Koto Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state and gateway to Kinabalu National Park, is the perfect place for travelers to get things done before heading off for Borneo adventures. There are well-connected communication services here, and you can stock up on supplies. Before you go off on your jungle or ocean adventure, there are cultural places to explore and things to do in Kota Kinabalu itself, like the Sabah State Museum, Masjid Bandaraya City Mosque, and the Wisma Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building).
Just 6 degrees north of the equator, Kota Kinabalu is hot and steamy all year round. You can expect some rain whenever you visit, although rains are heavier from October through January, with the latter month sometimes bringing torrential precipitation. February through April sees the driest, sunniest weather; if climbing Mount Kinabalu is on your agenda, March and April deliver the best chances of clear skies at sunrise.
Kota Kinabalu is currently working to introduce an organized electric bus service to the sprawling city. In the meantime, the easiest way to get around is to drive yourself, hire a private driver, or jump on a guided tour. Taxi drivers rarely use the meter and often inflate the fixed price for non-Malaysians: Home-grown ride-hailing app Grab is a better bet. Malaysia does not allow motorbike taxis.
More than 30 Indigenous peoples call Sabah home, but it can still be hard to track down native foods in Kota Kinabalu. Little Sulap, a perfectly pink café, serves food of the Kadazan-Dusun people, Sabah’s largest ethnic group. Specialties on offer range from live grubs to hinava, a dish of raw fish cured in lime and spiked with bitter gourd. Other options on the menu include fried rice and satay.
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The capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state, Kota Kinabalu is best-known as a jump-off point for Borneo adventures. These include seeing orangutans, rain-forest trips, diving the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, and climbing 13,435-foot (4,095-meter) Mt. Kinabalu. But this lively city offers markets, museums, seafood feasts, and cultural attractions.
...MoreAll Malaysians speak Malay, the national language, and the majority speak some English as well. Malaysians of Chinese descent generally speak one or more Chinese languages and dialects, with Mandarin and Hakka most common in Kota Kinabalu. Sabah’s indigenous people speak a number of different languages from four different language families.
...MoreKota Kinabalu is a great place to learn about Sabah’s indigenous cultures, whether at the Sabah Museum, the Mari Mari Cultural Village, or the Monsopiad Cultural Village. Nature lovers can explore mangroves at the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre. Be sure to eat in one of the city’s many excellent and affordable seafood restaurants.
...MoreA sunset drink on the waterfront or in a beach bar is the perfect start to a Kota Kinabalu night. The city’s lively Night Market is a must for anyone who loves food, while entertainment options run from bars, clubs, and cinemas to the inevitable karaoke joints. Cultural shows with dinner are also popular.
...MoreYes. If you are exploring Sabah you will inevitably pass through Kota Kinabalu at least once and it’s worth taking a day or two to enjoy the highlights. Besides museums, markets, eateries, cafés, and bars, this vibrant city hosts mosques, temples, and galleries, as well as a lively waterfront area.
...MoreNo. Accommodation and eating out in Kota Kinabalu is slightly cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur. However, rain-forest trips, river adventures, scuba diving, wildlife spotting, and the Kota Kinabalu hike are not cheap activities, so a vacation in Malaysian Borneo will generally work out more expensive than peninsular Malaysia.
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