Welcome to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah! We can’t wait for you to discover the many fun activities and delicious local food in our charming city. Here’s a list of activities you can do in Kota Kinabalu:
✔ Take a walk around the city!
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Kota Kinabalu is full of historical buildings and picturesque scenery. There are a few walking-distance landmarks in the city that are rich in Sabah’s history. You can also visit our local restaurants and cafes throughout the city, each offering a distinct experience in its own way. Walking through the city center is an all-day adventure, and you may even walk from one mall to another.
✔ Be enchanted by Sabah’s beautiful culture and rich history
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Visit Mari-Mari Cultural Village or Monsopiad Heritage Viilage for a half-day cultural adventure that includes visiting traditional houses, learning about their daily lives, and experiencing live cultural performances. If you’re staying till the end of May, don’t miss the annual Kaamatan festival which takes place on the 30th and 31st of May at the KadazanDusun Cultural Association Sabah (KDCA). With numerous traditional performances and events, the state harvest festival honours Sabah’s numerous indigenous populations.
Want to taste our local food? We’ve compiled a list of our must-tries here!
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You can also visit Kota Kinabalu’s museums and art galleries to learn more about our history and the city’s development through the years:
- Sabah State Museum & Heritage Villa
- Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum
- Sabah Art Gallery
- Galleria Artisan
- Kota Kinabalu Wetlands
✔ Go golfing!
Looking for a golfing adventure? In the city, our golf clubs not only offer challenging play but also mesmerising scenery:
✔ Enjoy Kota Kinabalu’s sunset views
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We love boasting about our stunning sunset views, and we love even more that the Huffington Post (2014) included Kota Kinabalu in their list of ‘Eight Great Places in the World to Watch the Sunset‘!
Where to enjoy our sunset?
- Tanjung Aru Beach
- Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru’s Sunset Bar
- Sutera Harbour Resort’s Horizons Sky Bar & Cigar Lounge, Breeze Beach Club & Al Fresco
- Rooftop @ Le Méridien
- The Waterfront
- Nexus Karambunai’s Sunset Bar & Grill
✔ Water adventures
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Not only does our city have the best sunset view at the beach, but it also offers a lot of water activities that can be done without leaving the city. If you want to experience Tanjung Aru beach in a different way, schedule a Stand-Up Paddling or Kayak session in the early morning or during sunset!
If you have the entire day, take a quick day trip to our beautiful island and rest while enjoying the sun and lovely surroundings. Or go island hopping across the following islands:
- Pulau Gaya
- Pulau Sapi
- Pulau Manukan
- Pulau Mamutik
- Mari Mari Sepanggar Island
Activities available on these islands include sea walking, water skiing, parasailing, banana boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, and more!
If you’re looking for more adventure, bring your family or a group of friends for a day of fun at JSK Borneo Reef’s reef activity pontoon!
✔ Sunset/Night Cruise
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Take a two-hour scenic cruise with North Borneo Cruise, where you can overlook the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and glide down the city’s famous Kota Kinabalu Waterfront coastline after dark. You can choose to dine on their buffet food while listening to their live band, or you can relax and recharge on the deck, equipped with lovely open-sky seating, while sipping a drink.
✔ Go Rural Tourism
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Take a cycling tour around Kota Kinabalu’s attractions and historical places, or go for adrenaline-pumping activities such as tree climbing and abseiling in Kiulu. Sabah awaits you with numerous interesting adventures, and Go Rural Tourism offers a choice of tour packages for you to experience Sabah’s rural lifestyle.
Want to spend less on your trip to Kota Kinabalu? Use our Lifestyle e-voucher to get great prices when you dine at our local restaurants/cafe and when you book our tour packages!
Dear APC Delegates, redeem special offers and discounts from our selected merchants here!
