Experience the best of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah on Borneo, a coastal city facing offshore islands, with Mount Kinabalu rising on the horizon inland.
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Kota Kinabalu sits on the north-west coast of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, with a waterfront of markets, seafood restaurants and a long promenade. The islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park lie just offshore. On a clear day Mount Kinabalu, 4,095 metres high and the tallest peak in Malaysia, rises inland. The city was called Jesselton until the 1960s.
Boats run to the five islands of the marine park, Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug, which have beaches and reefs for snorkelling. Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage site with mountain forest, lies inland, and the Poring Hot Springs have a canopy walkway. In town, the Sabah State Museum and the Filipino Market are near the waterfront, the City Mosque stands beside a lagoon at Likas, and Tanjung Aru beach is a favoured place for sunsets.
Seafood is grilled or steamed at waterfront stalls. Hinava, a Kadazan dish of raw mackerel with lime, ginger and chilli, is a local starter, and Tuaran mee, springy egg noodles from a town up the coast, is a favourite. Warm, humid air hangs over the coast in every month.
- Free cancellation on 66% of experiences
- 4.7 across the top 11
Top 10 attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Number 1Mt. Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu)
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Number 2Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (TARP)
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Number 3Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu)
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Number 4Klias Peninsula (Klias Wetlands)
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Number 5Kinabalu Park
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Number 6Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya)
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Number 7Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi)
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Number 8Poring Hot Spring
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Number 9Manukan Island (Pulau Manukan)
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Number 10Signal Hill Observatory Platform
Day trips from Kota Kinabalu
51
Free cancellation
Nature and wildlife tours in Kota Kinabalu
8
Free cancellation
Questions about Kota Kinabalu
- What is there to do in Kota Kinabalu?
- We list 198 experiences in Kota Kinabalu. The largest groups are day trips (55), city tours (14).
- What are the top attractions in Kota Kinabalu?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Kota Kinabalu are Mt. Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu), Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (TARP), Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu), Klias Peninsula (Klias Wetlands).
- What is the most popular experience in Kota Kinabalu?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing", rated 4.9 out of 5 from 599 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Kota Kinabalu take?
- The typical experience in Kota Kinabalu lasts about 7 hours; the middle half run between 4 hours and 9 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Kota Kinabalu?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 66% of the 198 experiences we hold for Kota Kinabalu. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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