Kota Kinabalu Travelers Recommend

With three days in Kota Kinabalu, you can enjoy most of the highlights in the area, including the beaches and islands, wildlife, culture, and outdoor recreation. Here are a few ways to make the most of your 3-day journey.

Day 1: Island Hop, Culture, and City Views

The beach is a top draw at Sabah and Kota Kinabalu, and a favorite place to experience it is Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, made up of five islands. Take the day, or part of it, to explore one, two, or all five islands. Hang out on the beach, or go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving. For a new angle, head to Padang Point on Gaya Island and take the Coral Flyer Zipline across to Sapi Island. Most tours include lunch, either on the beach or boat.

After lunch, head to shore and spend the afternoon either exploring the highlights of Kota Kinabalu, such as the City Mosque and Sabah State Museum, or Mari Mari Cultural Village, where you can learn about the five main traditional groups of Sabah. Afterwards, enjoy dinner in town or head to the Kokol hills and enjoy panoramic views over Kota Kinabalu along with dinner.

Day 2: The Great Outdoors

Here’s your chance to enjoy nature. Those who plan to climb Mt. Kinabalu will do so over the next two days and spend the night on the mountain. Even if you don’t plan on summiting, can still walk the trails around Kinabalu National Park, including a 100-foot-high (30-meter) canopy walk. Afterwards, soak in the natural Poring Hot Spring. Alternatively, head to Tambunan to spend the day quad biking, or go white-water rafting and ziplining along the Kiliu River. 

Return to Kota Kinabalu and watch the sunset from Tanjung Aru Beach. Afterwards, enjoy a fresh seafood dinner along the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, also great for after dinner drinks and entertainment. You can also have dinner while watching a cultural show or dance performance.

Day 3: Wildlife Spotting

Wildlife is another big attraction in the region. Spend the day appreciating the rainforest, orangutans, and sun bears, with stops at the Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Alternatively, spend the morning at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park just outside of Kota Kinabalu. In the afternoon, head to Klias Wetlands or Tamau River and enjoy a river cruise while looking for wildlife, such as proboscis monkeys, macaque, crocodiles, and fireflies. Another option is to spend your last evening on a dinner cruise, watching the sun set on a luxury yacht or catamaran. Afterwards, shop for any final souvenirs at one of the many night markets in town, or have parting drinks along the Kota Kinabalu waterfront.

Kota Kinabalu may be synonymous with its mountainous namesake, but there’s so much more to the capital of Sabah, Borneo. The city’s close proximity to beaches, islands, wildlife, and culture means that there’s plenty to see and do. Here’s how to make the most of one day in KK.

Morning: Get to Know Kota Kinabalu

Get an early start and head to Kota Kinabalu City Mosque to catch the sunrise and see the building reflected in the pond below. After refueling with a local breakfast, head to Likas Bay Lagoon and Signal Hill Observation Deck to get your bearings. 

Then, tick off Atkinson Clock Tower, Sabah State Museum and Heritage Village, Pu Toh Tze Temple, and the 30-story Menara Tun Mustapha. Shoppers should make a point to stop at one of the many markets in town, such as Central Market. For a hassle-free experience, opt for a sightseeing tour designed with first-time visitors in mind.

Afternoon: Visit a Cultural Village

Spend the afternoon on a tour of a cultural village outside of town. The most popular is Mari Mari Cultural Village, an open-air museum where you can learn more about the different traditional groups in Sabah, which include the Dusun, Rungus, and Lundayeh people. Here, you can visit a traditional longhouse to try local delicacies and see cultural demonstrations such as fire starting, blowpipe making, and target shooting. 

Another option is to visit the Monsopiad Cultural Village, where you can tour their House of Skulls, replete with headhunting trophies. Tours typically include round-trip transfers from Kota Kinabalu.

Evening: Sunsets and Water Views

The sunsets in Kota Kinabalu are sublime, and are best viewed from Tanjung Aru Beach. For the ultimate experience, charter a luxury yacht or catamaran. or enjoy a sunset or dinner cruise, complete with a firefly show or live entertainment. Otherwise, feast on fresh seafood along the Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, which is also a great place to grab some pre- and post-dinner drinks. 

Alternatively, enjoy dinner while watching a cultural show or dance performance. Finally, go shopping and pick up all your souvenirs at one of the night markets in town, such as the nightly Filipino Night Market or the Sinsuran Night Market.

With two days in Kota Kinabalu, it’s possible to explore both the city and the nearby marine park, and to venture further afield to Mt. Kinabalu National Park. Here are a few ways to make the most of two days.

Day 1: Mountains or Wildlife

**Morning:**In order to make the most of your time and skip the hassle of planning, opt for a day trip to either Kinabalu National Park—where you’ll explore via trails and a treetop canopy walk— or Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the largest orangutan conservation center in the world.

**Afternoon:**If you’re at Kinabalu National Park, enjoy a local lunch before heading to Poring Hot Springs for a therapeutic soak. Those in Sandakan can explore the town or head to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre or the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

**Night:**Back in Kota Kinabalu, enjoy dinner while watching a cultural show or dance performance—book a package that includes round-trip hotel transfers for the best value. Alternatively, enjoy fresh seafood at Kota Kinabalu Fish Market on the waterfront.  

Day 2: Islands, City, and Culture

**Morning:**Spend some time exploring the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, which comprises five islands; half-day trips typically cover one or two of the islands, and give you time to relax on the beach, swim, snorkel, or scuba dive. Upgrade to zip from one island to another on the Coral Flyer Zipline. 

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon exploring the highlights of Kota Kinabalu, such as the City Mosque, Sabah State Museum, and Signal Hill on a panoramic bus tour. Alternatively, head out of town to the Mari Mari Cultural Village to learn about the five main traditional groups of Sabah. Visit a longhouse, try local delicacies, or watch different cultural demonstrations.

**Night:**For your final evening, watch the sunset from Tanjung Aru Beach or charter a luxury yacht or catamaran and enjoy a sunset or dinner cruise, complete with live entertainment or a firefly show. Afterwards, go shopping and pick up souvenirs at one of the night markets.