jb in 2 days, 1 night
The old town's temples and cafés with late-night makan to finish, then kacang pool, the state mosque and a stop at the outlets on the drive home. Weekdays are easier than weekends.
Day 1 Old town
- Morning
- Drive from KL, about 3.5–4 hours on the North–South Expressway, or take the ETS from KL Sentral to JB Sentral.
- Lunch
- Mee rebus, yellow noodles in a thick, sweet potato-based gravy.
- Afternoon
- Walk the old town: the shophouse cafés on Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and the Old Chinese Temple on Jalan Trus are a short walk apart. Then a short Grab ride to the Glass Temple, covered inside with millions of pieces of glass.
- Evening
- Cool off at City Square, the mall by JB Sentral.
- Night
- Late-night makan at a hawker centre or mamak, which stay busy long after the malls close.
Day 2 Mosque and home
- Morning
- Kacang pool for breakfast: spiced mashed beans with a fried egg and toast. Then a short drive west to the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, on a hill above the Johor Strait.
- Lunch
- Laksa Johor, made with spaghetti in a thick fish gravy.
- Afternoon
- If you drove, stop at Johor Premium Outlets in Kulai on the way north. Then home, about 3.5 hours.
Good to know
- Avoid the roads near the Causeway on Friday evenings and public holidays; the jams spread into the city.
- Dress modestly for the mosque and temples, and don't visit the mosque at prayer times.
- With kids? Spend Day 2 at Legoland Malaysia in Iskandar Puteri, about 30 minutes from the city, instead.