MY · Johor · 1.57°N 104.02°E

johor lama

Riverside fort ruins of the old Johor Sultanate, quiet and rarely crowded.

Best time
Any time of year. Go in the morning or late afternoon; the site is open and hot at midday.
How long
Half a day
Getting there
About 1 hour's drive from JB, south of Kota Tinggi town, or about 4.5 hours from KL.
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MY · Johorjohor lama1.57°N 104.02°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Riverside fort ruins of the old Johor Sultanate, quiet and rarely crowded.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingJohor LamaMY, Johor
KLjohor lama
≈ 312 km from KL, as the crow flies
Johor Lama, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia

Photo: Chongkian · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Johor Lama, on the banks of the Johor River, was once the busy port capital of the Johor Sultanate. Today it's a quiet kampung with the remains of the old fort, Kota Batu, and a small museum on how the capital rose and was sacked by the Portuguese and later rivals.

Makan

  1. Laksa JohorSpaghetti in a thick fish gravy with fresh herbs and sambal, a Johor favourite.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Kota BatuThe grassy remains of the 16th-century fort walls, on a rise above the river.Map ↗
  2. Johor Lama museumA small museum with finds from the site and the story of the old capital.Map ↗
  3. Makam Sultan Mahmud Mangkat DijulangThe tomb of the Johor sultan assassinated in 1699, at Kampung Makam near Kota Tinggi.Map ↗
  4. Kota Tinggi firefliesEvening boat trips on the Johor River near Kota Tinggi to see fireflies in the mangroves.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Dress modestly at the royal tombs.
  • Bring insect repellent, especially near the river at dusk.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.