14 of The Best Family-Friendly Attractions In Johor Bahru, Malaysia

After two lengthy stays in Johor Bahru (before and after the pandemic) we know this city is definitely another one of Malaysia’s family-friendly destinations. Aside from its proximity to Singapore, a major drawcard for us (and many other families we met each time) was Legoland Malaysia. It’s one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Johor Bahru and we spent many days there throughout both our 2-3 month trips.

If you’re wondering where to go with kids in Johor, we’ve selected a few of our favorite spots to share with you. We’re big fans of getting outside and enjoying parks and nature, and many of these options offered a nice balance between our theme park days.

Note that our first visit to JB was in 2019. We returned in 2023 for another three-month stint at Legoland, so we’re now updating this post in line with things that have changed or closed and our new recommendations.

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On with the show! Here are our top picks of family-friendly attractions in Johor Bahru!…

1. Legoland Theme Park

If you are looking for things to do in Johor Bahru with kids, you might want to consider visiting one or more of the many theme parks in the area. Legoland Malaysia is located in Medini, not far from Johor Bahru. We chose to stay in Medini, within walking distance from Legoland, so that we could make the most of our annual passes!

We really loved our Legoland experience, from the rides to the shows to quiet Lego-building experiences. The Legoland water park is also fantastic. There are slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and water play areas for tiny kids and bigger kids. If you choose to, you can also stay onsite at the Legoland Hotel.

To find out the details, including opening hours and ticket price, you can read about all the great reasons to consider an annual pass to Legoland. It could be one of the best places to visit in Malaysia with kids!

2. Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru

We try not to spend too much time in malls in general, but they do tend to have some great options for things to do with kids. If you’re looking for a mall to hang out, we’d recommend Paradigm Mall for your JB family holiday.

The best thing about this mall is the Blue Ice Skating Rink. It’s the first and biggest ice skating rink in JB, and we had loads of fun there.

There’s also a cinema in the mall. Both of these features are great options for indoor activities in Johor Bahru, especially when you need them on rainy or super hot days. Although they’re not major attractions in Johor Bahru, they’re fun options when you’re looking for something easy and enjoyable to do as a family.

Blue Ice Rink in 2023

We went back to the Blue Ice Rink in 2023, and it was great to be able to take Romy this time. She’s a total demon on rollerblades, so I knew she’d take to this variation easily enough!

The ice rink has four two-hour sessions per day, and they clean the ice for 30 minutes in between. It’s 40RM per person for the two-hour session, including skate hire.

Gloves and socks are mandatory, and if you don’t have any, you can buy them for 7RM per pair. The Bobby’s (penguins) are useful for those learning to skate and just for fun! They’re 30RM per hour.

3. Hike and swim at Gunung Pulai

One of my favorite things about Malaysia is the number of accessible National parks. If you’re looking for family activities in Johor Bahru, consider checking out a hiking trail in one of the National Parks. There’s usually something suitable for the whole family as well as a more challenging route if you choose.

The first hiking area we visited in Johor was Gunung Pulai, about 40 minutes drive from where we were staying in Medini.

We just did a super short walk (about 20 minutes) along a closed road and came to the first set of waterfalls. There we could hang out, have lunch, and swim for the afternoon.

There’s a (slightly slippery – in the rainy season anyway) trail that continues onwards to a few other waterfalls and then stops soon after.

Otherwise, you can climb to the peak for a more challenging walk. We opted out of the peak this time due to the condition of some group members! It was still a lovely spot to relax and enjoy nature.

Swimming and exploring at Pulai Recreational forest in 2023

It was awesome going back to Pulai in 2023. Last time I sat on a rock with a baby and had a short swim. This time Romy was four years old and ready to explore!

The Gunung Pulai recreational reserve is a fab place to enjoy scrambling up and downstream, swimming in little pools, and enjoying waterfalls, lush greenery, and the resident monkeys.

There’s another swimming option when you arrive at the car park, which you pay a small amount for. However, if you take the 20-minute walk along the closed-off road, it’ll lead you to the waterfall area where you can’t swim for free (this is where we swam both times we went)❤️.

The first (paid) area was very busy when we went on the weekend, so that’s something else to consider.

Climbing to Gunung Pulai’s peak in 2023!

I’m very happy that I got to climb Gunung Pulai before leaving Johor Bahru!

It wasn’t so easy last time we were here with a baby, so this time I did it! Managed to convince a couple of worldschooling buddies to come with me, too ?❤️.

Pulai is a fantastic choice for beginner hikers who want a bit of a challenge near Johor Bahru. At 650 meters high, it’s more of a push than walking around Sireh Park or Bukit Tiz, but it’s not a massive mountain.

My nine-year-old could have done this one, but I wasn’t going to invite her to get up early in the morning?. I definitely prefer early morning hikes here, before the hottest part of the day.

Pulai is about 40 minutes from JB. We left JB at 6 am and started walking at 6:50 am.

You can walk straight up the (closed) road or take the trail, with a little bit of road at the beginning and end.

Many people take the road… It was rather busy on a Saturday morning. We took the trail and only saw a few people on it. We walked down the road, and I have a feeling it might feel steeper walking up the road than meandering up the (far more interesting) trail.

The trail is easy to follow. You can’t really go wrong, as it’s just one trail, and they’ve done pretty well at tying markers on the trees the whole way.

It’s a steady climb up, covering numerous underfoot tree roots while surrounded by gorgeous tropical vegetation and the sounds of insects, birds, and monkeys.

Apparently, it takes people, on average, 3 hours and 50 minutes to climb up and down (i.e., complete the full walk). It took us exactly three hours, and there was a (somewhat crowded) viewpoint at the top.

Of course, a dip in the waterfall is a wonderful way to cool off at the finish point too!

4. Medini Green Parks

We were glad to be able to visit Medini Green Parks during our time in Johor Bahru. The parks are comprised of Warisan Heritage Park and Edible Park, with their respective entrances across the road from each other.

These parks are very much under development at the moment but are already well worth a look around. There’s a lovely meandering trail around Warisan Heritage Park. There you can find all sorts of medicinal flowers and plants and take a nice break from the typical urban landscape.

They were planting cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg while we were there. You’ll also find things like calendula and tea tree if you know what you’re looking for. (We didn’t but were shown them on a guided walk that had been advertised on their Facebook page).

Across the road at Edible Park, you’ll enter through the lime Grove and find pomelos and mangoes growing near the entrance. Saturday mornings are a great time to go because you can check out the cute little market and grab some delicious treats. They also have a kids’ nature class most weeks.

Check the Medini Green Parks Facebook page for up-to-date details on what’s going on. Sometimes they have evening markets and other events, such as a culture club, for those who love all things fermented.

5. Sireh Park

Sireh Park isn’t one of the major attractions in Johor Bahru. However, it’s such a nice little spot to go for a family-friendly trail walk or to simply enjoy being in nature. It’s right next to Bukit Indah, so it’s really convenient if you’re staying in the area and need a quick escape from the usual urban landscape.

I went here for a kid-free walk one evening and did a sort of figure-eight a couple of times around the whole thing. It would be very doable as a family. It’s also a super place to take in the sunset ?.

Make sure you bring mosquito repellant or cover up sufficiently, especially if you’re out for an evening walk or want to take one of the more overgrown pathways ?.

Returning in 2023 for a morning walk with the kids

I went back for a little Sireh park hike in 2023, this time with kids in tow!

Instead of walking for the sunset, we went at 8 am. And boy, was it hot! We must have chosen the hottest day for it. When you get blue skies in the tropics, it equals outrageous heat.

So everyone did very well, considering! One family in our group thought we were coming to play in a playground (they didn’t read the memo properly?), so they were also carrying a laptop around in a leather case!

We managed to walk a totally different trail from what I did last time. This one passed large ponds and was lined with vegetation, whereas last time, I walked up a hill that was more bare and more about getting a nice view.

So if you’re in Johor Bahru and want some easy walking trails and time in nature, check out Sireh Park, and you’ll find a few lovely trails to explore!

6. Hutan Bandar Park

If you find yourself in Central JB, Hutan Bandar is a great place to take the kids for a picnic lunch and enjoy being in nature. We saw one or two huge lizards in the water there and also squirrels scurrying around the trees.

There are a few play areas that should keep kids entertained for a long time. You’ll also find shelters to sit out the pouring rain if it comes! There’s also a splash park so you could easily spend several hours there. 

In 2023, we discovered even more at this park!

Wow, there’s heaps more to Hutan Bandar MBJB (JB City center park) than I realized.

When we first went in 2019, we played in a few of the playgrounds and saw the water play area but didn’t swim.

This time we went prepared with swimwear and also discovered a few other areas in the park. They even have a Parkour playground/gym and a climbing wall, although it was a little too hot for it when we visited!

We still didn’t even get a chance to walk around the whole park. Last time we had a baby so we didn’t venture too far around. This time we had a four-year-old who just wanted to stay in the water all afternoon – that suited us just fine!

7. Kidzoona, Aeon Mall

When it comes to kid-friendly attractions in Johor Bahru, you can’t go past an indoor playground. Kidzoona inside Aeon Mall in Bukit Indah offered such great value for money that we visited it a few times during our stay in Johor Bahru.

It’s a fantastic indoor playground in Johor Bahru that’s only 12 RM to enter (2019 prices – we didn’t return in 2023, so we’re not sure what they are now). You can come in and out all day, plus under 1’s are free. Needless to say, we did spend eight hours there one day with just an hour or so off for lunch in the middle of the day ?. The next couple of times, I managed to get the girls home after about six hours ?.

The toys are safe for wee ones, and there was certainly plenty to keep Ayla entertained as well. There’s a ball pit, slides, and a trampoline for plenty of active play. I suspect kids up to about 9 or 10 years old would love it.

We’d highly recommend Kidzoona as one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Johor Bahru. It’s especially great for super hot or rainy days.

8. Fanpekka indoor playground at Aeon Mall, Tebrau City

Fanpekka is an excellent kids’ playground in Aeon Mall, Tebrau City. Ok, so my eyes nearly popped out when I saw the price of 68RM per kid and 10RM per guardian…

But it turned out to be fantastic and worth it for me and Colin to take turns running a few mall errands while the kids played.

An adult does need to stay, although they have a cafe overlooking the play area, so you can sit and have a coffee if you wish.

The playground is a decent size and up there with the best indoor playgrounds we’ve been to. It was still good for our older daughter at nine years old.

They have a huge ball pit area with slides and other play equipment. We enjoyed throwing balls at the wall to create pretend paint splatters that a little virtual character comes along and cleans up.

The kids enjoyed the castle and little play areas with shops, markets, and the like.

There were also various activities each hour in the afternoon while we were there.

Your entry fee allows you to stay for three hours, and we stayed the full length!

9. Hang out at emerald Park

Emerald Lake is a lovely spot to hang out in Iskandar Puteri. It has a bit of a manufactured feel, but the nature is gorgeous. It’s beautifully maintained and teeming with wildlife.

You can follow a path around the lake, which would also be ideal if you have rollerblades or skateboards (the sign says skating is allowed).

The water is full of vibrantly colored fish and beautiful turtles?. We also saw big monitor lizards, small lizards, squirrels, and birds.

Emerald Park is next to the Citrine hub (which has a supermarket and a few cafes), so you can combine a shopping trip with a visit to the lake.

10. Hang out at the Johor bahru public library

Visiting the city center public library is one of the best things to do in Johor Bahru with kids. I can’t believe we didn’t make it here on our first visit in 2019!

It’s so much more than just a library, and we spent five hours here on our first visit.

There are two floors full of books, including a huge selection of English books, and a room full of kids’ books downstairs.

You need to bring your passport to register, and then you can borrow 15 books for two weeks at a time (and can renew them for an extra two weeks if you wish).

Downstairs the kids can use reading devices with headphones. They watch and listen to a story, which is great for those learning to read, because the words are highlighted on the screen as they go.

After the book, there are a few fun games or activities to test the kid’s knowledge about the book. Your kids can select a reading and comprehension level (from 1-6) and then choose from a wide variety of books and questions/activities at that level.

I was helping Romy (age 4) with level 1, while Ayla (she 9) was challenging herself on level 6.

The library is also home to an awesome little science center with hands-on experiments and regular demonstrations, plus a crafty type room with all sorts of things they can put together using their hands and imaginations. They also have specific activities/lessons there for 5 years and 10 years plus.

You can probably understand how we spent the whole afternoon here… And best of all, it’s completely free?.

Just look up “Johor Public Library Corporation” or “Petrosains Playsmart Johor Bahru” on Google maps.

11. Energ-x trampoline park at sunway big box

EnerG-X indoor trampoline park at Sunway Big Box (Iskandar Puteri) is a fun place for kids and grown-ups to play for the day.

We went on a Monday for the off-peak price, and so we wouldn’t be faced with crowds (one of the many perks of unschooling).

And it’s definitely a place grown-ups can play too. Apart from our kids and their friends, the only others there were grown-ups (well, young people in their 20’s, I’m thinking?).

The off-peak price was 58RM per person, so not overly cheap… So we just decided to do it once during our three-month visit to Johor Bahru.

But once you pay, you get a wristband and can come in and out all day. Sunway Big Box has a couple of restaurants, so you can stop for lunch and then head back in.

Oh, and grip socks are compulsory, which you can get for 6RM each.

The high ropes course has a weight limit of 75kg. Amazingly, they let the 4 year-olds go on that and the zipline. I saw a sign saying 120cm for the zipline, but little Romy, who is just under 100cm went on it. It’s very safe as you’re clipped in, and there’s a safety net directly under. As long as the kid can stand safely on the platform at the end, it’s all good.

You’ll find a bunch of other activities there, including a Spiderman trampoline where you stick yourself to the wall, trampolines with basketball hoops, a mini leap of faith, a foam pit, and an extremely fast slide.

The slide is meant to be for ages 10 plus, but they let our 9-year-old on it (she’s considered 10 in Malaysia anyway?). It’s pretty full-on and fast, and it’s hard not to land upside down at the bottom, so it’s definitely best for big kids.

They also have kids’ go-karts, but they weren’t running while we were there.

So if you’re looking for fun things to do on hot or rainy (and hot?) days, check out EnerG-X at Sunway Big Box.

12. Indoor wall climbing

Indoor wall climbing is a fantastic, family-friendly activity in Johor Bahru. There are a few places you can climb. We went to Rocky Basecamp in Aeon Mall Tebrau City.

The cost was around 57RM for one adult and one kid for two hours, including shoes and a harness. The best thing about Rocky Basecamp is the clip-n-climb style top ropes, so there’s no need to be trained in belaying.

Rocky Basecamp has two floors. Upstairs is more of a kid-type section with brightly-colored and themed walls. There’s also a play area for little kids up there (10RM for two hours), so you can bring the tiny ones along.

Downstairs there are more high walls, plus bouldering. One of the neat features of this facility is the bean bags scattered around for spectators or resting between climbs.

We definitely recommend Rocky Basecamp as a family-friendly climbing facility in JB.

13. Visit the Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman glass temple in central JB

Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman is a beautiful glass temple you can visit in central JB. It has a unique glass interior with mosaics and various sculptures. As it’s a Hindu temple, you’ll see several multi-limbed Hindu Gods, and we did also notice a statue of Jesus there.

The temple is currently under renovation (but still open), and we saw a sculptor and a painter there working on new masterpieces.

The temple is open every day from 7 am-12 pm and 7 pm-10 pm. It’s 10RM for adults (kids and Hindus who come to pray enter for free), and you can take photos and videos as part of your entry fee.

14. Visit the Kota Tinggi firefly park

The Kota Tinggi Firefly Park is a fun evening activity for families near JB. It’s around an hour’s drive from the city, although possibly a fair bit more at peak hour traffic.

You should book your tickets in advance because if the boat is full, you’ll need to wait for the next viewing. You can book via the WhatsApp link on their website.

Tickets are 20RM per adult and 12RM per kid, and you pay when you arrive by cash or card.

You can visit any evening, and the first viewing is at 7:30 pm, the best time of the evening to see fireflies. You’re less likely to see as many at the later viewings.

You could plan to arrive early and have dinner at their on-site seafood restaurant or at the little local eateries on the corner.

Then when it’s dark, it’s time to head out on the boat and look for the pretty lights twinkling in the trees. Everyone is briefed on the rules beforehand – no touching or trying to catch the fireflies, and no camera flash.

We got some fantastic close-up views and saw thousands of them along the river. It kind of felt like Christmas but with natural lighting?.

As a bonus, we saw a huge monitor lizard? on a branch and an owl? at the top of a pole, so that was pretty special. It was also super fun taking the girls on a nighttime adventure, and reminded me we need to get out and watch the stars more often. ✨.

We called a Grab ride from JB and also got one home with no problem.

So if you’re looking for fun things to do in Johor Bahru with kids (at night!), check out the Kota Tinggi Firefly Park.

Other family-friendly places of interest in and around Johor

By now, you’ve probably realized that there are plenty of options in Johor Bahru for kids.

Outside of the city, there are several other family-friendly places of interest within the wider Johor region.

For example, Austin Heights is an adventure waterpark located 20 minutes’ drive from central JB. Splash around and enjoy the waterslides, relax and unwind at the Austin Park Hotel, or check out the ropes course at the adventure park.

Gkids Johor Bahru (Greenland Kids) turns real-life educational experiences into opportunities for discovery and exploration with their edutainment experiences.

Alternatively you could take a JB farm tour at one of the nearby farms. Zenxin Organic Park offers tours, an organic produce market, animal feeding, and an onsite cafe.

Desaru Coast offers plenty of family-friendly activities, just over an hour’s drive from central JB. Plus it has a huge adventure waterpark and offers a complete resort experience.

We took a long weekend break at the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa. It’s very popular with the locals and has lots of fun features for all the family!

You can’t go past Johor Bahru and the greater Johor region for your Malaysia holiday with kids. With the wonderful combination of theme park-style entertainment and nature experiences, the whole family can enjoy an exciting, fun, and rejuvenating time there.

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For other places to visit in Malaysia with kids, check out our posts about Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and the Cameron Highlands.

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