By air
Kota Kinabalu International (BKI), ~8 km
Southeast Asia · Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Borneo's gateway to Mount Kinabalu and island reefs
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to September — drier months
Don't miss
Mount Kinabalu
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
Tanjung Aru Beach
The Filipino Market
Things to do
Climbing Mount Kinabalu (permits needed)
Snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
Sunset at Tanjung Aru
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers for the mountain, swimwear for the islands
A quieter corner
The Poring Hot Springs and their canopy walk
Questions travellers ask
When should I plan a trip to Kota Kinabalu?
March to September, the drier months. Bring layers for the mountain and swimwear for the islands.
Do I need a permit to climb Mount Kinabalu?
Yes, permits are needed to climb Mount Kinabalu, so sort one out before you go.
What else is there to do around Kota Kinabalu?
Snorkel in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, catch the sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach and browse the Filipino Market. The Poring Hot Springs and their canopy walk are the hidden gem.
Which local dishes should I try in Kota Kinabalu?
Hinava, the Kadazan-Dusun raw fish, and seafood at the waterfront night market.
About Kota Kinabalu
- Coastal
Where it is
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the state of Sabah, Malaysia, on the north-west coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea, with the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park offshore and Mount Kinabalu rising inland to the east-north-east.
History
The British North Borneo Chartered Company founded the town as Jesselton around 1899, after its earlier settlement on Gaya Island was burned during Mat Salleh's uprising. Almost destroyed in the Second World War, it became the capital of North Borneo in 1946, joined Malaysia with Sabah in 1963 and was renamed Kota Kinabalu in 1967.
People
Sabah's peoples meet in Kota Kinabalu: Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau and Murut communities, Chinese Malaysians, many of Hakka descent, and Malays, speaking Malay, English and their own languages. The Kaamatan harvest festival in May, with its Unduk Ngadau pageant, is the great Kadazan-Dusun celebration.
Known for
- Climbing Mount Kinabalu
- Island-hopping in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
- Sunsets at Tanjung Aru Beach
- The waterfront night market and seafood
- Poring Hot Springs and canopy walk
Did you know?
Mount Kinabalu, at about 4,100 m the highest mountain in Malaysia, is sacred to the Kadazan-Dusun, and its name is thought to come from Aki Nabalu, the mountain's guardian spirit.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.