Amazing Things to Do for Tourists in Kota Kinabalu

July 19, 2020 Mustafa Natalwala 4269 Views

Kota Kinabalu is one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia. This beautiful coastal capital of Sabah state attracts all kinds of tourists for Kota Kinabalu travel each year. Even the locals love to visit Kota Kinabalu for a great holiday. Just as Kuala Lumpur is nicknamed KL, Sabah’s capital city is often called KK. There are 3 major tourist attractions to visit on Kota Kinabalu travel. First is the coast, second are the islands and third is the dominating Mount Kota Kinabalu. Each of these Kota Kinabalu has its own charm. There are also several other places to visit in Kota Kinabalu city as well. You can go on island hopping as a part of Kota Kinabalu tour. You can even rent one of the smaller islands to be exclusive to you for a day or so. It will still coast you a lot to have one of the Kota Kinabalu tourist spot all by yourself. But it is cheaper than buying an island. Many people choose to conduct their wedding on an island, as it is the most interesting place in Kota Kinabalu to have a wedding. It would be truly special to be married on a private island. Well, private for a day only, but still. As for those not getting hitched nor interesting is riding a boat to the island, the best Kota Kinabalu tourist spot is arguably its coast. A variety of beaches and beach activities along with thrilling water sports are among things to do in Kota Kinabalu. The coastal region itself is adequate to thoroughly enjoy a Kota Kinabalu holiday.

There are a few places to go in Kota Kinabalu to engage with the region’s history and culture. The Sabah State Museum is the primary museum people visit on KK trip. A bonus for the Kota Kinabalu backpackers are the various cultural tourist attraction in the vicinity of the museum. Though there are not many traditionally historical tourist attractions in Kota Kinabalu, it has abundant cultural attractions. If you are an admirer of arts, sculptures and paintings you should head to the Sabah Art Gallery among places to visit in KK. You can further engage with the customs and traditions of the region during Kota Kinabalu sightseeing at one of cultural villages in the city. For someone interested in cultural artefact, tribal lifestyles, traditional performances and attires, the cultural villages are the best place to visit in Kota Kinabalu to immerse yourself in the region’s traditions. In terms of religious places of worship and religious monuments among places to go in Kota Kinabalu, you will find a great variety. This city has been a soup of various cultures and empires over the years. There are churches, mosques, and temples you can explore during Kota Kinabalu travel. Among temples as well there are Hindu temples and Chinese temples with vastly different architectures to see when you visit Kota Kinabalu.

Once you are done with the places to visit in Kota Kinabalu, you can head towards nature for some outdoor activities, adventures, and nature exploration. A few vendors in the city would help you arrange a Kota Kinabalu tour of nature. The best place to visit in Kota Kinabalu for some nature time is Mount Kinabalu. It is the preferred option of many hikers, cyclists, campers and so on. It is a wild, open and exciting Kota Kinabalu tourist spot. But at the same time, Mount Kinabalu is bristle with aid, facilities, and services to make it a convenient as well as interesting place to visit in Kota Kinabalu. Other places to go in Kota Kinabalu for adventure are the nearby forests located around the city. All the items listed below with the suffix Bukit are forests you can explore during a KK trip. Kota Kinabalu backpackers who prefer unexplored or less explored terrains would have to venture a little further away into the wilderness of Sabah. The places to visit in kk and near it would be busy with tourists. But because the region is so vast and varied, you are not likely to be run into other tourists during Kota Kinabalu sightseeing in the nearby forests either. Eco tourism is a popular choice for Kota Kinabalu holiday among couples as well as groups of friends. There are a few activities which can strengthen the bond between people like passing through wilderness. For that the mountains and the forests are the best place to visit in Kota Kinabalu.

Other popular places to go in KK are, as mentioned before, the beaches and the islands. Both of these places are popular spots on Kota Kinabalu tour for the same reason. People love to be around the ocean. The view is incredible. For many people, beaches and islands are the sole reason to visit Kota Kinabalu. You will be surprised at the sheer number and variety of beaches among Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions. Plus if you choose an island among places to visit in Kota Kinabalu, you get tot enjoy boat rides, beaches, and island fun all neatly tied in one package.

The beaches and islands are also popular places to go in KK for water sports and adventure activities. You can dive near the coast for snorkeling or enjoy sightseeing of the coral reefs near Kota Kinabalu. You can go deep diving in the ocean as well. There are also submarine tours to enjoy in Kota Kinabalu. Activities on the surface to enjoy during Kota Kinabalu tour include rafting, white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and so on. There are even a great variety of boat rides you can enjoy on a Kota Kinabalu holiday like speed boats, jet ski, traditional boat, river boats, sail boats and cruise boats. The prices for most of these things to do in Kota Kinabalu is quite reasonable. The backpackers in Kota Kinabalu on a tight budget would also get to enjoy the ocean side thoroughly.

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Table of Contents

Top 18 Tourist Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu

1. Beaches

Being a coastal city, Kota Kinabalu is blessed with pristine beaches. Some of the most popular beaches in Kota Kinabalu include Tanjung Aru Beach, Gaya Island Beach, Abdul Rahman Park beaches, Manukan island beach and so on. It is also blessed by several large and small islands close to the coast. So you have plenty of beaches of all kinds and with a variety of activities and leisure facilities to explore during Kota Kinabalu travel.

I suggest you should try Island Hopping to visit multiple beaches with Free Snorkel equipements.

2. Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu)

This mountain is part of the Crocker Mountain Range and is one of the sacred mountains of Malaysia. The mountain is visited for fun outdoor things to do in Kota Kinabalu. It has amazing treks and hiking trails to follow. You will also come across view-points from where you can look upon the ocean or the Sabah region. You would need at least a day’s time for trekking and a couple of days to explore the mountain satisfactorily.

You should book your 2 days climbing tour of Mount Kinabalu in advance.

3. Klias Wildlife River Cruise

The river cruise takes you on a journey through the Sabah region. You get to cover villages and forests. It is especially popular for birdwatching. You will need about an hour for this experience when you visit Kota Kinabalu.

I suggest you should book your Klias River Cruise and Fireflies Tour in advance.

4. Mari Mari Cultural Village

This village recreates the lives and cultural traditions of different tribes of the Sabah region. It is one of the most interesting places in Kota Kinabalu. You will need an hour or two to experience this place.

I suggest you can book your Mari Mari Cultural Village Tour in advance.

5. Gaya Street Sunday Market

This street market is a 100 year old tradition on the island of Gaya. You will come across a variety of products being sold at this market including handicraft items, street foods, local produce, textile, antiques and more. It is one of the most fascinating Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions. You can easily spend a couple of hours strolling this market.

6. Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Taman Negara Tunku Abdul Rahman)

This marine park consists of 5 islands and the ocean space between them. You will come across an excellent variety of marine biodiversity in terms of flora, fauna and underwater environment. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kota Kinabalu. You would need about 2 to 3 hours to explore this park.

You can enjoy the snorkeling and explore the marine life at Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

7. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

This park has several animals in wildlife recreation enclosures including elephants, tigers, deers, monkeys and reptiles. It is a popular Kota Kinabalu tourist spot for families. You will need an hour for this wildlife park.

You can book your tour of Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in advance.

8. Handicraft Market

This market is a colorful and vibrant place to purchase interesting items like textile, local craft, jewelry, pearls, carvings and more. It is one of the best places to go in Kota Kinabalu to find souvenirs. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this market.

9. Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu)

This mosque is one of the most beautiful places to visit in KK. The mosque sits beside a lagoon and its reflection in the water makes it appear to be floating. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to explore this mosque.

10. North Borneo Railway Ride

This train takes you on an magical journey as you get to explore different landscapes of the region. It is a fun experience for backpackers in Kota Kinabalu as you get to see a lot in one ride. This train tour will take about 2 hours.

11. Sabah State Mosque (Masjid Negeri Sabah)

This magnificent mosque is modeled after major mosques of Mecca and Medina. It is a major highlight during Kota Kinabalu sightseeing. You would need about 30 to 45 minutes to explore this mosque.

12. Sabah State Museum (Muzium Sabah)

This museum focuses on the history of politics, empires, culture, wars, religions and traditions of the Sabah region. It is the best place to visit in Kota Kinabalu to learn about its history. You will need about an hour for this museum.

You can visit Kokol Hill along with your visit of Sabah State Museum.

13. Adventure Sports

Sabah region is blessed with a variety of terrains including ocean, mountains, rivers and coast. You can enjoy sports like paragliding, river rafting, hiking, trekking, off-roading, kayaking, surfing, jet skiing, cycling and so on during KK trip.

As per your interest you can book below mentioned adventure sports in advance.

14. Monsopiad Heritage Village

This place gives you a glimpse of a traditional Kadazan village and the lifestyle of the people. It is one of the most culturally interesting places tog go in KK. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this heritage village.

I suggest you should book your Monsopiad Culture Village Tour in advance.

15. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Kota Kinabalu has some of the most mesmerizing diving spots in the world. Owing its coast, islands and coral reef; scuba diving and snorkeling are some of the most fun things to do in Kota Kinabalu. You will need at least 2 hours for this experience.

I suggest you must try and experience the scuba diving.

16. Sabah Tea Garden

This tea plantation is renowned for its taste. You can watch the preparation of a several local varieties of tea. This experience can be an interesting addition to Kota Kinabalu tour. You will need an hour for this tea plantation.

17. Poring Hot Springs

These natural hot springs were built during Japanese occupation of Sabah. These pools are believed to have medicinal properties and are great for relaxation and leisure during Kota Kinabalu travel. You can easily spend a couple of hours here.

You can book your visit of Poring Hot Springs in advance. Along with your this trip you can also visit Kinabalu Park and go for Canopy Walk.

18. Island Tour

One of the best aspects of Kota Kinabalu holiday is exploring the islands and the ocean. The city has several large and small islands offering a variety of different experiences. The most popular islands to explore are Dinawan, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi, Gaya, Sepanggar, Mengalum and Mantanani. You would need at least a day’s time for this experience.

If you are looking for more Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of places and activities in Kota Kinabalu for you to enjoy.

Things to do in Kuala Lampur

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu

Masjid Bandaraya
Sabah State Museum
Atkinson Clock Tower
Sabah State Mosque
Puh Toh Si Chinese Temple
Petagas War Memorial Park
UMS Mosque
Pu Tuo Si Temple
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Masjid Negeri Sabah
Medical Museum
St. Michael Church
Koisaan Cultural Village
Mari Mari Cultural Village
Monsopiad Cultural Village
Sri Pashupathinath Alayam
Sabah Islamic Civilization Museum
Water Village Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Mount Kinabalu
Pulau Manukan / Manukan Island
Ile Mamutik
Taman Negara Gunung Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu Wet Land Ramar
Sulug Island
Pulau Sapi / Sapi Island
Rasa Ria Reserve
Sepanggar Island
Tagal Tinopikon Park
Ulu Kionsom Waterfall
Bukit Padang Mountain Peak
Gaya Island
Kalimantan Island
Bukit Botak
Bukit Tirig
Bukit Kopungit
Nuluh Lipai Jungle
Gunung Alab Mountain Peak

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places to visit in Kota Kinabalu

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park Zoo
Poring Hot Springs
Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort
House of Skulls
Sabah Art Gallery
Aquarium & Marine Museum
Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort
Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club
Upside Down House
Zip Borneo Adventure Center
Tuaran Crocodile Farm
Chanteek Borneo Gallery
Eco Campus Visitor Center
De Borneo Water Park
Science & Technology Center
Ethno Botanical Gardens

Shopping in Kota Kinabalu

Satay Legend Lok Kawi
Filipino Market
Handicraft Market
Warisan Square
Gaya Street Sunday Market
Pasar Besar
Wisma Merdeka
KK Plaza
One Borneo Mall
Center Point Mall
The Borneo Shop
Asia City Mall
Kampung Air Night Market
Suria Sabah Mall
Borneo Trading Post

Beaches in Kota Kinabalu

Tanjung Aru
Manukan Island Beaches
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Beaches
Ile Mamutik Beaches
Sulug Island Beaches
Pulau Sapi Beaches
Sepanggar Island Beaches
Borneo Kellybays
Dalit Beach
Tavajun Bay Beach
Gaya Island Beaches
Teluk Likas Beach
Taman Awam Teluk Likas Park
Likas Bay
Shadanbar Beach
Lagoon Park
UMS ODEC Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours & Adventurous Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

Nadzwa Ferry Travel
Kokol Hill Paragliding
Coral Flyer Zipline
Green Connection Diving
Forest Hiking
Sutera Harbour Marina Jetty

Sightseeing in Kota Kinabalu

Tun Mustapha Tower
Signal Hill Observatory Tower
Sabah Tourism Board
Tanjung Aru Perdana Park
Tampurali Suspension Bridge
Double Six Memorial Park
I Love KK
Le’ One Kool Elf Park
Marlin Statue
City Park
Padang Merdeka State Park
Pillars of Sabah
Meredeka Square
Tun Fuad Stephens Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Kota Kinabalu

Night Food Market
Satay Legend Lok Kawi
Kedai Makan
Yee Fung
Lido Pan Mee
Sri Latha Curry House
Sabah Chilli Pan Mee
Restron Bilal Nasi Kandar
Bakuteh Sin Kee
El Centro
Little Italy
Welcome Sea Food
Sakagura Japanese Restaurant
Brass Monkey
Chilli Vanilla
Laundroluxe
Kohinoor North Indian Restaurant
Mad Ben Cafe
Fook Yuen
Today Waterfront Street Food
A-Square Night Market Street Food
Mother India
Biru Biru
Yuit Cheong
Mee Sup Pipin
Alu Alu Kitchen
Cocoa Kingdom
Yu Kee Bah Kut Teh
Grazie Ristorante
Kedai Kopi Fatt Kee
Sea Monster
Nagisa
Kohinoor
Santan Asian Cuisine
One Street Durianz King
Buah Buahan Yong
Center Point Food Court
Suria

Where to Stay in Kota Kinabalu?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Kota Kinabalu. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Kota Kinabalu.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Kota Kinabalu

How to Reach Kota Kinabalu?

By Air

The best option for Kota Kinabalu travel by air sits right at the edge of the city. The Kota Kinabalu airport ranks second among busiest airport of Malaysia and rightfully so. Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions lures thousands of tourists each year. You can visit Kota Kinabalu via the city’s airport. The airport operates International as well as domestic flights for those on Kota Kinabalu tour. You can fly directly to Kota Kinabalu airport from China, South Korea, Philippines, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. There are a total of 16 cities which have direct flights for Kota Kinabalu travel. Moreover, there are 15 airports in Malaysia which have direct flights to visit Kota Kinabalu. As Kota Kinabalu is located on Borneo island, you do need a flight for KK trip. Once you land at the airport, you will find many places to visit in Kota Kinabalu at a walking distance.

The airport itself is not too shabby either. So if you forgot to shop for souvenirs on Kota Kinabalu tour, the airport has you covered. You will also get public transport options from the airport itself to either reach your hotel or to visit interesting places in Kota Kinabalu. There are buses and minibuses for Kota Kinabalu tour which you can catch from the airport. Compared to other means of transport, the buses are quite cheap. It is an idle option for backpackers in Kota Kinabalu. You can also get a private car or a cab to go for Kota Kinabalu sightseeing from the airport itself. If you are cleared to drive in Malaysia or if you have procured an international driving license, you can rent a car to drive around visiting places to go in Kota Kinabalu. You can also pre-book tours for Kota Kinabalu travel to begin from the airport. You will also find travel agents to arrange your Kota Kinabalu tour at the airport itself. There are several options open for you to enjoy the places to visit in Kota Kinabalu from the airport itself. Though, there are usually huge cost differences between what you are charged at the airport and what you are charged in the city for the same services. Everything is more expensive at the Kota Kinabalu airport.

By Road

Kota Kinabalu is the Rome of Sabah, in the sense that all roads in Sabah lead to Kota Kinabalu. Route A2 takes you for Kota Kinabalu travel from the south. If you are coming from south-west side you will need to use Route 500 to visit Kota Kinabalu. Similarly, use Route 22 if you are traveling to visit Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions from north-west. Finally, if you are traveling from north, use Route 3 to reach the places to visit in Kota Kinabalu. It is very well connected to all major cities, towns, and villages on the Borneo Island.

You also have the option of traveling by bus for Kota Kinabalu tour. There are two primary bus terminals in the city, one welcoming buses from the north (North Bus Terminal) and another one from the south (South Bus Terminal). Both are appropriately named. You can catch a bus to visit Kota Kinabalu from all major towns and villages of Sabah. Alternatively, you can also use these buses to reach villages which connect you to mountains, jungles, and other coasts of Borneo island. This is a popular choice among Kota Kinabalu backpackers.

There are trains available as well to visit Kota Kinabalu from Rayoh, Putatan, Membakut, Kinarut, Tenom, Beaufort, Papar, Saliwangan, Pangi Kimanis, Halogilat, and Bongawan. The trains are ai-conditioned and are a much quicker alternative of public transport for KK trip as compared to the buses. But there are several towns from where bus is your only option. The train is also a favorable choice for Kota Kinabalu backpackers as you get a cheap means of transport and it faster and more convenient. But your options for places to go from Kota Kinabalu become limited.

By Water

You can embark on Kota Kinabalu travel via the ocean from Labuan. The ferry service runs twice a day from Labuan to visit Kota Kinabalu. It is a 3 hour journey, but you get to enjoy a boat ride among things to do in Kota Kinabalu. You can also combine KK trip with a tour of Brunei as the ferry ride will take you to Bandar Seri Begawan as well. The first ferry ride for places to go in KK leaves at 8:30 in the morning and another one at 1 in the afternoon. This is also a great option for Kota Kinabalu sightseeing from the ocean. You get to see the beautiful islands and the port of Kota Kinabalu from a whole different perspective if you choose a ferry ride from Labuan for KK trip. Many of the locals from Malaysian mainland use these ferries from a weekend holiday at Kota Kinabalu. Many cruise tours also include Kota Kinabalu as a major stop. Even if the stop is for a few hours you can visit several interesting places in Kota Kinabalu which are close to the coast. Some of the cruise ships which dock to visit Kota Kinabalu include Princess Cruises, MV Arcadia, Star Cruises, P&O Cruises, Queen Mary 2, Cunard, Queen Victoria, Superstar Virgo, and Diamond Princess. You will get to enjoy multiple places while cruising the oceans on one of these ships including Kota Kinabalu tourist attractions.

Image Reference

Beaches – iHOON / PixaBay
Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu) – Zhan Hui Teh / Flickr
Klias Wildlife River Cruise – RedCheese / Flickr
Mari Mari Cultural Village – Chris Smallwood / Flickr
Gaya Street Sunday Market – John Tewell / Flickr
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Taman Negara Tunku Abdul Rahman) – amrufm / Flickr
Lok Kawi Wildlife Park – francis goh / PixaBay
Handicraft Market – C K Leung / Flickr
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu) – shankar s. / Flickr
North Borneo Railway Ride – Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Sabah State Mosque (Masjid Negeri Sabah) – Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Sabah State Museum (Muzium Sabah) – Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Adventure Sports – guccio@文房具社 / Flickr
Monsopiad Heritage Village – Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling – Chris Smallwood / Flickr
Sabah Tea Garden – Maurus Loeffel / Flickr
Poring Hot Springs – Andrea Schieber / Flickr
Island Tour – Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi / Flickr