Xing TianIf there’s one thing Singaporeans love, it’s crossing the causeway to JB for good food, cheap shopping, and a change of scenery. The best part? It’s super accessible—just a short trip away, but still enough to feel like a proper getaway.
Also read: Johor Bahru (JB) Day Trip Itinerary That Singaporeans Love
For those of us working full-time or juggling university schedules, weekends are precious. Some friends are busy with classes, others are doing internships or clinicals, and everyone is caught up in their own hectic routines. That’s why a 2D1N JB trip is the perfect way to escape the monotony of the week, relax, and have fun—all without taking leave! My friends and I planned a Friday night to Saturday JB weekend trip, which turned out to be just the right balance of fun and recharge. The one-night stay gave us more time to explore, without feeling rushed. Plus, it left our Sunday free to rest, so we could ease back into the new week feeling refreshed.
If you’re looking for the best way to optimize your JB weekend trip, keep reading for the full itinerary!
Friday night itinerary
7:30 PM – Entering JB
Since my friends were working full-time and doing internships, we could only head in after 6 PM—which meant one thing: we were stuck in the after-work jam.
By the time we reached Woodlands Checkpoint, it was already 7:30 PM, and the queues were insane. We were squeezed in with hundreds of Malaysians heading home after work, and the wait felt endless. It took us a full hour to clear customs before we finally stepped into JB at 8:30 PM.
If you’re entering JB on a Friday night, I would recommend to book the KTM train in advance! It’s a lifesaver, letting you avoid the long queues and reach JB much faster. Alternatively, have dinner in Singapore first and head in after 8:30 PM when the crowds ease up.
9:00 PM – Checking into our accommodation
The first thing we did when we arrived in JB was check in to our Airbnb to drop off our stuff and rest for a short while after the long customs queue.
For a one-night stay, especially with a group of friends, an Airbnb is a great option because it’s affordable, spacious, and well-equipped. Malaysia has plenty of huge, stylish Airbnbs that often come with great facilities like a smart TV, multiple bedrooms, and a kitchen, making it feel like a proper home away from home. Some are even located in condominium buildings, giving guests access to swimming pools and other amenities.
Also read: 15 Best Airbnbs in Johor for Your Next Weekend Getaway
Our Airbnb was especially impressive—a two-story unit packed with fun activities like a foosball table, a dartboard, and video games on the smart TV. It was so cosy and entertaining that we got a little sidetracked, spending quite some time enjoying the facilities and relaxing before finally heading out for supper.
11:00 PM – Supper at Century Street Food Court
No JB trip is complete without cheap and delicious food. For our first meal, we went to Century Street Food Court, just a 10-minute drive from the checkpoint.
If you love lok lok, this is the perfect supper spot. The prices are so much cheaper than in Singapore, so you can go all out without worrying about the cost. We ordered a huge amount of skewers, from grilled meats to fried mushrooms and broccoli. Other than the lok lok stall, Century Street Food Court also has a wide variety of supper food available. We grabbed extra food such as BBQ seafood, soups and drinks to complete our meal.
The whole area was lit up with colorful lights, creating a vibrant street-food atmosphere. The open-air setting made it a great spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy quality time with friends, soaking in the night market vibes that truly made it feel like an overseas getaway.
1:00 AM – Late-Night Karaoke at Disc Laser Karaoke Lounge
Still full of energy (and food), we headed to Disc Laser Karaoke Lounge for a late-night karaoke session. With karaoke being highly popular among Singaporeans as a must-do activity when in JB, we found one that was open till late and grabbed over.
The place was affordable and spacious, and even had a private toilet inside our room—which was pretty convenient. The only downside was that the whole place looked a bit shady, especially at that hour. It isn’t the cleanest place either, so maybe don’t bring kids here.
That said, we screamed our lungs out and sang all the classics—until we got too tired and ended up leaving before our 2-hour session was up.
Saturday itinerary
11:00 AM – Brunch at Principle Cafe, Mount Austin
Since we stayed up late, we missed breakfast. So instead, we headed to Principle Cafe in Mount Austin for brunch. This cafe is popular for its aesthetic minimalist vibes and Asian-Western fusion dishes. We ordered a feast, with dishes such as pastas, pizzas and artisanal coffees.
Everything was super worth it for the price, and it was a great place to chill and take photos.
1:00 PM – Shopping at Babanana Craft Store
One of my friends saw Babanana Craft Store on TikTok, so we decided to check it out. This place is a paradise for people who love cute, quirky items. They sell everything from adorable stationery and stickers to aesthetic home decor and random trinkets. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s super fun to browse.
Open from 11 AM to 10 PM, the store is decorated very aesthetically, with many photo opportunities around. It’s a great place to drop by with friends and enjoy some window shopping.
2:30 PM – Splitting up: nails and thrift shopping
Afterwards, we split up to do different activities for efficiency.
The girls went for a manicure at a local nail salon. Nail services in JB are usually much cheaper than in Singapore, so it’s worth getting simple designs or full gel sets done while you’re there. My friend and I headed to one of Mount Austin’s many nail salons to get our nails done, while the guys went thrift shopping. Thrift shopping is another popular activity among Singaporeans in JB, as JB has a ton of second-hand stores with unique finds at bargain prices.
Also read: Nail Salons in Johor Bahru That Singaporeans Love for Cheap Manicures
5:00 PM – Early dinner
By 5 PM, we were hungry again so we met up to have an early dinner. Since we missed out on breakfast, we decided to enjoy some JB breakfast dishes for dinner instead. We randomly picked a place and ordered classic breakfast dishes like kaya toast and half boiled eggs.
7:00 PM – Shopping at KSL Mall
Image credit: Chongkian | Wikimedia Commons
Before heading back, we made one last stop at KSL City Mall to stock up on essentials. With the favourable exchange rate, shopping in JB is a must for Singaporeans looking to save on everyday items like makeup, skincare, and snacks. Since KSL City Mall is one of the closest malls to the checkpoint, it was the perfect spot for some last-minute shopping.
We grabbed J.CO Donuts and Roti Boy coffee buns to bring home and share with friends, and I made a quick stop at Watsons to stock up on makeup and skincare products, which are way more affordable in JB compared to Singapore!
8:30 PM – Heading Back to Singapore
By 8:30 PM, we were ready to head home. Thankfully, clearing customs was much smoother than on Friday night! We could walk over directly from KSL City Square and cross the checkpoint easily.
Total damage
- AirBnb: 87.55 MYR (S$26.30)
- Supper at Century Street Food Court: 33.72 MYR (S$10.15)
- Karaoke: 13.60 MYR (S$4.10)
- Principle Cafe: 61.94 MYR (S$18.60)
- Nails: 107 MYR (S$32.20)
- Dinner: 22.34 MYR (S$6.72)
- Transport (Grabs in JB): 31.10 MYR (S$9.35)
- Total spent: S$107.42
All the costs reflected here are individual costs per person, where shopping purchases were not included.
Why you should try a 2D1N JB trip
This 2D1N JB itinerary was the perfect balance of fun and relaxation. With one-night accommodation, we got more time to explore without rushing, and we still had Sunday to rest before another week started. Best of all, it’s an affordable way to rest, recharge and enjoy a quick getaway with friends!
Also read: 10 Group Activity Ideas in Johor Bahru (JB) for Your Next Day Trip
If you’re craving a quick, budget-friendly getaway, grab your friends and try a JB weekend trip! Great food, exciting activities, and quality bonding time—all just across the causeway.
