Finally caught a sunset worthy of the top 3!
Here's a travel guide to Kota Kinabalu:
Recommended Attractions
- Tanjung Aru Beach: Only 15 minutes from downtown, featuring one of the world's top three most beautiful sunsets. Take a stroll along the beach, chat while enjoying the breeze, order a three-color juice, and watch the sunset transform from bright red to orange as it stretches across the horizon. If you're lucky, you might see fiery clouds.
- Manukan Island: Limited to 85 visitors daily, it offers pristine beaches with clear water and white sand. The underwater coral reefs are colorful, with visibility up to 40 meters when snorkeling in surrounding waters. You might even encounter blue tears (bioluminescent plankton) and spectacular sunsets.
- Sapi Island: Named for its circular shape, this private island has crystal-clear waters and abundant living coral, making it a snorkeling paradise. The island features 13 South Pacific-style wooden cabins and activities like banana boat rides and jet skiing.
- Kota Kinabalu City Floating Mosque: Extraordinarily magnificent at sunset, with white buildings reflected in the water against the blue sky—truly breathtaking.
- Sabah Mangrove Forests: One of Sabah's iconic features with four famous mangrove areas: Kawa, Weston, Klias, and Firefly River. Experience the romance of being surrounded by fireflies and spot proboscis monkeys.
Food Recommendations
- Seafood: Try the salted egg yolk soft-shell crab and creamy tiger prawns at Sasa Seafood Restaurant, or the creamy prawns and black pepper crab at Welcome Seafood Restaurant.
- Vegetarian: Friendly Vegetarian Restaurant offers dishes like Dongpo pork, char siu, and curry lamb—all made from vegetables but tasting like "chicken, duck, fish, and meat."
- Local stir-fry: Hong Kim Boi Restaurant serves affordable oyster sauce chicken wings, ginger and scallion beef, and minced meat with tofu, suitable for those who prefer Jiangzhe flavors.
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Wei Yea Hainanese Chicken Rice offers tender chicken and excellent roast pork.
- Hakka Noodles: Kah Soon Coffee Shop serves Hakka noodles paired with iced pulled tea for just a few Malaysian Ringgit per person.
Accommodation Options
- Kota Kinabalu City Center: Options include Hilton Kota Kinabalu and Le Méridien Resort, offering convenience for dining and weekend market visits.
- Tanjung Aru Beach Area: Places like Aru Suite Hotel offer beautiful sunset views with a nearby twilight market.
- Gaya Island: Gaya Island Resort offers an island living experience with swimming and snorkeling available anytime.
Entertainment Experiences
- Water Activities: Experience snorkeling and scuba diving at Manukan Island and Sapi Island, swimming with fish and admiring beautiful coral reefs.
- Adventure Sports: Try paragliding at Kinabalu Park, soaring 2,200 feet above Sabah's pristine landscape. You can also go rafting on the Kiulu or Padas rivers, or enjoy jungle ATV rides along the Kiulu riverbank or at Mount Kinabalu.
- Special Experiences: Visit Dinawan Island for a natural volcanic mud spa treatment for beauty and skin care.