Amazing Things to Do and Places to Go in Bintulu

August 13, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 10948 Views

Bintulu is located in the central region of Sarawak state. The capital town of the district of the same name faces the South China Sea towards the north west side. Bintulu is not known as a traditional tourist attraction of the Borneo island. It is more of an industrial district. Though there are several interesting places in Bintulu which can’t be found anywhere else on the Borneo. This is the place where people earn to spend elsewhere. But, for people living elsewhere there are places to visit in Bintulu during day trips or as weekend getaways.

More than tourist attractions, Bintulu is famous for the International Borneo Kite Festival. This festival attracts numerous kite enthusiasts and artists from around to world to present their aerial creations. Another major festival to enjoy on Bintulu travel is the Bintulu Regatta. This festival is basically a a celebration of boats. The main attractions of the event are the boat races. You get to see traditional boat races, motorboat races, and speed boat races. The festival also features traditional dances and music. You can also get incredible local cuisine at the venue of the festivals.

The Tanjung Batu beach is among the top places to visit in Bintulu. During low tide, the sea parts making a pathway to the island. The ocean again takes over the path during high tide. Even without the biblical phenomenon the beaches are major Bintulu attractions. Another unique experience among things to do in Bintulu is spend a night living in a floating house. You will have to get to the Bakun Reservoir on Bintulu travel for this experience. The evening at the reservoir is a beautiful sight among things to see in Bintulu. If you are looking for boat rides and fishing experience you will have to visit the fishing village of Jepak.

The most popular places of interest in Bintulu are in the Similajau National Park. The natural landscape has several great hiking trails and treks to follow and explore nature when you visit Bintulu. You can start with a 10km trek in the rain forest. The National Park is also the best place to visit in Bintulu for cave exploration treks. The caves in the forest have a rich 40,000 years of history preserved in stone. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Bintulu because of the numerous exploratory possibilities in just one forest. Besides hiking and trekking, there are several great cycling routes as well near the National Park.

If you are looking for a cultural experience, then head straight to Uma Belor Leo Dian Longhouses. These longhouses are a traditional living spaces of the indigenous people. You can also get many handicraft items at these Longhouses and even great traditional dishes. You can also get the same handicraft items and local produce at the local markets in the capital town.

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Table of Contents

The Top 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Bintulu

1. Tanjung Batu Beach (Pantai Tanjung Batu Bintulu)

Coastal activities are among top things to do in Bintulu and this is the most well known beach around the town. This white sand beach emerges from the garden and also has a few vendors selling street food and beach items nearby. You can easily spend a couple of hours relaxing at this beach.

2. Taman Tumbina Zoo

This park is both a botanical garden and a zoo. It is among the most popular places to visit in Bintulu for families. There are several species of plants and animals in this park. You would need 2 to 3 hours to explore this park.

3. Similajau National Park

This national park is a very well known among Bintulu attractions. The hike trail in the national park takes you to the famous turtle beaches from where you can spot turtles, dolphins and crocodiles. It is also one of the beautiful places to go in Bintulu and you would need at least half a day to explore Similajau National Park.

4. Jepak Village (Kampung Jepak)

This Melanau fishing village is famous for wonderful handcrafted local items like Sago, Terendak, Cencaluk and Belacan. It is also among best Bintulu tourist attractions to purchase these items. You would need about 2 hours for this village.

5. Pasar Tamu & Pasar Utama

These 2 shopping centers are situated quite close to one another. You will find almost everything you want to buy at either of these centers.They are among most interesting places in Bintulu to shop for souvenirs. It will take you about an hour to explore each of these Pasars.

6. Monument Council of State (Negeri Memorial)

This monument was built to commemorate the first state legislative assembly meeting in 1867. It is among the most beautiful things to see in Bintulu. You would need 20 to 30 minutes for this monument.

7. Tua Pek Kong Temple

One of the most important cultural stops during Bintulu sightseeing is the Tua Pek Kong Temple. It is well known for its elaborate architecture and decor. You will need about an hour to explore this temple during Bintulu travel.

8. Assyakirin Mosque (Masjid Assyakirin)

Another famous Bintulu tourist spot is the Assyakirin Mosque. It is an elaborate architectural structure which is quite modern in appearance. The complex also contains gardens and cascading waterfalls. You will need an hour to explore it.

9. Boat Cruise

There are two cruises which you can take to explore Bintulu places of interest. One cruise takes you along the coast and another takes you to explore the river. There are also cruises of varying durations to choose from, some of which also have lunch and dinner packages. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this experience when you visit Bintulu.

10. Bintulu Promenade Waterfront

The promenade stretches along the coast adjacent to the town. It is the longest waterfront in Sarawak and has several facilities for leisure. This is the best place to visit in Bintulu to go for a stroll as you get amazing view of the ocean. You can take a couple of hours to explore it.

If you are looking for more things to do or places to visit in Bintulu, check out the section below.

Things to do in Bintulu

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Bintulu

Tua Pek Kong Temple
Monument Council of State
Masjid Assyakirin
Kuan Yin Tong Temple

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Bintulu

Similajau National Park
Bukit TIban National Park
Bukit Tiban Mountain Peak
Bukit Kana Mountain Peak
Bakun Reservoir

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places to visit in Bintulu

Taman Tumbina Zoo
Bintulu Golf Course
Uma Belor Leo Dian Longhouse

Shopping in Bintulu

Pasar Tamu Market
Pasar Utma Market
Pasar Malam Market
Parkcity Mall
City Point Mall
Farley Supermarket
Sing Kwong Supermarket

Beaches in Bintulu

Pantai Tanjung Batu
Pantai Batu Mandi

Offbeat Places, Tours & Adventurous Things to do in Bintulu

Water Sports
Hiking
Camping
Trekking
Japan Fishing Trip
Belanum Bay Floating House
Cycling Trip

Sightseeing in Bintulu

Kampung Jepak Village
Bintulu Promenade
Bakun Jetty

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Bintulu

Seribu Bitang Restaurant
Chiems Restoran Nelayan
Famous Mama
Nasi Lemak Kldurong
Refah Corner
Azah Pon Cafe
Selera Utara
Restoran Sri Bayu
Peace Garden
Apple Restaurant
Abida Cafe
Restoran Marco Polo
Makan United Cafe
Restoran Chic Wan
Ban Kee Cafe
Bao Bao Restoran
Taipei Restaurant
Casablanca pub
Kital Pub
Paddy’s Coffee House

Where to Stay in Bintulu?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Bintulu. All are budget and mid-range Hotels in Bintulu.

How to Reach Bintulu?

By Air

The capital of Bintulu district has its own airport. But, its only domestic. You can get flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, and Belaga. Malaysian Airlines, AirAsia, and MASWings are the only three airlines serving these routes. The airport is located about 25 kms away from the district capital of Bintulu. You will get public and private transport options directly from the airpot to visit Bintulu city. You can carry on for places to visit in Bintulu from the city itself.

By Road

Bintulu can also be accessed by buses traveling between various cities and towns on the Borneo island. To reach any of the Bintulu tourist attractions you will first need to get to the capital city of the district. You then get a connecting bus to other places to visit in Bintulu. You can also get a bus from Brunei to visit Bintulu attractions.

If you are traveling by car you have to take route AH150. This coastal highway runs by Bintulu from east to west. Just to give context, the ocean is towards north west of the district. The highway runs from Sabah all the way to Sarawak. You can enjoy many things to do in Bintulu along the way. The road also passes through Brunei. There are a few interesting places in Bintulu on this route, if you are coming in from Miri. A few places to go in Bintulu are used as transit stop for people touring between Kuching and Kota Kinabalu by road.

By Water

You can get boat rides to travel within Bintulu, but there are no ferry, cruise, or boat services connecting Bintulu to other districts or cities in Malaysia or otherwise. You can get boat rides to visit Bintulu tourist spot in towns of Sebuah, Tubau, and Lebang.

Image Reference

Tanjung Batu Beach (Pantai Tanjung Batu Bintulu) – Mohd Yusrizal / Flickr
Taman Tumbina Zoo – Boon Hock Ho / Flickr
Similajau National Park – Paul White / Flickr
Jepak Village (Kampung Jepak) –
Pasar Tamu & Pasar Utama – Cerevisae / Wikimedia Commons
Monument Council of State (Negeri Memorial) – Cerevisae / Wikimedia Commons
Tua Pek Kong Temple – Cerevisae / Wikimedia Commons
Assyakirin Mosque (Masjid Assyakirin) – Cerevisae / Wikimedia Commons
Boat Cruise – Bernard DUPONT / Flickr
Bintulu Promenade –