10 reasons to visit Kota Kinabalu!
Once a small fishing village, Kota Kinabalu has grown to become Sabah’s capital city. It is surrounded by rainforests and overlooked by the mighty Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Borneo.
Kota Kinabalu is a small coastal city on the west coast of Sabah. Often referred to as ‘KK’ by the locals, if you visit this charming city you will find that the people there embrace an undemanding and slower pace of life. Regrettably, the city is too often treated as a pass through by people who continue their journey straight into the rainforests of the island. However, this city offers some incredible experiences which in our opinion must NOT be missed!
We have collated a list of what to do in Kota Kinabalu, so continue reading to discover why this city must not be missed off your itinerary!
Marvel at the many incredible street markets
If you are a foodie looking for what to do in Kota Kinabalu, these markets are for you! Feast your eyes on an abundance of tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, dried fish, various souvenirs and best of all… fantastic food! Kota Kinabalu has a bounty of different street markets across the city.
The Central Market and the Handicraft Market both sit on the waterfront and offer an electric vibe. Likewise, the Waterfront Seafood Night Market offers KK’s speciality… freshly caught fish of all shapes and sizes laid out to entice hungry tourists. You can read more about our favourite food markets here!
Jesselton Cabin
Just a step away from Api-Api Food Night Market this hostel offers the perfect location to explore Kota Kinabalu.
Jessselton Cabin is small but inviting hostel that is home to six bedrooms. All the rooms are tastefully furnished to offer a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Visit the City Mosque
To experience Malaysian culture in Kota Kinabalu, we recommend visiting the City Mosque which floats majestically above the water. This mosque offers a calm and serene atmosphere, especially if you visit for sunrise where you will witness the beautiful orange light reflecting off the Arabic architecture. When visiting, remember to dress modestly and be respectful when taking photos. The mosque will provide a coverall for a small fee.
City Mosque – Reference – https://mosqpedia.org/en/mosque/1093
Take a dive in the blue waters
If you are wondering what to do in Kota Kinabalu and you have a few days to spare, why not try out scuba diving! Kota Kinabalu and its surrounding islands are full of beautiful coral reefs within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This makes KK the perfect place to explore a new underwater world! You can become a PADI Open Water Diver. Or if you are already certified, book straight onto a full day of three fun dives with lunch included. We completed our PADI qualification with Scuba Junkie; the instructors were friendly, patient and fun to dive with!
If you want to give scuba diving a try but don’t want to commit to the qualification just yet, you can ‘dip’ your toes in by completing the PADI Discover Scuba Diving programme!
Take a trip to the Poring Hot Springs
Within the Kinabalu National Park you can find the Poring Hot Springs. Enjoy the hot sulphur spring baths whilst taking in the enchanting sights and sounds of the surrounding forest. Fascinatingly, the baths were developed by the Japanese during their occupation in WWII.
Nowadays the hot springs are popular amongst those wishing to unwind in the jungle (and it is perhaps the perfect place to relax your muscles after your exhausting climb up Mount Kinabalu!) Whilst you are there, make sure you also walk along the 43 metre tall canopy walkway and seek out the nearby waterfalls.
Climb Mount Kinabalu
Not only is Mount Kinabalu the highest mountain in Borneo, it is also the highest in the whole of Malaysia. If you are looking to challenge yourself you can climb up to the 4095 metre summit through a 2D1N tour. Just make sure you plan in advance as there are only a limited amount of climbing permits available per day. The climb is an incredibly challenging yet rewarding experience!
Mount Kinabalu – Reference – https://bookatrekking.com/en/blog/climbing-mount-kota-kinabalu/
Learn about indigenous tribes at the Mari Mari Cultural Village
For a fun and educational experience, visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village. The tour (though a little bit cheesy) is a fantastic and interactive insight into the five different tribes across northeast Borneo. You will discover ancient traditions such as bamboo cooking, fire starting, blowpipe hunting methods and sample Sabahan delicacies across the day. The tour supports tribe descendants to preserve the ethnic culture of their ancestors.
Mari Mari Cultural Village – Reference – https://sabahtourism.com/destination/mari-mari-cultural-village/?locale=en
Enjoy island-hopping
One of the beauties of Kota Kinabalu is its proximity to the many islands off Sabah’s west coast. Book onto an island-hopping tour and visit the likes of Manukan Island, Sapi Island, Mamutik Island and Sapi Island. Alternatively, you can take a longer trip to the larger island, Gaya Island… perfect for an overnight getaway! All of these islands are ideal for snorkelling, kayaking and quiet beach days. A must when considering what to do in Kota Kinabalu.
Homy Seafront Hostel
Located in the heat of Kota Kinabalu this hostel offers modern accommodation with comfortable amenities such as free breakfast and a beautiful sea view.
The property offers a range of rooms from mixed dorms to female only dorms. It also offers a range of beds options to accommodate for both solo and couple travellers.
Watch the sunset on Tanjung Aru Beach
Tanjung Aru beach is known to have one of the best sunsets in the world. To elevate your sunset experience you can also book onto a sunset SUP board experience and enjoy the fiery sky whilst floating on the water. Furthermore, you can enjoy some post-sunset food at the Tanjung Aru Beach Night Market! We had a fantastic time enjoying the sunset whilst sipping beers and munching incredible street food.
Explore the stilt villages on Pulau Gaya
On the island of Gaya are a community of stilt houses standing precariously above the water. These villages are filled with Malay and Filipino communities who have lived there since the mid 19th century. Be aware that this is not a typical tourist location. The houses are made of wood and tin and the walkways are rickety. The villages may have built a negative reputation amongst some for being poverty stricken. Yet, as long as you are respectful and polite you are sure to be greeted with smiles as you experience this real and rustic way of life.
Take a ride on the North Borneo Railway
The oldest steam locomotive in Borneo, the Vulcan travels between Kota Kinabalu and Papar. Many of these locomotives travelled across North Borneo throughout the 1900s during the colonial era. Nowadays the vintage train accommodates passengers who wish to take a leisurely ride through rural Sabah. Enjoy the sights of local villages, mangrove jungles and coastal beaches. What’s more, breakfast and ‘tiffin-style’ lunch is included in the ride. The train runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the round-journey takes around 4 hours.
North Borneo Railway – Reference – https://www.amazingborneo.com/package/north-borneo-railway
Finally…
With some fantastic experiences to be had in and around the city, we hope that these ten reasons have convinced you not to miss Kota Kinabalu! Now that you have an idea of what to do in Kota Kinabalu, why not see what opportunities await you at Sepilok’s animal sanctuaries and down the Kinabatangan River!
