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Top 19 Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu - 2024

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Explore the best things to do in Kota Kinabalu! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Jun 2024
  • top_1
    󰺂8.1
    4.7/5
    2059 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 489 reviews
    "Located right at the end of Tanjung Aru Beach is one the best ever spot to immerse yourself into the beautiful dawn of sunset, Shangrila's Tanjung Aru Sabah Sunset Bar, om a day clear non rainy day you will get to sight that jaw drapping sky changing colours durimg the sunset hour ard 5pm onwards, the other part of Tanjung Aru is a public beach so do expect super crowded on weekends, public holidays and even on school holidays"
    Kota Kinabalu.Tanjung Aru
    5.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Located on the west side of Kota Kinabalu, Tanjung Aru Beach is undoubtedly one of the most popular landmarks in Kota Kinabalu for both locals and tourists. Daytime entertainment include a variety of water activities, while evenings are perfect for gatherings with family and friends, enjoying the sea breeze, tasting delicious local delicacies and taking in the unparalleled sunsets.
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  • top_2
    󰺂7.1
    4.4/5
    1359 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1180 reviews
    "The Floating Mosque of Sabah is truly breathtaking. Its location on the water makes it unique and adds to its beauty. The architecture is stunning, with intricate details and peaceful colors. Since we're Muslim, we're allowed to enter. Inside, the atmosphere is calm and peaceful, making it a great place for reflection and prayer. The views from the mosque are amazing, overlooking the sea and the city. It's a wonderful spot to visit, whether you're a tourist or a local. I found it to be a serene and tranquil place, perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Overall, I highly recommend visiting the Floating Mosque of Sabah for its beauty, serenity, and unique experience it offers."
    Kota Kinabalu
    3.7km from downtown
    Highlights: The Floating Mosque, also known as the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, is located on the shores of Likas Bay on the northeastern side of downtown Kota Kinabalu. The mosque is a classic example of contemporary Islamic architecture and offers an unforgettable view of the sunset. The stunning scenery features the white mosque reflected in the lake surrounding it, accented by a backdrop of clear blue sky.
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  • top_3
    󰺂6.7
    4.6/5
    491 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 25 reviews
    "We were lucky and saw sea turtle. Private operator for this place with limited visitor entrance. Crystal clear sea with countless fish as well as nemo during snorkeling.This was the only island I went in KK recommended by LOCAL. They said, aim for the best to go in KK instead making a tired island hopping near city and seen nothing stunning. I will surely come back again."
    Kota Kinabalu
    58.2km from downtown
    Highlights: The island is named for its shape, which resembles a ring, making it a popular destination for newlyweds. Lovers can travel around the island and eventually come back to where they started, symbolizing their eternal love. The island is open late and there is only one resort, making a stay on the island fun and relaxing.
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂6.3
    4.5/5
    512 Review
    Free
    "When you're visiting Kota Kinabalu.be sure not to miss out on the vibrant Gaya Street Sunday MarketDive into a delectable spread of local delights and refreshing drinks"
    Kota Kinabalu.Kota Kinabalu City Center
    275m from downtown
    No. 2 of Night Attractions
    Highlights: Gaya Street is located next to the Central Station in Kota Kinabalu. The entrance is a Chinese-style archway. There are many Chinese restaurants and Chinese shops on both sides of the street. You can taste authentic Chinese food and buy goods from China, giving you the familiar feel of your hometown. The street market on weekends is quite lively, full of goods at affordable prices, including daily necessities, local products, tourist souvenirs, clothing and shoes, vegetables and fruits, specialty snacks, flowers, birds and pets.
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂6.2
    4.5/5
    223 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 2139 reviews
    "Manukan Island is located just off the coast of Kata kinabalu, the capital city of sabah. it is the second largest island of Marine Park."
    Kota Kinabalu
    8.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Manukan Island is one of the five islands of the Kota Kinabalu Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and is large in size. The north side of the island is a rocky coast, the beaches on the south and east are suitable for swimming. The island is popular with tourists because of its facilities. It has hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, diving centers and more. The island is rich in activities such as snorkeling, deep diving, parasailing, jet boating, underwater walks, sea bikes, etc., full of fun. The island is also covered with large rainforests. You can climb a mountain and look out on to the surrounding islands from the mountain top.
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂5.8
    4.4/5
    79 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1236 reviews
    "This cultural village definitely should be visited by all tourists that go to Sabah.First of all, the village is really nice located in a forest. This makes the stay very comfortable because there is always a place where you find shadow.At the beginning, they build little groups that each get one tour guide that speaks your language. Due to the little group, we could ask all the questions that we had."
    Kota Kinabalu
    14.2km from downtown
    Highlights: In the Mari Mari Cultural Village (MariMari in Malay, meaning to come), you can get a glimpse of the life of the Maolu headhunters, who are said to be fierce by nature, and the life of the Dushun people in Jiadashan. Once in the village, you will pass through the buildings built in the traditional style of Sabah, including the famous Longhouse of the Longus people and the residence of the Maolu people with spacious living space, and you can even step into it to find out. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the real situation of their daily routines. In addition to personally experiencing the taste of cooking with bamboo fire, you can also enjoy authentic food flavors here, and learn the survival skills of making fire, hunting, and building houses. Getting along with the friendly "villagers" in the cultural village and watching cultural performances will definitely leave you with a profound and very different experience and impression of customs and customs.
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂5.6
    4.6/5
    253 Review
    "An open national park on Gaya Island. Gaya Island is the largest island nearby. Sunshine beach, happy food, all good things are available. Remember to play in the water first. When you are tired, you can have some seafood barbecue 778. Free and enjoy it."
    Kota Kinabalu
    8.5km from downtown
    Highlights: Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a famous marine-type national park in Malaysia. It consists of five islands, namely Gaya Island, Sabi Island, Mamudi Island, Manukan Island and Solo Island. These islands have beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The sea is home to a large number of corals and marine life. The jungle is rich in plants and many rare wild animals. You can choose to island hop, taking a stroll through the woods, diving in the water, or choose an just one island to enjoy the blue sky and a leisurely holiday.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂5.5
    4.5/5
    95 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 660 reviews
    "If want to know more of Sabah, you need go sabah museum. Inside this museum, all sabah culture and history is displayed and show out to visitor. The special in this museum is the orang asli culture in Sabah. The houses for all sabah orang asli also show out in sabah museum. Visitor can direct go inside to take a look for the tradisional houses."
    Kota Kinabalu
    2.8km from downtown
    Highlights: Sabah Museum is a prestigious museum in Sabah, which records and displays Sabah's rich historical, social and natural history. The main building of the museum adopts the shape of the Longus longhouse, and the beams extending outwards on the roof resemble the Somasau dancers with outstretched arms. This is the perfect place for those looking to delve into Sabah's rich historical, social and natural history. In addition, the cultural village near the main body of the museum is quite distinctive. It imitates the traditional residence characteristics of the Aborigines in Sabah, and has built many houses. Tourists can enter each room and hall to visit and explore. There are even real people who demonstrate daily life and use tools. .
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂5.3
    4.5/5
    125 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 911 reviews
    "Mamutik Island is also a very interesting island. The water is beautiful and the island is small.you can be explored by walking 🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♂️"
    Kota Kinabalu
    7.2km from downtown
    Highlights: The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, located on the sea on the west side of Kota Kinabalu, consists of 5 islands. Mamudi Island is the smaller one, but the essence is often concentrated. The west side of the island is a rocky coast, and the east side of the island is a rocky coast. The side is a beach, the water quality here is very good, very suitable for snorkeling. There are large pieces of coral underwater on this island, and various marine creatures such as clownfish and sea urchins live. Even standing on the trestle that stretches into the sea, you can take pictures of small fish swimming in the transparent seawater. If you go into the water, you can see them More, so Mamudi is a great island for snorkeling. In addition to snorkeling on the island, you can also pay to play motorboats, parachutes, etc. Tourists who can’t swim may wish to take a walk on the bottom of the sea. Wear a helmet with a snorkel to breathe underwater, and you can also try submarine motorcycles. (aka the Little Sheep on the Sea), put on a helmet with oxygen delivery, ride a special motorbike slowly on the bottom of the sea, and watch schools of fish swim around you. There are fresh water showers and public toilets on the island, but there is no hotel, so you can camp. It is recommended to bring your own tent and prepare food and water.
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂5.3
    4.5/5
    36 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 467 reviews
    "Great place for those who are seafood lovers, easy to find fresh fishes , crabs, lobsters in this place with a good price. Fresh vegetable and fruits stall located just beside this building ."
    Kota Kinabalu.Kota Kinabalu City Center
    752m from downtown
    No. 1 of Night Attractions
    Highlights: The Philippine Night Market is located in the downtown area of Kota Kinabalu, opposite CentrePoint. It is a large-scale open-air market. The early government set aside this area to protect Filipino refugees, allowing Filipinos to do business, and gradually developed into today's market.
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FAQ

What are some Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu?
Some Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu include:Tanjung Aru Beach, Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, Mengalum Island, Gaya Street, Manukan Island
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu include:Tanjung Aru Beach:4.7, Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu:4.4, Mengalum Island:4.6, Gaya Street:4.5, Manukan Island:4.5
At what locations in Kota Kinabalu can Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu be found?
The Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu are mainly located in:Tanjung Aru Beach:Kota Kinabalu, Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu:Kota Kinabalu, Mengalum Island:Kota Kinabalu, Gaya Street:Kota Kinabalu, Manukan Island:Kota Kinabalu
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