Kota Kinabalu

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Kota Kinabalu, usually just called KK, is the capital of Sabah on the island of Borneo. The city itself is small and easy-going. What draws people is what’s around it: tropical islands a short boat ride away, Mount Kinabalu on the horizon, and some of the best wildlife in Southeast Asia within reach.

Why go

Islands on the doorstep. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is right off the coast, with beaches and snorkelling a short boat ride from the city.
Mount Kinabalu. Malaysia’s highest mountain, in a UNESCO-listed national park.
A taste of Borneo. Sabah feels different from Peninsular Malaysia, with its own food, cultures and pace.

What to do

Island-hop in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

Boats leave from Jesselton Point jetty for the park’s islands: Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik and others. Go for a day of swimming and snorkelling, or hop between two or three. Mornings are calmer and less crowded.

Mount Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park

Climbing Mount Kinabalu is usually a two-day trip with a night at a mountain hut. Climbers need permits and a licensed guide, and spaces are limited, so book well ahead through an approved operator. If you don’t want to climb, Kinabalu Park’s lower trails and botanical garden make a lovely day trip, and the cool highland town of Kundasang nearby has dairy farms and mountain views.

The waterfront and markets

Watch the sunset over the islands from the waterfront. On Sunday mornings, Gaya Street turns into a big street market. In the evenings, the waterfront night market has rows of seafood stalls where you pick your fish and choose how it’s cooked.

Further afield

Sabah’s famous wildlife is mostly on the east side of the state. From Sandakan you can visit the Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation centre and take a river trip on the Kinabatangan, where you might see proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and hornbills. It’s a flight or a long drive from KK, so plan at least a couple of extra days.

What to eat

Dish	What it is
Ngiu chap	Beef noodle soup loaded with different cuts. A KK favourite
Tuaran mee	Springy egg noodles fried with char siu and greens, from the town of Tuaran
Hinava	Raw fish cured in lime with chilli, ginger and shallots. A Kadazan-Dusun dish
Fresh seafood	Grilled fish, prawns and squid at the night market
Sabah tea	Grown on the slopes near Kinabalu

Getting there and around

By air: Kota Kinabalu International Airport has flights from KL and several Asian cities. It’s close to the city.
Passports: Sabah runs its own immigration checks, so bring your passport even on a domestic flight from Peninsular Malaysia.
Getting around: The centre is walkable. Use Grab for everything else, or book a tour or private driver for Kinabalu Park.

Where to stay

Stay in the city centre near the waterfront for easy access to the jetty, markets and restaurants. There are also big beach resorts just outside the city if you’d rather have a pool and a sunset view.

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When to go

Sabah gets rain all year, but the wetter months usually fall at the end and start of the year. The drier spell around the middle of the year tends to be best for islands and climbing. Check the forecast close to your trip, especially for sea conditions.