Johor Bahru (JB) has always been a perpetual haunt for Singaporeans looking for a short getaway, or to purchase goods at cheaper prices.
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With shopping already covered, here’s part two: top 10 family-friendly things to do in JB that cost a fraction of the price compared to Singapore.From learning horse-riding to battling out in a game of laser tag, there are tons of family-fun activities to try on our neighbouring shores:
1. Go karting at RUD Karting or KF1 Karting
Let loose and unleash your inner speed demon at a go-karting track at RUD Karting. If you’re concerned about safety, RUD Karting can quell all your worries. It’s compulsory to purchase a full-face balaclava for added protection, on top of the provided helmets (which are heavily sanitised and cleaned after each session).
Prices start around RM55 ($15.80) (single kart) and RM75 ($21.50) (double kart) for a 10-minute race, and are significantly cheaper than a similar track ride in Singapore.
For example, an 8-minute go-kart ride at HyperDrive (The Palawan @ Sentosa) will set you back by $20 for a Junior Kart and $45 for a Senior Kart. This means you’ll save close to $23.50 for an adult!
The track is also very beginner-friendly, and you do not need a driver’s licence to participate.
There is also an on-site industrial-themed cafe called RUD Cafe serving mouthwatering dishes, making it incredibly convenient to grab a bite after your adrenaline-pumping race. The best part of it all? It opens till 2am, so you can head down after your late-night suppers!
If you have younger ones who aren’t ready for a legit race track, you can bring them to Kiddy Circuit at Mid Valley Southkey, which features a 200m indoor track. Prices start from RM35 ($10) for a single 8-minute ride.
RUD Karting Medini
📍 PTD 200284, Persiaran Medini Sentral 6, Bandar Medini Iskandar, 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Daily, 11am to 2am
KF1 Karting
📍 TM-008, Level 4, South Court, 1, Persiaran Southkey 1, The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Daily, 10am to 10pm
2. Ice Skating at Blue Ice Skating Rink
Want to escape the heat outside? Lace up your skates and hit the ice at Blue Ice Skating Rink Rink. Prices start from RM40 ($11.50) for a two-hour session, with a pair of rental skates included. For all timed sessions, check out its website here.
Socks and gloves must be worn in the rink at all times, and they are available for rent at RM7 ($2) each. If your child needs extra support to balance, you can rent Bobby, their helpful skate seal, at RM20 ($5.70) per hour.
Conveniently located in Paradigm Mall, you can shop around while waiting for your session or get your meal fix at one of their many dining options.
You’ll be thrilled to know how much you would save if you booked a session here than in Singapore. At Kallang Ice World, a two-hour session for children and adults costs S$18 and $20 respectively. If you rent their skating aid, it is priced at $15.
Blue Ice Skating Rink
📍3F-30, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Jalan Skudai, 81200 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
🕒 Wed-Fri, 10am to 7.30pm | Sat-Tues, 10am to 10pm
3. Tufting at Tufting Nuts Workshop
If you’re an artsy person who likes crafts but is tired of the usual art-jamming shenanigans, try tufting! This activity involves creating textured artwork using yarn and a tufting gun, where you can make your own rugs, pillows, and even tote bags.
Tufting Nuts’ prices start from RM199 ($57) per person if you use the promo code TUFTWITHYOU for a three-hour session crafting your own 50×50 rug. If you prefer to do it together, you can sign up for the four-hour couple tufting workshop where you can make a 90×90 rug at RM399 ($114.40) for two people. You can also add mirror tufting, pillow tufting and tote bag tufting at additional prices.
Compared to Singapore, where you can expect to shell out a hefty $170 a 4-hour session at Tuft Club, tufting in JB is cheaper by around one-third of the price!
Tufting Nuts Workshop
📍40-01, Jln Austin Heights 3/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Tue-Fri, 11am-7.30pm | Sat-Sun, 9.15am-9.30pm | Closed on Mon
4. Escape Room at Lost In JB
Put your (family) teamwork skills to the test by solving an escape room at Lost In JB, where you can work together to solve puzzles, crack codes, and escape the room within the time limit!
There are three outlets with a wide selection of rooms available of varying difficulty, fitness and scare levels — from Harry Potter-inspired themed rooms like Amazing School of Magic to more family-friendly, light-hearted rooms like Bajie: Journey To The West.
The prices of the rooms differ accordingly, starting from RM48 (S$14) to RM108 (S$31) for adults. Students visiting on a weekday also get to enjoy cheaper rates! Comparatively, Singapore’s Trapped Escape Room’s prices range from $28.90 to $34.90, which are still more expensive even after promotional discounts.
Lost In JB
📍Eco Palladium, Sutera The Haunted House, Eco Galleria
🕒 Timings for the outlets here.
5. Horse Riding at Amigos Horse-Riding
Calling all animal lovers, Amigos Horse Riding is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature on a majestic steed. It doesn’t matter if you’re a skilled horse rider or a complete first-timer, Amigos caters to all skill levels with its various programs, including jungle trails or horse-riding lessons.
Opt for a scenic ride on the Jungle Trail from RM90 ($25.80, weekday) and RM100 ($28.70, weekend) or hop on professional horse-riding lessons from RM149 ($42.70, weekdays) and RM165 ($47.30, weekends) for a 45-minute lesson.
Do come in long pants and covered shoes for the session to avoid getting insect bites or scratches from the adjacent trees and plants. Bring along your mosquito repellant too! The weight limit for riding a horse is 80kg.
If horse riding is not for you, you can opt for an ATV ride within the same compound from RM100 ($28.80, weekday) and RM110 ($31.50, weekend)!
Similarly, you can go for trail rides in Singapore at Gallop Stable. However, the prices are vastly different. For a 30-minute session, it will cost you $68 on weekdays and $78 on weekends. Little ones can also opt for a 1.5-hour pony-riding session, priced at $68.
Amigos Horse-Riding
📍No. 8, Jalan Polo, Johor Darul Ta’Zim, 81560 Gelang Patah, Malaysia
🕒 Daily, 9am to 7pm
6. Laser Tag at Laser Battle Johor
Unleash your inner marksman at Laser Battle, a premier laser arena in JB. Great for a bigger group of friends or family, laser tag brings out the competitive nature in everyone and is a fantastic way to bond and work up a sweat.
It boasts an arena filled with abstract designs and neon lighting, giving you plenty of places to hide and attack in strategic combat. Armed with high-tech laser taggers, your team can devise tactics to eliminate opponents by sneaking up behind them or being as swift as a hawk.
After each 10-minute round, you can head out of the arena to check the leaderboard to see who the ultimate hard-carry is.
Laser Battle offers various game modes like capture-the-flag, team deathmatch, or free-for-all, each providing a unique challenge and keeping the gameplay dynamic. There are even midnight solo or team battles, where you’ll be in the pitch-black area with bright neon lights of your opponents.
From Mondays to Thursdays, two games of 10-minute sessions each will cost RM45 ($13) per person, while three games will cost RM55 ($15.80) per person. From Fridays to Sundays, it costs RM50 ($14.40) for two games and RM60 ($17.20) for three games.
At Fox Laser Tag in Singapore, prices start from $225 for 5 people ($45 per person) forone hour of gameplay. If you do the math, a 30-minute session at Fox Laser Tag costs you $22.50, which is still more expensive than Laser Battle in JB.
Laser Battle Johor
📍 Lot MS-11, Innercity Level 4, Johor Bahru City Square, 108, Jalan Wong Ah f*ck, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Daily, 10am to 10pm
7. Watch a Movie at Golden Screen Cinemas Play Hall
For the ultimate movie experience in JB for the little ones, look no further than the Play Halls at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC).
Unlike the standard movie theatres you might frequent that are plain and dull looking, the Play Halls cater to children with their multi-coloured seats and ball pit!
Depending on the outlet that you visit, some even come with adjacent PlayParks complete with slides, ball pits, obstacle courses, reading corners, and more — perfect to keep the young ones entertained while you’re immersed in the movie. Cuddle seats are also available and are spacious enough for your child to snuggle next to you!
A ticket on a Friday at a Play Hall in AEON Dato Onn costs RM20.50 (S$5.90) and RM11 (S$3.20) for a child.
Do be prepared for it to be noisy, as you can expect restless children running around.
Singapore also boasts a kid-friendly cinema hall — Dreamer’s Hall by Shaw Theatres. Adult tickets are priced at $16 and $20 respectively for off-peak and off-peak timings, while tickets for kids below 13 years old go for $9 and $12. This is significantly more expensive compared to JB’s counterpart.
Golden Screen Cinemas
📍List of locations here.
8. Dog Cafe at Chill ‘N Chow Cafe
Chill ‘N Chow is quite literally a piece of heaven on earth that offers a dose of much-needed dopamine for all dog lovers.
Play fetch, give tummy rubs, and pat them to sleep! Be warned — you might be tempted to get your own dog afterward! One hour of playtime is priced at RM20 (S$5.70) on Tuesdays to Thursdays and RM23 (S$6.60) on Fridays to Sundays. It’s also inclusive of a complimentary coconut ice cream!
Its cafe, Bon Appetit, offers a wide selection of delicious food and drinks, catering to a variety of palettes. Enjoy a hearty breakfast, savour a comforting lunch, or indulge in a sweet treat and a cup of coffee.
Remember to bring or wear socks before entering the play area. If you forget yours, socks are available for purchase at RM3 (S$0.90).
Comparatively, a visit to What The Pug in Singapore requires an entry fee starting from $25 per person for 45 minutes of playtime. The fee includes a canned drink and a souvenir photo. This saves you up to $14.30!
Chill ‘N Chow Cafe
📍16-01, Jalan Austin Heights 8/4, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Tue-Sun, 11am-7pm | Closed on Mon
9. Massage at Massage Osotto Health Care Center
After a day of exploring JB, treat yourself to a pampering spa experience at Osotto Health Care Centre.
For just RM88 (S$25.20), you’ll get six hours of access to various facilities, including a jacuzzi pool, sauna room, cinema, pool table, gym, and even a buffet spread.
There are also a variety of massages you can add on, like Thai, Chinese, aromatherapy or foot massages, and a facial. Prices start from an additional RM68 (S$19.50) onwards.
There’s even a family room you can book for all your folks to relax and unwind together.
Massage Osotto Health Care Center
📍1, Jln Austin Height 8/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
🕒 Daily, 11am to 12am
10. Pottery at Red Earth Studio
If you’ve always wanted to go for a pottery session with the fam but can’t bear to pay the full prices in Singapore, you can always do it in JB at a fraction of the price!
Learn the techniques of wheel-throwing and slab construction at Red Earth Studio with their experienced teachers guiding you every step of the way. Don’t worry if you’re an amateur; their classes are suitable for all levels of experience.
Choose to make bowls, cups, trinkets, vases and even sake cups and bring them home after they are done, which takes about three to four weeks after the session. A 1.5-hour hand-building workshop that lets you create two pieces is priced at RM160 (S$45.90) per person. If you have a little one, opt for the kid-friendly hand-building experience that lasts 1.5 hours and costs RM160 (S$46).
For the full experience, we recommend getting the premium wheel-throwing package. This costs RM225 (S$64.50) and consists of a three-hour session for wheel-throwing and painting for two pieces of work, as well as a complimentary dessert you can enjoy afterward!
At the Potter’s Guilt in Singapore, it can be pretty pricey. The 1.5-hour Pottery On The Wheel Session is $58, while the three-hour Pottery Do-It-All is $88.
Red Earth Studio
📍Mount Austin, 17-1, Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia🕒 Wed-Sun, 11am-8pm | Closed on Mon and Tue
Note: Prices and currency conversion are accurate at the time of writing.
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