Johor Bahru Tourist Attractions and Things to do Indoors
While Johor Bahru offers plenty of outdoor activities, there will be days when a little indoor fun is needed – as a break from the heat, for example, or when it’s wet. (For the record, JB is rainiest from November to February.) Luckily, there are plenty of Johor tourist attractions offering engaging experiences under a roof. So if you’re wondering what to do in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, check out our round-up of exciting options to keep you entertained indoors, from rock climbing to shopping at the Johor Premium Outlets!
#1 Tackle an indoor climbing wall
Looking for something exciting to do with the kids in Johor Bahru? Rock climbing is a fantastic indoor activity for young ones and adults alike. At Rocky Basecamp, you’ll find a range of walls adorned with coloured holds and obstacles for guidance. The facility is located in AEON Mall in Tebrau City, around half an hour north of causeway, and it caters for beginners up to the seasoned climbers. There are auto-belay walls too, which means you don’t need someone else to belay you up to the top. Rocky Basecamp is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
#2 Shop at Johor Bahru Paradigm Mall
Not really a Johor Bahru tourist attraction, but hitting up a shopping mall or two, is a great idea to escape the heat or the rain right? One we’d like to highlight here is the Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru. This mall made an impression when it opened in 2017 – not least of all for its giant size. (It covers 1.3 million square feet!) You’ll find around 500 shops to browse stretching across seven floors. And there’s no hassle with parking, thanks to over 4,200 spots. The mall has a 16-screen cinema, too.
Paradigm is located in Skudai district, a 10-minute drive from the Johor Bahru city centre, with direct access to several major highways. It’s part of a larger 13-acre development that aso includes a hotel, Hyatt Place, and a serviced residence called Paradigm Residence.
#3 Visit the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is located at the top of a hill in Jalan Gertak Merah and was constructed between 1892 and 1900 under the reign of Sultan Abu Bakar. The design combines Victorian architecture with Islamic elements. Intricate Moorish patterns in white marble intertwine with Victorian styles, while the minarets stretching into the sky might remind you of British clock towers, a nod to the colonial influences of the time. The prayer hall has large arches and soft light filtering through stained glass. It’s open daily.
#4 Johor Bahru Tourist Attractions for history buffs
There are a number of Johor tourist attractions that touch on the city’s rich history, and the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum museum is one. It reflects on the contributions of the Malaysian Chinese community to Johor’s development after they began settling here in the 19th century. Drawn at first by the booming agricultural and mining sectors, over the years, their influence has permeated every aspect of local culture and cuisine, helping to shape Johor Bahru into the city it is today.
The museum, located in the heart of the city centre on Jalan Ibrahim, does a good job of showcasing the lives and contributions of these Chinese immigrants. Spread across four floors, its collection of artefacts includes everything from porcelain pieces to old typewriters and traditional musical instruments. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5am.
#5 Cool down with some ice skating
Want to bring the temperature down a little? The good news is that Johor has a couple of ice skating centres – Blue Ice Skating Rink in Paradigm Mall, and JDT X-Skate at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. These are places where everyone can enjoy skating at their own pace, including very young ones with the assistance of skating aids. They’re a welcome retreat from the tropical weather outside. Oh, and don’t worry about not having your own pair of ice-skating boots. There are rental facilities at the rinks too.
#6 Go on a palace tour at Istana Besar
The opulent Istana Besar, or Big Palace, was constructed in 1866. This is the Grand Palace of Johor state and was once the home of the Sultan of Johor. Incorporating a blend of both Malay and Western architectural styles, the palace features ethereal white walls and a signature blue roof. Today, the Istana Besar primarily serves official functions, but a section of it has been transformed into the Royal Abu Bakar Museum. This museum highlights a collection of more than 60,000 antiques and heirlooms from the Royal Family.
#7 Showcase your artistic side
There’s an artist in every one of us, right? So grab some friends and unleash your creativity as you craft your bespoke cups, plates or vases out of pottery. Good Times DIY Baking Studio is multi-outlet baking school for kids that also has a pottery studio in Johor Bahru. (Find it in the Toppen Shopping Center, 2F-48.) You can try wheel-throwing and hand-building with the assistance of seasoned potters.
Still feeling arty? Enrol your child (or yourself!) in an art class at Twelve Tsuki Art and Craft Studio. It has two locations in JB – at Mount Austin and Adda Height.
#8 Enjoy a laser battle with your friends
Laser tag indoor parks are indoor gaming destinations where players use laser beams to tag opponents and score points. You can play alone or with friends, choosing from various game modes emphasising strategy and agility. Johor has a couple of laser parks to choose from, including Laser Battle, which operates a number of outlets across Malaysia and also Thailand. Bring a bunch of friends and let the battle commence! Find out more about the JB outlet on its Facebook page.
#9 Get active at an indoor playground
If you’re looking for a place where your kids can have a blast and learn something new, head along to one of the many indoor playgrounds in Johor. These playgrounds usually feature a range of games and activities that stimulate mental and physical abilities; some have an art area, too, where children can unleash their creativity. One option is Utopia Jungle World Children Themepark, which has a trampoline, balloon house, bumper cars, a robot ride and more! Kids will have loads of fun trying all the activities – and they might just make some new friends, too.
#10 Grab a deal at Johor Premium Outlets
If you love some retail therapy and you’re looking for things to do in Johor, Malaysia, head to this outlet mall to shop up a storm. It’s a good spot if you’re looking to catch deals on middle-end and high-end brands. The likes of Gucci, Prada and Fendi offer significant discounts here that are hard to find elsewhere. Johor Premium Outlets also has cafes for that all-important shopping pitstop, from the familiar Starbucks to local flavours at Old Town White Coffee. Given the size of the place, which sprawls over two huge floors filled with stores and eateries, it’s easy to spend half a day or more here. It’s located at Bandar Indahpura, Kulai, and is open daily from 10 am to 10pm.
Keen to read more on Johor Bahru? Find out some of the neighbourhoods in JB where expats like to call home.
