If you are travelling from Singapore to most cites in West Malaysia, Larkin Sentral is the bus terminal you will need to get to before going further to any other cities beyond Johor. Apart from having intercity coaches to other states beyond Johor, Larkin Sentral also has intercity coaches to Kluang, Muar, Batu Pahat, etc, and numbered domestic buses to Kulai, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, etc, within Johor state.
Travelling in Malaysia, from one state to another, is easy by using the public bus (or coach) network. While domestic bus stations operate within respective states, intercity bus terminals connect one state or city to the others.
Intercity bus/train terminals in major cities are usually named as "Sentral" (or "Central" in English). Larkin Sentral is the intercity bus terminal in Johor whereas JB Sentral is the domestic bus and intercity train terminal in Johor Bahru. There are also Melaka Sentral (housing both domestic and intercity buses) and KL Sentral (all-in-one with buses, trains & metro lines).
Not many Singaporeans know about Larkin Sentral — they usually take tour coaches from Singapore directly to popular destinations in West Malaysia, such as Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang, etc. While it is convenient to book a coach in Singapore to travel to West Malaysia, the fare paid is usually three times more expensive than taking a coach in Johor due to the exchange rate — a RM10 fare in Malaysia may be S$10 or more, excluding Goods & Service Tax (GST), in Singapore.
When going on budget trips or travelling frequently in West Malaysia, knowing how to get to Larkin Sentral to access the bus network is essential in order to save cost and have greater flexibility in terms of schedule and destinations.
PART 1: From Singapore to Larkin Sentral
Before you go, find the best times to cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway without getting caught in both human and traffic congestions at the customs. Spending 2~6 hours queuing / jammed at the border-crossing during a weekend or leisure trip is not sound planning. It can be worse if you have a scheduled train or bus to catch.
Read: Best Times to Cross Singapore-Johor Causeway (during normal weekends)
#1. Take Bus to Woodlands Checkpoint
There are several bus services from Singapore to Johor Bahru via Woodlands Checkpoint. Most buses will terminate at JB CIQ and few will continue to Larkin Sentral after JB CIQ. Choose the service that is best suited to get you to your destination.
#2. Clearing Singapore Immigration
All cross-border services will stop at Woodlands Checkpoint, alight and proceed to clear Singapore Immigration. Those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X / SMRT 950 must tap your EZ-Link card when alighting to "suspend" the journey or you will be charged a new fare when reboarding.
During peak hours or on weekends, allow 30 minutes to 1 hour to clear immigration. It takes less than 5 minutes during non-peak hours.
#3. Crossing the Causeway
After clearing Singapore Immigration, proceed to the ground level to re-board the buses. Those taking SJE should board SJE only. Those taking CW1 / CW2 / CW5 can board any CW buses, including CWL, that come along.
Those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X / SMRT 950 can queue in any of the 3 lanes and board any SBS Transit / SMRT buses that come along. Tap your EZ-Link card again to "resume" the journey.
No extra charges will be incurred at this point — except if you decide to change to other bus service (need to buy new ticket in Singapore dollars).
After boarding the bus, it will cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway. Buses and other heavy vehicles use a dedicated lane to JB CIQ. On Sundays or public holidays, there will be much lesser heavy vehicles, making buses the fastest mode of transportation on the Causeway.
#4. Clearing Malaysia Immigration
On reaching JB CIQ, alight from the bus once more and proceed to clear Malaysia Immigration. Those taking SBS Transit / SMRT buses should tap the EZ-Link cards again to end the journey (even though "suspended" will be shown).
Note: Johor Bahru immigration is a border-crossing with NO visa-on-arrival, so make sure you have free or valid visa before going there. Passports must have at least 6 months of validity period. Work permit holders must bring along your work permits as required by Malaysia Immigration. Singapore Immigration officers will also ask to see it to ensure work permit holders meet the requirements by Malaysia Immigration to avoid unnecessary hassles after crossing the road-bridge.
During peak hours or on weekends, expect 1~2 hours to clear immigration. It takes less than 10 minutes during non-peak hours. For Singapore passport holders, use the auto-gates for auto-clearance — no need to submit MDAC form for land crossings and no longer need to enrol to use auto-gates too.
#5. Take Bus to Larkin Sentral
After clearing Malaysia customs, head to the bus platform ("Platform Bas") at the ground level of JB CIQ for buses to Larkin Sentral.
If going to JB Sentral, turn left instead and follow this guide:
Those taking Singapore-Johor Express (SJE) should re-board a SJE service at no extra cost. Those taking Causeway Link CW1 / CW2 / CW5 should transfer to Causeway Link CWL that goes to Larkin Sentral with the ticket stubs. Those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X / SMRT 950 can take SBS Transit 170 to Larkin Sentral (distance-charging applies for EZ-Link card holders).
If any of the services (SBS Transit 170 / Causeway Link CWL / SJE) is taking a long time to arrive, switch to other bus services that are heading to Larkin Sentral. A new fare is required:
SBS Transit 170 will cost RM2.30 and is non-stop to Larkin Sentral. Using EZ-Link card to continue journey is easier if you use SBS Transit / SMRT services before JB CIQ.
Causeway Link CWL will cost RM2.60 for a new trip to Larkin Sentral.
#6. Get Ticket to Other Destinations
At Larkin Sentral, if you are going to other districts nearer to Johor Bahru, such as Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi or Masai, head over to Platform A and buy tickets on the buses — domestic or "stage" buses have service numbers in front of them.
If you are going to destinations in other states or in northern Johor, walk into the bus terminal to find the Centralised Ticketing System (CTS). Get the correct ticket before boarding the long-distance coach at the Express Bus Departure Hall.
You can buy ticket at the manned ticketing counters (01~08) or if using cash. Expect long queues during peak period.
There are automated e-ticketing kiosks as well and it takes just a few easy steps (less than 5 minutes) to purchase a ticket using cashless methods only — queue at the manned counters if using cash. There will be a RM1 on top of bus fare for “facility charge” (boarding pass) per ticket.
The easier way will be to buy ticket online. Buy tickets via 3rd-party apps, such as BusOnlineTicket or Easybook, and collect the tickets with boarding passes at the manned "Boarding Pass" counters (09~14). Note that RM1 is payable for "facility charge" and another RM1 as "handling fee" per ticket.
To skip the queue, buy ticket via LarkinSentral.my. There is no need to queue for boarding pass as it will be issued with the e-tickets. However, RM1 is still payable for "facility charge" and another RM1 as "online charge" per ticket.
After getting the ticket, proceed to the Express Bus Departure Hall — now relocated to opposite Faaz Mart. Use the QR code on the ticket to enter the hall within 30 minutes before boarding time. Board the bus when the trip number or destination is called.
Enjoy your journey!
PART 2: From Larkin Sentral to Singapore
The return process from Larkin Sentral to Singapore is merely the reverse of getting to Larkin Sentral from Singapore but with slight differences.
#1. Go to Gate 1 & 2
Regardless of the types of bus you are taking, you will be dropped off at Platform A on returning to Larkin Sentral. Walk into the bus terminal to find the Singapore Departure Hall at Gate 1 & 2.
At the entrance of Singapore Departure Hall, a "boarding pass" of RM1 is required on entry — it is a facility charge that is applied to all bus services departing from Larkin Sentral, except domestic buses. Bus fares to be paid onboard the Singapore-bound buses separately.
Effective from 1 August 2024, payment for the RM1 facility charge is cashless, only Touch n' Go and credit / debit cards will be accepted.
#2. Take Bus Bounded for Singapore
You will have three choices for cross-border bus services to Singapore:
SBS Transit 170: Board at bus bay B02. If you want to save money, pay in cash in Malaysia ringgits and use the ticket stub to re-board the bus service at the checkpoints — the cash fare is RM3 to Queen Street Bus Terminal or RM2.70 to Kranji MRT Station. Otherwise, use EZ-Link card (in Singapore currency only) for convenience and to make use of distance-charging if changing to other public transports in Singapore. From JB CIQ to Woodlands Checkpoint, take any SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X or SMRT 950 (in another berth) to cross the Causeway. At Woodlands Checkpoint, board respective bus services to desired destinations.
Causeway Link CWL: Board at bus bay B01. The fare to Queen Street Bus Terminal is RM4.80 and change to CW2 at Woodlands Checkpoint. The fare to JB CIQ / Kranji Station is RM2.60 and change to CW1 at Woodlands Checkpoint. The fare to Newton Circus is RM4.60 and change to CW5 at Woodlands Checkpoint. From JB CIQ to Woodlands Checkpoint, take any CW buses to cross the Causeway.
Singapore-Johore Express (SJE): Board at bus bay B03. The fare is RM4.80 to Queen Street Bus Terminal in Singapore and is non-transferable with other services.
If SBS Transit 170 is unavailable, an alternative way will be to take CWL bound for JB CIQ or vice versa. After clearing Malaysia Immigration, you will have more choices of bus services (except SJE) to get to Singapore but new ticket will be required.
Note: If you know you will get caught up in traffic jam on the Causeway during peak hours (normally after 3pm to 7pm), you can opt to board a domestic bus to some places in Johor Bahru, like JB City Square near to JB Sentral (use myBAS T10 / T13), to have dinner and walk around. Once the peak hours are over, say 8pm, get to JB CIQ and continue the journey to Singapore. Main considerations will be the time you can spare and towing your luggage around.
#3. The Final Lap
Regardless of whichever bus services you are taking to Singapore, once you reached JB CIQ, you will need to alight to clear Malaysia Immigration, re-board the service — not necessary the same bus — after clearance and cross the Causeway and alight again to clear Singapore Immigration.
For those taking direct coaches from Malaysia to Singapore (not the cross-border services from Larkin Sentral), you will need to memorise the coach's registration plate number and get back on the same coach. If you do not intend to go all the way to Queen Street, change to any public buses after Singapore Immigration.
For those taking SBS Transit 170, you will be able to drop at any bus stops along its service route in Singapore from Woodlands Checkpoint to Queen Street. Most people will drop at Kranji MRT Station and switch to the faster MRT trains.
Causeway Link CW2 and SJE will head straight to Queen Street non-stop after the last pick-up at Woodlands Checkpoint.
And "Welcome home!"
Reduce time spend at the checkpoints:
Good effort in writing this, although I tried to follow the instructions to get back from JB to SG and wasn't successful. Larkin is a mess and you have to ask people where to get the SG buses from. It was also not clear that you get the CL buses (and the other SG buses) AFTER clearing Malaysian immigration procedures. So you have to walk along quite a few corridors at Larkin, get processed, and then get the bus. I think you need to say this.