Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (2022)

A couple of months after I made the decision to quit my job and start a travel lifestyle, I was browsing through cheap flight options with a friend of mine so that we can plan a quick getaway. During our search, a trip to Kota Kinabalu (KK) caught my eye and it quickly piqued my interest. (Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu)

You see, if you’ve ever thought of Malaysia, I bet that the top destination that comes to your mind is Kuala Lumpur; so for sure, it intrigued me what might be there to see in Kota Kinabalu — and I’m telling you, there’s a LOT!

So without further ado, we booked the flights and spent 3 days in this Malaysian city. After days of exploration… I was in bliss.

Our whole trip was ‘low key’ and tranquil, but it was clear that Kota Kinabalu can be a charming destination for just about anyone due to the existence of lush rainforests, paradisiac islands, and of course: Mount Kinabalu.

Facts about Kota Kinabalu

• Kota Kinabalu or KK is perched on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo and it is the capital of the state of Sabah (one of two states of East Malaysia).
• It is actually named after Mount Kinabalu, which is located about 50 kilometers northeast of the city and it is also the highest mountain found in Malaysia.
• This is deemed the largest city in Sabah and it is also the main gateway into the island of Borneo.
• Islam is the most professed religion, that’s why Malaysia as a whole is fairly conservative. Rest assured, most cities are liberal so you should have no problem wearing shorts for example (and besides, they would understand since you are a foreigner). However, it helps to not bare too much flesh with very revealing clothes or whatnot, most especially if you go to rural areas.
• The citizens are comprised of Brunei Malays, Bajau, Chinese, Kadazandusun, and immigrants who are mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines.
• The languages used on the island are Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, English, and Hakka dialect. (Rest assured, almost everyone can speak English so it shouldn’t be a problem for you as a tourist).

» Quick Travel Planning

Geisha Facts

1. Island hop in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

Named after Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park or Marine Park is comprised of 5 islands and a trip to this area will only take you 15 to 30 minutes by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu. The islands are namely…

• Gaya: The largest island in the park and the closest to downtown Kota Kinabalu. In here, you can find a lot of hiking trails so it makes for a scenic stroll since it is a dense virgin tropical forest reserve after all. Resorts are also speckled across certain areas, and of course, there is one beach stretch that you shouldn’t miss: Police Bay which has immaculate white sand and turquoise waters. Other activities to try are scuba diving and sea walking.
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• Sapi: Located just on the southwestern part of Gaya, this also has one of the nicest beaches in this marine park! A lot of tourists flock here for snorkeling, diving, barbecuing, and even camping.
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• Manukan: The 2nd largest island in the park and arguably the most popular destination for things to do in Kota Kinabalu that’s suggested by locals. Perhaps because of this fact, Manukan has the most developed tourist facilities. (TIP: for the best beach, go to the eastern part)
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• Mamutik: This may be the smallest island of the five but it is the perfect place to go if you want to escape the tourist crowd.
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• Sulug: This is the farthest island which makes it the most remote and underdeveloped of them all. But certainly, that doesn’t stop some travelers from stopping by and enjoying the ‘peace’.
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There’s also an island in the south called Pulau Tiga that you can travel to if you want to see a mud volcano and if you want to do more snorkeling and coral reef dives.

TIP: Wanna go on guided tours to some of the islands above? Check out the following:
– Sapi and Manukan 1-Day Tour Trip
– Sapi Scuba Diving Day Tour
– Mantanani Island with Kawa Kawa River Cruise
– Mengalum Island Snorkeling Day Tour
– Gaya Island Fishing Trip

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2. Visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village

If you want a closer look into the life of 5 ethnic communities present in Sabah — the sea gypsies of Bajau, the rice farmers of Dusun, the fishermen of Lundayeh, the hunters of Murut, and the longhouse-builders of Rungus — the Mari Mari Cultural Village is a definite must-see.

In this village, you will witness a programmed showcase of their various traditional homes as they also present to you their cultural habits, customs, performances, and food. It may deem as a bit touristy, but it’s a great immersion and presentation of the traditional lifestyle of the Sabahan tribes (who currently have mostly turned into modern living).

~ NOTE: For a guided tour on this, book online to reserve your spot.

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3. Soak in the city’s sights

After the 1945 Allied bombings, one would think that there wouldn’t be that many landmarks to see for things to do in Kota Kinabalu. Still and the same, there are surviving buildings from that historical occurrence; and as the city continues to grow, there are also a lot of sights to see in this wondrous Malaysian city! Most notable are:

• Signal Hill Observatory Platform: For majestic views of the city skyline and the faraway coast, climb up to this spot! The wooden stairs that lead to this will take you 10 minutes, but it’s not a difficult climb and it’s located at #19 Lowong Dewan Street.
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• Atkinson Clock Tower: Located near Signal Hill, this was built in 1902 in memory of Francis George Atkinson and it is one of the surviving buildings after the Allied Bombings. (Atkinson was the first district officer of Kota Kinabalu, back when it was still called Jesselton during the British rule.)
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• KK Waterfront & Times Square: These are the main entertainment areas in the city and it is dotted with a lot of restaurants too. A part of the KK Waterfront is the KK esplanade and it is a great spot to hang out in if you want the catch some beautiful sunsets and take photo ops of things like the Marlin Fish landmark, fishing boats, water taxis, and the Gaya island in the horizon.
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• Sabah State Mosque: The largest mosque in Sabah. Apparently, its dome and minaret are decorated with real gold!
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• Kota Kinabalu City Mosque: As shown in the main photo on the top of this post, it is deemed as a ‘floating mosque’ and it is the 2nd main mosque in Kota Kinabalu. As you can see, its architectural style would surely be a feast for your eyes.

For a hassle-free experience, check out these tours:
– Kota Kinabalu Day Tour
– Kota Kinabalu Night Tour (with Seafood Dinner)

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4. Go on a food trip!

Kota Kinabalu is a melting pot of cuisines and it’s no surprise since there are a lot of nationalities and cultures mixing (and matching).

For places to go, there are the Night Markets (Pasar Malam) which are famed for their Malaysian and Chinese eats, the SEDCO Square that’s popular among tourists for its seafood choices, and Chinatown / Gaya Street (Old Town) that not only has a Sunday market but a string of Chinese places to dine in too.

For restaurants that you should consider trying:

• Welcome Seafood Restaurant or Alu-Alu Restaurant for what else, but seafood!
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• El Centro for when you’re missing some Western fare.
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• Ferdinand’s for fine dining.
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• Kedai Kopi Yee Fung for a scrumptious laksa!

For hassle-free culinary tours, check out…
– Night Tour & Seafood Dinner
– Cooking Class

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5. Explore around Mt. Kinabalu — or better yet: climb it!

If you have the time and if you are into nature activities, climbing the World Heritage Site of Mount Kinabalu should be a must on your itinerary. It’s a relatively easy climb and some people are able to reach the summit in just a day (it’s 4,000~ meters high) but it is typically advised to be done in 3 days so that you could acclimatize.

I didn’t manage to do this activity, but a walk along the botanical garden trail at the mountain’s base is possible which will then give anyone the chance to take a whiff of some mountain air! Besides, once you reach the viewpoint, you can even see a closer look at Mount Kinabalu’s peak.

NOTE: Go for a guided 2-day tour up to Mt. Kinabalu! Book NOW online to reserve your spot.

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6. Take on a river cruise

Called Klias Wetlands River Cruise, this is a day trip to the Klias Wetlands reserve that is near Kota Kinabalu.

Here, you can get the chance to spend a later part of the day cruising through a mangrove area which can enable you to witness the elusive Proboscis monkey, Long Tail Macaques, or Silver Languor Monkeys.

Additionally, you can also get to see a myriad of bird species. Come a moonless night, a display of fireflies could even give you a magical ending to this tour!

NOTE: To book a spot on this cruise, go here.
Alternative: Kawa Kawa Fireflies Cruise

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» Top Kota Kinabalu Tours «

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Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide

LOCAL CURRENCY
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR or RM) | $1 = RM 4~ = Php 47~

» Getting in to Kota Kinabalu

By plane. Fly into Sabah. Just head on to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA): BKI (KKIA) when searching for flights. This is Malaysia’s 2nd busiest airport and the main gateway to the island. For the best deals, other than local airlines, check Skyscanner to get the best price.

To get to the city center from the airport, you can take an airport bus that leaves every hour (RM 5) or a taxi which would cost you around RM30. If walking for 1-2 hours is no problem for you, you can reach the city center in this way as well.

By boat. If you’re located somewhere near Labuan, you can also take their ferry service to Kota Kinabalu which would take you 3 hours (RM 18 for adults, regular ticket).

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» Where to Stay (Kota Kinabalu Accommodations)

When looking for cheap places to stay, I always search through AirBnB and Agoda since they not only often have the best prices but they are the best booking sites when traveling in Asia!

But depending on your travel style, my top choices for accommodations are:

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» How to Get Around Kota Kinabalu

By car. You can easily rent a car for ease of getting from one place to another. To book your car rental online, go here.

By foot. The city center is small and you can walk from one end to another in less than an hour!

By taxi. Feel free to haggle with taxis! Normally they charge RM 10 for short distance trips and RM 20 for longer ones. If you want to rent a taxi for a whole day it shouldn’t cost more than RM 300~.

By bus or minibus. You will find buses and minibusses at the Wawasan Bus Terminal. Travel within the city center should cost around RM .50 wherein the City Buses are used. For long-distance trips, it should cost around RM 2.

By motorbike. Rentals cost around RM 50 for a whole day. To reserve one online, go here.

By boat. To get to the surrounding islands like the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, you can get speedboat services from the Jesselton Point Jetty. The cost would be around RM 20 to RM 40 depending on what island you want to head to.

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» Must-Try Food & Drinks

For meals. You must try the tuaran mee (noodles), ngiu chap (beef noodle soup), ikan bakar (fish), kari (Malay adaptation of curry dishes), nasi goreng (fried rice), nasi lemak (rice with coconut milk), rendang (spicy meat stew), ayam percik (barbecued chicken in chili, garlic, ginger, and coconut milk), roti jala (net bread), and laksa (noodle soup).

For snacks and dessert. Have a taste of kuih serimuka (two-layered with glutinous rice at the bottom and green layer made with pandan juice on top), kuih ketayap (pancake with coconut feeling), ondeh ondeh (rice cake with stuffed with gula and rolled in grated coconut), and epok epok (curry chicken in a deep-fried pie shell).

For drinks. Try out teh tarik (literally “pulled tea”) which has a special pulling process. There’s also sirap bandung which is evaporated or condensed milk with rose cordial syrup.

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» Helpful Malay Phrases

Hello (formal): Hello
Hello (informal): Hai (Hi)
Thank you: Terima kasih (TREE-muh KAH-seh)
Yes: Ya (YUH)
No: Tidak (tee-DAH)
Goodbye: Selamat tinggal (SLAH-maht tin-GAHL) [“Safe stay!”] or Selamat jalan (SLAH-maht JAH-lahn) [“Safe trip!”]

Excuse me / I’m sorry: Maaf (mah’AHF) or Maafkan saya (mah’AHF-kahn SAH-yuh)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Adakah orang yang cakap Bahasa Inggeris di sini? (AH-duh-kah OH-rahng yahng CHAH-kahp bah-HAH-suh ING-grees dee SEE-nee)
Help!: Tolong! (TOH-lohng)
Cheers!: Sorakan!

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Other Manila F.A.Q.

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Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck your World Nomads‘ total travel insurance price with that of SafetyWing because the latter is often priced cheaper (especially when it involves travel that spans for several weeks or months — and even years!). However, take note that SafetyWing’s affordability typically means lesser coverage than World Nomads. So please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!