at a train station and runs for three to four hours through street stalls and old shophouses, stopping at a temple dedicated to a legendary general along the way. It starts around S$63.23; details at Kuala Lumpur Chinatown Delights.

And if the history of Malaysia's multicultural coastal towns appeals, the full-day trip to Malacca takes in a river cruise and a trishaw ride through the old town, from about S$55.64 (Malacca Night Tour with River Cruise and Trishaw Ride). Malacca's old Chinese temple is among the oldest in the country, so it is a satisfying companion to a Johor visit if you have time for both on a longer trip.

Families: what to do with kids who are done with temples

I will admit it: small children and religious sites are not always a happy combination. Three temples in one day is a lot for a six-year-old. The good news is that Johor Bahru is one of the easiest places in the region to balance a cultural morning with an afternoon of pure fun, because it has some of the best family attractions in Malaysia within a short drive of the city.

The obvious one is LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, which combines a theme park, water park and an aquarium, designed mostly for children aged 2 to 12. It starts around S$26.46 for entry and you should allow a full day, so I would treat it as a separate trip rather than an afternoon add-on. Details are here: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort.

If you want something shorter and cooler, there is an indoor ice rink inside a Johor Bahru mall, from about S$14.00, which makes a good air-conditioned afternoon: Blue Ice Skating Rink at Paradigm Mall. And if you have a night or two in the area, the waterpark at Desaru Coast, from about S$36.00, has five themed zones and is an easy way to wear out energetic kids: Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast.

Staying connected, money and small practicalities

Your Singapore phone plan may or may not roam well in Malaysia, and the charges can surprise you. A data eSIM is the easy fix for a day trip or a longer stay, because you can install it before you leave and switch it on when you cross the border. One unlimited-data option starts around S$12.43; see Malaysia Unlimited Data eSIM. Check that your phone supports eSIM before you buy, since that depends on the device and sometimes on whether it is locked to a carrier.

For money, bring a little Malaysian ringgit in small notes. Larger shops and malls take cards, but small stalls, donation boxes and parking attendants usually want cash. Exchange rates are friendlier at a money changer in the town than at the checkpoint. Keep your cash in more than one place, and avoid flashing a thick wallet in crowded spots.

Also, ask yourself about the time you will be gone. Many Singapore day-trippers underestimate how tiring a border day is. Plan to be home by early evening, pack a small bag with water, wet tissues and a power bank, and do not schedule anything important for the next morning.

Best time to go

Johor Bahru is warm and humid all year, with temperatures typically in the low thirties during the day. The drier months, roughly from March to October on the west side of the peninsula, are generally more pleasant, though afternoon showers are possible in any month. From November to February, the northeast monsoon brings heavier rain, mostly to the east coast, but Johor can see wet spells too. Carry a small umbrella whatever the season.

For atmosphere, festival periods are special. The Chinese New Year period brings the temple procession and a festive feel across the old town. Deepavali lights up the Hindu temples. Hari Raya brings family gatherings, new clothes and a cheerful mood on the streets, though many places close for a few days, so check before you cross. If you prefer to avoid crowds, avoid school holidays and public holiday weekends, when the border queues are at their worst.

One more timing tip: Friday midday is a time of congregational prayer for Muslims, and the mosque will not be open to visitors then. Plan the mosque for another day or later in the afternoon.

Mistakes I see people make

• Trusting an old listing. Including, as I have just confessed, this very page. If a temple sounds too big for the city, check its location.
• Arriving at the checkpoint at ten on a Saturday. You will lose a morning.
• Dressing for the heat, not the place. Tank tops and shorts will get you turned away at the mosque and frowned at elsewhere.
• Cramming too much in. Three stops and a good lunch is a full day.
• Forgetting cash. Not every stall takes cards.
• Treating worship as a show. Step aside for people who are praying, and never stage photographs of them.

Photography without being that tourist

I carry a camera everywhere, and temples are some of the most photogenic places I know. They are also the places where bad manners show up fastest. Here is how I handle it. Start with the buildings: the carved roof ridges of the Chinese temple, the hanging incense coils, the glittering walls of the glass temple, the pale domes of the mosque against the sky. All of these are lovely subjects and nobody minds if you photograph them quietly.

Next, people. A devotee kneeling with joss sticks makes a wonderful picture, and it is also a private moment. Ask with a smile and a gesture. If the answer is no, accept it and move on. Never use flash near an altar, never climb on anything for a better angle, and keep tripods and drones at home unless you have clear permission. Drones in particular attract attention in Malaysia, and rules about flying them near public buildings are strict.

Light matters too. Early morning gives you soft, warm tones and fewer people, while late afternoon is kinder to white mosque walls. Between eleven and three, the glare is harsh and everyone, including your camera, will be happier in the shade. If your phone is your camera, wipe the lens before you start. Humidity fogs it more often than you would think, especially when you step out of an air-conditioned car.

Walking the old town between stops

The stretch of the old centre between the Chinese temple and the waterfront is, to my mind, the best free attraction in the city. You will pass shophouses with faded pastel shutters, tailors and sundry shops that look unchanged since your grandparents' day, and a growing number of small cafes and murals that show a younger Johor Bahru taking shape. Give yourself at least an hour for it, and resist the urge to rush.

A few things I like to do as I walk. I stop at one kopitiam just for a drink, even if I am not hungry, because that is where you see how the city really works: office workers, taxi drivers and grandmothers sharing tables. I look up, since the best architectural details sit above the shop signs. And I turn into side lanes, where the stalls are cheaper and the owners are usually happy to chat. Pavements can be uneven and sometimes blocked by parked motorbikes, so wear comfortable shoes and watch your step, especially with children or with anyone who walks slowly.

In the middle of the day, when the heat peaks, duck into a mall for an hour. That is not cheating; it is what the locals do. Order something cold, charge your phone, and plan the rest of the afternoon. By the time you come out, the light on the waterfront will be softer and the walk to the mosque far more pleasant.

A few honest limitations

I would rather you arrive with accurate expectations than disappointed ones. Johor Bahru is a working city, not a polished heritage town, and some corners are scruffy. Signs are not always in English. Opening hours at smaller temples can be informal. Some of the places above may be closed for a ceremony on the very day you visit, and there is not much you can do about that except have a backup plan. Think of the flexibility as part of the charm. A closed gate usually leads to a good bowl of noodles around the corner.

If you are the kind of traveller who needs everything confirmed in advance, build in a margin: keep your afternoon loose, choose a private car so you can change the order of stops, and have one indoor option ready. And if you have a particular site you must see, ask your driver or your hotel to call ahead on the morning of your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kek Lok Si Temple in Johor Bahru?

No. It is in Air Itam, near George Town in Penang. An earlier version of this page said otherwise, and that was wrong. Johor Bahru has its own, smaller temples, which are covered above.

Which are the best temples to visit in Johor Bahru?

For most visitors, the old Chinese temple on Jalan Trus and the Sri Rajakaliamman glass temple are the two most rewarding, with the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque a good addition for its architecture and its view of the Straits.

Can non-Muslims enter the mosque?

Sometimes, depending on the hour and on the day. Visiting arrangements change, and Fridays and prayer times are normally reserved for worshippers. Dress very modestly, ask at the entrance, and be prepared to enjoy it from outside if it is closed to visitors.

Do I need a visa to visit Johor Bahru?

Singapore passport holders can currently enter Malaysia for short stays without a visa. Rules differ for other nationalities and can change, so check the official immigration channels before you travel. If you need help with a Malaysian eVisa, HolidaySG can point you in the right direction.

How do I get from Singapore to Johor Bahru?

By cross-border bus, shuttle train, taxi or a private car. A private car, such as the one listed above, is the easiest with children, older relatives or lots of bags, since you stay seated through the checkpoints.

What should I wear when visiting the temples?

Cover your shoulders and knees at every stop, wear shoes that slip off easily, and carry a light scarf. Go longer on sleeves and legs for the mosque.

How long should I spend in Johor Bahru?

A single day is enough for the temples, a good lunch and the waterfront. If you add a family attraction such as a theme park, give that its own day.

Where can I book tours and transfers?

You can book transfers, tours, eSIMs and attraction tickets in Malaysia on HolidaySG. E-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking.

Featured experiences in this guide

Malacca Night Tour with River Cruise and Trishaw Ride from Kuala Lumpu...From S$55.64 Book →LEGOLAND Malaysia ResortFrom S$26.46 Book →Blue Ice Skating Rink @ Paradigm Mall Johor BahruFrom S$14.00 Book →

One last word. Places of worship are not attractions in the way a theme park is. They change, they close for ceremonies, and the people inside deserve your respect more than your photographs. Go slowly, ask questions, smile a lot, and you will find that Johor Bahru gives back far more than its modest list of temples suggests.