Top Things to Do and Tourist Attractions to Visit in Muar

July 21, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 3766 Views

The Muar district and its capital town of the same name are located on the north-western end of Johor state touching border with Malacca state and facing the Malacca Strait. That’s a good rhyme and a good enough reason to visit Muar. The capital town and the district derived their name from the Malay word Muara, which means the opening of the Mouth. The town is located at the opening of Muar River and hence the name.

As the town is so close to Malacca, tourists often club places to visit in Muar with a tour of Malacca. Muar is also a popular tourist attraction in Malaysia for people from Indonesia owing to the direct ferry service across Malacca Strait. But that boat ride is not the only one you can enjoy among things to do in Muar. You can also enjoy a ferry ride along the Muar river starting from the district’s capital town.

Its proximity of Malacca has put a great influence of the Malaccan Sultanate on Muar. There are several Muar attractions which are courtesy of the Sultanate period. The Sultan Ibrahim Mosque is among major Muar attractions left behind by the Malaccan Sultanate. There is also the Kubu Bentayan fort is also among Muar tourist attractions associated with the Sultanate. It is among lesser-known Muar place of interest. The history says that this fort is where soldiers of the sultanate fell to the Portuguese invasion. The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah is also among interesting places in Muar reflecting the influence of the Malaccan royalty on the region.

The capital town is also known as Bandar Maharani, which means Port of the Queen or the Queen’s Port. Both the words in the name are derived from the Indian language of Sanskrit. The name and the several Indian temples located in the district shows the influence of Indian culture on the region. The influence comes from the southern region of India, the land of Tamil, to be specific. The Indian temples built for various deities also reflect the architecture of southern India. Another major influence on the region was China. This again is reflected in several Chinese temples among Muar tourist attractions.

If not for Muar sightseeing, you can also travel to this wonderful town for eating and hiking. There are plenty of places to visit in Muar for both of these. Many of the locals visit Muar to hike Gunung Ledang, commonly known as Mount Ophir. There is also a legend of a fairy princess associated with the mountain. It is among the top interesting places in Muar for hiking, picnic and nature exploration. In the days of winter, the mountain is also a great place to visit in Muar for sightseeing of migratory birds.

When it comes to food, the town is famous for its coffee, handmade bakery items, pastries, seafood, noodle dishes and a local variety of curries. One of the biggest Muar tourist attractions is the Kuih Jepun also known as dorayaki. This small cake is associated with the popular cartoon character Doraemon. Being a coastal town, Muar is well-known for an incredible variety of fresh seafood dishes. If you are looking for a great place to have coffee then Sai Kee Kopi 434 is the Muar place of interest for you. This wonderful cafe is famous for its Elephant Coffee. You can also buy beans or powered coffee form this place to take home with you as a souvenir of your visit to Muar.

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Table of Contents

Explore The Top 8 Tourist Places in Muar

1. Murals

The murals of this city are as wonderful as the street art of Penang. They are some of the biggest Muar attractions. You would need about 2 hours to embark on a treasure hunt to see these famous murals.

2. Gunung Ledang National Park (Taman Negara Gunung Ledang)

This National Park surrounds Mount Ophir. It is the prime location for outdoor things to do in Muar. You will get amazing hiking trails and a beautiful view from atop the mountain. You will need an entire day to explore the wilderness in this National Park.

3. Glutton Street (Food Street Jalan Haji Abu)

This street is among the best places to visit in Muar for street food. Some of the most popular dishes found on this street include Oyester Omelet, Chicken Satay, Pork Satay and Herbal Tea. The street is also well known for unique sea food preparations. You would need about an hour or so to explore this place.

4. Muar Clock Tower

This clock tower is one of the finest examples of British architecture among Muar tourist attractions. Though not very tall, you can still get a good view of the city from atop this tower. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this clock tower.

5. Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque

The biggest highlight of Muar sightseeing. This beautiful blue mosque is known for its mesmerizing architecture and design. You will need about an hour to admire this mosque when you visit Muar.

6. Muar Nan Hai Fei Lai Temple

This temple is dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The Chinese temple was built in 1913. It is quite intricately design and is one of the most interesting places in Muar. You will need about an hour to explore this temple.

7. Sungai Gersik Hot Spring

This natural sulphuric hot spring is one of the finest Muar tourist spot. It is said to have healing properties. You can enjoy a bath and a swim in the pleasing water. You can easily spend an hour at this place.

8. Pantai Leka

This beach is mingled with a mangrove forest. It is difficult to explore this area on foot, so you should get a boat ride to venture into the wild. This place is most popular among birdwatching. You will need about 2 hours for this place.

If you are looking for more interesting places in Muar, check out the section below.

Things to do in Muar

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Muar

Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
Balai Polls Bukit Kepong Police Station Museum
Kubu Bentayan
Nan Hei Fai Temple
Clock Tower
Makam Panglima Lidah Hitam
Dataran Tanjung Emas
Kota Biawak Busuk Historical Site
Nam Thien Temple
Ching San Miao Temple
Makam Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah
Demand Abdul Ghani Gallery
Portugese Well
Kerg Tang Kou Bloh Temple / Tau Lau Yah Keng Temple
San Chai Temple
Sian Kong San Temple
Nagamalai Koil Alaiyam Temple
Nattukotai Chettiar’s Sri Murugan Temple
Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple
Sri Maha Kaliamman Alaiyam Temple
Rumah Adat Bugis

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Muar

Mount Ophir / Gunung Ledang

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Muar

Donhu Jurassic Garden (Dinosaur Park Muar)
Gersik Hot Springs
Nasuha Spices & Herbs Farm
Dusun Damal Resort
Tanjung Emas Golf Club

Shopping in Muar

Legenda Mall
Astaka Shopping Center
Nafas Mall
OPPO Concept Store
Wetex Parade Mall
Hock Hai Plaza Fresco
O’Lana Mall

Beaches in Muar

Pantai Leka

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Muar

Muar River Boat Ride
Snorkeling
Speed Boats

Sightseeing in Muar

Muar Great Mural
Muar Cultural Walk
Jambatan Sultan Islamic Gate
Tanjung Emas Park
Taman Tanjung Ketapang Park
Laman Maharani Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Muar

Muar Soup House
Avenue 4
Mee Bandung
Kedai Makan New Eastern
Sai Kee Kopi 434
Pak Yahya Asam Pedas
Faris Kitchen
Kuih Jepun Shop

Where to Stay in Muar?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Muar. In Muar there are mostly budget and mid-range Hotels.

How to Reach Muar?

By Air

The closest airport for Muar travel is the Batu Berendam Airport in Malacca. You will then have to travel by road to visit Muar. The airport in Johor Bahru is located way far south. You can also club places to visit in Muar with a tour of Malacca. They are not too far from one another. But this would involve road travel. If you are using public transport it would also involve using changing transport means to enjoy Muar sightseeing.

By Road

You can also take a train to visit Muar attractions, but even that won’t take you directly to the district. The district is not connected by train. The nearest train station for Muar travel is located in Segamat, Johor. The second closest being the Labis train station. If you are travelling from the north, you can get to Batang Maleka train station and carry on your journey from there onwards for things to do in Muar. Once you reach any of these stations, you have two options to go for Muar sightseeing: take a bus or get a car.

The bus network works perfectly fine for Muar travel. You can visit Muar from numerous cities and towns in Malaysia via bus. You can get a direct bus to visit Muar tourist attractions from Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Klang, Johor Bahru, Malacca, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Ipoh, Penang, Terengganu, Kota Bahru, and many more. You can also get a direct bus to visit interesting places in Muar from Singapore and Hat Yai in Thailand.

If you are travelling to Muar by car, take Route 5,19 or 23 from the north. If you are driving for Muar place of interest from the southern side you can take Route 5 or 24. If you coming from the easter side for places to visit in Muar, you can take Route J32.

By Water

You can take a ferry ride for Muar travel from Indonesia. Ferry boats can take you to and from Muar to Bengkalis and Dumai in Indonesia. The boats run three days a week to visit Muar: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It is a popular choice among locals as well as tourists in Indonesia to enjoy Muar sightseeing.

Image Reference

Murals – CLF / Flickr
Gunung Ledang National Park (Taman Negara Gunung Ledang) – Tourism Malaysia
Glutton Street (Food Street Jalan Haji Abu) –
Muar Clock Tower – Chongkian / Wikimedia Commons
Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque – Graystravels / Wikimedia Commons
Muar Nan Hai Fei Lai Temple – Chongkian / Wikimedia Commons
Sungai Gersik Hot Spring –
Pantai Leka –