Johor Sightseeing

There’s plenty to see in Johor with the state’s main destinations each offering their own unique sightseeing attractions. The state capital Johor Bahru is blessed with the best selection, with the Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Palace Museum and Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque among the highlights. The state’s excellent selection of national parks is another major draw, with the impressively large Endau Rompin one of the most popular.

Danga Bay
Situated near Istana Bukit Serene, Danga Bay is a recreational park that was designed to be a mini-city in its own right. In keeping with this concept, the park features a residential area, a commercial and financial centre, shopping malls and leisure facilities. Visitors will find a plethora of interests on hand in this unique micro city including gardens, a cultural centre, a bustling restaurant scene and more.

Endau Rompin National Park
This protected tropical rainforest covers a hefty 870 square kilometres and ranks as Malaysia’s second largest national park after Taman Negara. The park is located northeast of Johor Bahru and is considered by experts to be one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests, featuring rock formations that are estimated to be 250 million years old. Also of note in the park is the largest concentration of Sumatran rhinoceros on the Malay peninsula. Phone: +60 7 223 7471.

Besides Endau Rompin, there are four other impressive natural parks in Johor, making this one of Malaysia’s most naturally endowed regions. Many areas are restricted and remain undeveloped or unaffected by human influence. These homes to diverse species of flora and endangered animal species include: Gunung Ledang, Tanjung Piai, and Pulau Kukup national parks and Mersing Marine Park.

Orchid Valley
Billed as the world's largest orchid gardens, Orchid Valley covers an area of 100 acres and boasts a collection of over 80 different tropical orchid species. Specimens require careful nurturing and are kept in strict environmental conditions. Visitors have unrestricted access to all of the gardens impressive specimens and the chance to make purchases at small shops within the facility.

Pulau Tinggi
Also referred to as Tinggi Island, Pulau Tinggi is a large island located off the east coast of Johor. The island, which was once dubbed ‘General's Hat Island’ by Chinese seamen, is notable for its highest point sitting some 600 metres above sea level. The island is sparsely populated, being home to fewer than 500 permanent residents. Visitors can take a boat trip out to the island and enjoy activities such as trekking or relaxing on the beach.

Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Palace Museum
This museum is generally touted as Johor Bahru’s most significant sightseeing attraction and is worthy of its reputation, offering some splendid architectural features and interior décor. The palace serves predominantly as a museum and is occasionally used for important state functions. Completed in 1866, additions and renovations over the years have ensured that the palace has maintained its majestic appearance.

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor Bahru
A must on every sightseers list is a visit to this magnificent religious structure which overlooks the Straits of Johor. The mosque was completed in 1900 and was official opened by the sultan of the time, Sultan Ibrahim. The mosque is notable for its mix of Victorian and Moorish styles. Non-Muslim visitors are permitted entry, but must wear modest clothing and remove their shoes before entering.

Tanjung Piai
This picturesque cape forms mainland Asia and peninsular Malaysia’s southernmost point, offering scenic views of the Singapore skyline across the Johor Strait. It’s the ideal place to head if you are looking for relaxation and nice scenery. Seafood restaurants built on wooden jetties offer the chance to dine amid the stunning coastal surroundings.

A unique development, Danga Bay recreational park has numerous leisure facilities including a mall, a cultural centre, a park with children’s pool and playground, a fitness centre and numerous restaurants.

Chill out on Desaru Beachch. During the dry season, the weather in Johor is ideal for sunbathing or relaxing with a good book on the beach. Desaru Beach, the finest stretch of sandy paradise available in the state, is the best place to experience water sports, while the lengthy beach is also ideal for games of Frisbee, beach volleyball or other sand-based activity.

Take a jungle walk. Tour operators offer jungle trips from Johor Bahru on which visitors can learn something about the intricacies of jungle survival. Tour guides give demonstrations of traditional skills such as trap setting, animal tracking and how to extract food or liquid from jungle plant life. Additionally, those plants that are key ingredients used by indigenous people in creating treatments for various ailments are identified and background information on their properties offered.

Take a fish farm tour. Kukup fishing village is where much of the seafood in the surrounding area is farmed. Visitors can take a 45-minute boat tour of the farm, which gives an insight into how popular species such as sea bass, grouper and red snapper are farmed. The tour concludes at a designated seafood restaurant where visitors can enjoy eating some of the fish they have just observed.

Sample the local cuisine. The tasty local variation of the national cuisine should be tried with local specialities including the noodle dishes mee bandung muar and mee rebus being tasty Johor creations. Local variations of bread include roti jala and roti kirai, which also rank high on the list of things to sample.