MY · Sabah · 5.98°N 116.07°E
kota kinabalu
Island hopping by day, waterfront sunsets, Kinabalu on the horizon.
- Best time
- Any time of year; February to April is usually driest.
- How long
- 3–4 days The day-by-day plan: 4 days, 3 nights →
- Getting there
- About 2.5 hours' flight from KL.
kota kinabalu
Dear group chat,Island hopping by day, waterfront sunsets, Kinabalu on the horizon.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKota KinabaluMY, Sabah
Photo: FILMR Production · CC BY 3.0 Photo: Gossipguy · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 Photo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd · CC BY 2.0
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
Sabah's capital on the South China Sea: a busy waterfront, a marine park of islands 15 minutes offshore, and Mount Kinabalu a couple of hours inland.
Makan
- The waterfront seafood marketPick your fish and have it grilled at the night market by the sea.Map ↗
- Tuaran meeSpringy egg noodles fried with char siu and greens.Map ↗
- Sang nyuk meePork noodles in soup or dry, a KK speciality.Map ↗
- HinavaRaw fish cured in lime with chilli and ginger, a Kadazan-Dusun dish.Map ↗
- Ngiu chapBeef noodle soup, best at breakfast.Map ↗
Things to do
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine ParkIsland hopping to Manukan and Sapi, 15 minutes by boat.Map ↗
- Gaya Street Sunday marketFood, plants and crafts every Sunday morning.Map ↗
- Tanjung Aru beachSunset over the sea.Map ↗
- Kinabalu Park and KundasangCool mountain air, gardens and dairy farms with views of the mountain.Map ↗
- Mari Mari Cultural VillageThe traditions of Sabah's ethnic groups.Map ↗
Where to stay
In the city centre near the waterfront, or at Tanjung Aru for the sunsets.
Good to know
- Climbing Mount Kinabalu needs a permit and a licensed guide, booked well ahead.
- Kundasang gets cold at night. Pack a layer.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.