Got a weekend to spare or planning a last-minute trip to JB? Why not visit Johor Bahru for an exciting escape? If you’re not sure what to add to your itinerary, read on to discover affordable activities you can enjoy.
1. Karaoke at Singcube, Paradigm Mall
What’s more fun than singing your heart out and dancing to the top hits to unwind?
Singcube offers reasonable prices, the best equipment, and special custom room designs shaped like little houses (they’re in vibrant colours too!). They also feature songs in various languages such as English, Malay, and Mandarin, allowing you to switch languages accordingly.
If you’re feeling hungry while waiting for your turn, you can buy snacks such as corn dogs, popcorn, chicken wings and many more at their counter.
Their room prices can go as low as RM12 (~S$3.43) per Mini K room (1-2 pax) for a 30-minute session and up to RM40 (~S$11.38) for a deluxe room (5-7 pax) for a one-hour session.
Location: Paradigm Mall, Skudai Hwy, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Level 2F 33 & 33A
Operating hours: 10am – 10pm, daily
2. Ice Skating at Paradigm Mall
Looking for a different way to escape the heat in JB? Visit the first and largest Ice Skating Rink in the state of Johor.
Blue Ice Skating Rink provides a safe, fun-filled environment with a wide range of entertainment services to guests. You can drop by with family and friends for some chilly fun or sign up for their ice skating classes – they even offer ice hockey lessons here!
No need to fret if you’ve forgotten your gloves and socks; they’re available for purchase at the counter.
Just remember to wear comfortably and keep yourself warm! They provide five sessions daily. Refer below for the rates and details.
Location: Paradigm Mall, Skudai Hwy, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Level 3F-30
Operating hours: 10am – 10pm, daily
3. Visit Pasar Karat
When in JB, the majority of us instinctively go to malls like KSL City Mall or Paradigm Mall for shopping and dining as many prefer cool air conditioning.
An alternative would be Pasar Karat, a night flea market for reasonably priced retail therapy and street food. Just like how we have Pasar Malams in Singapore, JB has Pasar Karat where they offer an array of clothing, accessories, footwear, and food – even their prices are unbeatable.
You can get freshly-made takoyaki for RM5/4 pieces (~S$1.43) where fillings include octopus, crab, fish, chicken, and shrimp.
There’re also BBQ skewers with ingredients like sausages that cost from RM2 (~S$0.57) onwards. To wash down the street food, you can get freshly-squeezed juices and cut-up fruits for as low as RM3 (~S$0.86) and RM2 (~S$0.57) respectively.
Other than food and beverages, Pasar Karat sells graphic tees and accessories such as sunglasses from a range of RM10 (~S$2.86) to RM15 (~S$4.29).
If you’re lucky, you’ll come across talented buskers or even people in costumes dancing for entertainment such as your favourite Transformers characters – Bumblebee and Optimus Prime.
And the fun part is that even with the low prices of items, some stall owners are open to bargains!
Location: 26/20 Jalan Segget, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: 6pm – 2am, Tuesdays – Sundays (Closed on Mondays)
4. Cafe Hopping
JB has some of the most innovative and creative cafes. But if you enjoy burgers, milkshakes and good vibes where you can also take insta-worthy pictures, Lazy Monday HQ is the perfect place for you.
They serve humongous and super juicy burgers with oozing nachos cheese, perfectly sauteed onions and just the right amount of jalapenos. For the perfect hot and fresh delight, the thick beef patties are grilled on the spot.
Their golden crisp-fried battered and fried chicken burgers are another delicious option. Be warned, their burgers will hurt your jaw because of how huge it is but it will all be worth it!
Not only will your stomach be full, your heart will be too. The burgers start from RM24.90 (~S$7.11).
Don’t forget to treat yourself with their cheese fries, from curly fries to sweet potatoes and many more. And milkshakes too!
Location: 71A, Jalan Abdul Samad 1, Sri Gelam, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Operating hours: 3pm – 12am, daily
Next time, if you are thinking of having a weekend escape in JB, take note of all these fun and amazing places to go – singing at Singcube, ice adventures at Blue Ice Skating Rink, and a unique night market experience at Pasar Karat.
Do not miss the chance to indulge in giant burgers and Instagrammable treats at Lazy Monday HQ too!
With each stop, JB unveils affordable delights, turning your getaway into a melody of fun and unforgettable moments.
Do take note that you will have to book train tickets in advance, as early as one month prior, either from KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) or over the counter at the train station. You can get the tickets for RM16 (~S$4.60) from the website.
Check out MoneySmart for a guide to book your train tickets!
Enjoy your adventure in Johor Bahru!
