Johor Bahru One-Day Itinerary, Millennial Edition: KTM, Dim Sum, Lok Lok, Massage

Morning: the train, then dim sum

The KTM Shuttle Tebrau runs Woodlands Train Checkpoint to JB Sentral in about five minutes, with both immigrations cleared in Woodlands before you board. Tickets sell out weeks ahead on ktmb.com.my, so book at least a month out, especially weekends. It is the only way into JB where nobody stands.

Brunch is Ta Si Xi, the Hong Kong style dim sum chain. The original is at 11 Jalan Camar 1/3, Taman Perling, open from 7am, with branches at Eco Botanic and Sutera Mall. Order the har gow, the char siew bao and the cheong fun, and expect a wait after 10am on weekends. Our solo JB itinerary does the walkable city centre version if you would rather skip Grab.

Afternoon and evening: shopping, lok lok, massage

Pick one mall. Mid Valley Southkey is the big one, aircon and every chain, and our family itinerary spends a whole day there. Eco Palladium is smaller with indie local labels and better for a browse than a haul.

Dinner is Da Cheng Lok Lok, KSL branch, 284 Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Abad, open 6.30pm to 2am. Sticks are cheap, the sauces are the reason, and honestly any lok lok truck will do. Then a massage: there are a dozen reflexology places within a block of KSL and an hour of foot work before the train is the actual point of the millennial edition.

Bonus: Rotiboy at JB Sentral

The Rotiboy at JB Sentral was back and newly renovated when we passed through in late April 2026, and the queue was longer than before. Buy a box of the coffee buns for the train; they are the correct JB souvenir and they are still warm at Woodlands.