The Kota Kinabalu International Airport or KKIA.

How long to spend in Kota Kinabalu? 

For local travellers or even those from around Southeast Asia, the ideal time to spend in KK is about 3 to 4 days. For international travellers or backpackers, it is recommended that they spend at least 4 to 6 days in KK to experience what it has to offer fully. Again, the recommended time can be adjusted to one’s itinerary or what one wants to see and do in Kota Kinabalu.

Where to stay in KK?

Numerous hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and boutique hotels are available here, and most of them are centrally located within the main city area, so walking around is not a problem at all. For convenience, you should also double-check the hotel’s location before booking.

Suria KK is one of the premier shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu.

What to do around KK?

Kota Kinabalu offers various sightseeing options, including islands, beaches, diving, hiking, climbing, trekking, shopping, markets, and water rafting. At the end of the day, it is all about your time management here. If you manage your time well, you can easily visit two attractions in a day and still have time to do a bit of shopping and try the local Sabahan food.

KK Island Visits

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, or TAR Park, is a mere 20-minute boat ride from the Jesselton Jetty in KK town, so day trips are possible here. Here, you will be amazed at the crystal clear waters and the many activities available, including snorkelling, scuba diving, sea walking, and sun tanning.

For day-trippers, there are three main islands to choose from: Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and Sapi Island.

Borneo Reef World Floating Pontoon.

One of the new attractions around Sapi Island is the JSK Borneo Reef World Pontoon. This floating paradise houses an underwater live aquarium, a seawalk experience, and water sports. It also has a safe platform for scuba diving, which is highly recommended!

Another fun adventure experience on Sapi Island is trying the Coral Flyer, an island-to-island flying fox that will surely excite anyone. It is currently the longest-flying fox in the world and very reasonably priced.

Total Time Required: 4 hours to one full day

Local tribesmen at Mari Mari Cultural Village.

Mari Mari Cultural Village

This is Sabah’s living museum and showcases the many different ethnic tribes of Sabah in one beautiful place. The Mari Mari Cultural Village is located after Inanam, about 30 minutes from KK, and visits here have to be booked by one of the travel agents or counters around KK.

They will send guests there and back. This is suitable for anyone visiting Sabah as you will learn much about the local ethnic people. It is very educational, interesting, and great for photo taking.

Total Time Required: 2 to 4 hours

Gaya Street Sunday Market

If you are in KK on a Sunday, this market is worth exploring, as it is probably the best in the Sabah. Starting from as early as 6.00 am, you can find all sorts of things, crafts, souvenirs, food, plants, clothes and sometimes even domestic pets being sold here.

This is a must-visit for anyone who loves markets, and the Gaya Street Sunday Market closes at about 11.00 am. And if your are there on the weekend, do check out the Saturday Night Gaya Street Food Market.

Sabah Cooking Class (Only selected people doing this)

Yes, for those who enjoy cooking, there is a unique cooking class in Sabah operated by Sabahan-Hajjah Halimah, who teaches local Sabahan cooking. Update: Hajjah Halimah no longer teaches this since the COVID-19 pandemic). The class is held in her specially designed outdoor cooking area at her home in Kinarut, about 40 minutes from KK city.

The experience takes guests to the local market to shop before they learn to cook. This is also a hands-on experience where you will cut, chop, stir and fry and then enjoy your cooking for lunch.

Classes start at about 9:00 a.m., and they will pick you up from your hotel and send you there and back.

Total Time Required: 3 to 4 hours, done after lunch.

Interesting Markets in Kota Kinabalu

For the market lover, there are quite a few very interesting markets located in KK itself, all within walking distance of one another. Start with the Sabah Handicraft Market (Old Filipino Market), where you can squeeze through lanes and lanes of souvenirs, clothes, and Sabah Pearls.

Exiting, walk next door to the Salt Fish Market for a unique experience and then to the Fruit Market to see the unique Sabahan fruits sold. There is also the huge Kota Kinabalu Wet and Dry Market and the Night Food Market, which are fantastic experiences.

These markets are all by the waterfront area, and they are all just next to each other. The place is very safe, too, and the best time to visit is before lunch.

Total Time Required: 1 to 3 hours

What to do outside of KK? 

Adventure seekers will find many things to do in KK city, provided you allocate sufficient time to explore. There is also water rafting, trekking, bird watching, cultural experiences, river cruises, and even a classic steam locomotive trip, just to name a few. The outdoor activities are also broken down to give you a rough idea of the timing.

Challenging the mighty Padas River.

Padas River White Water Rafting (Advanced)

Padas is about 2 hours from KK city, and you can book this tour through any of the tour companies around KK. This is suitable for those wanting an adrenaline rush, as the rapids are from classes 3 to 5 and not for beginners. The rafting here is also the best in the entire Sabah.

Prepare to spend half a day on this trip; the fantastic moment is taking the old diesel local trains to the start of the rafting point. Some crazy rafting action is available here, and not for kids.

Total Time Required: 6 to 7 hours

View of the Kiulu River, where water rafting is done.

Kiulu River White Water Rafting (Beginners)

It is also about 2 hours from KK city, but the other way. You can also book the Kiulu Water Rafting Tour from any tour company around KK. This is suitable for those wanting to experience whitewater rafting, as the rapids are class 1 to 2 and very suitable for beginners, kids, or even pensioners.

The rafting experience along the Kiulu River lets visitors see the natural beauty of the local Sabahan countryside, villages, and nature. Raft guides are professional, and the centres are equipped with toilets and changing rooms. If you have a dry bag, remember to bring it.

Total Time Required: 5 to 6 hours

View of Mount Kinabalu from the Mesilau Golf Course.

Kinabalu Park Visit (Outdoors, Trekking, Sightseeing)

About two hours drive from KK; you can book a tour in the city or rent a car to self-drive there. The park provides an extraordinary climate experience, and various easy treks are available around the park.

This is provided you are not climbing Mount Kinabalu, as many visitors just come here for a day trip to take photos. A tip for photographers: You need to go here before 7:00 a.m. to get that shot, as after that, the clouds start to cover the mountain.

Kundasang is the town near the park. Here, you can find local produce being sold, and there is also a local dairy farm similar to the ones in New Zealand with Friesian Cows! Numerous hotels and homestays are available for those wanting to spend the night here, and prices are quite decent.

Total Time Required: Half a day to one full day

Visitors are doing the Klias River Cruise.

Klias River Cruise (Nature)

About two hours from KK, you must book a tour to get here. The journey starts at about 2.00 to 3.00 pm from the city, and you get here just in time for the late evening cruise. After that, a local dinner is provided, and then you get back on the boats for the spectacular FireFly viewing.

At the Klias River Cruise, you can spot the unique Proboscis monkeys, birds, monitor lizards, macaques, and, if you’re lucky, the local otters. This experience is very safe for families and children as safety is highly practised here.

Total Time Required: Half a day, from after lunch.

The unique Upside Down House in Tamparuli, Kota Kinabalu.

Upside Down House, 3D Museum and Chanteek Gallery

About 45 45-minute drive from KK city, you will find the unique Upside Down House of Sabah, which is known in Malay as Rumah Terbalik. There is also a 3D museum and the exciting local Chanteek Gallery Borneo, which highlights the ethnic people of Sabah.

All this is on one road, which is great fun for anyone. There are tours here, but usually, locals self-drive here and back to KK. Each place charges a minimal entrance fee, and it has restaurants, cafes, toilets, and souvenir shop facilities.

Total Time Required: 4 to 6 hours.

The Vulcan Steam Train, North Borneo Railway.

North Borneo Railway Experience (No longer in service as of 2024)

How about taking a nostalgic trip on the only railway system in Borneo, which still uses a classic steam locomotive engine? The North Borneo Railway takes visitors from KK to Papar town after lunch. This unique experience, operated by Sutera Harbour Resort, runs on various days of the week.

The classic steam train has about 4 to 5 carriages where every detail is preserved to the original specifications. Even the staff tending to you wear classic British-era uniforms, and lunch is served out of classic tiffin carriers. It’s slightly on the pricey side but well worth the experience.

The Vulcan Steam Locomotive takes you to Papar, where you depart for a walkabout around the old town. The Locomotive then makes a U-turn from a special turning station, and everyone boards to head back to Tanjung Aru Station, just outside of KK.

Total Time Required: 4 to 6 Hours or Half a day. Trains depart at about 9.00 am.

I have also written an introductory article about the five things to do in Kota Kinabalu for those who want to experience something different.

Conclusion

Again, first-timers to Sabah should explore the city before heading out to other places. Unless, of course, you are spending a week or two here, in which case you can plan a few days in KK before moving on to other places.

If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to leave them in the comment form below. For anyone heading to North Borneo, I hope this list of Sabah for first time visitors will be helpful.