After we landed in Singapore, we had a quick lunch at the airport while waiting for our Transtar Travel bus to Johor Bahru. We booked our tickets online in advance, which made things a lot easier. If you are planning the same trip, I’d say booking ahead is a good idea.
The ticket information was very clear. It showed the departure time and pickup location, so it was easy to follow. There are two pickup points at the Changi airport, Terminal 1 and Terminal 4. We arrived at the pick-up point 15 minutes earlier. We took the 2:15 PM bus from Terminal 1, and the whole journey to Woodlands took less than an hour.
When we got on the bus, I showed the ticket to the driver. He did not scan it. Instead, he printed a receipt and wrote down the total number of people in our group. Keep this receipt safe, because you will need it later.
Navigating Singapore Immigration at Woodlands CIQ
When we arrived at Woodlands CIQ, we got off the bus and brought our luggage with us. We were among the first to board the bus, so our luggage was pushed into the bus’s luggage compartment. My dad had to crawl inside to retrieve our luggage. Once we got our luggage, we followed the signs and headed to immigration.
Singapore immigration was quick and smooth for us because we used the e-gate. The whole process took less than 5 minutes.
One small tip: remove your passport cover before you go through immigration so things move faster.
I also noticed that if we had missed the bus, we could probably have taken the next one. But the bus frequency seemed a little limited, which made everyone move quickly. That honestly made me a little nervous, too.
Since it was our first time, we just followed the crowd and hoped we were going the right way.
How to Re-Board the Bus After Clearing Customs
After immigration, we had to go down to the loading area to get back on the bus. This part was the most confusing for me. People were lining up, but the signs were not very clear.
We accidentally got into the wrong lane at first, so we had to walk back and find the correct one. After a bit of confusion, we finally got on the same bus again. If it is your first time crossing by bus, just stay calm and follow the people around you. That usually helps. When we board the bus again, the driver will ask for the receipt he gave me earlier.
Because photography is strictly prohibited inside CIQ, and trying to juggle luggage while taking photos is a bit clumsy anyway. So I wasn’t able to get a step-by-step picture guide for re-boarding the bus. I apologize for the lack of visuals here!
Clearing Malaysia Immigration & Arriving in JB
Once the bus crossed the bridge, we finally arrived in Johor Bahru. It felt like a big relief after all the border steps.
When entering Malaysia, a Malaysia Arrival Declaration Form is required. We filled this out online 3 days before our trip. We saw a poster with the Hong Kong flag and thought we could use the e-gate, but it did not work after a few tries. So we joined the manual counter instead. In the end, it took us around 40 minutes to get through immigration.
Pro Tip: While standing in that long 40-minute queue, I was so glad I already had my data sorted. I used the same Klook Southeast Asia eSIM from the first leg of my trip. It automatically connected to the Malaysian network the second we crossed the bridge, allowing us to pass the time while waiting in line.
Once we cleared customs, we were officially in Malaysia! The checkpoint connects right into JB Sentral. If you want a seamless trip, I highly recommend booking a hotel within walking distance of this terminal so you don’t have to haul your bags far. We stayed at the Amari Johor Bahru, which was just a short walk away, and made the arrival completely stress-free.
Is the bus worth it?
Overall, the bus experience was okay. The seats were comfortable and spacious, so the ride itself was pleasant enough. The main downside is traffic, especially if you travel during busy hours.
We traveled during non-peak hours, so there was no major traffic jam. Still, I would recommend leaving some extra buffer time in your schedule, just in case. That way, you will not feel rushed if you have plans later in the day.
For us, taking the bus was a convenient way to get from Singapore Changi Airport to Johor Bahru. Two things I didn’t like much were having our luggage pushed to the back of the bus compartment and the confusing re-boarding process after immigration. If you are traveling with heavy bags, elderly family members, or a large group and want to avoid the bus hassle entirely, you might want to look into booking a Private Car Transfer from Changi Airport to JB instead. While it costs more than the bus, it gives you a private ride straight across the border without the stress of chasing down a public bus slot.
On our way back to Singapore, we took the train instead. I will share our experience in another post. Check out our full Singapore and Malaysia itinerary here.
